Disclaimer: This article is the opinion of the writer and does not represent the views of Her Campus UWF or Her Campus.
Monday night’s presidential debate was an interesting spectacle to behold whether you were viewing it as America’s best drinking game or as a match to determine who is the lesser of two evils in this presidential race. For those that missed the debate or for those who were really confused about they watched, here’s the gist of the showdown between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
1. They switched up their wardrobe
If you’ve been on the Internet any time within the past few months, you would know that Trump’s signature look is a red tie, yet he changed it this presidential debate to a blue one. Hillary was wearing a red pantsuit, and while this may not seem like much to many of you, this was very confusing. Republicans have been closely associated with the color red and Democrats have the same association with blue. So why during the first showdown would Trump be wearing blue and Hillary be wearing red? Did they forget their party colors? Or did they get the wrong stylist?
2. Trump racked up a lot of lies
With the release of fact checking articles from NPR and CNN’s #CNNRealityCheck on Twitter anyone could see that Trump and the facts have a complicated relationship. He tried to claim that Stop-and-Frisk was not ruled unconstitutional in New York even when Debate Moderator Holt told him it was. Trump also claimed that he received a “small” loan in 1975 by his father. Any college student knows that education is expensive and that college can be thousands of dollars. Trump, we know that a small loan is not millions of dollars. Trump also claimed that he never said global warming was a hoax perpetuated by the Chinese. Twitter proves he was wrong as the tweet he posted in November of 2012 is still up, and there are plenty of screenshots of that tweet now floating around the Internet. Trump also claimed that he did not call pregnancy an inconvenience for employers, but he was videoed in an interview saying it. Video doesn’t lie, Donald.
3. Bigly is actually a word
If you were one of the people who was made the debate a drinking game, I sincerely hope you weren’t taking shots every time Trump said bigly or tremendous. Trump said these two words so often that I had to ask the question is bigly a word. Some people’s reactions over the Internet were the same as mine to the point where Merriam-Webster had to tweet that it was, in fact, a word. So while some people may view it as weird and awkward, it’s still a real and valid word. Trump did make up lies at the debate, but he didn’t make up a word. You’ll have to find something else to make fun of him for, but don’t worry. There’re plenty of things to make fun of him for.
4. Clinton came prepared
Clinton hilariously had her facts straight as she recited fact after fact about what Trump said in the past, and what he tried to deny. Not only that, but she had the best zingers of the night including the one from when Donald Trump tried to criticize her for preparing for the debate instead of campaigning more recently.
Yes, Clinton was prepared to slay, and she did. Clinton was also prepared to argue that Trump is a racist by bringing up Trump’s past lawsuit of racial discrimination against African Americans that wished to stay in his building. She also brought up the birther movement and called it a bigoted and harmful lie against President Barack Obama. Clinton outlined the steps she wants to take to solve the problems of today, which Trump failed to do. Instead, he tried to assign blame for today’s problems to other people and attack Clinton.
5. Lester Holt had one of the most difficult jobs Monday night
Between being responsible for making Trump answer questions and having to keep him from interrupting Hillary and the audience from interrupting the candidates, it’s clear why Holt deserves the MVP award. While Clinton killed it, Holt had to try to hold it all together as a peacemaker. Holt failed, but that’s to be expected with a highly anticipated and drama filled debate such as this one. At least we got to realize that politicians don’t answer questions even when you tell them to. Good luck to Holt if he has to moderate another debate between Trump and Clinton.
6. Clinton denied supporting TPP
TPP, for those who don’t know, is the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which is a recent trade deal that could be legalized soon despite the candidates’ opposition for it. President Obama can place it before Congress in the gap where he begins to retire and when he officially leaves. Hillary has claimed she hasn’t supported the TPP, but as Secretary of State she has officially stated her agreement for it until she began her presidential campaign. So she lied, and she hasn’t put pressure on lawmakers not to pass it through during legislative bingo, so a trade deal could pass that can negatively impact blue-collar people (the middle class). If both Trump and Hillary don’t want to touch this issue with a ten-foot pole, then something is really wrong here.
7. Rosie O’Donnell can’t catch a break
Rosie attacked Trump over his public remarks and then showy display of forgiveness in 2006 of a Miss USA beauty pageant winner who was under fire for things like kissing a woman and doing drugs. Since then, Trump has attacked her consistently over the years, and Monday night was no different. No one brought up Rosie, but Trump felt the need to say her name and then say that she deserved the insults he fired at her throughout the years. Now, Rosie O’Donnell will forever be a part of the presidential debate. We still don’t know why Trump had to mention her and waste time in the debate when he could have been answering questions, and detailing plans to be a great president. I guess some things come before the actual debate topics at hand. Rosie is just that special America.
8. Trump tried to make an impossible deal
Trump tried to put pressure on Hillary and diffuse the attention away from his taxes issues, by saying, “I’ll give up my tax returns, when you give up your 33,000 emails.” The day Clinton hands the emails over to the public, and the day Trump shows his tax returns will be the end of the world as we know it. We all know the truth. Both candidates have skeletons to keep in the closet that will stay in that closet.
9. Clinton was the winner
She had research, witty comebacks and a cool demeanor the entire time that spoke presidential prowess. Trump also appeared to be very flustered most of the time, and he appeared very immature as he felt the need to interrupt her almost every time she spoke. A president should at least have the patience and diplomacy to wait two minutes (literally two minutes) to let the other side argue their case.
10. Future debates will be intense
Not only was the dislike Trump and Clinton had toward each other palpable, but it’s clear from the post-debate smack downs, the Trump campaign has more for Clinton in the coming month. Trump has mysteriously said that he could’ve hurt Clinton and her family by speaking out about something but refrained to since Bill and Chelsea Clinton were in the front row watching. Something tells me though that Trump won’t hold back for long, and what will result is something I can’t wait to see. Plus, who doesn’t love the opportunity for more Hillary come backs, and the opportunity Trump might get effectively scolded at by the moderator in the next debate?
There’s our wrap up of the first presidential debate. If anything is clear from this historic event, then let it be the idea that citizens need to vote in this upcoming election. The future of our nation is at stake here, Argos.