Opinion | Not to be an alarmist, but I’m alarmed

I mean, what the hell was that?

Sam Andrus, Photo Editor, political science major

After the Constitutional Convention of 1787, Benjamin Franklin was asked “Doctor, what have we got – a republic or a monarchy?” He famously retorted, “A republic, if you can keep it.” After watching the first presidential debate last night, it would appear we are well on our way to losing it.

Going into the Sept. 29 debate I was aware of former Vice President Joe Biden’s speech impediment, which has plagued his political career since its outset. He was never a strong debater, even during the primaries, enduring multiple gaffes and acting as a dark horse throughout the entire nomination process until Super Tuesday. 

President* Donald Trump on the other hand, is a belligerent debater, if you can even call the vitriol that spews from his Botox-riddled mouth a form of intelligent speech. It was clear from the beginning of the debate, despite Trump’s tax returns being exposed by the New York Times, that the president* would be doing everything in his power to keep Biden on the defensive. 

Fox News debate moderator Chris Wallace tried his best to de-escalate their interactions, but every charged arrow that Biden had in his metaphorical quiver – including the tax returns, the COVID-19 response or the white supremacist groups – was either botched by his delivery or by Trump bulldozing over him.

Biden chose a pragmatic approach and tried his best to look into the camera and appeal to voters rather than fully engage with the president.* It was a respectable tactic, no doubt urged on by his campaign staff, but alas, no one is immune to being sucked into Trump’s attacks – especially his pointed remarks toward Biden’s son, Hunter. Not only did Trump continue to peddle his unsubstantiated claim that Hunter Biden received millions of dollars from foreign entities, but Trump also attacked Biden’s son for his past history of drug use. 

Biden chose not to pursue the attack and instead used the moment to express his admiration and love for his son who, like many other Americans, fought a terrible addiction and won. But even before going after Hunter Biden, however, Trump took a blind swing and insulted Biden’s other son, Beau, who was a military hero and unfortunately died of cancer in 2015. It was a low blow for a president,* which is saying a lot for a man whose career is riddled with disgraceful moments. It was a statement Americans and Trump supporters alike should have a hard time defending.

At one point during the debate, uttering the question most Americans have had on their minds for the past four years, Biden exhaled, “Will you shut up, man?” Good for him for keeping his profanity to such a minimal level, because if it were me, I would’ve said, “Shut the hell up, you ugly, orange, predacious, racist embarrassment to our country.”

Although Trump failed to condemn white supremacy and told Proud Boys and his supporters to “stand back and stand by” (which, just to clarify, is not the same as “stand down”), the biggest alarm rang when Trump claimed he had the support of law enforcement groups in Florida, Texas, Ohio and in Portland, Oregon – which the Multnomah County sheriff immediately denounced on Twitter. The fact that Trump is using this false assertion to promote his “law and order” campaign strategy is scary and is something everyone should worry about.

As I’ve mentioned before, law enforcement is acting like caged animals backed into a corner during the Black Lives Matter protests, ready to lash out when police reform is called into question. Trump, as the President* of the United States, has the military and law enforcement at his disposal and knowingly uses this as a selling point. This is extremely alarming for our country, and it should concern every citizen fearful our country is drifting toward an authoritarian regime. Because it is.

Columnist’s disclaimer: The asterisk after the word “president” is not a typo but rather a reference to Donald Trump’s impeachment and to differentiate him from an actual president, lest the word lose its meaning entirely.