(AP photos)

Wanted: Tough questions for the presidential debates
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The Internet can make the presidential debates better. NiemanWatchdog.org will make it happen – with your help.

NiemanWatchdog.org is soliciting questions that President Bush and Senator Kerry should be asked at the next two presidential debates.

 

We're looking for submissions from experts and amateurs alike.

 

We're also scouring blogs and other Web sites looking for questions being posed there.

 

A few days before each presidential debate, NiemanWatchdog.org will select what we think are the best questions for each candidate, and we'll announce the winners here  — as well as in a press release to major media organizations across the country. We'll make extra sure the moderators see them, too.

 

The first batch of winners has been posted here.

 

If you have good questions you think should be asked, let us know. If you've run across some on other Web sites, let us know where.

 

The best way to submit your questions or Web sites is to post them as a comment to this article. (Come back often to see what people are suggesting.) Alternately, you can e-mail them to: editor@niemanwatchdog.org. Please include your name, hometown, and affiliation if relevant.

 

To keep this under control, we are asking you to please post no more than three questions a week. Posts in excess of that number will be removed.

 

The Commission on Presidential Debates has scheduled three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate.

 

The first presidential debate was held at the University of Miami on Sept. 30 with Jim Lehrer as moderator, and focused primarily on foreign policy. The second presidential debate will be a town meeting at the Washington University in St. Louis on Oct. 8, moderated by Charles Gibson, with questions coming from undecided voters. The third presidential debate will be held at Arizona State University on Oct. 13 with Bob Schieffer as moderator and will focus primarily on domestic policy.

 

The vice presidential debate will be held on Oct. 5 at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland with Gwin Ifill moderating.

Dan Froomkin is the deputy editor of the Nieman Watchdog Project. He is also Senior Washington Correspondent for the Huffington Post. E-mail: froomkin@niemanwatchdog.org

Comments

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Do you want the Deaf vote? Posted by Denise 10/14/2008, 10:50 AM My name is Denise. I am 17 years old and I am hearing. I have been studying sign language and Deaf culture for over a year, and I will continue to study it throughout my life. When listening to the presidential debates, the candidates always say what they are going to change for the average American, but what about the average Deaf American? What are they going to do to improve life for the Deaf? The canidates have not even touched the topic. Here is an example of the ignorance of lawmakers: South Dakota: State Raids Funds For the Deaf Sioux Falls / - The Argus Leader has reported that the state is transferring funds out the Telecommunications Relay Service Fund and spending it on "unspecified purposes." South Dakota lawmakers, at the request of Gov. Mike Rounds' administration, have raided the fund twice in the past two years, withdrawing $2 million to spend on other government services. Advocates for the deaf say that the money should be used to improve relay services and access. The transfers are not illegal, but does move money out of a fund specifically set up for relay services for the deaf. Critics said the transfers were buried in the appropriations bill, and most lawmakers were not aware of them. The fund is accumulated by a 15 cent charge on monthly telephone services. (World Without Hearing News ) I want to know how the canidates will make sure that what happened in South Dakota will not happen again. I would also like to know what they are going to do to improve the Deaf community and their lifestyles. Thank you for your time on this important subject. Submit a comment - Jump to top of list