Question Time for Obama and the GOP? It's a Bloody Bad Idea

Who wasn't heartened by last week's frank dialogue between President Obama and House Republicans? But count me as disheartened by calls for regular such meetings, as outlined by our own David Corn and a broad coalition of the commentariat.

They're taking their cue from the British House of Commons' regular Q&A sessions with the prime minister. They should be careful what they wish for -- and all should watch or listen to one of those gatherings on C-SPAN.org or C-SPAN Radio. I've sampled plenty over the years, and sometimes wondered whether I'd stumbled onto a broadcast of "The Jerry Springer Show."

Hooting, hollering, jeering, the hurling of insults -- it's all there. (Okay, the "audience" is better dressed, coiffed and, apparently, less-tattooed than on "Springer," but it's the ethos that I'm talking about.)

Think I'm exaggerating? Check out this week's 32-minute sampler. It all starts out well, with a somber salute to two fallen British soldiers, but once that's done, decorum leaves the building. Questioners may direct their comments to "my honorable friend," but honorable behavior, in many cases, is thinly disguised, if at all.

When the opposition leader, David Cameron, is given the floor, a sour chorus of "yeahs" goes up, and Cameron doesn't hold back: In the blink of an eye he's vociferously calling Gordon Brown's denial of defense cuts "rubbish" and takes off from there, casting what can charitably be called aspersions on Brown and his party.

Shouts ensue, Brown responds in defiant, angry tones. Despite regular and emphatic calls from House Speaker John Bercow for "Or-dah! Or-dah!," the exchanges don't improve. It's the old adage of discussion that generates heat but no light.

And all this from the ever-so-proper Brits. Can you imagine what U.S.-style encounters could degenerate into, given that we already have at least one House member who couldn't suppress the impulse to shout "You lie!" during the president's address to a joint session of Congress? If that was a serious occasion, what will we get when no holds are barred?

The president and the GOP were applauded for what happened in Baltimore last Friday, especially for letting the TV cameras observe it all. But let's leave well enough alone, and limit these exchanges to, say, once a year. That might tamp down some darker impulses: Given the American attraction to smoke and flames -- and the TV ratings that follow -- it wouldn't be long before bluster and partisanship (or is that showmanship?) overwhelm meaningful communication.