Editor’s note: The author’s opinions are her own. This opinion piece does not reflect the opinions and views of the paper.
As a little girl, I never really felt the need to pay attention to politics. My family has always been one that cared about politics but being only 5 years old when Former President Obama was sworn in for the second time, I was not paying attention to the political conversations they were having. However, something drastically shifted four years later when it was time to elect the President of the United States in 2016. Most third graders are paying little to no attention to Presidential elections but because of my family’s constant conversation about the importance of this election, I let my curiosity get the best of me. I began paying attention to the discussions happening around my grandparents’ dining room table. We watched in horror as Donald Trump took to the Oval Office, destroying everything previously put in place by President Obama. My family often joked about the party we would have the day we saw Donald Trump in an orange jumpsuit. As I grew older, I really began listening to the discussions, feeling like I could actually hold my own in a room of middle schoolers discussing the 2020 election. Throughout my teen years, MSNBC has served as background noise, my family all clustering in the living room to watch their coverage of special events. MSNBC was on around me so much that I can recite the lineup of hosts and time slots from 4 to 11 from memory. My family has never hidden their strong political opinions which has given me the confidence to never hide mine either. Like my family, I’m a proud Democrat(even though I will not be eligible to vote in this election). This being said I’m very well aware that I have strong opinions on many topics covered in this debate. Due to the fact that I physically do not think I can report the events of the debate neutrally, this will be my personal opinions on the presidential debate that took place this month. I understand that this can be a heated topic but these are simply my thoughts. If it will make you angry to hear me speak negatively about former President Trump this isn’t the article I’d recommend for you. My opinions are not reflective of The Viking Times as The Viking Times is a non-biased news source.
The contrast between the two politicians was on full display on the debate stage. Everything about the way they conducted themselves to their policies could not be more oppositional. Harris showed respect not only for the office she was seeking to hold but also for her opponent. She initiated the debate by walking across the stage to shake former President Trump’s hand. This is significant as it shows the kind of person Kamala Harris is and why she is a better candidate. The handshake symbolizes respect, making her the bigger person in this scenario. Trump had no intention of shaking her hand as he simply headed directly to his own podium. Respect was a predominant theme throughout the debate. When Harris listened to her opponent’s response, she would turn her body and make eye contact with him. She wanted him to physically see that she was listening to him and that she was engaged in what he had to say. However, the handshake at the beginning of the debate was the only time Trump made eye contact with Vice President Harris. While she was speaking, his eyes were lost in the camera or his podium.
Speaking of cameras, the way the two candidates interacted with the cameras was completely different. When Trump would answer a question, it felt as though he was only speaking to the moderators. It did not feel like he was talking to the people at home. However, Harris made a point to engage with both the cameras and the moderators. It felt like she was trying to reach the voters at home, delivering her points to the cameras directly.
It was very clear that the candidates’ preparations for this debate were extremely different. It was obvious that Harris, the prosecutor, had put the time in to be as prepared as she physically could be to go against felon Donald Trump. However, it seemed Trump lacked this preparation. He continuously brought up President Joe Biden, attacking him throughout the debate. His attacks towards Biden may have been effective during the first debate, but in this debate, it just portrayed Trump as confused, as if he did not know who he was actually running against. He went as far as to say, “She is Biden”. This prompted an iconic response from Harris saying, “I’d like to respond to the Former President that you’re not running against Joe Biden, you’re running against me… And clearly I am not Joe Biden.” The fact that Harris had to remind her opponent of her own individuality speaks volumes about Trump as a whole. He cannot let go of the candidate switch from the Democratic Party and it shows. Just because Harris is working directly with President Biden that does not mean that they are the same person. They may hold the same values and have similar policies but to say they are the same person is insulting to Kamala Harris’ own identity.
Donald Trump is notorious for his inability to deliver factual information. This debate was no exception. He lied time and time again but we the viewers were expecting nothing less. However, what no one was expecting was the former president’s claim about pets being eaten by Haitian immigrants. On a debate stage Donald Trump said “In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs, the people that came in. They’re eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of the people that live there and this is what’s happening in our country.” Trump’s claims are so far-fetched that Harris’ reaction is to simply laugh. One of the moderators, David Muir, immediately debunks Trump’s claim but the former president does not let the moment go. He cites Fox News hosts as sources that confirmed the story’s truth. David Muir is quick to fact-check him but still it is genuinely insane that a former President would go as far as to suggest that animals are being consumed. Due to the former President’s claim, Haitian people are being targeted within the community of Springfield. They are now frequent victims of bomb threats and school closures. This is a reminder to us all that words have power, especially if they come from the president.
A large portion of the debate was set aside to speak about Roe v. Wade. Trump is proud that he was the one who overturned it. If elected again, he will incite a national abortion ban. I am not here to tell you how to feel about this particular issue as I know it is a very sensitive topic so all I will say is that a national ban will be extremely dangerous for the women of this country. Linked below is a full article on my thoughts on Roe’s ban.
Trump is presented as a rambling, incoherent mess on the debate stage. He talked around actual answers to many questions, refusing to give a direct response. His points lacked clarity and truly he failed to deliver a real plan for what he will do in office. After four years as president, he still does not have a plan for healthcare, he only has “a concept of a plan.” He was rude not only to Harris but to the moderators as well.
After viewing this debate, the choice is abundantly clear this November. In my opinion, there is only one real option for President and that is Kamala Harris. I have longed to vote since I was nine years old and I cannot tell you how angry I am that I will only be seventeen years old in November. This election is one of grave importance. The way you cast your vote will determine the country I will be allowed to vote for in the next election. I implore you not to sit out and to use your vote to make a positive change for the future. Our independence is on the ballot this November. The question is simply will you vote to save it or will you let it become extinct?
* Watch a recap of debate highlights below:*
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aw5FziSc14
If you’d like to read any of my opinions on topics covered within the debate, I have linked them below:
