Debates, Black, and Brown jobs, oh My!

 

I watched the debate with many millions of Americans. Like many, I felt disappointed, and even a bit shocked, by my president's performance that evening. Furthermore, I was dismayed by the performance of and multiple lies told by his opponent. It was not a good evening for either man. While the President struggled to relay facts and make his points, he at least tried to answer the questions. The other guy did not answer most of the questions asked but went on diatribes about Democrats and the president. (And don’t even think about the nonsense about golf!). According to the New York Times, in his allotted time of approximately 45 minutes, he told over thirty lies. While there were no fact checkers on site for CNN, I believe the moderators should have called out some of the more blatant lies DJT told about abortion.

So, now there are cries for the president to step down because he jumbled some answers and was not at the top of his game. When the stakes are high, I understand some people get nervous, even seasoned politicians. So I will comment on this at the end of this discussion.

The New York Times, The Atlanta Constitution, and several TV commentators all said that it was time for Biden to go. They mentioned the age factor had been an issue for some time, and that if he were elected, he would be the oldest president ever to serve. (Of course, his opponent is only three years younger.)

The Washington Post editorial Board put it this way:

“If President Biden had weekend plans, he should cancel them in favor of some soul-searching. His calamitous debate performance on Thursday raises legitimate questions about whether he’s up for another four years in the world’s toughest job. It’s incumbent on this incumbent to determine, in conversation with family and aides, whether continuing to seek reelection is in the best interests of the country.”

But it concluded:

“Mr. Biden sounded better at a rally in North Carolina on Friday. His defenders point out that he performed well during his State of the Union address in March. There is ample precedent for incumbents losing a first debate and going on to win reelection. If he forges ahead, Mr. Biden would have four months to rebut fears about his mental acuity and physical stamina. But occasional good performances are a shaky reed on which to balance an election of titanic consequence.”

 

What I wish to bring forward are remarks made by DJT that divide people in this country. He spoke of asylum seekers and immigrant petitioners as criminals, being released from prisons and mental hospitals and sent here. He mentioned the immigrants were taking “black jobs”. Now just what is a black job?

Leslie Gray Streeter, a Black reporter for the Baltimore Banner describes the issues this way: (remarks truncated)

“It seems he hopes to establish himself as a protector specifically of Black and native-born Latino communities in a way he’s saying that Biden is not. But what he actually said was that the jobs that undocumented immigrants take — often lower-paying, entry-level positions in industries like agriculture, construction and the service industry — are specifically and exclusively Black jobs.

He didn’t say they’re taking jobs from all Americans because he doesn’t think of those jobs as ones held by typical Americans — white people like him. Lawyer, doctor, administrator, teacher, manager, journalist? These are not inherently Black jobs in Trump’s mind, which is to say they are white ones. So it’s just those Black and native-born brown people fighting for the jobs on the bottom, and aren’t we lucky to have him looking out for us?

But things have changed. More Black people, 34%, were employed in professional, managerial, business and financial operations positions, as compared to 27% in service, construction and natural resources. About 40% of Latino or Hispanic people were in those service and construction positions (the study didn’t specify between immigrant and native populations.)

Among white employed people, professional jobs accounted for 42.8% of positions and service or agricultural jobs were 25%. Those numbers aren’t all that different between Black and white people. Both groups find most people employed in those white-collar jobs, which means those should statistically be seen as Black jobs as much as they are white jobs. But you know they aren’t. Look, things are not great everywhere. In May, the Black unemployment rate was 5.7%, more than whites at 3.3% or Hispanics or Latinos at 4.1%. (Contrary to Trump’s statements during Thursday’s debate, the lowest Black unemployment numbers ever were achieved under Biden, not him.)

The problems we are facing as a country are across racial and cultural lines, and yes, some of those factors seem to affect the Black community more than others. But this characterization of lower-paying jobs as typically Black jobs is not only to misstate facts, but to be blatantly clear about what you think about Black people. Which is, apparently, not the same as white people.

And we heard you.”

Congressman James Clyburn, interviewed on CNN, spoke of this issue here:

He noted that in DJT’s mind, there are white jobs and non-white jobs and that those functions do not change. His remarks about immigrants also told Hispanic Americans, as well as Black Americans, that their jobs were in jeopardy from the millions and millions of immigrants being allowed into this country. These statements are untrue.

Ezra Klein of Indivisible (a Democratic advocacy and get-out-the-vote group) said this: “Biden turned in a terrible performance and Trump was an unhinged, nonsensical, lie-spewing, convicted felon who refused to accept the last election results or the next one. It was painful to watch.”

I believe that President Biden needs to get out and take his candidacy to the American people to show them, as he did in North Carolina, that while he may walk and talk more slowly, he still has their backs. His opponent certainly does not; the only back he is concerned about is his own. Biden should do unscripted TV and print interviews to show that he IS capable. According to the campaign, many supporters agreed and showed that agreement with millions of dollars of campaign donations received overnight after the debate.

There is another debate scheduled for September. If that goes forward, we shall know more. However, at that late date, there are few change options. The alternative of electing a man so unqualified for the office as DJT is, is to me, unthinkable.

Have you ever been in a political debate or been on live television? I have done both. For a while, I even hosted a show on Montgomery County Cable (as it was known then). I know these are not easy tasks. You want to make your prepared talking points, counter your opponent if debating, as necessary, make your guest(s) look good if hosting, and monitor the camera. Most of all, you do not want to make a mistake, such as getting a fact wrong or mispronouncing a name. I have also been a guest on news shows where, although I knew the topic for discussion, I did not know the questions in advance. One has to be prepared to be a subject matter expert, a talking head, or whatever one is introduced as.

So my first thoughts as I heard President Biden the other evening considered these points I just made. First, his voice was hoarse, so he needed to take a drink of water (but maybe he was afraid of looking like Marco Rubio!), second, as the evening went on I thought he was trying to get all of his facts in each answer, he needed to slow down, parse his remarks, say less, make a single point. When he said we beat Medicare, I thought he meant to say we beat Covid. He appeared unprepared for the attacks and lies he heard. He missed opportunities to counter them with facts and rushed his answers. As the answers from his opponent grew even more nonsensical, he rallied a bit and started speaking more off the cuff and did better.

Were these missteps because of his age, not feeling well because of a cold, or just somehow off his stride? I do not know. The days ahead should help us find answers. But for now, I’m sticking with my President. Get out there and show all of us you are ready, able, and willing to give this country another four good years.

‘Til next week- Peace!