The 2016 Contenders Will Be in the Spotlight This Week. Here’s How They Can Reshape the Debate.

Could this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference shape the agenda for the 2016 Republican primary?

The conference, which usually attracts around 10,000 people, is known for its all-star lineup of Republican politicians delivering speeches. This year is no exception, with nearly every likely 2016 Republican presidential hopeful in attendance. Organizers have added a new twist: speeches centered on policy.

Top conservatives “will be asked to deliver speeches about specific policy issues—rather than campaign-style stemwinders,” reported Politico last month.

We’ll find out this week—the conference begins Thursday—whether the speeches actually change.

But it would be a hopeful sign if potential 2016 contenders actually did talk about policy—and in a more in-depth way than candidates do during a typical campaign speech. Simply saying, for instance, “I’ll slash taxes,” neatly sidesteps the questions of what taxes and by how much.

It’s easy for a presidential primary to become more about personality and gaffes, smart lines and inspiring moments than about serious public policy issues. Just think about some of the standout moments of the 2012 cycle:

• Then-Gov. Rick Perry’s “oops” moment in a primary debate, when he could only name two of the three departments (Commerce and Education) he’d like to see eliminated. (Department of Energy was the third.)
• Former Speaker Newt Gingrich’s heated response to CNN’s John King, when King asked Gingrich about his ex-wife’s comments that he had requested an open marriage: “I think the destructive vicious negative nature of much of the news media makes it harder to govern this country, harder to attract decent people to run for public office. I’m appalled you would begin a presidential debate on a topic like that.”
• Former Gov. Mitt Romney offering to bet Perry $10,000 that he didn’t say he supported a health care individual mandate in his book. What trended on Twitter was a discussion of Mitt Romney’s wealth with the hashtag “#what10kbuys,” not a discussion of the pros and cons of the individual mandate.
• Former Gov. Jon Huntsman’s speaking Mandarin during a foreign policy discussion in a primary debate.

The 2016 GOP primary has the opportunity to become a vigorous discussion of the pros and cons of certain policies. The likely Republican contenders are certainly not all united on several issues, including immigration and the role of the federal government in education and foreign affairs. Undoubtedly, more differences will emerge as the candidates face pointed questions.

But would-be candidates shouldn’t wait for questions. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., could talk about immigration—an issue he’s been at the forefront of discussion on. Gov. Scott Walker, R-Wis., could talk about the appropriate role of public employee unions, and Gov. Bobby Jindal, R.-La., could discuss education policy.

The focus should be on what candidate has the best policies—not what candidate is best at zingers, or is most likeable, or has the most inspiring life story.

Yes, Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s office’s offer last week to change her position on medical marijuana in exchange for a top Florida donor retracting his comments about her shows voters ignore character entirely at their own peril. But character is not the same as charisma. The president doesn’t need, for instance, to be someone you enjoy seeing on TV. (Although, as leaders as different as Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama show, charisma doesn’t hurt.)

It’s all too easy for a primary to devolve into a war of personalities, with the focus on gaffes and inconsequential quips. But a presidential primary shouldn’t become a reality show, and the campaigns should focus on establishing the candidate who has the best policies, not the best personality.

The likely large field of GOP contenders means 2016 is a valuable opportunity for conservative voters to demand a vigorous, spirited discussion of what policies are best and why. Let’s hope CPAC starts a tradition of 2016 candidates giving speeches doing exactly that.

(Full disclosure: The Heritage Foundation is one of CPAC’s sponsors.)