Silly question: Did you look at the garb of the audience as they gave that standing ovation?

[Stinky The Clown]

Most of the men had suits and ties on. The women appeared to be quite dressed up.

Do you wear a tie often?

Do you even own a tie?

Am I drawing a conclusion from a stereotype?

[Chipper Chat]

1. They all got a memo from John Boehner

stating that "proper attire will be required of all Jacksonville debate-bots."

[gkhouston]

2. No tie, no bus ride, is my guess. n/t

[high density]

3. I wear ties at funerals, weddings, and job interviews

I could possibly seeing myself put on a sport jacket to go to a nationally-televised debate, but I'd skip the tie.

[hobbit709]

6. Haven't owned a tie since I was discharged from the Air Force in 1973.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

4. Not surprising actually

I still have a tuxedo somewhere...

[gateley]

5. I certainly don't think "suits and ties" when I think of Florida! nt

[RKP5637]

7. They all got the memo!

[Warpy]

8. And in Florida, no less!

anybody who wears a suit there is either wealthy enough to turn the AC up all the way all the time or is so poor the old business suits are the only things left that haven't gone to rags. Everybody else is dressed in muu muus and Guayaberas or shorts and t-shirts.

Maybe they flew them in from someplace else.

[Broderick]

9. Hate ties

Not only do they look silly to me seeing someone wear one but I think they look silly on me and are uncomfortable and a bother.

[hobbit709]

12. Same here. I won't wear one of those Croatian self-strangulation devices.

[tularetom]

10. I'm retired I don't need no stinking tie

I was forced to buy one when my granddaughter got married.

[Raine]

11. I don't see anything wrong in dressing up

for what you feel is something important. If I went to see Obama I would get all dressed up. being a repuke and believing that BS is what I have a problem with.

[FarLeftFist]

13. They're mostly all multi-millionaires. Except that woman who qualifies for Obamacare yet complains.

[riverwalker]

14. reminds me of Bush

"this is an impressive crowd..the haves and the have mores....some call you the elite..I call you my base"

[onehandle]

15. The sheets were in the laundry. nt

[DCKit]

20. Snap! nt

[raouldukelives]

16. I don't understand the tie.

Is it for keeping your neck warm? A handy hanky? A colorful soup bib? If you cinch it too tight will you lose oxygen to your brain and start to understand AM radio?

[Lint Head]

17. They want to emulate ther heroes on the stage.

[AndyTiedye]

18. I Bought a White Suit from Goodwill and TieDyed It

It's some kind of permanent press, but the dyes held anyway. A bit pastel, but that's OK for a suit.
It's over 20 years old, and not showing any significant wear (but I only wear it a few times a year).

I can wash it and dry it and it's ready to wear.
Not like all the others I have owned that had to go to the ¢leaner$ and come back reeking of chemicals.

Yeah, the tie is tiedyed too.

[JDPriestly]

19. A fancy-dress fundraiser will take place after the debate.

[emilyg]

21. I see nothing wrong with

dressing up.

[ClassWarrior]

22. Are you really that confused, or do you pretend to be to...

...wind people up?

NGU.

[emilyg]

23. Are you sure we need

to pick on how people dress?

[EOTE]

26. I don't think the OP is picking on how they dress.

Just noting that it appears that they were somehow coached to dress as they did. I really doubt this is typical Florida attire.

[Hugabear]

24. I'm sure the audience was predominantly white

I'm guessing the majority of the audience was white, Protestant, largely upper-middle class

[trackfan]

25. Seems odd in Florida, and in this day and age. That said, I'm not against the tie.

I put one on occasionally, even when not required or expected. Good trick: Wear a dress shirt and tie when you get your driver's license! Looking like a conservative Republican on your ID picture can help ease you out of a lot of minor jams with the authorities.

[MrCoffee]

27. I thought the same thing about a thread not too long ago...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002156436

Several people in that pic are more dressed up for dinner out than I would ever be.

[pinboy3niner]

28. It's better than what they wore to the earlier debates...

[MineralMan]

29. I own a dozen or so ties.

I have a well-fitting suit. I also have slacks and blazers. I have a tux, too, from the years when I was a semi-pro musician. It's still in good shape, and I wear it maybe once every five years. 99% of the time, I wear jeans and a flannel shirt. But, when the occasion arises, I clean up pretty well. And it does arise, from time to time.

These days, the suit is worn mostly at funerals. The generation before me is dying off too quickly, and my own generation is losing a few people every year. So, the suit gets some wear. The slacks and sports coats and blazers get worn to meetings with clients, if that's the way they'll be dressed. Why not? It's my living.

What would I wear to a primary candidate debate? I'm not sure. I don't usually attend such things.

[LeftinOH]

30. There's nothing wrong with dressing up;

it's what grown-ups do.. regardless of politics.

[Aristus]

31. Probably.

Ideologically, I'm so far to the left, I'm about to fall off.

I own about five suits, ten sport coats, about 25 pairs of shoes, and upwards of fifty ties.

I like clothes. Has nothing to do with ideology...