The first presidential debate of the 2020 U.S. election camapaign season disgustingly displayed a lack of civility and decorum from two men who are competing against one aonther to ultimately lead this nation.
The choice of Chris Wallace as the moderator (who appeared to have his own agenda) with proved a fiasco; this was reflected in his inability to control the debate.
What TV viewers and radio listeners wound up being treated to was a good old-fashioned brawl; one without gloves on, or fatal punches.
President Trump was begging for trouble with his unrelenting verbal jabs --- perhaps forgetting that in the ring when the referee calls time, you go to your corner, coming out prepared to fight the next round.
It seems as if the president's prep team told him to be the aggressor, given their perception that they had to fight the opponent, moderator, and media in general.
Give them credit, the president’s ability to take them all on without notes was impressive.
Though he had his positions and talking points clearly in mind, it was his demeaning comments noting "There’s nothing smart about him" or the manner of his constant interruptions which proved ultimately proved grating on the nerves.
Former U.S. Senator and Vice President Joe Biden came prepared with notes and an often-expressionless stare giving words reflective of the need for healing without necessarily grounded solutions.
His halting manner of speech and frequent search for the right words hinted cognitive concerns might have surfaced if President Trump had just let him talk.
The follow-up questions on where the money is coming from, for the hypothetical grandiose Biden plan, faltered. Having served in the executive branch of government, the lack of respect for the Office of the President showed in Biden’s calling the president a "liar," and a "clown."
The political parties are entrenched in that have clearly taken up sides and will be all in for their respective candidates.
Biden declared, in essence, that he is the Democratic Party, while the long-held perception has been the GOP is all about Trump.
It will be the Independents, displaced citizens social distancing dislocated from family, friends and jobs, as well as, other nations who viewed it all likely asking themselves, what on earth is going on with respect to the leadership of the United States.
Each party harps on their view that this is the most important election in the history of this nation. They are wrong --- it was the willingness of the signers of the Declaration of Independence who publicly signed away their all to defend their quest and need for freedom. By doing so, they made the greatest of sacrifices.
By establishing the U.S. Constitution, they wrote, declaring "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. . . "
Sadly, at times, we seem to be drifting far away from this.
Benjamin Franklin said, at the time of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, "A Republic, If You Can Keep It."
But it was Ronald Reagan who said,"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."
Perhaps a time-clock and professional debate moderator would instill more fairness in the debates via timing, question distribution, or involvement of the public. To date, in the presidential debates, it's clear that the enemy could be us if we forget what a democracy is and why we fought for it versus a monarchy, socialism, or anything which takes away the need for individual responsibility in establishing our nation and meeting our needs.
No one can take away your right to vote unless you fail to do so.
Instill civics into our educational curriculums so that our children understand what this nation was designed to be, and in turn appreciate their unending responsibility to and for it.
Ada M. Fisher, MD, MPH is a former Medical Director in a Fortune 500 company, licensed teacher, retired physician, former county school board member, speaker, author of "Common Sense Conservative Prescriptions Good for What Ails Us Book 1" and was the NC Republican National Committeewoman (2008-2020). Read Dr. Ada M. Fisher's Reports — More Here.
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