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“I was talking about that right now.” The day after the debate over the vice presidential nominee, the cafes and parks in New York were on the subject. What did the people of this city think of the “debut” of Democratic candidate Kamala Harris? In this city with many Democratic supporters, I look back at the debate, including the online party I attended and the voices of Republican supporters.
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Kamala Harris and Mike Pence
“I’m talking.”
In both Japan and the United States, most of the media reports are closer to the Democratic Party, so in this series, we have featured the voices of Republican supporters because we wanted to convey the current situation in the United States with Greater precision.
This time it was the “debut” of Senator Kamala Harris, and due to the liberal nature of New York, I dared to include many views of the Democratic Party.
I watched a debate about the vice presidential candidate for the presidential election held in Salt Lake City, Utah, on October 7, 2020, at a zoom-based viewing party.
There are less than 30 participants. As you watch the debate live with others, chat your thoughts.
Harris smiled repeatedly “I’m talking.” To Vice President Mike Pence, who placed a horizontal spear and leaned his head to deny his comments. Every time I shake it, a chat character appears on the screen, like “That look, did you see it? It’s the best.”
“Kamara doesn’t have enough drive”
As for the debating method, “Pence is better at debating. I discuss my drawbacks so that people can easily understand them on my own ground. “Kamara is not enough. Good response. There were a few, but the message was not conveyed effectively and forcefully,” said the chat.
On the other hand, some said: “I am glad that Kamala brings the Pence story to the problems of the Americans.” “Pence has not answered the question.”
The next day, I walked around New York City and asked people I met about their impressions of the debate.
“I don’t think the debate influenced the outcome of the election, but it was civilized, unlike Trump and Byden,” said the man who was with him in the elevator to the apartment. The public knows it. Many people have had the opportunity to meet Kamala. I think he was able to speak convincingly. “
A black man (62), who was delivering the mail, said: “Pence just bit his mouth, but Kamala was imposing and imposing. I want Trump to stand down.”
“It is dangerous to be overconfident.”
At the table outside the cafe, three men were drinking coffee. Teachers at a nearby private high school were taking a break during lunch.
When asked about the debate, one replied, “I was talking about it right now.”
An English teacher in his 50s said: “Compared to last week’s debate on the presidential candidates, they were both polite. I think both Kamala and Pence had a good point, but Kamala was especially the BS (shit) of Trump. = Shit (base language)) was clearly pointed out. I also understood that Pence was lying. “
“Like Pence, there was a mistake in Kamala’s words,” he added.
“Maybe, but that’s politics. In the polls, the Democratic Party is in the lead. But it’s dangerous to be overconfident, because Hillary lost and was hurt last time.”
Another English teacher, about the same age as him, said he showed his 12-year-old son a video of the debate with the presidential candidate.
“Trump and Byden were embarrassed as adults. Byden said to Trump, clown (clown) and shut up (shut up). Trump kept throwing a horizontal spear so I can understand how he feels, but that’s an adult. Not how to talk.”
As I parted ways with them and walked through Central Park, I overheard two women talking about yesterday’s debate on the bench. They are different in age, but they are friends.
“Pence was expressionless, lifeless and emotionless, but Kamala was much more human and professional,” said a 30-year-old woman, Hakihaki.
Another woman, 60, said relentlessly.
“Kamara waited for Pence to finish attacking her before speaking. The tone of her voice is a good indication of humanity. A slightly sassy and intelligent tone says, ‘America, this coma Looks like she’s remembering reality,” Wake up from the state “Many Americans have been brainwashed by the foreign-hating and evangelical faction.”
“Pride” and “smile” for smiles
This time, Mr. Harris’s expression and smile showed, but many of the Republican supporters I met felt that he was “arrogant and despised the other person.” Some say it reminded me of the smile of Hillary Clinton, who was Trump’s rival last time.
Others said Pence was constantly calm, but Harris, who displayed emotions with tones of voice and facial expressions, seemed hysterical.
The 64-year-old woman, who passed as she was about to leave Central Park, was the first Republican supporter she met that day. In 1989, he was exiled from the former Soviet Union to the United States.
“There are some things that I don’t like about Trump humanly, but he is the president of this country, elected by the people. Why not give him a chance and what he does from the beginning, even though he has only been in office for four years. If you don’t like it, you can put a rival horse and fight openly in the elections. It’s sad that this country is so divided. “
In this discussion, the moderator finally read aloud the text written by a high school girl living in Utah.
“If you look at the news, there are only discussions between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. There is only public controversy. The candidates can only deal with each other. I wonder how to do something with the people when the leader is not good.”
The words of the high school students continue.
“Your examples could make a difference to unite us. (It is very important that you set the example for us to unite.)”
Many would have agreed to this word, but many would have stood on the shelf and pointed their finger at them.
The woman, who has been exiled from the former Soviet Union, says: “There is no new information to be gleaned from the debate, and there is no point just hitting yourself.”
Andrew (70), an acquaintance from Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the western part of the United States, said: “In the debate, I just blame and hurt both parties for their mistakes. What I want to know is what both parties will do in the next four years. Do you want to do it? “
The second debate of the presidential candidate is canceled
In the “discussion”, attention is paid to what and how to insist and how to avoid the opponent’s attack. However, many have decided who to vote for before that, and some have already voted, so it is doubtful how much the debate will affect the election outcome.
Also, in the debate about the presidential candidates this time and last time, there were many statements that did not answer the question, and errors and exaggerations became visible in both statements. Many voters may not be able to determine what is true and what is different.
After finishing the interview outside, I went back to the apartment and was told by a doorman who supported Mr. Trump.
“Don’t say Pence was too talkative in the debate. Even baseball will play for hours. There will be long games. The presidential election is a big national event. What time is it, what are you doing so fast? I just want to talk, let me talk. And there is a person who checks the facts (fact check = check to see if it’s true) on the spot, and when you tell a lie, the lamp lights up and that, how about getting caught in the field? “
There are various outlets and sites that verify the facts after the debate, but their credibility is also questioned. It is possible that in the near future it will be possible to verify the facts on the fly with the help of technology.
The second presidential candidate debate scheduled for October 15 was canceled and announced on the 9th. After Trump’s new corona virus infection, he made it a point to keep it online, but Trump stuck to the face-to-face type and He proposed to postpone the second and third sessions for a week. Byden’s side rejected this. The debate on the 22nd, which was supposed to be the third time, will be the final meeting of the two. (Posted anytime)
++ Profile of Mitsuyo Okada
Okada / Mitsuyo Writer / Essayist
Born in Tokyo. He graduated from Aoyama Gakuin University and earned a master’s degree from New York University. After working as a local newspaper reporter for a major Japanese newspaper, he travels between Japan and the United States, describing the daily life and sorrows of American citizens. He has also lived in the western part of the United States. Bunharu Bunko’s essay series “The Magic of New York” has a cumulative total of 400,000 copies since the first in 2007. The series is completed with the ninth series “The Magic of New York Never Ends” published on May 9, 2019. Other books include “American Family” and “New York Japanese Education Circumstances” (both by Iwanami Shinsho).