This week’s debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama was perhaps the worst Presidential debate in recent history. The questions were often superficial and not a single one covered ground that has not been covered in previous election debates. Here is a short list of topics that George Stephanopolous and Charlie Gibson could have asked that would have infused some novelty. Global warming, stem cells, ethanol subsidies, science funding, innovation, competitiveness, nuclear weapons, intelligent design in schools….

The list of essential science questions that the candidates have not had to answer is awesome and the fault, this time, rests on the shoulders of ABC news who could have shown the world that they are about substance. Instead, it was as if the E! Network was running the show. Scientists and Engineers for America supports ScienceDebate 2008, but even more than SD2008, we support all candidates for elected office fully describing their positions on science-related issues. Whether there is a science debate or not this election season, there are a lot of people waiting to hear their answers. We will be releasing our plan to get congressional candidates to answer some science questions soon. In the mean time, keep updating the SHARP Network.