We are told that 24 million people watched the Presidential debate on Thursday night sponsored by The Fox News Network. Unfortunately, 24 million people learned nothing about how the republicans would move the country and its people forward and continue the economic expansion, job creation and falling deficits taking place or how they would address tax inequality and the great divide in income between the wealthy and the average American.
Over 50 years ago Vice President Richard Nixon and U.S. Senator John Kennedy participated in the first ever television Presidential debate. Television was not as advanced then as it is today, but the people witnessed a debate of substance and two Presidential candidates who articulated their policy and hopes for the future. The moderator was not caught up in political party's and sought questions that was timely to the happenings and issues at the time. Now 50 years later I can say in my judgement the television debate process has regressed. And the Fox News Network, politics and the news media in general are responsible for the regression. The following is this writers thoughts on Thursday night's debate debacle.
Fox news three moderators were unprofessional and displayed a lack of respect for their own profession and the role of a moderator in a debate. They took it upon themselves to attack Donald Trump, the dominate republican candidate on the debate stage. That is not the role of an impartial moderator. They also invited and opened the door for the republican candidates to attack Clinton.
Trump stood tall when he stuck to his past statement of not ruling out a third party run. He also ended the silly questions on immigration that wasted so much time when he declared, NO ONE UP HERE WAS TALKING ABOUT IMMIGRATION UNTIL I BROUGHT IT UP WEEKS AGO. Trump's opponents and the Fox moderators offered no rebuttal. Trump also ended the Iraq discussion when he reminded every one he said early on the Iraq war would destabilize the country. He was right of course and no one offered a rebuttal on that subject either. Trump also ate Chris Wallace's lunch concerning the silly bankruptcy question.
Ohio governor John Kasich, by his own words came across as the most moderate of all the candidates. That is hard to find in today's republican party. His comments were Presidential and refused to attack Clinton even though the Fox moderator offered him that opening in his question. He also had an answer on same sex couples. He believes all people should be respected. When Kasich served in the U.S. House he was not a moderate by any means. He was one of the many republicans in congress to use personal attacks and voted to impeach President Clinton. As the campaign progresses we will find out who is the real John Kasich.
Ben Carson's answers were Presidential and displayed an overall knowledge of the problems facing America. He also displayed his witty side. Jeb Bush flubbed the Iraq question once again when he said the war was an intelligence failure. Of course adults who lived during that war know it was his brother and Dick Cheney who cooked the intelligence. Bush never really seemed connected and his answers were a programmed stump speech.
Marco Rubio displayed his debate talent but his words ring hollow. He is part of the republican party who vowed to do nothing that would help President Obama. He is also part of the republican controlled congress that will continue to kick immigration reform down the road until after the 2016 election. He and the party do not want to explain their position on immigration to the people in an election year. Rubio's remark about democrats and God displayed the republican's inability to accept the God whose name they often invoke and inject into politics.
Rand Paul had a heated exchange with Chris Christie about a matter that goes back to 9-11 concerning the NSA's collection of intelligence. That matter has already been debated in congress and acted upon. Congress as a whole has not handled the issue very well and was a non starter. Both of their position on the Iran deal matter more than NSA.
The last question to the candidates by the Fox moderator about "speaking with God today" was the usual attempt by Fox news and the republicans to inject religion into the Presidential debate and campaign as a wedge and divisive issue. They would like to see the U.S. become like the middle east where religion is used to justify extreme positions. Fox news and the republican party has cast aside one of the Ten Commandments that tells us, THOU SHALT NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD THY GOD IN VAIN. This writer believes the Lord thy God would not approve of the way Fox news and the republican party uses his name for political reasons.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
