San Dieguito Academy Newspaper

Trump Slightly Upstages Clinton at Debate; Still, No One Wins.

October 10, 2016

Clinton+chose+the+traditional+approach+of+directly+addressing+the+town+meeting%2C+Trump+spoke+to+a+larger+audience.+

Voice of America

Clinton chose the traditional approach of directly addressing the “town meeting”, Trump spoke to a larger audience.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m as much for Hilldigard as the next mildly socialist millennial. However, in terms of debate accomplishments and holding up a strong forefront, I have to give Donald the advantage at the Townhall-Style Debate held last night.

In my eyes, neither candidate won this debate. Traditionally, debates are about explaining clear positions on issues, as well as negating an opponent’s ideas. Neither candidate did this successfully or with any greater purpose accomplished. This debate really functioned as more of a bread and circuses entertainment spectacle, with the country on edge after republican presidential candidate Trump’s campaign went into total freefall over the weekend.

It started with the promise of a showdown. As the candidates emerged, the traditional hand shake was discarded, exchanged with tense emotions and rehearsed build-up. If the candidates couldn’t preview questions, at least they could create headlining actions. Other attempts at publicity stumps included Trump stalking democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton around the stage, Clinton laughing into the camera and breaking the fourth wall like it was “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” and other nasty, nasty actions like Trump bringing former president Bill Clinton’s alleged rape victims to the debate.

Trump, as his campaign team has obviously persuaded him into doing, presented a more cohesive and message-oriented affront than the last debate, yet still keeping with his sensational actions. His solution to his promised repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) was to replace it with “the finest health care plan there is,” a weak and vague response if ever there were one. He interrupted Clinton even after asked to stop, went against VP pick Mike Pence in saying that the US should use military force in Syria, and took pride in his exploitation of the tax code.

However, Trump also attacked Clinton on her problem with gaining the trust of Americans, as well as offered quotes against her from Vermont senator Bernie Sanders. There was obviously more prep and preparedness going into this than the last debate. The campaign had set goals, which were probably to the effect of destroying Clinton and getting the spotlight away from Trump’s questionable plans and the controversial video of his lewd comments toward women. If a video leaked of Mitt Romney bashing 47% of Americans can lose him the election, it speaks volumes that a video of Trump objectifying more than half the population can’t cement his loss. The goals of shifting the focus from Trump to Clinton seemed mostly accomplished by the end of the night.

Although the double standards might be seeping, I think that Clinton had more to offer than what she presented in the debate. Clinton’s an accomplished lawyer, politician, and leader; however, her demeanor leaned more toward the Trump philosophy of self-complementing, question dodging, and exceeding answer time restraints. Trump presented much controversial material at the debate, both new and old, and she ignored or brushed aside much of it to focus on herself. No matter the time constraints, with a debater as accomplished as her, when there’s a will, there’s a way.

The perfect example of her less than superb performance might have been the final questions, where the candidates were asked to compliment each other. Whereas Trump, surprisingly, offered an answer to the effect that Clinton was a fighter who never gave up, Clinton complemented not Trump but his children. She then proceeded to direct the question to talk about herself instead.

Trump’s sensationalist speech remained consistent and Hillary decided to play a bit dirtier. In one of the most disrespectful and hate-filled national debates in American history, no one won. Especially not American citizens.

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About the Contributor
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Mary Ford, Arts Editor

Mary Ford has a dog and his name is Buddy. He is significantly more important than her. Antidisestablishmentarianism-opposing the church of England.

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    Sandy BroweOct 21, 2016 at 1:33 pm

    Great job. You really covered all sides of the debate well. I don’t see how anybody could disagree with anything that you presented

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