Once, Twice, Three Times a Circus…

So…did you see the third debate between John Kerry and George W. Bush on Wednesday night?
I’m hoping you did. It was by far the best of the three and probably the most tell-tale about both men. I mean, forget the spin. Ignore the sound bites. Discount the commentary from the talking heads of television news. All you needed to see to get an accurate picture of these two men was to see the reply to one question. It’s not the question you might think, either.
The previous two debates had centered a lot on national defense, homeland security, the War on Terror and the invasion of Iraq. There were a lot of Monday Morning Quarterback style questions where Kerry could criticize the President and his decisions. This debate was to center on domestic policy and the challenges that face us at home–what is typically solid footing for the Democrats.
With the second question of the debate, moderator Bob Schieffer posed a question that probably said more about these two men than any of the other answers they could have given.
Here is the question that Schieffer asked, taken from a transcript available on CNN.com:

SCHIEFFER: New question, Mr. President, to you. We are talking about protecting ourselves from the unexpected, but the flu season is suddenly upon us. Flu kills thousands of people every year. Suddenly we find ourselves with a severe shortage of flu vaccine. How did that happen?

I think it’s safe to say that this isn’t your standard debate question. That’s great–I applaud Bob Schieffer’s change up and think that there should be more questions like this. It’s also not a question either candidate would typically have prepared for. That much was evident from the way they formed their answers.
The President seemed to fumble slightly at first and then gave an answer that showed he had not only been plugged into the situation, but also decided to voluntarily skip his flu shot. He also directed other healthy and able-bodied Americans to do the same.

BUSH: Bob, we relied upon a company out of England to provide about half of the flu vaccines for the United States citizen, and it turned out that the vaccine they were producing was contaminated. And so we took the right action and didn’t allow contaminated medicine into our country. We’re working with Canada to hopefully — that they’ll produce a — help us realize the vaccine necessary to make sure our citizens have got flu vaccinations during this upcoming season. My call to our fellow Americans is if you’re healthy, if you’re younger, don’t get a flu shot this year. Help us prioritize those who need to get the flu shot, the elderly and the young. The CDC, responsible for health in the United States, is setting those priorities and is allocating the flu vaccine accordingly. I haven’t gotten a flu shot, and I don’t intend to because I want to make sure those who are most vulnerable get treated. We have a problem with litigation in the United States of America. Vaccine manufacturers are worried about getting sued, and therefore they have backed off from providing this kind of vaccine. One of the reasons I’m such a strong believer in legal reform is so that people aren’t afraid of producing a product that is necessary for the health of our citizens and then end up getting sued in a court of law. But the best thing we can do now, Bob, given the circumstances with the company in England is for those of us who are younger and healthy, don’t get a flu shot.

OK, now let’s contrast. Senator Kerry had ninety seconds to answer the same question about the flu shot. Before he gave this answer, I said to the person with whom I was watching the debate, “watch this…Kerry won’t say anything about flu shots and is totally going to turn this around to insurance. Then he’ll say ‘I have a plan,’ and talk about how he wants to give Americans the same insurance plan he has.”
I really said that—and I have a witness. Let’s see how I did…

KERRY: This really underscores the problem with the American health-care system. It’s not working for the American family. And it’s gotten worse under President Bush over the course of the last years. Five million Americans have lost their health insurance in this country. You’ve got about a million right here in Arizona, just shy, 950,000, who have no health insurance at all. 82,000 Arizonians lost their health insurance under President Bush’s watch. 223,000 kids in Arizona have no health insurance at all. All across our country — go to Ohio, 1.4 million Ohioans have no health insurance, 114,000 of them lost it under President Bush; Wisconsin, 82,000, Wisconsites lost it under President Bush. This president has turned his back on the wellness of America. And there is no system. In fact, it’s starting to fall apart not because of lawsuits — though they are a problem, and John Edwards and I are committed to fixing them — but because of the larger issue that we don’t cover Americans. Children across our country don’t have health care. We’re the richest country on the face of the planet, the only industrialized nation in the world not to do it. I have a plan to cover all Americans. We’re going to make it affordable and accessible. We’re going to let everybody buy into the same health-care plan senators and congressmen give themselves.

Wow…I’d have to say I pretty much nailed that one, huh? Now, the important thing about this answer is NOT the flu shots themselves. What’s critical is the way the candidates formed their answers. It speaks volumes about what kind of person they are and, ultimately, what kind of leader they will be for America over the next four years.
The President explained the problem. He detailed steps that are being taken. He even specified what he’s doing and how others can also do the same thing to ensure that people who really need their flu shots can stand a better chance of getting them. In delivery, it may not have been the most graceful answer. In substance, however, it was the only answer to the question.
Senator Kerry didn’t do that. He gave a canned response about health insurance that had absolutely NOTHING to do with the flu vaccine shortage. Nothing! Instead of addressing the problem and trying to allay the fears of people concerned about this year’s strain of the flu. He turned the discussion into one on health insurance and—for at least the second time—said he had a plan to give people the same health care that Congress gets.
John Kerry answered the question like a politician. He didn’t answer the question like someone who’s ready to be President. He didn’t even come close. His answer, between you and me, was comparable to the fecal matter of an adult, uncastrated male ox. Senator Kerry answered the question like someone who’s been stuck in the Senate way too long.
He may have more polish, but his answer didn’t even come close.
Overall, I feel the debate was pretty much a draw. While I thought Kerry won (again) on presentation and delivery, I also feel that Bush won (again) based entirely on substance and the content of his answers.
Now, I’m not naive enough to think this one answer decides the entire debate. I’m not saying that at all. What I am saying is this: the answer to that particular question gives you a snapshot of what you need to know about these two candidates as people AND what you need to know about these two people as candidates. Say and believe what you want to about these two guys, Bush clearly showed something John Kerry either didn’t or couldn’t: the ability to lead, and the capacity to care.
Being the President is as much about character as it is the issues and this question in particular gives some decent insight into the minds of these two individuals. With one answer, Kerry shows himself for the opportunist he is. He clearly will say anything to take a swipe at this President and get elected.
It’s not a question that matters 24 hours later. It’s not one that people are talking about and analyzing. It’s not even a hot-button issue in this election cycle.
It may just be one question to a couple of politicians on a grand stage, but it speaks volumes about two men.
William Smith
ConservativeBlogger.com