October 21, 2016
This commentary was originally published by Think Freely Media.
From Think Freely Media’s Lisa Shin:
Politics aside, the presidential debate on Wednesday night was full of opportunities to talk about key issues facing Americans this fall. Unfortunately, the debate was also full of missed chances to communicate clearly. While some statements were downright false, others were based on good logic and sound policy—they just weren’t communicated well.
To be a truly effective communicator, we believe it’s important to use emotionally compelling storytelling to capture the heart of the listener. We also believe in taking the moral high ground, being hopeful and optimistic and putting the other side on defense.
Both sides struggled or downright failed to do this.
We decided to take some of these statements and transform them into good, compelling arguments from a liberty-minded perspective. We did our best to stay true to the candidate’s intentions. As TFM focuses on messaging and policy, we do not endorse either candidate.
Some of today’s brightest minds and best communicators gave us their thoughts on what the candidates would say if they could go back again. We enjoyed it and think you will too.
Debate Moderator Chris Wallace, Fox News anchor:
Mr. Trump, I want to ask about one must question in this topic. You have been warning at rallies recently that this election is rigged and that Hillary Clinton is in the process of trying to steal it from you. Your running mate Governor Pence pledged on Sunday that he and you, his words, will absolutely accept the result of this election. Today your daughter Ivanka said the same thing. I want to ask you here on the stage tonight, do you make the same commitment that you will absolutely, sir, that you will absolutely accept the result of the selection?
What Trump said:
I will look at it at the time. I’m not looking at anything now, I will look at it at the time. What I’ve seen, what I’ve seen it’s so bad. First of all the media is so dishonest and so corrupt and the pile-on is so amazing that the New York Times actually wrote an article about it — that they don’t even care. It’s so dishonest and they poison the minds of the voters, but unfortunately for them I think the voters are seeing through it.
I think they’re going to see right through it. We will find out on Nov. 8 but I think they’re going to see through it. Excuse me, Chris, if you look at your voter rolls you will see millions of people that are registered to vote, millions — this isn’t coming for me this is coming from Pew report and other places — millions of people that are registered to vote that shouldn’t be registered to vote, so let me just give you one other thing. I talk about the corrupt media. I talk about the millions of people … I’ll tell you one other thing. She shouldn’t be allowed to run. It’s — she’s guilty of a very, very serious crime. She should not be allowed to run. And just in that respect I say it’s rigged because she should never have been allowed to run for the presidency based on what she did with emails and so many other things.
What Trump should have said:
by Nick Novak
Chris, I have tremendous faith in the American people. I have faith that they can understand the immense challenges our country is facing. I have faith that they can comprehend the two contrasting views for America being presented on this stage tonight. And I have faith that on election day they will collectively decide now is the time to make America great again.
But it is going to take a lot of hard work between now and Nov. 8 to make that happen. While my opponent can count on some in the media elite to do her bidding, I am going directly to the voters. I am traveling this country from coast to coast, and I am hearing stories from so many of you. Whether you are struggling with a tax burden that eats into your family budget or you are bewildered by the complicated and costly Obamacare regulations passed down by this administration, I am here to bring real change to Washington.
With all the troubles I hear on the campaign trail, it is to my utter amazement that the media is not reporting on the devastating effects of the Obama and Clinton policies. That is why I have said the election is rigged. We conservatives must work that much harder to get our stories told and incite real change.
But, when it comes down to it, the election is about one major question: Who is the person that can go to our nation’s capital and actually make a difference? Someone with 30 years of experience and nothing to show for it? Or an outsider who has built one of the most successful businesses in our country over that same period?
We can be great once again. Our country can become more prosperous. Our nation, our states and our cities can be safer. And our people can lead the way.
With that said, I believe voters will make the best choice for our future this November. No matter what the outcome, though, I will accept their decision because even though I – like most Americans – don’t trust my opponent, I trust the American people.
See the original post at ThinkFreelyMedia.org.