A Plea for Civility: ‘Cheapening political discourse’

William F. Buckley Jr.’s death prompted a wave of tributes, even from some of his ideological foes, for the tenor of the debates he orchestrated on his longtime television program, “Firing Line.” Over the years, Buckley played host to hundreds of political figures, writers, thinkers, economists and other public figures who presented arguments for liberal or centrist causes. Few emerged from the encounter without a bruise. But most would agree that they were treated with respect and civility.

The contrast with the tone of today’s political debate is clear. Buckley’s “Firing Line” could become passionate indeed, but fans of the show would be hard-pressed to recall a time when either the host or a guest was reduced to shouting or hurling personal invective in the place of reasoned argument. Today’s political talk shows, however, have replaced argument with anger (real or feigned), paragraphs with sound bites and reasonable disagreement with personal attacks.

Of course, the cheapening of political discourse is not simply the work of ratings-obsessed producers and show-off hosts. Politicians, too, have either followed or led the vulgarization of civic discourse. Just a few days after Buckley’s death, an aide to This article appears in March 24 2008.