Looking both resplendent, and presidential, in her trademark pantsuit, Hillary Clinton took on Republican rival Donald Trump in the first debate before the November election. And by all accounts she won the first debate as the first woman nominated for president by a mainstream political party. In both content, and style, she set out to do what she, and many of her supporters, said she would: show the American electorate that she had the mettle to tangle with the irascible businessman as a skilled debater, something she fine tuned in high school.
Trump on the other hand, without the aid of a teleprompter, managed to falter and stumble, on a number of occasions, but perhaps, most noticeably when he was asked about racism, specifically, police interactions, in a number of high profile cases in the country. Falling back on the now discredited “stop and frisk” tactics used in New York, and later declared unconstitutional, due to bias towards African Americans and Latinos, he declared that it worked, even as moderator, Lester Holt, said that it did not, often talking over him.
Clinton meanwhile hit a fly ball with his “birther” attacks on President Obama, and that he would not disavow them until just before the debate; even trying, and failing, to lay the blame on her. With a series of hard hitting attacks, Clinton, a former prosecutor, used that style to force him to defend the assertions, which he stumbled over, and which, deftly, she called a “racist lie.” She also added, "He has a long record of engaging in racist behavior," Clinton said, as Trump shook his head.
In an attempt to defend himself, somewhat disingenuously, he declared Clinton’s treatment in 2008 when they were competing for the nomination, as roughshod: "You treated him with terrible disrespect and I watch the way you talk now about how lovely everything is ... it doesn't work that way," he said. "When you try to act holier than thou, it really doesn't work.”
The sense that he was on the skids gave way to a moment of weakness, and Clinton closed in on that moment to illustrate the disparaging remarks that he had made about women. As CNN reported, "This is a man who has called women pigs, slobs and dogs," Clinton said. She accused Trump of calling a Latina contestant in a beauty contest "Miss Piggy" and a housekeeper because of her ethnicity, seemingly throwing Trump off as he twice asked "Where did you find this?"
Triumphant that she had scored a hit, Clinton eased back with an air of satisfaction, that was part of a courtroom demeanor, and watched the reaction as Trump, visibly ruffled, tried to recover.
Next up was his refusal to release his tax returns, as she said, "Why won't he release his tax returns?" and without missing a beat, said "Maybe he is not as rich as he says he is," she went on. "Maybe he is not as charitable as he claims to be," "Maybe he doesn't want the American people to know that he has paid nothing in federal taxes."
The latter played a death blow to his base of non-college educated working class people, who pay more than their fair share of taxes. His response? “That makes me smart.” And, this will surely become part of the Clinton juggernaut of emails and ads as she heads into contested areas such as Colorado, or even North Carolina.
While few of Clinton’s supporters were surprised at her performance, the evening at Hofstra University, weakened Trump, for the undecided voter, as he stumbled, faded, and fell back on his usual jingoisms and adjectives such as “amazing”, “bad people”, and “a total mess”.
She, on the other hand was tight, poised, and on message, from beginning to end, and for the first time showed some of the humor that her friends say she possesses, and will be remembered for her best line, when Trump criticized her for staying off the campaign trail: "I think Donald just criticized me for preparing for this debate," she said. "And yes, I did. And you know what else I prepared for? I prepared to be President. And that is a good thing."
Another weak moment for Trump came when he characterized black neighborhoods as being not only virtual gun zones, but also for inserting immigrants in the discussion, as he envisioned them as coming in droves and brandishing weapons, against the residents. Not only was the scenario inaccurate, it also said little for the millions of black families across the nations raising families and doing good, which Clinton, playing to her strong support among African Americans, chastised him.
With more to go in the 43 days before the election, Trump who “came out swinging at the beginning of the debate, and made some effective points on the economy and jobs -- some of the aspects of his outsider presidential campaign that have struck a chord with many Americans. But the debate highlighted Trump's tendency to make false claims as he made inaccurate statements on everything from laws regarding policing, his support for the Iraq War and his contention that Clinton was behind the so-called birther conspiracy.”
On Tuesday, Trump sounded petulant, when he complained about his microphone being deficient, and the tough questions from Holt and as the New York Times said, “defying conventions of civility and political common sense,” defended his remarks about the former Miss Universe contestant’s weight, sounding more and more like the loose cannon his critics claim him to be.
Trump vowing to “hit harder” at the next debate and promising to go after Bill Clinton for his marital infidelities, Ms. Clinton told The Washington Post, in response that “He can run his campaign however he chooses,” she said. “I will continue to talk about what I want to do for the American people.”
Perhaps as Clinton Vice-Presidential running mate, Tim Kaine, suggested, if he is this rattled by a debate, how could he be expected to serve as president?
No comments:
Post a Comment