Abraham Lincoln once stated, “It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt.” While the 16th president’s advice remains true to this day, he could learn a trick from modern politicians.

Last week, vice presidential candidates Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del.), and Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Ala.) proved content falls short to consistency. In their debate, the candidates displayed two separate philosophies.

Biden came off as well-informed and detail-oriented. Palin, however, stuck to a strong repetition of party policy and came off the stronger debater.

Barbara Burrell, political science professor, thinks neither Democrats nor Republicans have been winning, but remains critical of Palin’s responses.

“[Palin] did not answer the questions,” Burrell said. “She seemed to have scripted answers that she was going to give no matter what the question was.”

Assistant communication professor Thomas Oates agrees that Palin’s answers appeared rehearsed.

“She didn’t do a good job of disguising the fact that she was delivering talking points,” Oates said.

So, was Palin rehearsed and coached before the debate? Yes, of course she was, but that fact doesn’t mean her message is not strong. According to an article published Monday by ABC News, nearly 70 million viewers watched the vice presidential debates.

Consider the capability a strong message can deliver when 70 million people view it. Then consider how that message can further be reinforced in another debate.

A message remains strong and increases in strength the more it is repeated.

The vice-presidential debate demonstrated that the Democratic ticket has several different solutions to several different problems. Republicans have one message.

One message means a viewing audience already knows what the Republican candidates stand for. When Sen. McCain repeats that message in tonight’s debate, the Republican platform will appear stronger. His opponents will have less material to criticize.

Coached candidates and scripted lip service have become common elements of political debates. With only a few minutes to respond to a question or opponent, the best strategy is consistency.

Anyone can open their mouths and be thought a fool. But if a fool speaks loud enough and long enough, eventually they appear right.

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