Eryn Swineford

Presidential Debate

    It was Monday, September 26th. I filed into the small room and glanced around, noticing that the room was much too small for the number of honors kids who pledged their attendance previously. I sat down, dismayed by the fact that we were told to arrive a full hour before the debate was to begin. The giant screen portrayed a panel of people, presumably speaking, however all i could hear was the noise of Stockton students conversing all at once. Food was shoved into our hands and presidential debate bingo. Second Amendment, national security, temperament, child care, all made appearances on the various boards passed about. By the end of the debate, 14 out of my 25 blocks would be filled. I passed the following hour drawing the exit in my notebook and drinking my complimentary Brisk tea as slowly as possible.

    Finally, silence fell and Lester Holt took the stage. He explained that the debate would be comprised of three sections, achieving prosperity, securing america, and america’s direction. After niceties were exchanged, Secretary Clinton, as Donald Trump took such pains to call her, was given the first question. She opened by thanking Hofstra University and diving into a deeply political answer to a seemingly simple question. Accusations were thrown mercilessly throughout the remainder of the debate, most hilariously that Trump “doesn’t do” bad commercials, when I had seen one a few days prior.

    Trump owned his aggressive business tactics and Hillary agreed that her email fiasco was a mistake, but at the end of the debate I could not have been more excited to leave. While it was obvious that Clinton had won, as she seemed extremely well prepared when compared to her republican counterpart, I was terribly disappointed. While I appreciated Stockton’s Political Engagement Project’s snacks and entertaining bingo, I had hoped to hear something new from our candidates. A definitive plan for the future. Something concrete other than lowering taxes and far fetched theories. As I pushed in my chair and shuffled through the double doors, I couldn’t shake the feeling that while I had heard both candidates speaking for an hour, very little had actually been said. Thankfully, I can hear our presidential candidates argue on national television twice more.