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cycle, perhaps the media rather than voters have become too much of a player in deciding an election.

Impromptu questions posed to Barack Obama by "Joe the Plumber" appeared to be the only instance where Barack Obama was challenged for information about his policies until his interview by Bill O'Reilly on The O'Reilly Factor which airs on the Fox News Channel. Many agree that while Barack Obama may have had a slip in front of "Joe the Plumber," but he fared quite well with Bill O'Reilly even though Bill O'Reilly is considered a challenging interviewer. During an election campaign, candidates should be challenged to answer questions so their candor can be judged by the viewer.

The internet has also become a wonderful tool in giving Americans the ability to research information about the candidates. The internet, through sites like YouTube, has spawned contributions by citizen journalists about the candidates. These citizen journalists can report their views while on the campaign trail, but may not be capable of obtaining information about the candidates from sources within the campaigns or even from public records. Furthermore, candidates can trust that journalists with media credentials will not tape or repeat controversial statements from the candidates without their explicit permission or at the very least without giving them a chance to explain their statement; however citizen journalists neither make those representations, nor give those kinds of guarantees. Citizen journalist may request information about a candidate. The Freedom of Information Act is supposed to guarantee some transparency by allowing full or partial disclosure of previously unreleased information and documents controlled by the United States Government, but there are exemptions to an information request. As citizen journalists continue their vigilance to be the next great political correspondent, the more traditional media resources may feel the competition.

Should government candidates be required to hold press conferences and answer questions from the media and the public, or should they be allowed to disclose their positions in any fashion they prefer? The function of the office of President is supposed to be as a public official so, it's simple, if you want to get elected, you should disclose your positions and you should be ready, willing and able to discuss those positions in any manner that gives the American people a clear view of who and what to expect from you. Transparency is the key for voters to nominate and elect the most qualified candidates. Voting for a candidate without demanding to know everything, good or bad about the candidate, means that you choose to vote in ignorance and that is how we end up with unqualified or deceptive public officials.

Learn more about this author, Martha Rhodes.
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