Not all debates are created equal. On TV this evening I saw a talking head interviewing Kamala Harris about her beating up on Joe Biden in the first Dem. debate. Her response, bubbly, laughing: "It was a debate, a debate."
Her clear implication was the event was like a college debate event where you said whatever was necessary to win, regardless of whether you believed it. In fact in team debating, you might be asked to take either side of the issue and defend it, as a competitive sport.
Unfortunately, a candidates' debate is a different animal altogether. In it you are expected to state your actual beliefs and be willing to defend them forever more. It is supposed to be an event where voters learn your values, decide if you represent their views and might earn their votes.
Untold ink has been devoted to dumping on candidates who state one belief and then later a different, conflicting belief. They are accused of the heinous offense of "flip-flopping." It's apparently one of the worst political offenses, ranking right up there with pandering.
Laughing off having made party nominee Biden look weak on civil rights, because she won debate points doing so, isn't going to work for Ms. Harris. She needs a better excuse.
