Biden and Trump Town Halls: 5 takeaways


The problem with their town halls, which were quite different in tone and substance: Americans could only choose to look at one.

Trump’s alternative reality

No hour has better illustrated the alternative reality in which Trump is present than the 60-minute townhall on Thursday.

Trump claimed that science is still out on wearing a mask, despite the universal view of health experts – including in its own administration – that it could reduce the spread of coronavirus.

He declined to say whether he believed Democrats were running the devil’s pedophile ring, moving when pressed, and simply saying, “I have no idea.”

He claimed with no evidence that his ballots in his name had been found in trash cans.

And they will not support a conspiracy tweet claiming that Osama bin Laden is still alive, saying “people can decide for themselves.”

“I don’t get it,” moderator Savannah Guthrie said after that last boycott. “You’re the president, not someone’s crazy uncle.”

Incorporated into Trump’s regular venues on television and Twitter, the dark world in which he exists sometimes loses its impact. But in front of everyday voters, his answers seemed vastly different from any accepted version of reality. Decision-makers between Trump and Biden are seen to be less likely to choose between two candidates than between two completely opposite planets.

Trump v. Guthrie

Since being released from the hospital, Trump has been dialing in friendly outlets to count his ordeals and trash bids. In the past week, he has called Fox News or Fox Business five times with chats on Newsmax and Rush Limboh.

The warmth of a safe haven is where Trump has prospered for most of his presidency. When it emerged on the set of NBC, things felt pretty cool.

While the trained lawyer, Guthrie, did not shy away from questions about his coronavirus diagnosis, his last day of discussion was examined to determine whether his views on white supremacy, his views on quinone, or his views on mail-in voting.

Trump was running the town hall instead of debating by choice; He had another encounter with Biden, insisting the commission on the presidential debate be virtual. But the result was a grueling live grilling for 20 minutes that only drew attention to itself – a rarity for the president that largely clings to the friends of the Rs.

With no rivals on stage, Trump was alone in the field of questions. And Pepper has no opponents from his own attack. Instead, Trump saw himself as defensive and increasingly angry – including mocking a question Guthrie called “cute.”

It’s the kind of operation that some of Trump’s advisers hope to avoid, recognizing the kind of behavior that has turned off female voters and senior citizens. During a business break, Alyssa Farah, Trump’s director of strategic communications, came out and spoke with Guthrie before joining other aides to talk to the president.

Trump appeared more moderate when answering questions from townhall participants. But when it came time for his final question, the ease of conducting a four-year friendly interview became clear: why should voters give him a second term? Instead of putting what he has done differently, Trump has listed only what he has achieved so far, and concludes with this: “Next year has been better than before.”

Biden’s policy-centric contrast

The contradiction between the candidates ’attitudes and the topics of their town halls was dramatic – especially when confronted with controversial comments made in the past.

A clear window into Biden’s strategy in the town-hall setting, with voters pushing one another, reminded radio host Charlemagne Tha God of the former vice president’s flip remark that if anyone was struggling to make a decision. Supporting him and Trump, “You’re not black.”

The man asked, ‘Besides you are not black,’ how can Biden guarantee black voters to participate, who have failed to protect them.

Instead of addressing his controversial remarks, Byden presented a several-minute policy liturgy aimed at helping black people. On their list: Tripleting Title I Money Funding for Low-Income Schools; Helps first-time homeowners with a 15,000 credit for downpayments so low-income families can start building wealth; Histor Historically Black C colleges led and funding for universities 70 billion new funding; And government-backed loans for young black entrepreneurs.

Asked if he had heard enough, the young man replied, “Uh, I think so.” Biden then offered to continue their conversation after the townhall was over.

It was one of the many lengthy responses he received from Biden on Thursday night, and he understood Biden’s style of using townhalls and his efforts to focus on how his plans would affect ordinary Americans. Biden has long sought to offer voters the exact opposite: sobriety against Trump’s bombing, and a connection to the concerns of low- and middle-income Americans who say they have been ignored by Trump.

Mercedes Slap, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign, tweeted during Biden’s townhall that looking at him “it looks like I’m watching an episode of Mr. Roder’s Neighborhood.” Biden was the same tune he was aiming for.

Biden’s position on court-packing ‘dependent’

Biden did not elaborate on his position Thursday night on pressure from some progressives to add seats to the Supreme Court – but he said he would do so before the election.

Ever since Trump appointed Amy Connie Barrett to fill the seat of liberal businessman Judge Ruth Bader Ginsberg, he has pushed the issue on a large scale, with Biden saying he is not a “fan” of court-packing, but will he eventually change his mind. On how the Senate “and” if there really is a real, lively debate “comes out.

If that doesn’t happen and Republicans rush to confirm Barrett before the election, he said, “I’m open to considering what happens on that issue.”

Biden said that after seeing how the confirmation process works, they will take a clear stand on court-packing before the election.

But he also said he was reluctant to take any special position at this stage as he focused on abortion rights, health care, LGBTQ rights and more. Wants to focus.

“If I answer this question directly, then all the focus will be on what Biden will do if he wins, instead of what is going on right now.” “This is one thing the president likes to do, which always catches our eye.

Some coronavirus clarification

Since Trump entered the Verter Reed National Military Medical Center, there have been two consecutive unanswered questions about his diagnosis, which shows imaging of his lungs and whether he has tested negative before the first presidential debate.

His physician, Dr. Sean Conley, declined to comment when directly pressed, saying it was a matter of patient confidentiality. Trump’s other allies have pulled out of the test question, saying they don’t want to look back.

Pressed on similar issues Thursday, Trump was similarly extravagant. But his non-answers were telling.

Asked directly if he had been diagnosed with pneumonia, Trump said no – but acknowledged that his lungs had been affected.

“They said the lungs are a little different, a little bit more potentially infected,” he said. It was the first acknowledgment before he clarified the need for supplemental oxygen that had an effect on the president’s lungs.

Trump claimed that he “doesn’t ask too much” and that he “didn’t have a lot of lung problems,” but added that “apparently I felt something was wrong.”

Asked when he was last tested negative before his covid diagnosis, Trump said he was tested often, trying to avoid the question. But, on the day of the first debate of the presidency, he was pressed on whether to test negatively, to which he replied: “I don’t know, I don’t even remember.”

His answer is confirmed by the fact that the sources told CNN. What to say: The exercise, which has long been scrutinized by the White House, is not as comprehensive as its main coronavirus reduction measures claim.

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