On one level, your editorial “Debate Debacle” was thoughtful in its attempt to look at the consequence of styles used by President Biden and former President Trump to make their points.
Pointing out Biden’s failure to cogently address the hyperbolic assertions and falsehoods attributed to Trump with the use of “statistics, information and arguments” missed the larger issue.
Statistics can be misused and presented out of context. An example is the argument about job creation and destruction. The effect of COVID on the conduct and viability of businesses played a major factor in the referred “numbers.” Using information and arguments to provide support for one’s viewpoint can still be partisan.
Although some sense of competency in the conduct of serving as president can be applied to the appearance of “self-control” (applied to Trump’s presentation) and a disjointed and unfocused style (applied to Biden’s presentation), the more important focus should have been on each candidate’s agenda and that agenda’s effect in a macro sense.
It was unfortunate also, that your reference to “fact-finding” applied only to statements made by Trump and noticeably skipped the use of divisive and inaccurate assertions put forth by Biden to characterize Trump’s character, ability, record and agenda.
Does Biden repeating statements made by Trump, taken out of context, make the best use of the time during a debate and illuminate the electorate, or does it keep people stuck in a partisan and divisive narrative? Does Trump repeating disparaging characterizations of Biden affect better feelings and understanding between voters?
To hear a different quality of dialogue than what was displayed during the debate, all one has to do is to listen to individuals such as Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. or Tulsi Gabbard, who are more dedicated to illuminating the problems with conventional government and party behavior than with tearing down their opponents and inflating the worth of their own accomplishments.
Rick Koven, King of Prussia
Mr. Koven the fact is that we’re now in the middle of the presidential season, and attacking your opponent, either fairly or unfairly is part of the game. Winning is just about everything and in the present culture the ends justify the means.That’s too bad because I agree with you that the heat drowns out the light and increased polarization is the real winner.