TRUMP, CLINTON CLASH IN DEBATE
TRADE, TAXES, JOBS HIGHLIGHT FEISTY FIRST CONFRONTATION
Hillary Clinton emphatically accused Donald Trump of purposely keeping his personal tax returns and business dealings secret from voters, declaring at the U. S. presidential debate Monday night, “There’s something he’s hiding.”
Trump aggressively tried to turn the openness questions around on Clinton, who is seen by many voters as secretive.
Trump said he would release his tax information when she produces more than 30,000 emails that were deleted from the personal internet server she used as U. S. secretary of state.
The Republican has said he can’t release his taxes because he is under a routine audit. Tax experts have said there is no reason the businessman cannot not make his tax records public during an audit.
Clinton was contrite in addressing her controversial email use, saying simply it was a “mistake.” She did not fall back on excuses she has used for failing to use a government email during her four years as secretary of state.
“If I had to do it over again, I would obviously do it differently,” she said.
Trump countered, “That was more than a mistake.”
Trade, taxes and how to bring back jobs to the United States were key issues in the televised debate.
Clinton asked voters to decide whether she or Trump could “make your life better.”
The Democratic nominee pitched her economic policies as the best way to help most voters. She said Americans should use the first of three debates to assess “who can shoulder the immense, awesome responsibilities of the presidency” and who can “put into action” their plans.
Clinton said her Republican rival was promoting a “Trumped- up” version of trickle- down economics — a philosophy focused on tax cuts for the wealthy. She called for increasing the federal minimum wage, spending more on infrastructure projects and guaranteeing equal pay for women.
Clinton was measured and restrained as Trump repeatedly spoke over her and tried to interrupt. Trump continuously cast her as a “typical politician.”
In one exchange, Clinton said, “I have a feeling that by the end of this evening I’ll be blamed for everything that ever happened.”
Trump interjected, “Why not?”
Tr ump panned pol i - cies that he said have led to American jobs being moved overseas, in part because of trade agreements that Clinton has supported. He accused her of backing away from her support for trade deals for political gain.
“Secretary Clinton and others, politicians, should have been doing this for years,” Trump said, contending she and outgoing President Barack Obama have done little or nothing to stop jobs from flowing overseas.
Disputing his version of events, she said, “I know you live in your reality.”
The debate was the most hotly anticipated moment in a campaign that has been both historic and unpredictable. Both sides were expecting a record- setting audience, reflecting the interest in the race to become America’s 45th president.
The 90- minute debate came six weeks before election day. Despite Clinton’s advantages, including a sophisticated get- out- the- vote operation and a favourable electoral map, the race is exceedingly close.
For Clinton and Trump, the debate was a chance to boost their standing with voters who view both candidates negatively. Clinton struggles with questions about her trustworthiness, while Trump has yet to prove to some voters that he has the basic qualifications to serve as commander in chief.
Clinton criticized Trump early in the debate over a loan he got from his father to start his business career.
Clinton said Trump “really believes the more you help wealthy people, the better off we’ll be.”
Trump conceded t hat his tax plan may benefit the wealthy, but it is also “a great thing for the middle class” because companies would invest more in building their businesses. He said companies want to create jobs but they often move their money overseas because “taxes are so onerous.”
Trump said Democrats and Republicans agree that the U. S. should cut a deal with companies to get them to bring their profits back.
Clinton criticized her opponent’s aggressive stance on trade, saying the U. S. was “five per cent of the world population” and that means having to trade with the other 95 per cent of the world.
Trump touted his plan to create jobs, while claiming that Mexico and other countries were “stealing them.”
“Our j obs are f l eeing the country, they’re going to Mexico and many other countries,” Trump said.
“We have to stop our jobs from being stolen from us.”
Clinton called out Russia and dinged Trump’s frequent praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Clinton also criticized Trump for inviting Russia to find her emails.
Police on Long Island said about 2,000 protesters gathered outside the scene of the debate. Police said 24 people were arrested on mostly disorderly conduct charges.