# presidential debates

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-debates/35841>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 5, 2000, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-debates/35841 "2000-10-05T20:18:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![yak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b3f665/32.png) [@yak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yak)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 2000, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-debates/35841/1 "2000-10-05T20:18:47Z")

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OK, I know there’s an electoral college thread, but here’s an avenue we haven’t talked about:

What up with the debates a few days ago? I only saw part of the beginning (had to work, sigh)… but from what I saw, SOMEONE was lying. Why don’t the networks carry subtitles with actual facts?

For example:  
AG: The Jones family here, middle class, would not be eligible for prescription drug coverage under Bush’s plan for 4-5years.

GW: Yes they would.

AG: No they wouldn’t.

GW: Yes they would.

So… basically either they WOULD be eligible, or they WOULDN’T… so SOMEONE is lying! Does anyone know how to read truth into political lies and muck?

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**Author:** ![lemartel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/57b2e6/32.png) [@lemartel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lemartel)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 2000, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-debates/35841/2 "2000-10-05T20:27:39Z")

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Unfortunately, you have to find out the facts on your own. It takes a little more time but it is generally worth it.

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**Author:** ![Aglarond](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@Aglarond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aglarond)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 2000, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-debates/35841/3 "2000-10-05T20:44:18Z")

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Keeping my personal opinions out of this, I’d recommend going to their sites and viewing their platforms. I downloaded copies of both candidate’s tax plans a couple of weeks ago and compared them. Takes time, but lemartel is right, it’s worth it.

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**Author:** ![yak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b3f665/32.png) [@yak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yak)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 2000, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-debates/35841/4 "2000-10-05T23:01:11Z")

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Sure, it makes sense to do the research like that. But let’s face it, not everyone is going to.  
What a waste that the debates were going on and the viewers didn’t get the full and accurate story. It would have been a good time to simply state the truth, with text explaining which candidate was actually giving honest facts.