Welcome to Election 2016, where candidates stop being nice, and start getting real.
Reality television has changed pop culture in innumerable ways. Its effects are still being debated today, even as the genre spreads to other aspects of the greater culture. Politics has certainly not been immune to it.
But this year’s presidential election cycle seems to have epitomized the reality tv-ization of the American political discourse. For evidence, look no further than last night’s GOP debate in Detroit.
Any pretense at civility amongst the remaining candidates flew out the window last night. Personal attacks were traded freely, nothing seemed off-limits, including the size of someone’s private parts.
Critics call it a dumbing down of democracy, but supporters point to the record turnout of GOP voters so far and sky-high debate ratings as proof that the American people are more engaged than ever before.
Featured Caller Comment
Larry Mantle: Does the tone of last night's debate do more harm than good, or [more] good than harm to democracy? Do you see it as something that is truly more authentic?
John in Glendale: I really think it’s done more good than harm because it’s really getting people talking about the race. Traditionally, everyone gets up [on the debate stage] and promises you everything and never delivers. I think this approach is getting people excited and now we’re going to see if it’s really going to get more people to come out and vote, whether you’re pro-Trump or anti-Trump. That’s what I think is going to happen as a result of what’s going on with this debate and last night’s debate in particular.
Larry Mantle: Do you think there’s any downside to the comparative lack of civility, or [do] you think that’s really trivial to the other positives you see coming out of it?
John in Glendale: A downside to it? Yeah, I guess so. If everyone behaved in a positive way in politics, yes. But the reality is [that] this is becoming a bit more of entertainment-- but it’s getting people involved. People are talking about this. Usually at this stage in the game, people really aren’t discussing it. Die-hard political wonks are always going to be dialed in on policies and things like that, but the general public is loving this. And people who have been disenfranchised or uninvolved are coming out of the woodwork. This is going to be one interesting nomination and one interesting election.
Note: This interview has been edited for clarity.
This story has been updated.
Guests:
Stephen Duncombe, Professor of Media and Culture at New York University and he is the author, co-author, editor, and co-editor of six books, including "Dream: Re-Imagining Progressive Politics in an Age of Fantasy"
Ross Barkan, a national political reporter for The New York Observer. Disclosure: Donald Trump is the father-in-law of Jared Kushner, the publisher of Observer Media.