Donald Trump strikes out
Where to start with the first presidential debate? As Dana Bush of CNN said, “It was a shitshow.” Biden handled the debate as best he could given the circumstances. Biden had a message to deliver — a message that many Americans needed and wanted to hear — Trump’s goal was to drown him out. It was also clear that Trump has nothing, with talk of “plans” that he could not articulate, because they do not exist. When he began talking about “forest management” my mind went back to the time when he said California is not raking the forests, causing fires. The man is a lunatic and an obnoxious, loud-mouthed bully.
The least surprising moment of the evening was Trump’s refusal to disavow racists. How can he? They are the bulk of his base. With Biden egging him on with, “do it,” the best he could do was tell them to “stand down — and stand by.” Most knew what he meant, especially the Proud Boys, who have taken Trump’s call to action to heart. He reiterated his belief that mail-in ballots create “fraud” even as it was pointed out that he has already mailed his ballot to Florida. He used the cringe-worthy words “China virus” in front of millions of people, some of whom are likely Asian and are tired of hearing these inflammatory, racist words, and, of course, Trump continued his lying ways. CNN was fact checking during the debate and said that “there were times, particularly during the conclusion of the debate, when almost every comment from Trump was inaccurate.” Biden called him a liar to his face, and though he tried his best to stay out of Trump’s self-centered fray, Trump pushed him to the limits, causing him to call Trump “Putin’s puppy,” a “fool,” and a “clown” all of which are true. At one point, Biden asked, “Will you shut up, man?” Amen to that.
One of the things that Trump most needed to do was to attract new and/or undecided voters to his campaign. He failed miserably. He should have listened to the people who wanted to advise and prepare him because, in most cases, even as he tried to make a point, Biden was able to turn it back on him. One important issue, as reported by CNN, is Trump’s claim that a Biden presidency will destroy the suburbs, whatever that means. Biden was ready for him: “He wouldn’t know a suburb unless he took a wrong turn. I was raised in the suburbs. This is not 1950. All these dog whistles and racism don’t work anymore. Suburbs are by and large integrated.” He is correct, and that in and of itself reveals just how out of touch Trump is with the rest of the world.
By the time the debate ended, Biden was the participant who looked more presidential. According to CNN’s watch panel of voters, Biden won the debate 60% to 28%. There should be no Black people still willing to support Trump after his blatant show of racism, and that goes for every other minority. If he does not like us, he does not like you either.
Shirley is a former entertainment writer and has worked in the legal field for over 25 years