In a departure from tradition, a general election debate between former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden is slated for June 27, marking the earliest occurrence of such an event in history. However, the unconventional nature of the debate has sparked partisan reactions and drawn attention to the evolving dynamics of political discourse.
Breaking away from the norm, the Commission on Presidential Debates, which typically organizes such events, has been sidelined.
Instead, Biden issued a challenge to Trump on social media, which Trump accepted. The former president has asked Biden to commit to one-on-one debates before, previously saying “Anytime. Any place.”
Biden released a set of conditions and CNN sent the invitation. Both candidates accepted.
Here are the requirements set out by Biden’s campaign:
- There are to be no crowds, just the candidates and moderators in the room.
- Biden offered four venues, CNN, ABC, CBS or Telemundo.
- Microphones will be muted once a candidate’s time to answer questions runs out.
- No third-party candidates will be allowed to participate, meaning Robert. F Kennedy will not be taking the stage.
The first presidential debate will be hosted by CNN and moderated by CNN journalists Jake Tapper and Dana Bash.
The choice of venue and moderators has elicited partisan reactions from the media. Right-leaning news outlets like Fox News labeled CNN as “friendly territory” for Biden.
Fox News: “SEAN HANNITY: Biden will be debating in friendly territory.”
Fox News: “CNN’s Jake Tapper, who called Trump’s presidency a ‘nightmare,’ tapped to moderate presidential debate.”
More left-leaning outlets, including The Daily Beast and HuffPost, expressed concern over the perceived bias of the selected moderators.
The Daily Beast: “Fox News Is Already Throwing a Hissy Fit Over Next Month’s CNN Debate.”
HuffPost: “Fox News Hosts Go Into Meltdown Mode Over Biden-Trump Debate Deal.”
The partisan divide extends to political leaders. Republicans view the debate rules as lenient for Biden, while Democrats see them as necessary to control Trump.
“It’s rigged so heavily in Joe Biden’s favor, but everything always is,” said Lara Trump, the co-chair of the Republican National Committee.
“I myself would never recommend going on stage with Donald Trump, but the president has decided that’s what he wants to do,” Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said. “I think the format he is suggesting is a good one.”
Despite the partisan differences surrounding the debate, there is bipartisan consensus that Americans will tune in to witness the candidates engage in dialogue, albeit with varying levels of anticipation.
The debate, though contentious in its lead-up, signifies a pivotal moment in the electoral process, underscoring the importance of robust political discourse in a democratic society.
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