We can't let the Republican National Committee cancel presidential debates. Here's why | Opinion

The Republican National Committee is making news and threats pertaining to the presidential debate process. While national party influence in contouring the conditions of presidential debates is not new, the present predicament promises to get uglier before any resolution occurs.

Presidential debates were largely run by candidate organizations and TV networks from 1960-1972, which is the reason for the hiatus after the first televised debates occurred in the 1960 general election campaign. From 1976 through 1984, the League of Women Voters sponsored and ran the debate process. After that group withdrew following the 1984 election, there was a need for some organization to step in. Enter the Commission on Presidential Debates, created in 1987 and now 35 years old. Most have commended the Commission for its handling of the quadrennial event.

However, the RNC is making a series of accusations about debates held during the 2020 cycle. It alleges bias against former President Donald Trump, pointing to both choice of moderator and to the virtual format that one debate was supposed to be held in. Trump accused the CPD of working against his campaign in 2016 as well.

Now the RNC is threatening to require candidates to skip the 2024 presidential debates unless its demands are met. Some of the RNC's proposed revisions are reasonable, such as holding the general election debates earlier to take into account the early voting phenomenon, and wanting a say on the choice of moderator(s).

But wanting a non-voting presence at CPD board meetings is apparently a step too far for one of the founders of the CPD and its current co-chair, Republican Frank Fahrenkopf.

The RNC's current position and threat to keep Republican candidates out of the 2024 race has been equally criticized by Democrats and Republicans alike. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki wondered aloud what the RNC is afraid of as it relates to presidential debates, while Utah Republican Senator Mitt Romney called the idea "nuts."

With two years to go until the nomination process for president begins, one could easily dismiss the current controversy as so much chatter. But like other venerable institutions, the CPD could be crippled by the onslaught of unsubstantiated Republican charges and criticism. To both keep its reputation intact and to ensure that presidential debates continue, the CPD must fight back. Doing anything less will diminish its past record and future promise.

Once again, a vital tool of American democracy is at stake.

Samuel B. Hoff is George Washington Distinguished Professor Emeritus of history and political science at Delaware State University.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Republicans cannot cancel presidential debates