• Home
  • Staff
  • Privacy Policy
  • News Tips/Press Releases
  • Advertising
Thursday, July 7, 2022
No Result
View All Result
The Times-Delphic
  • News
    • All
    • Administrative News
    • Campus Events
    • Campus Health
    • Caucus Roundup
    • In Des Moines
    • Politics
    • Student Politics
    • Student Senate
    • The Ones

    Drake University Adds Five New Electric Vans

    Indira Sheumaker, city councilmembers find common ground among conflicts

    Drake urges community to remain cautious as reporting of new COVID-19 cases slows

    Drake urges community to remain cautious as reporting of new COVID-19 cases slows

    Drake to build University Center

    Student Senate passes resolution in support of the transgender community

    • Administrative News
    • The Ones
    • Campus Events
    • Campus Health
    • Caucus Roundup
    • In Des Moines
    • Politics
    • Student Politics
    • Student Senate
    • Senate Elections
  • Sports
    • All
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Column
    • Cross-Country
    • E-Sports
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Rowing
    • Soccer
    • Softball
    • Tennis
    • Track and Field
    • Volleyball

    Promising 2022 NFL Draft for Packers fans

    The two national parks you should visit this summer

    Des Moines lands news USL team and stadium district

    Former Drake Basketball Player Wins National Championship

    The Top Moves of NFL Free Agency

    • Basketball
    • Column
    • Cross-Country
    • E-Sports
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Rowing
    • Soccer
    • Softball
  • Commentary
    • All
    • Horoscope
    • Letter from the Editor
    • Letter to the Editor

    Hip astrology: Relays horoscope

    Painted Street ain’t so sweet when costs are heaped

    Commentary: Top 5 Self Care Tips

    Commentary: Top 5 Self Care Tips

    Commentary: How to meet your next partner in 2022

    Commentary: “Oh… We’re Not Dating…”

    • Horoscope
    • Letter from the Editor
  • Features
    • All
    • Greek Life
    Drake welcomes first Black woman Student Body President

    Student Body President Morgan Coleman shares experiences as a leader

    Painted Street recap

    Bam Bam wins Drake University’s 43rd annual Beautiful Bulldog Contest

    New Casey’s Location on Forest Avenue

    ADA student task force advocates for disability inclusion

    • Greek Life
  • Podcasts
    Drake Weekly Sports Podcast | December 3

    Drake Weekly Sports Podcast | December 3

    Drake Public Safety and the student body

    Drake Public Safety and the student body

    Humans of Drake Podcast

    Bulldog Blitz 1: December 7, 2010

    The Sports Report 2010 7: 11/09/2010

  • Relays Edition

    Bill that would make Iowa a hands-free driving state stalls in the legislature

    New Casey’s Location on Forest Avenue

    ADA student task force advocates for disability inclusion

    Des Moines lands news USL team and stadium district

    The Great Resignation: What Is It? And Why Is It Happening?

    The Great Resignation: What Is It? And Why Is It Happening?

    Hip astrology: Relays horoscope

    State of Sustainability at Drake

    Dean Kathleen Richardson: Leaving a Legacy for the Drake SJMC

    Painted Street ain’t so sweet when costs are heaped

    • Commentary
    • Coronavirus
    • Elections
    • Features
    • In Des Moines
    • News
    • This week in photos
    • Top News
    • Top Stories
    • Uncategorized
    • Video
    • Sports
    • Security Reports
    • Relays Edition
    • Poll
    • Podcasts
    • Online Exclusives
    • Opinion
  • News
    • All
    • Administrative News
    • Campus Events
    • Campus Health
    • Caucus Roundup
    • In Des Moines
    • Politics
    • Student Politics
    • Student Senate
    • The Ones

    Drake University Adds Five New Electric Vans

    Indira Sheumaker, city councilmembers find common ground among conflicts

    Drake urges community to remain cautious as reporting of new COVID-19 cases slows

    Drake urges community to remain cautious as reporting of new COVID-19 cases slows

    Drake to build University Center

    Student Senate passes resolution in support of the transgender community

    • Administrative News
    • The Ones
    • Campus Events
    • Campus Health
    • Caucus Roundup
    • In Des Moines
    • Politics
    • Student Politics
    • Student Senate
    • Senate Elections
  • Sports
    • All
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Column
    • Cross-Country
    • E-Sports
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Rowing
    • Soccer
    • Softball
    • Tennis
    • Track and Field
    • Volleyball

    Promising 2022 NFL Draft for Packers fans

    The two national parks you should visit this summer

    Des Moines lands news USL team and stadium district

    Former Drake Basketball Player Wins National Championship

    The Top Moves of NFL Free Agency

    • Basketball
    • Column
    • Cross-Country
    • E-Sports
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Rowing
    • Soccer
    • Softball
  • Commentary
    • All
    • Horoscope
    • Letter from the Editor
    • Letter to the Editor

