The Differences Between the Presidential and Vice Presidential Debates of Today
The first presidential debate took place on September 29, 2020. This debate included a lot of interruptions and name calling, which is not what one would usually expect of two presidential candidates. Many described the debate as confusing and chaotic, as current President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden hashed it out on live TV. Over the course of the debate, President Trump interrupted Joe Biden a total of 73 times. Biden became so frustrated by the fact that he could not finish his sentences that at one point he exclaimed, “Will you shut up, man?” Biden went further saying, “It’s hard to get a word in with this clown.” The moderator, Chris Wallace, struggled to maintain order throughout the debate, as he repeatedly had to tell the President to stop speaking over Biden.
In addition to countless interruptions, President Trump launched a series of personal attacks against Biden. Trump attacked Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, on the grounds that he was dishonorably discharged from the military (which is false) and even discussed his history of drug abuse. Trump even made it a point to poke at Biden’s intelligence, saying “Did you use the word smart? You graduated either the lowest or almost the lowest in your class. Don’t ever use the word smart with me, Joe.” Biden did not sit quiet after that, however, calling Trump “the worst president America has ever had.” Biden also said that Trump is a president that “has used everything as a dog whistle to try to generate racist hatred, racist division.”
In contrast, the vice presidential debate, which took place on October 7th, did not include personal attacks, constant interruptions, or a moderator unable to control the discussion. The vice presidential nominees were far more civil than their presidential counterparts. Candidates Kamala Harris and Michael Pence were able to finish their sentences free of interruption for the most part. The first topic that was discussed was the coronavirus, and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris heavily criticized the Trump Administration's response to the pandemic. Vice President Pence defended the administration’s handling of the pandemic, saying that when Trump decided to restrict travel from China towards the end of January, that it was a clear sign that he took the situation seriously. Pence followed in Trump’s footsteps by going over his time limit and responding to Harris’ claims in the middle of her statements. Harris was quick to fire back saying, “Mr. Vice President, I’m speaking. I’m speaking.” Overall, the vice presidential debate was far less chaotic than the presidential debate, but with little time left until the election, candidates on all sides will have to fight to round up voters.
Sources:
Comments