Concept of a Debate
It was over when it started
9:01.
Following the debate people online were debating not who won, but at what point did Vice President Harris win. There are a few moments (and facial expressions) people point to, but to me, it was 9:01—the moment VP Harris walked up to Donald Trump and MADE him shake her hand when it was clear he had no intention of doing so. For a man who spent the days leading up to the debate ranting about how the prospect of VP Harris using a lift or platform to make her look taller (aka more manly aka more respectable) the 5 foot 4ish VP made the allegedly 6 foot 3 man look small. Very small. And it was on.
If allowed, I’d like to share my perspective on what took place after that moment and what it signaled to me moving forward.
Going into the debate I was skeptical. I thought at best the Vice President could stand her ground and not get Joe Bidened on national television. Not doubting her ability or knowledge or debate skills—she has all of that. But I had a football coach that often said to never argue with a fool because then people watching may not know the difference. I always believed that to be true and rarely engage with nonsense, but, and RIP to coach Gant, he may have been wrong. The Vice President not only held her ground, she shook the foundation in a tight race.
The debate start was pretty standard…economy blah blah are you better off than you were four years ago…blah blah. If we are using boxing, the round was a draw. No one said anything earth shattering aside from it still being blatantly clear that the graduate of Wharton still doesn’t know what a tariff is or how they work. Then came a question on abortion and the Vice President ascended where Trump began a series of missteps that would endure the duration of the debate.
On abortion, the Vice President accurately described the bleak reality of reproductive care following the overturning of Roe. It isn’t hyperbole, people are dying because in many cases the medical decisions are now left to lawyers, judges, and other non-doctors who are tasked with deciphering unclear discrepancies in the law and possible criminal charges for acting. Trump, however, doubled down on his appointment of the justices who made this decision possible and incorrectly stated that most people, everyone, wanted Roe overturned—which given the person debating him just said they weren’t in favor makes his claim of everyone false—but whatever.
Not to do a play-by-play recap, the debate pretty much went that way with the Vice President giving substantive answers and pointing out the contrast with her opponent and the former President arguing the same three untruths and making personal attacks. Rinse and repeat.
But there were things I noticed that I’m sure others saw as well. For example, while Trump ranted about the debunked and racist trope of immigrants eating pets in Ohio (what a country) the Vice President was taking notes on the legal pad prepping for more responses. Actually, looking at the notebooks one candidate scribbled what looked like four pages of notes while one never even did so much as make a check mark. Not even a smiley face or the 90’s era S drawn out of lines. That’s weird.
Aside from weird, it just screamed at me about the double standards minorities and especially Black women face about being prepared and doing double (or triple) the work. Throughout the debate one candidate listened and prepared responses, and one didn’t listen and dismissed everything, knowing he was allowed to wing it. We all know those people—the ones who didn’t read the book but try to give the oral report in class. Immediately after (and actually before) the debate people on the side of the former President incorrectly stated VP Harris got the questions beforehand. No, she just prepared and that is what it looks like.
Of personal disgust, it was unbecoming that he constantly insinuated she was not worthy of his time or to debate. Dismissing the accomplished Black woman by repeatedly referring to President Biden as her boss. Regardless of the way the office of the Presidency operates or is structured, this dig was intentional. He sees her as a lackey the same way he views all people of color and women. And for the record, if the Vice President is in all ways subservient to the President, then he wasn’t a good ‘boss’ because his VP refused his order to help him steal the election. So…
The debate itself was a showcase of where we are in this moment. It was clear that one person is focused on the future and the people who are part of that future, while the other is focused on self-promotion and grievances of the past. If there must be debates, they should be substantive, questions should be asked that point to how each person has a vision for the direction of this nation. We got that a little bit, but the unwillingness of one side to engage in discussion of the future left us with well…the concept of a debate.