The road not taken

LARRY ANDERSON
Larry Anderson

When Donald Trump sewed up the Republican nomination, my feeling was he should immediately announce that he would not debate his Democratic opponent.

By making that declaration early, the public would have known right away that debates were not an option. Hillary Clinton, of course, would’ve declared Trump a coward and a rascal, but that noise would’ve subsided. Advantage: Trump.

My reasons for supporting this tactic are as follows:

For one, Trump does okay in speeches and interviews, but he can’t debate worth a darn. He is too loud, too repetitious, too defensive. He is also easily distracted by minor points and by the accusations of racism and sexism that are standard to the Left.

For another, Hillary Clinton is a lawyer and a professional politician who is skilled in debate and coached to the point of unemotional redundancy. I knew Trump would have trouble countering Clinton’s perfectly rehearsed themes.

Also, I knew sympathetic Big Media would declare Clinton the winner of all debates even if Trump managed to score on the validity of the issues only he will talk about.

I also felt the moderator would assist Clinton far more than Trump, and that is what happened, as anyone who watched Debate One can testify. Analysis following the event bore this out.

I surmised too that Trump’s position on the real issues would be passed over in favor of exaggerated social points. That happened too. The first debate wasn’t substantive in regard to America’s most pressing problems but made clear the issues of 50 years ago still drive the liberal message truck with Hillary as the aging teamster.

I use the term “debate” loosely here. Debate One was actually more of an argument.

Pressing issues were soon lost in the clamor.

For instance, there was no discussion of ObamaCare and the enormous burden this program has placed on the middle class that supports it. No one talked about its impact on small businesses, on job opportunities and economic growth, or its rising cost.

Clinton focused instead on Trump’s not releasing his tax returns, which had beans to do with anything.

No one talked about Obama’s release of prisoners from Gitmo or the commutation of sentences for criminals. Clinton wasn’t asked if she approved of these moves or if she would take similar actions herself.

Instead, Trump’s word choices from decades ago were examined.

I don’t recall any meaningful discussion during Debate One of the proliferation of drugs or the rise of drug use. The candidates weren’t asked to defend the connection between the Left’s tacit approval of recreational drugs and the rise in drug abuse.

Clinton didn’t have to explain the flow of drugs and illegal immigrants across our border, nor did she have to protect her “build bridges instead of walls” homily, as if that would solve anything.

She didn’t have to deal with the horrible murder rate in Chicago or the connection between that rise in crime and drug gangs.

No one was asked to explain why unemployment among young blacks is higher now than 50 years ago. No one was asked if the welfare state is a success or failure. No one defined the welfare state as a massive redistribution of wealth from the productive to the nonproductive, a socialistic act that binds recipients to the party of the Left.

Clinton didn’t have to defend her position on abortion on demand or its place in ObamaCare. She didn’t have to justify the fact that folks who are morally opposed to abortion are nevertheless being forced to pay for it.

There were many things not addressed, but at least Clinton admitted using an unsecured technology while secretary of state was a mistake.

What she did not bring up was the fact she willfully ignored protocol and stalled during the investigation that followed. Many pages of communications have still not been released. These deliberate, calculated actions were more than a mistake.

Clinton’s discomfort on stage suggested she was resentful of being called on that particular issue, but at least she wasn’t all smug and smirky for the moment.

The moderator, if you can call him that, let the brevity of her defense slide like slime across porcelain.

Unfortunately, so did Donald Trump, who could have opened up many legitimate points concerning his opponent if he hadn’t been preoccupied with defending himself over minor points.

The road before him was open and smooth. He just didn’t take it then. He was much better in Debate Two.