On August 27, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi boldly shared her opinion on the upcoming presidential debates: she thinks Biden should cancel them.
She told reporters,
“I don’t think there should be any debates. I do not think the President of the United States has comported himself in a way that anybody should that has any association with truth, evidence, data, and facts. I wouldn’t legitimize a conversation with him nor a debate in terms of the presidency of the United States.”
While she does have a point that Trump certainly doesn’t value the truth (or any narrative other than the ones he’s made up in his head), she’s wrong about the debates. In fact, Trump would probably love nothing more than to sit out of the debates so he doesn’t have to face off with someone who will challenge him with facts and, well, intelligence.
Traditionally, Presidential nominees have faced off in three debates before election day. They provide opportunities for the two candidates to prove why they deserve the job, illustrate their qualifications, and share their four-year plan. It’s basically a job interview where the voters are the hiring committee.
Between the pandemic and the utter chaos that is the current administration, the 2020 election is certainly a far cry from traditional. But after four years of blatant criminal behavior in the White House with no repercussions, it’s time for leadership to follow the rules.
If Biden were to opt-out of these debates out, he’d be following Trump’s lead. He’d basically be affirming the idea that politicians don’t have to answer to the American people. But they do. That is how democracy is supposed to work.
Thankfully, Biden has no plans to sit out of the debates. He is confident and isn’t afraid of Trump. He told Anderson Cooper,
“Here’s the deal with bullies, I understand how they work, and I’m going to play by the rules of the debate commission and we’re going to have a debate.”
Nancy Pelosi can hate and condemn Trump all she wants, but suggesting a presidential candidate skip out on the debates is right out of Trump’s playbook. We need an administration that doesn’t behave as if they’re above the rules — because they aren’t.
Watch Biden demolish Trump during this year’s debates on September 29, October 15, and October 22. You can also watch Harris take down Pence on October 7.
