A global disgrace

On tuesday night, it took a few minutes for the U.S. presidential debate to descend into what many commentators later called a train wreck.

Global audiences witnessed another worrisome picture of America. A spectacle featuring a sociopathic bully, misogynistic, white supremacist supporting president unleashed and uncontrolled by a somewhat overwhelmed moderator, Chris Wallace.

The highlight or, rather, the low point in a rather debased evening, was when Donald Trump called on white supremacists to “stand back and stand by”, as he commented on. whether he would condemn white supremacists and later on whether he would respect the outcome of the election.

An intentional incitement of violence and intimidation to dissuade voters from feeling safe in going to the polls.

No doubt many wondered– is this America?

This was immediately picked up by white supremacists “Proud Boys” and is now their motto –stand ready to interfere in the election process itself with their usual violence should Trump appear to be losing or actually lose the election.

While democrat Joe Biden had some effective moments, speaking directly to camera, calling Trump the worst U.S. president ever and telling the president to shut up, he and the moderator had few tools to manage a U.S. president who completely disregarded the rules of civil debate and who bullied both Biden and Wallace.

Republican commentators on CNN appeared ashen with shame as they themselves admitted that Trump had gone too far with his ceaseless bullying and lies, and undecided voters polled by the network underscored their disapproval with the president’s performance despite the fact that they may vote for him.

Trump is known to be a liar and a bully.

The performance should have been expected.

On tuesday night, he provided a show to the world that will shame the United States for generations. At the same time, in keeping with his actions of the past months, it served to confirm that this embattled President and, by extension, the Republican Party have declared open war against the electoral process and, likely, american democracy.

Any pretense of the the U.S. president respecting any outcome other than his victory and leaving office willingly has been completely lost. American voters should be asking themselves serious questions not about whom to vote for but rather whether they want to preserve their democracy. Meanwhile, allies around the world must have woken up on Wednesday morning asking themselves how much longer they could trust the Trumpled United States, if they ever could.

Parents must have had a dismal time explaining to their children the workings of U.S. democracy, and Biden supporters must have awakened questioning whether their leader should actually participate in the next two scheduled disgraceful displays of presidential insanity.

Joe Biden managed to keep his temper in check in the face of massive bullying by an unhinged president. He repeatedly told Trump to shut up, a sentiment likely shared by the majority of viewers around the world. One thing he did very effectively was to turn to the camera and speak to directly to the home audience. In future debates, simply telling people to go vote will not be enough.

Going forward, Trump has given Biden the ammunition to put the choice plainly to the people that a vote for Biden offers the best hope for America’s cherished democracy, while a vote for Trump is likely a vote for violent authoritarianism.

Where does this leave voters?

With a choice between a candidate – Biden – who behaves rationally, leads by creating unity and whose vales mirror those idealized by most americans and many around the world or Trump – who has made a lifetime of exploiting privilege, breaking the rules to get what he wants and getting away with it.

American voters need to be told clearly and repeatedly what is at stake, and, as boxers say, the gloves must now come off!

Editor: Emilio Gómez