First US presidential debate not an edifying spectacle
Tuesday’s US presidential debate between incumbent president and Republican Party nominee Donald Trump and Democratic opponent Joe Biden was an indictment of American-style democratic process. Trump, the bullying kindergarten spoiler, was as boorish as he mostly has always been. Debate moderator Chris Wallace had his hands full, variously reminding Trump that “you’re debating him, not me”, “the country would be better served if we allowed both people to speak with fewer interruptions” and, “frankly you’ve been doing more interrupting”.
Trump in equal measure discharged slurs about his opponent, and lies about his own achievements in office.
He refused to answer a litany of questions, ranging from how much taxes he paid before and during his presidential term, to whether he was prepared to rein in white supremacist groups which have asserted themselves in some American cities.
Wallace skimmed through critical considerations such as the confirmation of a nominee to fill the Supreme Court vacancy left by the recent death of justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. He gave short shrift to the legal and ethical justification for confirming Trump nominee Amy Coney Barratt, even if Biden’s challenge of Trump was weakest on this issue.
And there was little discussion of the societal implications of overturning key precedents on abortion and healthcare.
Biden occasionally was able to ignore the interruptions and address viewers directly, speaking firmly and clearly on policies. He also achieved what few others have done force Trump to listen to strong criticism, though there is unlikely to be a long term benefit of holding up a mirror to this president.
Mostly, Biden was left exasperated by the “clown” Trump, eventually lashing out “will you shut up man?”
It is questionable how many voters still depend on this archaic made-for-television buffoonery to make up their minds about either a party or a candidate in a presidential election.
The current spectacle is neither a test of a candidate’s calibre to lead a nation state under usual circumstances, let alone during moments of national or international crises nor a robust but civil platform on which to effectively assess their positions on important issues to voters.
Americans must reclaim the virtue of rational debate, the exchange of views in pursuit of humanity’s highest ideals, and do away with the imbecility on display this week. Internationally, nation states must also ensure American discourse as personified by Trump does not become the standard for bilateral negotiating forums.
The current spectacle is neither a test of a candidate’s calibre to lead a nation state