Schram: Making presidential debates relevant – at last

Let a screen be set up on the stage, precisely where former president Donald Trump would be standing along with the other presidential candidates. Trump’s overwhelming lead in the polls means (as is tradition) that he’s earned the privilege of being in the center of the line of candidates — and speaks first. And television producers have ample video of Trump talking about the presidential leadership he will provide.

So let Trump speak for himself:

“We pledge to you that we will root out the communists, Marxists, fascists and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country that lie and steal and cheat on elections. They’ll do anything, whether legally or illegally, to destroy America and to destroy the American Dream.” (That was from Trump’s speech commemorating Veteran’s Day.)

Then, one by one, ask Trump’s opponents to discuss whether their Republican front-runner’s vision of presidential leadership coincides with their vision, or what they might do differently.

If his vision is challenged and a rebuttal is called for, CNN’s debate producers must be prepared to show video of Trump’s supporting and elaborating insights in that same New Hampshire speech, as he proclaims himself a “very proud election denier.”

And to assure Trump’s defense of himself is adequately presented, producers can show Trump providing further analysis of the 2020 election: “I won the second election, OK, won it by a lot. You know, when they say, when they say Biden won, the smart people know that didn’t (happen).”

Other candidates would then be invited to discuss how their view of leadership might differ from Trump’s. And when one of them mentioned the unsolved problems at America’s southern border, Trump’s leadership vision could be memorably presented: “Nobody has ever seen anything like we’re witnessing right now. It is a very sad thing for our country. It’s poisoning the blood of our country. It’s so bad, and people are coming in with disease. People are coming in with every possible thing that you could have.”

Then other candidates on the stage could have the opportunity to explain their views, either sharing Trump’s insights or offering a somewhat different approach to safeguarding our democracy.

This much is for sure: On that upcoming January night — for the first time in this long, slo-mo 2024 Republican presidential campaign — voters in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and even in a bathroom mirror near you will finally be able to compare the leadership approaches they have at last been able to see, hear and compare as the Republican presidential hopefuls debated, side by side.

Let the voting begin.