WHAT’S THE STORY?
They are the people that not even the claimed wealth of President Donald Trump can buy and yesterday the Commission for Presidential Debates (CPD) proved its independence of all political sides by declaring that the second presidential election debate would need to be held virtually.
Rather than have coronavirus-victim Trump and his Democrat opponent, former Vice-President Joe Biden, on a stage in Miami, Florida, next Thursday, for a “town hall” style second debate, the two candidates for the election on November 3 were told they would have to do the debate virtually, presumably via a better internet connection than most people get.
The reason was simple – the virus. The CPD stated: “In order to protect the health and safety of all involved with the second presidential debate, scheduled for October 15, 2020, the CPD announced the following: “The second presidential debate will take the form of a town meeting, in which the candidates would participate from separate remote locations.
READ MORE: Do Boris Johnson and Donald Trump think positivity is an antiviral?
“The town meeting participants and the moderator, Steve Scully, senior executive producer and political editor, C-SPAN Networks, will be located at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County in Miami, Florida. The White House Pool will provide coverage of the second presidential debate.”
Cue Trump on Fox Business:
“I’m not going to waste my time on a virtual debate ... that’s not what debating’s all about; you sit behind a computer and do a debate, it’s ridiculous.”
The real reason for pulling out may be found in his next words: “And then they cut you off whenever they want.”
Trump, of course, conducted the first debate the way he wanted, interrupting Biden and moderator Chris Wallace and generally talking over them both.
SURELY HE CAN’T BE SERIOUS?
You would think that the man who is supposed to be the master of the medium would not spurn a chance to go on television and stick it to his opponent. Except that he tried that in the first debate and most independent viewer polls showed that Biden won and Trump really annoyed a lot of voters with his conduct.
Trump is also known to believe that host Steve Scully is against him, which Scully denies.
Having had his bout with Covid-19, which is known to affect some people mentally, perhaps Trump’s brain really isn’t up to it. Also, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that hospitalised patients who need oxygen – as Trump did – should self-isolate for 20 days.
READ MORE: Donald Trump's election campaign in tatters as more staff fall ill
Now everyone knows that the 45th President could have a change of heart and demand to get back in, but at the time of writing he does appear to have withdrawn from the second debate, but not the debate scheduled for October 22 as long as it’s face-to-face.
Vermont senator and former Democrat contender Bernie Sanders was asked about Trump withdrawing from the debate. Sanders said: “That was 12 seconds ago right? He may have changed his mind since then.”
WHAT’S JOE BIDEN SAYING?
Senator Biden had already voiced his doubts about the second debate after the president was treated for Covid-19. His campaign said yesterday they would host their own “town hall” meeting on October 15 and asked that the second debate be moved back to October 22.
The Trump campaign was sticking to it guns, saying a virtual debate would allow Biden to sit in a basement and be fed by a teleprompter – nonsense, as the CPD doesn’t allow them – and claimed the CPD was trying to protect Biden after Vice-President Mike Pence “wiped the floor” with Democrat vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris in their debate in the early hours of yesterday morning.
The prospect of the third presidential debate being moved to October 29 just five days before the election has also been mooted.
DID PENCE BEAT HARRIS?
Predictably the Republicans say yes, but the Democrats say their candidate easily bested him. Independent commentators – honest, there still are some in the USA – either called it a draw or gave it to Harris.
It was a reasonably civilised debate, with both candidates avoiding tough questions, but Harris made the most telling point by saying that Trump’s handling of the pandemic was “the greatest failure of any presidential administration”.
Pence clearly failed to land the necessary knockout blow which Trump could have followed up with in the second debate. Except that he’s chucked it, for now.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel