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Trump’s Second Debate, in Brief
David Leonhardt
He lied about a sex tape.
He lied about his lies about ‘birtherism.’
He lied about the growth rate of the American economy.
He lied about the state of the job market.
He lied about the trade deficit.
He lied about tax rates.
He lied about his own position on the Iraq War, again.
He lied about ISIS.
He lied about the Benghazi attack.
He lied about the war in Syria.
He lied about Syrian refugees.
He lied about Russia’s hacking.
He lied about the San Bernardino terrorist attack.
He lied about Hillary Clinton’s tax plan.
He lied about her health care plan.
He lied about her immigration plan.
He lied about her email deletion.
He lied about Obamacare, more than once.
He lied about the rape of a 12-year-old girl.
He lied about his history of groping women without their consent.
Finally, he broke with basic democratic norms and called on his political opponent to be jailed — because, in large part, of what he described as her dishonesty.
This is the second time I’ve summarized a presidential debate by listing Donald Trump’s untruths, and there’s a reason. The country has never had a presidential candidate who lies the way that he does – relentlessly.
Yes, virtually every politician, including Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Mitt Romney and George W. Bush, strays from the truth at times. To be fair, virtually every human being does. But Trump is fundamentally different.
His gamble is plain enough: He believes he can fool a lot of the American people a lot of the time. He has decided that lying pays.
It’s up to the rest of us to show him otherwise.
Last edited by Goose (10/10/2016 3:32 pm)
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Many of his followers don't want to take the time to understand that much of what he says is falsehoods. And further some don't care.
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Like Tennyson and others on the Exchange, I tend to use fact-checker websites. I wish everyone across the country would. Should actually be a requirement to participate in a democratic society. It's sad to me that major media outlets don't emphasize the use of fact-checking during and after any debate, speech, and townhall meeting.
Several of us even suggested someone in the audience should be assigned that responsibility with a buzzer in their hand and when a candidate tries to lay a pile of poop on the audience a loud BBBBBBBBZZZZZZZZZT!!!!! would go off. The candidate would be allowed another chance to clear up the lie, if the clarification doesn't match the facts then another BBBBBBBBZZZZZZZ!!! would sound and the candidate would have to sit in the corner and shut up until the next issue is brought up. Picture that.
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Good idea.
And only one candidate's microphone should be on at a time.
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Just Fred wrote:
Like Tennyson and others on the Exchange, I tend to use fact-checker websites. I wish everyone across the country would. Should actually be a requirement to participate in a democratic society. It's sad to me that major media outlets don't emphasize the use of fact-checking during and after any debate, speech, and townhall meeting.
Several of us even suggested someone in the audience should be assigned that responsibility with a buzzer in their hand and when a candidate tries to lay a pile of poop on the audience a loud BBBBBBBBZZZZZZZZZT!!!!! would go off. The candidate would be allowed another chance to clear up the lie, if the clarification doesn't match the facts then another BBBBBBBBZZZZZZZ!!! would sound and the candidate would have to sit in the corner and shut up until the next issue is brought up. Picture that.
I think the solution in the Johnny Carson skit would be better !
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A long time fan I still miss Johnny. Great skit.