“Don’t ask, don’t tell” seems to have taken on new meaning when it comes to the presidential debates. In the more than 500 questions that have been posed to the presidential candidates in both parties in five debates since late April, only two – yes that’s two – questions have related to the economy, jobs, manufacturing and/or international trade.

According to our friends at The Gallup Poll, the Economy (including jobs) ranks as the #3 top concern among voters, behind #1 Iraq and #2 National Security. So expecting the candidates to talk about these issues isn’t out of the question.

After the first debate on April 27 included no mention or discussion of manufacturing, jobs or the economy, ManufactureThis began calling on the candidates to tell us how they plan to address the immense challenges facing manufacturing; tell us how they plan to tackle the angst so many Americans are feeling about their economic security these days; and yes, tell us how they plan to take on the continuing challenge of holding China and other trading partners accountable when they don’t follow the rules and undercut American producers and workers.

In all, the candidates have talked about these issues for less than five minutes in the five debates. BUT the candidates can’t tell us anything, if they’re not asked about the issues – remember, one of the debate ground rules is to stick to the topic you’re asked about. And, only two questions out of more than 500 have been related to the economy.

We do know the candidates are talking about these issues on the stump. We’ve seen press coverage of it (for example click here and here). So, the candidates at least know that the economy, trade and jobs are a top concern for Americans.

And, MT isn’t the only one who’s noticing the absence of the economy in the debate discussions. In the past two days, both the Detroit News and the Atlanta Journal Constitution have made many of the same points MT has been making.

Please, please, please Tavis Smiley or Ruben Navarette or Michel Martin or DeWayne Wickman (who will all be questioning the Democratic candidates on June 28) ASK the candidates about the economy, jobs and trade, so they can TELL us what they plan to do about these issues.

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 7th, 2007 at 4:37 pm and is filed under Manufacturing in the U.S., Holding China Accountable, Economic Security, Enforcing Trade Laws. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.