Published in yesterday’s Orlando Sentinel “From the Community” page:
Win, Lose or Draw? A scorecard on Clinton Trump debate
Monday night’s debate made it clear: We are dealing with two corrupt candidates. Neither one brings virtue to the table, but both represent a very clear delineation on policy and issue.
For the first time in many years, voters have the opportunity to disregard issues of character and vote for someone who best represents how they feel. So, let’s review:
AMERICA’S PROSPERITY
• The fulcrum of the standard of living in America is jobs. Donald Trump’s approach is to incentivize companies to remain in America, minimize the cost of repatriating profits made abroad, reduce corporate income taxes, and reduce and flatten individual income taxes.
• Hillary Clinton’s approach is to raise the minimum wage, increase family benefits, guarantee free college education, and pay for it by increasing income taxes on “the rich” so that the “wealthy pay for their fair share.”
• Economic prosperity is driven by what Adam Smith, several centuries ago, called the “invisible hand of the market.” It is impractical and foolhardy to attempt to subdue self-interest with ideology. Trump focuses on the pragmatics of the market, whether it is employment or trade; Clinton spouts stale political euphemisms.
Win to Trump.
AMERICA’S EQUALITY
• The fulcrum of race relations in America is racial equality. Trump’s approach is to recognize that political correctness has been ineffective at improving the status of racial minorities in this country — particularly African-Americans. And, in any event, according to Trump, this country needs to have a concerted recommitment to “law and order,” not necessarily irrational in light of the track record of minority violence during the tenure of America’s first African-American president.
• Clinton’s approach is a political one but nonetheless effective. Most effective for her, however, was the birther issue: Not so much because it was a racial issue as much as it has become a credibility issue. As a result, Trump’s credibility was severely damaged and, therefore, his larger position on race was impugned.
• The typical political dribble on what is needed to right the relations between and among the races is hardly effective. Clinton simply promotes that dribble. Nonetheless, Trump, with his incendiary comments, is hardly the standard bearer when it comes to race relations in this country, and his track record as a businessperson as well as his tone-deaf approach to minorities don’t help.
Win to Clinton.
AMERICA’S SECURITY
• The fulcrum of securing America is dissipating global threats while still abroad. Trump’s approach, unlike Teddy Roosevelt’s, is to carry a big stick, be prepared to use it once in a while, and speak loudly.
• Clinton’s is to respect international law and convention, and to continue to justify why we are where we are and why we were not able to procure better outcomes.
• Although there is no question that Clinton understands international relations far more than Trump, the question is where that has gotten us. ISIS is an international menace, the Mideast is crumbling, terrorism invades our newspapers almost daily, and the photos of inflicted human carnage have gone from global venues to Orlando and other American cities on almost a weekly basis.
Draw for Trump and Clinton.
THE CANDIDATES’ TONE
While Trump was relatively controlled, certainly in relationship to his forays during the GOP primary debates, he was still Messerschmitt damaging. As a glib and fearsome dogfighter, he made it difficult for Clinton to land any major body blows.
On the contrary, Clinton was controlled and in character; but her entitled arrogance, condescending smiles and stiff upper lip dissipated her passion. Unable to land debilitating right hooks, she was still effective at her destabilizing defensive and offensive jabs, which incited Trump’s trigger temper.
Draw for Trump and Clinton.
THE FINAL SCORE
Some media boast that Clinton won the debate. Maybe. But while Trump was not “presidential,” he was clear in his mission. And that’s what may determine the winner as far as the voters are concerned.
Integrity is out of the discussion. Character, too. But where we’ve been and where we want to go are not. Trump and Clinton offer opposite ways to get there.
Neither candidate won the day. But Clinton did manage to stop what has been Trump’s escalating momentum: She won reprieve to live to the next debate.
Calculating the score today, with all four contenders? 45 percent Clinton; 43 percent Trump. Bring on the next debate.