    Hip astrology: Relays horoscope

    Painted Street ain’t so sweet when costs are heaped

    Commentary: Top 5 Self Care Tips

    Commentary: Top 5 Self Care Tips

    Commentary: How to meet your next partner in 2022

    Commentary: “Oh… We’re Not Dating…”

    • Horoscope
    • Letter from the Editor
  • Features
    • All
    • Greek Life
    Drake welcomes first Black woman Student Body President

    Student Body President Morgan Coleman shares experiences as a leader

    Painted Street recap

    Bam Bam wins Drake University’s 43rd annual Beautiful Bulldog Contest

    New Casey’s Location on Forest Avenue

    ADA student task force advocates for disability inclusion

    • Greek Life
  • Podcasts
    Drake Weekly Sports Podcast | December 3

    Drake Weekly Sports Podcast | December 3

    Drake Public Safety and the student body

    Drake Public Safety and the student body

    Humans of Drake Podcast

    Bulldog Blitz 1: December 7, 2010

    The Sports Report 2010 7: 11/09/2010

  • Relays Edition

    Bill that would make Iowa a hands-free driving state stalls in the legislature

    New Casey’s Location on Forest Avenue

    ADA student task force advocates for disability inclusion

    Des Moines lands news USL team and stadium district

    The Great Resignation: What Is It? And Why Is It Happening?

    The Great Resignation: What Is It? And Why Is It Happening?

    Hip astrology: Relays horoscope

    State of Sustainability at Drake

    Dean Kathleen Richardson: Leaving a Legacy for the Drake SJMC

    Painted Street ain’t so sweet when costs are heaped

    • Commentary
    • Coronavirus
    • Elections
    • Features
    • In Des Moines
    • News
    • This week in photos
    • Top News
    • Top Stories
    • Uncategorized
    • Video
    • Sports
    • Security Reports
    • Relays Edition
    • Poll
    • Podcasts
    • Online Exclusives
    • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
The Times-Delphic
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Students and Faculty Weigh in on presidential Debates

byAndrew Kennard
October 15, 2020
in News, Politics, Top Stories
0 0
0

On Sept. 29, President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden clashed in an exceptionally chaotic first presidential debate. The debate covered a variety of important issues, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the state of the economy and the recent Black Lives Matter protests. However, personal attacks made by the candidates defined the debate for many viewers. 

Drake University Professor Rachel Caufield of the Department of Political Science wants to reassure young voters that this was not a normal presidential debate.  

“For first time voters… on behalf of America, I apologize,” Caufield said. “This is not how it’s meant to be and this is not how it will always be.”

Accusations flew thick and fast as each nominee presented their own version of the truth. Often, Biden and Trump could not come to an agreement about the basic facts of the issues they were discussing, such as the approximate amount of time it will take for a COVID-19 vaccine to become widely available. Both nominees frequently attacked their opponent’s record on COVID-19, race relations and other topics, changing the focus of the conversation from the issues at hand to the candidates themselves.

“The lack of any sort of coherent explanation of how you would like to lead the country to change policy to address problems is… just frustrating to people,” Caufield said. “Which future do we want? That [choice] requires… some idea of what the future looks like under each candidate.” 

John Altendorf, president of the Drake College Republicans, said that he thinks the debate was a waste of time.

“I don’t think that either candidate really did a service to the voters by the debate on Tuesday night,” Altendorf said. “They spend far too much time attacking each other [and] not enough time on issues of substance to voters.”

Each candidate tried to paint a certain picture of their opponent during the debate. Biden cast Trump as a divisive figure who lacks plans for healthcare and COVID-19, while Trump portrayed Biden as a tool of the “Radical Left” during discussion of the Green New Deal and the Black Lives Matter protests.

According to Caufield, Trump’s strategy has hit on the “fundamental question” of Joe Biden’s campaign. 

“One of the problems [Joe Biden] faces is that there is a legitimate left, progressive wing of the party with some fairly dramatic policy proposals that have gained mainstream support within the Democractic Party,” Caufield said. “Joe Biden has always been able to step back and say, that’s not me, that’s not who I am. But every time he steps back, he gets further from the progressive wing of the party, and he makes it less likely that he’s energizing young, progressive voters.”

In contrast, Kody Craddick, the President of Drake Democrats, says that Trump appeals only to his base. 

“He’s playing to appease the 30 to 35 percent of the country who will do anything for him,” Craddick said. 

Biden’s array of insults for the President stood out from the other personal attacks. Over the course of the debate, Biden called Trump “racist,” a “clown,” and “the worst president America has ever had.” 

Craddick says that Biden’s name-calling was necessary in light of Trump’s behavior. 

  “I think that… if someone’s going to act like a child, you’re going to have to try to be the father up on that stage, and I think Joe Biden did that by… telling him to shut up, man, or calling him a clown,” Craddick said. 

In addition, both candidates evaded questions and made many attempts to cut in while their opponent was still speaking. Chris Wallace, the moderator of the debate, called out Trump in particular for repeatedly interrupting Biden. 

