The highly anticipated first presidential debate took place in Cleveland last night. Despite the Biden campaign’s request for breaks every 30 minutes, Joe Biden managed to stay upright though not unaffected by President Trump’s verbal assaults. The President’s strategy to disrupt Biden was evident early on and worked in some instances as the former Vice President told Trump to “shut up” and resorted to name calling, referring to him as a “liar,” “racist,” and “clown.”
President Trump seemed to have two debate opponents last night as the FOX News moderator, Chris Wallace wore many hats. When Biden interrupted Trump and the two men were talking over each other, he acted much like a playground monitor. On occasion, he appeared to act as a Biden campaign surrogate when he did not provide the President opportunity for pushback to Biden’s perpetuation of a number of liberal narratives including, the President’s comments about “fine people” at a neo-Nazi rally in Charlottesville in 2017 that were distorted by the media. He also allowed Biden to claim that Antifa does not exist without any follow-up questions regarding the destruction done by the group in American cities. Wallace also carried the water for liberals with his climate change questions. He argued with the President about his interruptions, even though Biden was retaliating with interruptions of his own throughout the night.
Trump landed some solid blows with his explanation of his authority to nominate Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court and had some great one-liners that befuddled Biden, like telling him to not “ever use the word “smart” with me” when the former Vice President referred to his intelligence. Biden, drawing on 47 years’ worth of debate experience, struck Clintonesque poses when he looked directly into the camera to somewhat dramatically address the television audience with vague platitudes. Biden did say confusing things last night like professing that the Green New Deal would pay for itself in time and then admitting that he didn’t support it — in the same sentence. He also said that America’s suburbs were being burned and flooded because of climate change and tornadoes were striking the Midwest due to global warming.
When Wallace asked the candidates if violence in American cities is a party issue, President Trump delivered an effective sound byte when he said, “Yes. Look at Chicago.” Biden also refused to answer questions regarding packing the Supreme Court and could not name any law enforcement agency that endorsed his candidacy when pressed by President Trump.
There was much arguing and disruption throughout this debate and it failed to deliver any substantive discussion on policy. Both men were on the attack and their dislike for each other dominated the evening. Supporters of both Biden and President Trump are probably pleased with what they saw last night, but the debate did little to give those undecided voters the fundamental reasons they need to decide who to support in November. There are two more debates on the calendar which (hopefully) means two more opportunities for the public to compare and contrast these two men with very different visions for America.
Andrew Mangione is Senior Vice President for AMAC’s advocacy affiliate, AMAC Action. He leads AMAC’s grassroots efforts, represents AMAC’s membership in Washington, D.C., and helps chart the association’s policy course. He also serves as a national spokesperson.