PERHAPS, some sponsors of so-called Candidates’ Debate will need to restudy their less pleasant comments and actions against political aspirants who, for one reason or another, reject or, if they accept at all, fail to show up on the appointed date for the grand battle of words.

Formal debates, by their nature, are clothed with the mantle of civility and fairness, absent which educated argumentation among men can quickly degenerate into a shouting, insulting match or pure muckraking. From the choice of venue to the selection of overall theme, to the studied phrasing of topics/questions to be put forward to the debaters, to the type and number of audience who may be allowed to sit and view the proceedings, to, yes, the actual airing/viewing of the show, each would-be participant must be consulted and made to have a say about how the whole thing will be handled.

It would do no good for the whole event or show to be so arbitrary about the rules as to impose on the protagonists pre-set arrangements without them being allowed to suggest or even possibly overhaul the system thrown on their lap on a take-it-or-leave-it basis.

Successful debates are usually those that are worked out with all parties concerned where bias in any form is thrown out the window.

After all, it’s the candidate’s face, not that of the sponsors or anchorman or moderator that is on the line – for his eventual advantage if he acquits himself well in the verbal swordplay or to eternal perdition if he is ever perceived by a cruel crowd of spectators as hemming and hawing or otherwise lying thru his teeth.

Candidates’ fora, by and large, are necessary in a democracy for a better informed audience especially about the qualifications and personalities of those who are seeking public office. And Media is a crucial, if indispensable channel, along with the election body, thru which such a task can best be entrusted.

Political debate sponsors must always consider that clueless and unassuming as candidates may appear, they still know – beyond the thrilling prospect of getting free publicity and exposure such as the Media can give – that they are being given a rope by which they can climb on to victory or hang themselves with by the neck.