These problems and the focus on personal attacks led Caufield to form a strong negative impression of the debate. 

“[The debate] was confrontational, it was chaotic, it was disorganized, it was frustrating… it was a difficult debate to watch,” Caufield said. “I have a hard time even calling it a debate, ‘cause I’m not sure that’s what it was.”

Altendorf and Craddick disagree about what changes should be made to improve the quality of future debates. 

Altendorf is open to making improvements to the debate format, but he is “not a fan” of giving the debate moderator the power to mute candidates.

“I don’t like the idea of silencing free speech by cutting off the President or the former Vice President while they’re speaking,” Altendorf said. “I’ll leave it up to the Debate Commission to figure out… the best way forward to make the debates more productive.”

Craddick, on the other hand, is in favor of muting microphones and ending debates early in some cases. 

“I think that it seems childish to [mute candidates]. We shouldn’t… have to cut people’s mics if they’re interrupting 70 times in a debate, but we’re not dealing with a fully grown-up incumbent,” Craddick said. 

Altendorf and Craddick also have different ideas about who won the debate. 

“I think Biden won, hands down, because Trump showed himself to be an individual who… [is] not capable of making the tough decisions,” Craddick said. “Biden… has the experience… and he has the tools and intelligence to make sure that these issues get taken care of.” 

On the other hand, Altendorf thought that Trump did a better job articulating his accomplishments than Biden, especially his economic achievements. 

Madeleine Leigh, a member of Drake Democrats, took a different view. 

“I’m not sure that anyone won [the debate], but I think that the American people kind of lost,” Leigh said. 

Leigh and other Drake students attended a Debate Watch Party hosted by Drake Democrats on Tuesday night. According to Craddick, about fifty to sixty people attended, and the Watch Party was covered by KCCI. 

“I think we showed that we’re not afraid to show who we are as Democrats,” Craddick said.

Caufield and her dog Lucy also attended the Watch Party.

“It was a beautiful night,” Caufield said. “It’s great to give people an opportunity to come together in a social environment, even amid the limitations of the pandemic, and to have some sort of communal political experience… It’s like going to a drive-in movie theater, but updated!” 

However chaotic and frustrating the debate may have been, the frequent laughter of the students at the Watch Party seems to prove that any political experience becomes more enjoyable when it is shared with others. 

Tags: 2020DebatenationalnewsPolitics

Andrew Kennard

Next Post

School of Journalism Launches Big-Little Mentorship Program

Twitter Feeds

The Times-Delphic
The Times-Delphic @timesdelphic

The Times-Delphic is still hiring for the positions of Student Senate Beat Writer, Business and Finance Manager and Distributor for the 2022-23 school year! Apply online or reach out to grace.altenhofen @drake.edu for more information. https://t.co/U9VY5TtOZt
View on Twitter
timesdelphic photo
0
1
The Times-Delphic
The Times-Delphic @timesdelphic

BREAKING: Drake President Marty Martin announced in a campuswide email that Drake's number of active cases is projected to decline to 80 by the end of the day, down 241 since early Friday afternoon.
View on Twitter
2
10

Recommended

Bucs games provide fun and entertainment

11 years ago
Bryce Harper: A 300 Million Dollar Man?

Bryce Harper: A 300 Million Dollar Man?

3 years ago

Popular News

  • Twitch Streamer Raises Money for LGBT Community

    Twitch Streamer Raises Money for LGBT Community

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Gladwell’s “Outliers” reveals the many factors of success

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Drake ranks among Ivy Leagues on Economist list

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The history of Indian boarding schools in Iowa

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Music as a political platform

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Drake Weekly Sports Podcast | December 3

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Humans of Drake Podcast

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Sports Report 2010 7: 11/09/2010

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Familiar face helps bring massive skatepark to Des Moines

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The rise and fall of Motown Records

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Connect with us

  • About
  • Home
  • Podcasts
  • Privacy Policy
  • Virtual Edition
  • Advertising

Copyright 2015 Fuel Themes. All RIGHTS RESERVED.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Administrative News
    • The Ones
    • Campus Events
    • Campus Health
    • Caucus Roundup
    • In Des Moines
    • Politics
    • Student Politics
    • Student Senate
    • Senate Elections
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Column
    • Cross-Country
    • E-Sports
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Rowing
    • Soccer
    • Softball
  • Commentary
    • Horoscope
    • Letter from the Editor
  • Features
    • Greek Life
  • Podcasts
  • Relays Edition
    • Commentary
    • Coronavirus
    • Elections
    • Features
    • In Des Moines
    • News
    • This week in photos
    • Top News
    • Top Stories
    • Uncategorized
    • Video
    • Sports
    • Security Reports
    • Relays Edition
    • Poll
    • Podcasts
    • Online Exclusives
    • Opinion

Copyright 2015 Fuel Themes. All RIGHTS RESERVED.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Bodybuilder is fighting for his life after taking dirty steroids femara uk trump's "operation warp speed" for mass vaxxing. "big bucks for big pharma" - global research