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cyberswede

(26,117 posts)
Tue Sep 27, 2016, 10:41 AM Sep 2016

Hillary actually had to "fix" the dangerous things he said - addressing our allies during the debate

Has that ever happened in a presidential debate before?

This from Trump was appalling:

“They do not pay us what they should be paying us because we are providing tremendous service and we’re losing a fortune,” Trump said. “We can’t defend Japan … they may have to defend themselves or they may have to help us out.”

Interesting article: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/09/27/national/politics-diplomacy/first-debate-clinton-rips-trump-japan-comments-reassures-nervous-asian-allies


...and I didn't hear the pundits really mention this at all afterward, especially Hillary's response - which I think was important (and this segment, almost more than any other, clearly demonstrates the differences in preparedness for office between the two candidates, imo).

Words matter when you run for president. And they really matter when you are president. And I want to reassure our allies in Japan and South Korea and elsewhere that we have mutual-defence treaties and we will honour them.

It is essential that America’s word be good. And so I know that this campaign has caused some questioning and worries on the part of many leaders across the globe. I’ve talked with a number of them. But I want to—on behalf of myself, and I think on behalf of a majority of the American people, say that, you know, our word is good.


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Hillary actually had to "fix" the dangerous things he said - addressing our allies during the debate (Original Post) cyberswede Sep 2016 OP
Good point. Hoyt Sep 2016 #1
So she's Secretary of Statin' while running for President justiceischeap Sep 2016 #2
I was telling someone this morning that I thought this was her most important... MANative Sep 2016 #3
...and it had to have been spontaneous, since it was a reaction to what he said. cyberswede Sep 2016 #4
I've known drunk frat guys. I dated drunk frat guys. Drunk frat guys have been my friends. MANative Sep 2016 #6
This was my favorite part of the debate. athena Sep 2016 #5

justiceischeap

(14,040 posts)
2. So she's Secretary of Statin' while running for President
Tue Sep 27, 2016, 10:44 AM
Sep 2016

and I'm assuming this is because she forged some very good relationships while being Secretary of State, which only helps when she is President.

Finally, I think anyone with brain stem activity should be concerned by a Trump presidency, not just our allies. And I'm sure our enemies are salivating over the possibility of his presidency.

MANative

(4,105 posts)
3. I was telling someone this morning that I thought this was her most important...
Tue Sep 27, 2016, 10:44 AM
Sep 2016

and "presidential" moment of the night. She handled it perfectly, although I'm sad that it had to be done.

cyberswede

(26,117 posts)
4. ...and it had to have been spontaneous, since it was a reaction to what he said.
Tue Sep 27, 2016, 10:50 AM
Sep 2016

His spontaneous remarks sound like something a drunk frat guy would say, while her spontaneous remarks are articulate, thoughtful, and well-informed.

MANative

(4,105 posts)
6. I've known drunk frat guys. I dated drunk frat guys. Drunk frat guys have been my friends.
Tue Sep 27, 2016, 11:00 AM
Sep 2016

Donald Trump is no drunk frat guy.

Every last one of them was more sensible in their worst moment than he was in his best.

athena

(4,187 posts)
5. This was my favorite part of the debate.
Tue Sep 27, 2016, 10:59 AM
Sep 2016

This is where HRC looked most presidential. This is where she made it crystal clear that electing the joke on her right as president would be extremely dangerous for the health of this country. He's doing enough damage to our international relations as a candidate; it would be pure folly to let him get any closer to the presidency.

Here is another way in which Trump has been hurting America's interests in the Middle East by fueling the conspiracy theories that are popular over there:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/17/opinion/how-do-trumps-conspiracy-theories-go-over-in-the-middle-east-dangerously.html

In November 2015, a cartoon in Al-Ahram, an Egyptian state-owned newspaper, depicted an Islamic State ogre with “Made in America” emblazoned on his back. It wasn’t unusual. A look at Middle Eastern news media shows that this idea is startlingly common. Even prominent officials in the region, from Egypt’s former culture minister to a former deputy prime minister of Iraq, have publicly ventured conspiracy theories that Washington created the Islamic State.

Enter Donald J. Trump. Last week, Mr. Trump repeatedly claimed that President Obama is “the founder of ISIS.” Even when a sympathetic conservative radio host offered Mr. Trump a chance to backtrack from his ridiculous claim and instead blame the Obama administration’s policies for the Islamic State’s rise, the Republican candidate doubled down: “No, I meant he’s the founder of ISIS. I do.” (The next day, Mr. Trump belatedly took to Twitter to plead sarcasm.)

This will most likely fade from the news cycle as Mr. Trump moves on and the next controversy arises. But these misleading words will reverberate far beyond America’s shores for years to come, and there will be serious implications for American foreign policy.

...

Not long ago, when America’s overseas enemies and critics wanted to mislead their publics to believe that the American government was in cahoots with terrorists like the Islamic State or Al Qaeda, they had to look to the United States’ political fringe for confirmation of their own conspiracy theories. Now, thanks to Mr. Trump, America’s enemies can simply run the videotape of a major party’s nominee for president.


http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-obama-clinton-isis-2016-8

There's the widespread perception in the Middle East that the US is so powerful that the military could defeat ISIS if the government really wanted to. The fact that ISIS continues to exist is proof to some that the US doesn't really want it gone.

And a recent survey found that 81% of Syrians and 85% of Iraqis think the US created ISIS. Another recent survey found that 93% of Iraqis view the US as an enemy of their country.

Despite the US military drawdown in Iraq, the country is still a crucial ally in the fight against terrorism. A US presidential candidate seemingly legitimizing conspiracy theorists further undermines any authority America has left in the Middle East.
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