Debate doublespeak

There have been four Republican debates so far…with more to come.  The next and final Republican debate this calendar year will be on Dec. 15th in Las Vegas and will be broadcast on CNN.  

I have listened carefully to all of the Republican debates and some of the words and phrases used by the candidates are a little difficult for us mainstream middle class voters to relate to. 

{mosads}Why can’t the candidates answer a question in a manner that will be understandable to the farmer in Iowa or the pharmacist in Ohio or the single mom in Alabama?  These are all hardworking Americans who want to know where the candidates stand on a wide variety of issues.  But…come on candidates.  Stop referring to acronyms like GDP and CBO or terms like “zero based budgeting” that fly right over our heads.  And, moderators, stop letting the candidates get away with “inside the beltway” jargon without asking them to explain how these terms relate to the voter.  

For example: 

Carly Fiorina keeps referring to “crony capitalism.”  How do these words affect a working couple in Georgia for example?  They probably have no idea.  And it’s likely that they don’t have a clue what she is talking about when they hear her mention “meritocracy” either.  Who, besides Fiorina and a few economic heavyweights have any idea what that word means?  To me, it sounds like it could be a new fast train between New York City and DC.  In fact, I wasn’t even sure how to spell it until I found it in the dictionary and learned that it’s definition is “a system in which able and talented persons are rewarded and advanced.”  Well, ok…we get THAT…so Carly answer in a way we voters can understand and you might get a better response. 

And why do the moderators let Carly and the other candidate’s get by using these terms without asking that they be put in context for the average voter?

Maybe because the moderators don’t know what some of these really big words mean either.  If they do then they should speak up and ask the candidate to frame his or her answer so that the proverbial “fifth grader” can understand the candidate’s response.  For example, “Mrs. Fiorina…you just referred to crony capitalism.  Explain to the dairy farmer in Wisconsin how he is affected by that.”

And Donald Trump.   “Corporate conversion.”  Pleeeze.  I tried to figure out what in the world you were talking about when you mentioned this in the last debate.  So my friend Ron referred me to a 13-page article titled “Returns and Cash Conversion Cycles” written in 1996.  Just for a challenge I read all 13 pages but I only understood about half of the words.  I don’t even know what the title means.  And, I’ll bet the caucus voters in Iowa and the primary voters in New Hampshire don’t either.  

And Donald,. here’s another one you throw around, “currency manipulation.”  I’ll bet not even Ben Carson knows that one.  Your pals at Wharton probably use this phrase to order breakfast but the rest of us are just left scratching our heads.  How does this relate to us?

Ted Cruz.  I heard you mention “rule based monetary system.”  I had never even heard those four words in the same sentence before.  So Nate, my accountant, loaned me his copy of “The American Economic Review”, Vol. 91, No. 4.  After reading it I had no idea what it was about and I KNOW my friend Donna who works a second shift at Costco on Wednesday nights doesn’t either.  I’m pretty sure that neither she nor her co-workers would be swayed by this phrase, so try to get down to their level with your answer and the result might be different.

 One more thing Ted.  During the last debate you mentioned “sound money.”  Is there such a thing as “unsound money?” The guys I bowl with on Wednesday night want to know about this.  They keep track of what they have in their 401(k)’s like hawks but now they don’t know if the money in these accounts is “sound” or “unsound” and they are starting to get questions about this from their wives.  You don’t want wives asking questions on bowling night, Ted.  Plus, one of them might start talking about that cute Cuban guy running for president from Florida.  

And, Dodd Frank.  Who is this guy anyway?  He must be a friend of Bush, Fiorina, Rubio and Cruz because they sure mention him in every debate.  It took a lot of digging by my friends to find out that this was actually a bill passed by Congress in 2010 that relates to Wall Street, the Federal Reserve and other complicated stuff.  But the voters I pal around with sure get a puzzled look whenever Dodd Frank is mentioned because they certainly don’t get the connection between Dodd Frank and their busy lives trying to make ends meet.  And, speaking of the Federal Reserve,Sen. Paul wants it audited.  What in the world does that mean?  I have no idea but my golfing buddy Kevin says it means “an investigation into the efficiency and effectiveness of public programs, projects and institutions.”   That actually sounds reasonable so, Sen. Paul, frame your answer to this one in a way we voters can understand and you might be able to stick around for another debate or two. 

And, in the most recent debate Jeb Bush called for the “full expensing of investing.”  The debate wasn’t even over before my friend Fred, a summer neighbor in Minnesota, was on the phone.  “What was he talking about?” Fred asked.  I replied that I thought perhaps Bush meant reducing the tax on a new investment to zero…thus encouraging more investment.  There was a pause before Fred said, “Then I won’t have to pay any tax on my new fishing boat?”  

Jeb, see what I mean?

And, finally, “you can go to my website.”  If I hear Ben Carson or John Kasich reply to another question by using these words I might literally jump right into the middle of my plasma TV.

So, moderators, make the candidates define their answers in terms that relate to us average voters.  Highbrow phrases might impress the Washington, DC insider who reads the New York Times on Sunday morning but the rest of us are left in the dust.

Candidates, you won’t get many votes from inside the beltway but you sure might from elsewhere especially if you talk at our level.

Goodwin has worked for four United States presidents and has been involved in seven presidential campaigns.  He lives in the Washington, DC area.