Thursday, October 22, 2020
THE INTERVIEW
Donald Trump was interviewed for CBS 60 Minutes. Trump has released a video of the interview.
The interview can be used to assist preparation to provide a plan for either candidate to use in the Presidential debate tonight.
There are two audiences for a debate. First, there are the
people who watch the whole thing (a subset of this audience consists of the
news media and commentators on television and major newspapers). Second
would be the people who hear about the debate second hand.
People who watch the whole debate are impressed (more or less
in this order) by the candidate who
- · has the best line or two;
- · is the most likeable;
- · is the strongest, most presidential;
- · does the best job of refuting the other candidates’ attacks;
- · does the best job of describing their own positions and
benefits to the country;
- · does the best job of attacking their opponent.
People who hear about the debate second hand are influenced by
- who won, according to media they trust;
- the one or two quotes from the debate they hear, and how that echoes with their own hopes and fears.
In the interview President Trump showed that his approach
consists of
- repeating (and re-repeating)
accusations, some based on fantasy, others on unproven allegations, (many on the authority of 'everybody knows' or 'you know') against his opponent, the moderator, the news media, and others;
- ignoring the people who have
died and been sickened, and praising himself for saving all the people who
did not;
- ignoring the people who are out
of work and suffering, and praising himself for those who have gone back
to work;
- ignoring people at his rallies
who crowd together without masks, and saying that he gave masks out and
has no objection to masks;
- praising himself for the way
the economy was going before it cratered;
- claiming the virus was not his
fault, but China acted disgracefully;
- interrupting every time he is
contradicted in any way, and attacking the other speaker;
- making up things about what would
happen under a Biden Presidency;
- making up things about what he
would do in the next term (like pass a health care plan to replace
Obamacare).
A potential strategy for Trump would be to be honest,
thoughtful, strong but polite, and sensitive to those who have suffered in the pandemic.
A potential strategy for Biden (since Trump probably outlined his arguments in the interview, allowing Biden to be prepared for those or others like them) might be to
· Use the time when Trump is muted to
o
QUICKLY refute the predictable
attacks;
o
QUICKLY assert Trump’s responsibility
for the COVID disaster in the US;
o
QUICKLY denounce Trump’s inability
to take responsibility (for COVID & other things);
o
QUICKLY assert the Obama-Biden
record for bringing the economy back and handing Trump a solid;
o
QUICKLY assert the Biden plan for
dealing with the health crisis, the economy, the inequality;
o
STRONGLY demonstrate respect for
those who have suffered from the pandemic, from racial injustice and from
financial problems;
o
STRONGLY assert the need (more than
ever!) for truth, equality, and health care (pointing out that Trump is either living in a bubble of unreality, or a cruel, self-
o
Be prepared to spontaneously and
accurately react to a moderator’s question or a Trump statement in a short,
memorable way.
· Use the time when the microphones are not muted (and Trump is interrupting or lying) to
o
STRONGLY refute Trump’s accusations,
and Trump’s boastful lies (and if necessary counterattack with the allegations of Trump's corruption, self-dealing, and unconstitutional behavior);
o
STRONGLY assert his own record and
his plans;
o STRONGLY focus on the need to deal
with healthcare, equality, truth in government, equal justice for all, the
environment, and more: all the things that a government should be doing for all
the people.
