Voters the losers if Republicans skip presidential debates

They are one of the hallmarks of our presidential elections. Candidates from the two major parties meet to answer questions from moderators and sometimes the public in the form of televised presidential debates. The debates have given us the chance to see the candidates under the bright lights, and there have been some memorable moments, some of which have possibly cost a candidate the election. The debates have given voters a chance to learn about the candidates and their views on the issues. For the past 30 years, America’s presidential debates have been organized and conducted by the Commission on Presidential Debates. But in the 2024 presidential contest, there may be an empty chair on the debate stage. The head of the Republican National Commission has informed the head of the Commission on Presidential debates that it won’t be allowing the Republican nominee to participate in the commission’s debates. The RNC apparently doesn’t think the debates are fair, so they plan to take their ball and go home. That is unfortunate. The debates have a history of informing the public about candidate’s views on the issues and not having the debates would be a disservice to the voting public.