Trump and Biden bicker on stage to an empty room while moderator Chris Wallace observes. photo courtesy of Northwest Public Broadcasting
Presidential candidates Donald Trump and Joe Biden, along with their vice presidential counterparts, took the stage against one another, leaving many questions unanswered.
2020 has been a year of never-ending surprises, so it is fitting that it will end with perhaps one of the most important presidential elections—one that is guaranteed to be a messy one, to say the least. With a worldwide pandemic, protests in the streets, and a recently filled seat on the Supreme Court, this upcoming election has the anxiety of the American people building by the day.
President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden appeared on stage together for the first time during their campaigns on the 29th of September. Although the event did not take place in front of a live crowd, it managed to amass 73 million viewers across the country. Chris Wallace, a journalist, and anchor for Fox News moderated the debate. The 90 elongated minutes were filled with frequent interruptions and incoherent cross-talking that fired like bullets back and forth. It mirrored a conversation from a standard American family Thanksgiving dinner: two dads (Biden and Trump) yelling across the table about something of little relevance to the subject at hand, such as the Dallas Cowboys, while their wives (Chris Wallace and the rest of America) attempt to discuss the argument, but are met with significant uproar. The candidates were asked about the Supreme Court, coronavirus, the economy, racial violence, their records, and the integrity of the election. The debate was intended to give Americans the chance to see each candidate go head-to-head with their insight on the many issues of our nation.
Avery Shunneson, a registered voter and senior at TJ, described the importance of the debates by saying, “It gives us American voters the chance to compare each candidate’s policies and morals and how they respond to questions under pressure.” The second debate was set to take place on October 15th, until President Trump tested positive for COVID-19. After Trump refused to do a virtual debate, the second debate was canceled entirely, meaning voters will only get one more chance to see the two candidates duke it out. The final debate took place on October 22nd at 7 p.m.
After an unorthodox and emotional first presidential debate, the vice presidential debate displayed a more traditional and respectful form of the affair. Senator Kamala Harris and Vice President Mike Pence took the stage together on October 7th. While the debate was not likely to change many voters’ minds or alter the path of the race, it did show a strong contrast between the two parties’ agendas on topics such as health care and the economy. As this debate consisted of a little less foul mouthedness than its presidential predecessor, the biggest news from the night was a fly. Yes, a fly. The insect landed on Mike Pence’s head and remained there for several minutes, while everyone except Pence himself noticed. Instantly, the fly was trending across all social media as users were unable to resist weighing in with jokes.
As our country inches closer to the big day of the election, November 3rd, it is highly encouraged that all eligible voters exercise their rights and hit those polls. Talk with other citizens about their voting plans and encourage those around you to vote. Our country is very divided as we are at a crossroad in American history. Now is the time to unite with your fellow citizens because now more than ever, we must come together.
