Viewers Prefer TV Puff Over Debate

“Back at Channel 7, our phones have been ringing off the hook,” moderator Dee Sarton told gubernatorial candidates Steve Pankey, A.J. Balukoff and Butch Otter (Tuesday night) at the opening of KTVB’s gubernatorial debate. “Folks are a little disappointed … their favorite programming in prime time was not on.” She urged the candidates, in their opening comments, to “address the folks … why they should listen to you instead of turning over to prime time TV.” None took the bait. Pankey closed his statement with this: “May God richly bless channel 7 and may God richly bless the state of Idaho”/ Betsy Russell , Eye on Boise. More here.

Question: Do you suppose that modern America would choose the latest episode of “Modern Family” over listening to the Lincoln-Douglas debates, if a time machine could put the two examples together?