The media’s role in election debates is essential for keeping the public well-informed and our democratic process on track. During debates, media outlets and moderators are supposed to be the truth police, fact-checking candidates on the spot to stop misinformation from spreading. But boy oh boy, when lies run wild, it doesn’t just mess with the debate’s integrity – it totally destroys voters’ trust. The old adage ‘it doesn’t matter what you say but how you say it‘ cannot be the rule in an election debate setting.
Let’s talk about the debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. It was a perfect example of moderators dropping the ball and letting Harris’ word-salad falsehoods twist how people saw important issues. This wasn’t just any old debate; it was a big-time event, and man, did those moderators pick their favorite. In Donald Trump’s words, “It was 3 against 1,” noting that ABC moderators allowed Harris to state seven mistruths without correction.
Folks, no matter how coached and sweet-talking a candidate may be, a debate cannot be won with lies! This article describes all seven Harris untruths below.
The Media’s Job in Election Debates
Election debates should be more than just a fancy word fight. They’re supposed to let candidates share their views on big issues and talk about what the public cares about. The media has a big job here – not just to show the debate, but to make sure it’s based on facts. Moderators need to keep things fair by keeping both candidates honest.
But what went down during the Trump-Harris debate? It should make every conservative’s blood boil. They picked apart Trump’s words like he was talking about aliens on Mars, while Harris breezed through the debate like she was at a tea party, with nobody questioning her outlandish statements. The moderators were all over Trump like a cheap suit, while Harris’ constant exaggerations got the celebrity treatment. This uneven scrutiny means conservative candidates like Trump get grilled harder than a Fourth of July barbecue, while their liberal opponents get treated with kid gloves.
Debate Fairness Meter
80% Scrutiny
20% Scrutiny
The Danger of Letting Lies Run Wild in Debates
Ignoring fact-checking for Harris during the debate did more than just tip the media’s hand; it totally misled voters. For example, Harris’ dishonest take on Trump’s criminal justice reform efforts during the debate muddied the waters about the bipartisan First Step Act. This act was all about rehabilitation instead of just locking people up. With the moderators snoozing at the wheel, her misleading statements shaped what people thought in a way that could actually change election results.
Unchecked lies aren’t just a small problem – they foul up the whole democratic process, leave voters confused, and can totally skew how elections turn out. In debates, it’s not about who can be most melodramatic to stir emotion; it’s about giving voters clear, accurate information.
A Call for Fair Play
Debates should be places where honest and open discussion happens. The media, especially debate moderators, need to uphold this ideal like it’s their sacred duty. Using the same fact-checking standard for all candidates isn’t just fair – it’s absolutely necessary. The Trump-Harris debate showed us what happens when moderators have chosen sides and fail to keep things balanced. We wouldn’t allow this type of one-sided leaning of baseball game announcers; why do we allow it of debate moderators?
The way Harris’ positions were presented, with moderators turning a blind eye to her misleading statements, can change how voters see important issues and undermines the democracy we hold dear. Going forward, it’s incredibly important that media moderators return to the facts over an agenda and provide the American people with debates that are honest and factual.
Choosing leaders based on a true understanding of their policies and history is of major importance for informed voting. There’s no room for unchecked lies in this equation! What lies, you ask?
The Seven Unmoderated Liberal Lies
Given her track record of poor communication skills, Harris seemed to be well groomed for the debate. Clearly coached on the “lie and attack” game, by the power of Disney or maybe magic earrings, she spewed her new brand of word-salad, mistruths. And the ABC moderators let her do it!
Here are seven notable falsehoods from Harris during the debate:
Claim on National Abortion Ban: Kamala Harris inaccurately claimed that Donald Trump, if re-elected, would sign a national abortion ban, referencing Project 2025 as the foundation for this assertion. However, this is a fabrication. Project 2025, a policy proposal published by the Heritage Foundation, does not advocate for a national abortion ban, and Trump has had no involvement with this project. In reality, Trump has consistently stated that abortion matters should be left to the states and their voters, respecting their authority to decide on such issues at the state level. Attempts to link Trump to Project 2025 are unfounded and intended to mislead voters about his stance.
Charlottesville ‘Fine People’ Hoax: Harris repeated the long-debunked claim that Trump referred to neo-Nazis and white supremacists as “very fine people” after the 2017 Charlottesville protests. In reality, Trump condemned those groups specifically during the same remarks. This claim has been debunked numerous times, yet the moderators did not challenge Harris on it.
Economic Crisis Under Trump: Harris claimed that Trump left the U.S. with “the worst unemployment since the Great Depression.” While it’s true that unemployment peaked in April 2020 due to the pandemic, unemployment had already dropped significantly by the time Biden took office. This context was missing in her statement, and moderators did not fact-check her claim.
Defunding the Police: Harris tried to distance herself from the “defund the police” movement, but her 2020 statements about “reimagining public safety” and redistributing police budgets to other areas were never corrected during the debate. Moderators failed to confront her on this, allowing her to walk back a controversial flip-flop.
Cutting Social Security and Medicare: Kamala Harris made another misleading statement during the debate related to Social Security and Medicare. She claimed that Donald Trump plans to cut both programs. This has long been debunked. Donald Trump is an advocate of these programs and has stated that he plans to ensure that they remain strong.
Trump’s Alleged Call for Violence: Harris stated that Trump called for a “bloodbath” if he wasn’t re-elected. Trump’s comments referred to potential economic turmoil not violence, but this clarification was not fact-checked during the debate by the moderators.
Energy Policy and Gas Prices: Harris blamed Trump for damaging the energy sector and contributing to higher gas prices, even though U.S. oil production reached an all-time high under Biden’s administration. The moderators did not challenge her on these inaccuracies, even as energy policy remains a critical debate point.
Conservative Wins: More Than Just Talk
Now, let’s flip the script and look at some conservative wins. During Trump’s presidency, we saw real, tangible results. The economy was booming, with unemployment rates hitting historic lows across all demographics. Remember the tax cuts that put more money in people’s pockets? That wasn’t just talk; that was action.
And how about foreign policy? Trump’s administration brokered peace deals in the Middle East that many thought impossible. The Abraham Accords were a game-changer, bringing more stability to a region that’s seen more than its fair share of conflict. The Abraham Accords are a series of agreements that were brokered by the United States during the Trump administration, aimed at normalizing diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab nations. These accords were signed in 2020 and represent a significant shift in Middle Eastern geopolitics. That’s not just winning; that’s winning bigly!
Wrapping It Up: Facts Matter
In the end, what we saw that the Trump-Harris debate wasn’t just unfair; it was a disservice to American voters. We deserve better than moderators who play favorites and let some candidates off the hook while grilling others. It’s high time we demand real, honest debates where actual facts matter more than feelings, and where both sides are held under the same microscope.
As we move forward, let’s remember: a well-informed voter is the best defense against political craps games. So next time you watch a debate, keep your BS detector on high alert. And maybe, just maybe, we’ll start seeing debates that actually help us make informed decisions, rather than leaving us wondering if we just watched a political version of “The Twilight Zone.”
