Clinton and Trump owe us more than another fight
America’s anxiety election is about to become the political equivalent of Monday Night Raw.
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, the two most unpopular candidates in modern history, are set to face off in the most watched presidential debate in television history. The worry is that they will spend the evening tearing down each other rather than building up themselves.
According to various estimates, anywhere from 60 million to 120 million viewers will tune in for what everyone believes will be a raucous back and forth between Madam Blasé and Mr. Bluster.
Early last week, the Commission on Presidential Debates announced the three general topics for the first of three meetings between Clinton and Trump — America’s direction, achieving prosperity and securing America.
But thanks to the calamitous events of recent days, embedded in each of those topics will be the inescapable issue of race and culture in America. Our inability to discuss race — without the conversation devolving into anger, defensiveness and distrust — impacts this country’s direction, its prosperity and its security.
So I will be listening for the following messages:
Whether Clinton can offer a cogent plan to effectively fight homegrown terrorism, and whether she can speak passionately and convincingly about ways to grow the African-American and Latino middle class.
Whether Trump can address race in America without resorting to the insulting and patronizing lines he’s used recently about crime, lack of education and hopelessness.
And whether either candidate can articulate a remedy for the seemingly irreparable strain between local police and the AfricanAmerican community.
The truth is, most Americans have already made up their minds about their candidate of choice in this election. For most Trump supporters, their distaste for Clinton is so visceral, it won’t matter if their guy comes across as boorish and inept.
Conversely, even lukewarm Clinton supporters view her Republican rival as a con man and the most illprepared presidential candidate in our lifetime.
Which means this is an election filled with anxiety, and viewers will be tuning in Monday night for a sideshow of name-calling and gaffes. And that’s a shame, because we deserve much more.
We expect Clinton to be knowledgeable. But we need her to be inspiring and relatable.
We can assume that Trump will be boisterous. But we need him to be competent and caring.
The angst over recent homegrown terrorist bombings in New York and New Jersey, and the terrorist-inspired knife attacks in Minnesota will weigh heavily on Monday’s debate. As will the fatal police shooting of unarmed Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, along with the racial unrest in Charlotte.
So, instead of frivolous insults, let’s hope both candidates give the American electorate what it desperately needs — a genuine sense that they are capable of leading the free world.