Castanza, you have a bunch of different parts of the debate in your post so it is a little confusing. So let’s just look at one issue. The really cool thing is the debate was actually taped so there is kind of proof exactly was was said. And Trump was very clear. If you want to understand what a person stands for often the best thing to do is simply listen to what they say. Then we don’t need to guess... we kind of know... because they actually said it :-) You know... the words come out of their mouth one by one.
Question: Will Trump condemn white supremacist groups?
Answer? No. In fact he promotes one of the groups on national television.
Proof? Go to the web site of Proud Boys. They are running with Trumps words of support. Might just be time for a little recruitment drive :-) maybe buy a few more guns... the President needs out help!
Holy white supremacist militia batman. Who needs the law enforcement or the FBI. The US now has Proud Boys to do whatever the President wants. The US will now be a much safer country. That guy Trump is a stable genius. Gasoline everywhere. Good thing there is not an election or something really important right around the corner. All it would take is a match... and kaboom.
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“Are you tonight willing to condemn white supremacist and militia groups, and to see they need to stand down and not add to the violence in a number of these cities as we saw in Kenosha, and as we’ve seen in Portland?” moderator Chris Wallace asked.
“I would say almost everything I see is from the left wing,” Trump responded. “Not from the right wing… I want to see peace.”
Then do it, sir,” Wallace replied.
“What do you want me to call it?” Trump said amid cross-talk.
“Proud Boys,” Biden said, referring to the far-right street-fighting gang that rallied in Portland, Oregon, this past weekend.
“Proud Boys? Stand back and stand by,” said Trump. “But I'll tell you what, somebody's gotta do something about antifa and the left, because this is not a right-wing problem; this is a left-wing problem.”
https://youtu.be/KcaypAUnqcYViking what I said was directly from the clip I posted. It was all the same sequence and exchange....you left out a few things that give more context.
Chris' questions started with ”You have repeated criticized the VP for not specifically calling out antifa”“Are you tonight willing to condemn white supremacist and militia groups, and to see they need to stand down and not add to the violence in a number of these cities as we saw in Kenosha, and as we’ve seen in Portland?” moderator Chris Wallace asked.
“I would say almost everything I see is from the left wing,” Trump responded. “Not from the right wing… I want to see peace.”
You forgot the "sure"Then do it, sir,” Wallace replied.
“What do you want me to call it?” Trump said amid cross-talk.
“Proud Boys,” Biden said, referring to the far-right street-fighting gang that rallied in Portland, Oregon, this past weekend.
“Proud Boys? Stand back and stand by,” said Trump. “But I'll tell you what, somebody's gotta do something about antifa and the left, because this is not a right-wing problem; this is a left-wing problem.”
When Trump says: "“But I'll tell you what, somebody's gotta do something about antifa and the left, because this is not a right-wing problem; this is a left-wing problem.”He is changing the context. This is classic Trump dialogue where he almost never stays on a focused subject. He is taking the conversation back to just before Chris asked the question. I you look at the clip I posted Trump says "they do not want to accept the National Guard". I don't believe this quote is Trump telling the proud boys to "handle things." At least that is how it came across to me. People will see what they want to see.
When Trump is saying this Biden interjects and says "His own FBI director says Antifa is an idea not an organization." then goes on to say "everyone tells you the truth."
Biden was agreeing with the FBI and this is backed up by him saying the "everyone tells you the truth" part.
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Biden has not denounced Antifa. The only thing he said was that crime should be punished.
Trump said recently " Racism is evil and those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including the kkk, neo-nazi white supremacists and other hate groups."
Trump said previously (the famously misquoted statement) "Many people in that group
other than neo-nazis and white nationalists. They should be condemned" second condemnation " and I'm not talking about the neo-nazis and white nationalists."
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Things I would have liked to see addressed more
- Biden's tax plan
- Biden's healthcare plan
- Trumps healthcare plan
- Biden's approach to energy and his thoughts on fossil fuels
- Biden's international policy specifically China
- Biden's "saving grace" Covid-19 plan
Biden didn't really give us any idea of what a presidency under his administration would look like. It was the same old jargon "I will fix it" that he has been saying for 40+ years. I still understand why Trump was elected and I can still see the value in it. He was basically a wrench in the cog to shake up American politics. He brought to light the good and the bad in our system and hopefully people are waking the F up. Biden/Harris is NOT the direction this country needs to go although another 4 years of Trump does give me pause. As I said, I've already made up my decision. I think others should consider third party candidates as well. It's the only way out of the death spiral that is the two party system.
Edit: Lastly it felt like Trump approached this debate as a press conference. Pretty clear by his lack of adherence to the established rules. He wanted a follow up for every Joe comment.
