The 4th US Presidential Debate!

The US election is an important process not just for the US but the entire world. I was talking to my colleagues at work over dinner the other day about the election process. If the economy and jobs is the most important topic, why would the two parties not assemble a group of experts to thoroughly look at different ways to accomplish this and arrive at the best option? If we can’t logically figure out the best option, why wouldn’t they let the potential options pilot tested in some states to arrive at what works best in what circumstance? A gentleman who had watched many US elections said that i was trying to make sense out of a process that doesn’t quite work that way. While we had fun talking about it and laughed about it, I am still in shock. The most powerful nation on earth is approaching the most important topic for the nation in a manner one should not see logic or sense?!

When I look at this situation as a coach, I see the value of having a 4^th Presidential debate in a coach centric leadership fashion. Here is visualization on how that would work.

Debate Format

• There will be one debate at the location of President Obama’s choice and another debate at the location of Governor Romney’s choice. The location would be one where they can be completely open and honest. It could be their dinner table at home, the place of their worship or any other place where they can be completely open and honest.
• With regard to audience, there will be no media or TV broadcast. The candidate is welcome to have their loved ones or no one other than the coach.
• The opponent won’t be there. Why it is still called a debate? The debate is within the candidate.
• The candidate is welcome to wear what they feel most comfortable with.
• There is no preparation required. The only requirement is to be completely open and play full out.
• The coach and any other audience the candidate wants to be in the audience will need to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Nothing discussed in the session will be released to any one.

Here is how the debate would start for a given candidate…….

The candidate selects to have the debate at his place of worship. He wanted to have his wife, kids and his closest family and friends (including some teachers and Iraq war veterans).

Coach:

Thank you Mr. Candidate for showing up. All of us assembled here admire your leadership to contest in this election. We understand this is a tough process. We are hurt by some of the campaign advertisements from your opponent portraying you as a bad person. We know you are a good man and you mean well for the nation. Please be completely open and honest in your responses. Please note that there is no media and nothing you say here will be made public. This is in many ways a conversation within you watched by the people who deeply care about you.

Candidate:

Thank you for this session. I like the format 🙂

Coach:

Why are you running for President?

Candidate:

I have everything I need in life. I was looking to do something to contribute to society in a big way and being President of US gives me that opportunity. It leaves foot prints in history for long.

Coach:

How will a US President make a big impact on the society?

Candidate:

Hm…..i would say by leading the country and congress to take meaningful actions on the most pressing problems in the country and the world at large.

Coach:

Please take time to think about this for a minute before your answer. When you lead the congress, what is your single most important consideration – the party you represent or the country?

Candidate:

There is silence for a few minutes. I want the country to come first but I agree it may not be possible to do that all they time.

Coach:

I admire your honesty Mr. Candidate. It shows the strength of your character. Mr. Candidate, when you are President, there are many citizens who put their life at risk to execute your orders. Even though they risk their life, they would not become anywhere close to as famous as you would be. When you think of such individuals and other nameless people who work hard every day for the nation, why would you not put the country first every time?

Candidate:

(There is long silence. The candidate’s eyes is filled with tears and so as some people in the audience)

I get your point. It is just that without my party I won’t be where I am and I don’t want to be ungrateful for all the things my party has done for me. At the same time, I realize you are calling for leadership and not what is the most convenient stand. I agree, if I am President, country would come first and I will fight with my party to take that stand. It won’t be easy but that is what I promise to do.

Coach:

Mr. Candidate, we are so grateful to have a candidate like you running for President. With your permission, may I ask how we can all hold you accountable for what you just promised?

Candidate:

Hm……how about this? I will hire a coach. I will have a session like this at least once a year.

The conversation continues in this fashion covering questions like this:

• After Nov 6^th election, we know only one candidate will win. We also know that the losing candidate will have 45% plus of the votes. We know you want to be the President for 100% of the nation. If you win, what do you think about requesting your opponent to be on your Cabinet?
• If you lose, what will you do if the President-Elect asks you to join his cabinet?
• How do you plan to pass a bill in congress with support from both parties on critical topics like deficit and jobs?
• When tough situations arise (for example you can’t make Congress make up their mind on a key topic), we have seen CEOs taking $1 salary, we have seen nation’s leaders go on fast etc. What would you do?
• Some people are troubled by red states, blue states and swing states. There is a thought that we should break it by changing Electoral College system to popularity based vote so that states are not colored red, blue and swing and that every vote in every state should matter. How would you address this concern?
• If two parties under one nation can’t work together, why do you think US and Iran can work together?

by Nirmal Chandrasekaran, October 28, 2012