Timothy Moynihan
In Motion Staff Writer
Early voting ends this weekend and this year’s race is being billed as one of the craziest and most unusual of all of its predecessors.
Two enigmatic candidates, both equal in pomp and circumstance, highlight this year’s election. Hilary Clinton for Democrats and Donald Trump for the Republican Party.
The presidential debate on Sept. 26 at Hofstra University in Long Island spearheaded the autumn run of three debates and did not disappoint. With insults coming from both sides, even the most seasoned voters were shocked as to what transpired.
After two debates filled with pointed rhetoric, intimidation tactics and surprise guests, Clinton and Trump met Oct. 19 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, for a third and final face-off.
On Oct. 20 Daytona State College played host to a screening of the 3rd televised debate In the Cellar of the College Writing Center on Daytona’s main campus. Sixteen students showed up for the evening event, which lasted two hours.
After watching the two candidates trade barbs, event coordinators ─ Phi Theta Kappa President Ryan Kirbyheld and Tom Plessers, from the Global Friends club ─ hosted an open discussion. The event was sponsored by PTK in conjunction with the Student Government Association and Global Friends, was a success by virtue of how many students attended on the short notice of two days. All the students participated by giving their opinions on won they felt won the debate and why.
One foreign exchange student from Japan said, “Trump’s idea of building a wall is great. I like his idea of getting rid of Obamacare, I think it sucks. I think Trump can lead America.”
Another student piped in, saying, “It is important to watch these debates. I am undecided on which way I would like to cast my ballot. I am taking this seriously, something that you wouldn’t be able to guess by watching what the candidates are doing. The debate has, unfortunately, not helped my uncertain position.”
Plessers , who is a foreign exchange student from Belgium, added that “Filtering 90 percent of the trash talking and finger pointing, there were several minutes of meaningful debate established where both support similar points, but have a different approach.”
Following the event, Kirby said, “It was a privilege for Phi Theta Kappa to help make this screening happen. Seeing the student body’s interest in the future of this great country motivates us at PTK to support more campus based activities. Remember to get out and vote!”
The second debate was hosted by ABC’s Martha Raddatz and CNN’s Anderson Cooper at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo.. It was formatted like a town hall meeting and was, indeed, more of the first in terms of mudslinging between candidates. Yet it ended on an unusually upbeat note when both participants were asked to say one positive thing about one another.
Clinton answered first by saying, “Well, I certainly will, because I think that’s a very fair and important question. Look, I respect his children. His children are incredibly able and devoted and I think that says a lot about Donald. I don’t agree with nearly anything else he says or does, but I do respect that. And I think that is something that as a mother and a grandmother is very important to me.”
Trump’s response was, “I will say this about Hillary. She doesn’t quit. She doesn’t give up. I respect that. I tell it like it is. She’s a fighter. I disagree with much of what she’s fighting for. I do disagree with her judgment in many cases. But she does fight hard and she doesn’t quit and she doesn’t give up. And I consider that to be a very good trait.”
Because communication is much more prevalent since the last election, some say the results of this U.S. election will reverberate throughout the planet and will have far-reaching implications where the outcome will be felt globally. Ultimately, it will be the American people who decide their own futures.,
All of the presidential debates can be viewed On Demand via Brighthouse or Internet news sites such as MSNBC, FOX, CNN and NBC.