Trump-Biden Clash At First Presidential Debate

The race for the White House heated up this past Tuesday as the first presidential debate took place between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden. The debate was moderated by Fox News Sunday anchor Chris Wallace, a registered Democrat who made a mockery of the sitting President and showed blatant bias to the Democrat nominee. Wallace had no shame in allowing Biden to interject the President yet cut off Trump as he tried a similar tactic on his opponent. But at one point even he had enough, “I hate to raise my voice, but why should I be different than the two of you,” Wallace jabbed. The election cycle has been marred by a global contagion that resulted in expanded early and mail-in voting opportunities throughout the nation to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

The debate began with a brawl over the SOCTUS nominee and quickly turned to a spar on ObamaCare and was laden with flying insults barely fit for the television screen, including a scrimmage with the debate host. Notable moments included Biden and his record-shattering $364.5 million August fundraising war chest declaring, “I am the Democratic Party right now,” as he went head-to-head with the President. Trump, not one for hearing that anyone is in control other than himself, mocked Biden repeatedly and interrupting his answers. Biden fought back, calling the President a "clown" and a "liar."

The two began with a riveting clash over the President’s choice of Amy Coney Barrett, a proven conservative, for the Supreme Court nomination left in limbo with the passing of Justice Ginsburg. The past four years have proven that the Democrats never once came to terms with the winner. “We won the election. Elections have consequences," Trump explained in an attempt to vindicate why he remains resolved to have the nomination confirmed prior to the November election. Biden, who leads in public polls nationally especially in many swing states, refused to announce support for packing the court or ending the filibuster, only calling on the American public to decide who should ultimately fill the seat hollow chair. “We should wait and see what the outcome of this election is because that's the only way the American people get to express their view.”

The deliberation quickly decentralized into an on-air scuffle with the President and Fox host and soon with Trump and his adversary over healthcare and protecting the Affordable Care Act. First, the President faulted Biden for his continued attempts at removing private health insurance options for Americans, which Biden refuted as false. "Your party wants to go socialist," Trump fired back. The accusations did not stop as Trump blamed Biden of his approval of Bernie Sanders' socialist “manifesto.” Biden remained steadfast cause Trump to lash out, “You just lost the left.”

On the topic of the Federal COVID-19 response, that has cost left over 200,000 US citizens dead, Biden announced, “I am the Democratic Party right now,” and then displayed anger at the President for his desire to repeal ObamaCare's protections for preexisting conditions. Trump bashed Biden for his 47-year record and accused the rival of wanting to keep the country on prison lockdown as the pandemic settled in parts of the country. “There's nothing smart about you, Joe,” Trump said.

Trump flung outbreaks on Biden, including those on his mental capacity and the crowd sizes at his rallies. Biden’s only retort was out of the third grade schoolyard where he tried to shut him down the President with name-calling blaring, “Folks, do you have any idea what this clown is doing?” and probing, “Will you “shut up, man?”

Repeatedly and directly, Biden called Trump racist. "This is a President who has used everything as a dog whistle to try to generate racist hatred, racist division," the former vice president said.

During a portion of the debate that focused on race relations, protests, violence and policing, Trump tried to latch Biden to the violent and destructive elements of this summer's protests over the police killings of George Floyd in Minnesota, Breonna Taylor in Kentucky and others, even as Biden condemned violence. Trump also claimed that America's suburbs -- which have tilted in Democrats' favor during his tenure -- would be "gone" if Biden is elected.

Trump also targeted Biden’s son, Hunter, for his dealings in Burmisa, Ukraine, which in hindsight served as the origin for Trump’s farce of an impeachment. Trump as well alleged that Biden should have been much tougher on rioters and violent protesters as chaos reigned throughout vast areas of America. “You don't want to say anything about law and order... you are afraid to even say it,” Trump explained.

The bombshell New York Times report from earlier in the week that Trump paid minimal to no federal income taxes had Biden declaring, “You're the worst president America has ever had.” Although it appeared that Biden just showed up for much of the debate, this moment will remain as noteworthy.

Early and mail-in voting is already underway in many states, including the battlegrounds of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Minnesota. Nationwide just about 1.3 million people have already cast their ballots, according to the U.S. Elections Project. The Trump campaign, which has been on the road since the President won four years ago has tried to keep a vigorous travel schedule despite the coronavirus complications. Trump’s camp, who has often called out their challenger for hiding from the news reporters in his basement, had pushed unsuccessfully for a much earlier fourth debate in hopes of accounting for the new voting schedules around the U.S.

The next Biden-Trump debate is slated for October 15, where Trump will once again relish the chance to face-off with the Democrat, both unaided by a teleprompter. The finale for the presidential debates will occur on October 22. Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Kamala Harris, the California Democrat and Biden’s choice for VP, will face off next in the vice-presidential debate on October 7.

By Shabsie Saphirstein