By Ed Diokno
It was an unusual Presidential debate – to say the least – between Sec. Hillary Clinton and real estate magnate Donald Trump.
Early polls taken immediately after the debate at Hofstra University, showed that the Democratic candidate crushed the GOP presidential bet. It was clear that Clinton was better prepared and Trump’s off-the-cuff style couldn’t match Clinton’s steady barrage of attacks on his tax returns, business dealings, and his lack of knowledge of international affairs. Trump’s penchant for denying earlier statements was often refuted by his opponent and by Holt, who did a fairly good job of reining in Trump’s often rambling responses.
Surprisingly, the 90-minute debate moderated by NBC journalist Lester Holt, didn’t seem to be enough time to cover all the issues. Holt did not ask a single question on immigration and The Wall on the Mexico-U.S. border that has become a major part of Trump’s campaign. Perhaps sometimes in the next two debate the topic will come up.
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There was no mention of banning Muslims or refugees either even though Trump’s proposed policy stirred up a hornets’ nest of controversy over the past year.
On the question about race relations, Clinton talked about the “implicit bias” that all of us must overcome; the need to restore trust between the community and police, fixing the criminal justice system and “We gotta get guns out of the hands of people who should not have them.”
Trump’s response was to make “stop and frisk” a national strategy to stop the killings and slow crime even though the New Yorker said it leads to racial profiling and the courts have ruled the policy unconstitutional. “We need law and order,” he said.
Trump will heal racial divides w Stop & Frisk, racial profiling, banning Muslims, calling Mexicans criminals. Mary Poppins. #debatenight
— Wajahat Ali (@WajahatAli) September 27, 2016
The closest the candidates touched on Asian affairs was when Trump mentioned he would make Japan and South Korea, along with the NATO nations pay for their own defense. He would renegotiate the defense treaties with those countries. And there was Trump’s opening line:
Trump’s opening line: “Look what China is doing to our country. They’re using our country as a piggy bank to rebuild China.” #debatenight
— AsianAmericanLegal (@aaldef) September 27, 2016
Clinton also brought up one of Trump’s tweets in which he claimed China made up climate change to hurt U.S. industry. Trump denied it but it’s true. Here it is, below!
For all Fact-checkers of the #Debate. Here’s proof I never said global warming is a Chinese hoax!! @realDonaldTrump https://t.co/Ve4hxlH9ZV
— DonaId J. Trump (@realDenaldTrump) September 27, 2016
There was barely a mention of Latinos and Asian Americans and Native Americans were not mentioned at all. Granted, the shooting of unarmed African Americans and the ensuing protests grab the big headlines, but perhaps someone could have said something about the growing phobia promoted by Trump’s campaign rhetoric. I guess, it is still a Black & White world for most of America, as noted by Bay Area journalist Emil Guillermo.
Blacks, Latinos mentioned #debatenight. But no Asian Am, issues/references. Generalized again.But diversity, AA swing could make difference.
— Emil Guillermo (@emilamok) September 27, 2016
Reactions from Asian Americans were not surprising, considering that the majority of Asian Americans lean towards the Democrats.
#ImWithHer because she will ensure that America is good on her word and our allies can rely on us. #Debates2016
— Judy Chu Campaign (@JudyChuCampaign) September 27, 2016
Mic. Drop. Madam Secretary, you owned this night.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) September 27, 2016
Stamina?! Really dude? No. #NotSorry #Debates #Ridiculous This is so not a debate. He can’t compare.
— Vince Rodriguez III (@VRodriguezIII) September 27, 2016
