Elkhart County leaders weren’t thrilled overall with President Joe Biden’s presentation at the first 2024 President Debate against former president Donald Trump.
“I hope this doesn’t discourage individuals from being involved in the process,” said Elkhart County Democratic Chair Chad Crabtree. “I do hope they vote — and I hope they vote for President Biden — but exercise their vote, and if they don’t like it, become involved and work to change it. It’s easy to complain from the sidelines when you’re not in the game and that’s on either side. More people do need to get involved.”
On Thursday night, the current and former presidents went head-to-head in a debate moderated by CNN reporters Dana Bash and Jake Tapper. They battled over a wide array of topics from border control to international relations and the U.S. military, to Black American livelihoods, the economy and climate control. They also bickered about who would win in a golf match, Biden’s son Hunter and Trump’s felony charges, and the morals of allegedly sleeping with a p*rn star.
“I think it did answer quite a few questions,” said Republican delegate Debra Johnson. “I think President Trump kept his cool, which was awesome. I think it did show that Joe Biden has got some health issues.”
But by-and-large, the most compelling concern of the debates after all was said and done was Biden’s struggles to finish sentences and extrapolate clear and coherent thoughts.
“I really don’t want to say that much ill about President Biden because I don’t like to kick a man when he’s down. … Sometimes (during the debate) he seemed very lucid and then all of the sudden he would be jumping between three and four different topics in a sentence and that just concerns me quite a bit,” said Sen. Blake Doriot, R-District 12.
Concerns raised over the years are that Biden’s mental health has been deteriorating and many felt that the debates only further proved decline.
“I really think if you’re running for president and you’re going to run the number one country, as far as I’m concerned, in the world, then you need to be mentally and physically fit to do it,” Johnson said.
Goshen City Councilman Doug Nisley shared his concerns.
“It’s pretty obvious I think that President Biden has some problems, and I think the Democratic Party has some problems going forward,” he said. “Because of his lack of focus, being able to stay on topic, being able to finish sentences … I just think there’s a little bit of a problem there.”
A speech and language pathologist by trade, Elkhart Democratic Delegate Cora Breckenridge claimed Biden’s speech problems were a result of his childhood stutter.
“People have to take that into consideration,” Breckenridge said. “I think considering all things, he ended up doing pretty good. If you stutter as a child, it will follow you throughout your life. There will be some ramifications and implications throughout your life.”
Despite the concerns, Democrats The Goshen News spoke with said overall, the president did a decent job.
“While President Biden did not perform to the level that I would have wished, the fact remains that one candidate had a clear vision that benefits the American people while the other continued to spread his own version of history,” said Elkhart City Councilman Aaron Mishler.
And that was the primary issue, as Democrats said, “the lies.”
“I was surprised at the amount of lies that were told,” said Elkhart County Democratic Party Chair Chad Crabtree. “Honestly, I was a little bit disappointed with both candidates and name-calling, pointing the finger. … This isn’t middle school. Why do you want to be president? Why do you want to run again? What differentiates you? Unfortunately, that’s what’s wrong with the American political system and that’s why people don’t want to partake anymore.”
In addition, Democratic leaders argued that the debate was simply more evidence against Trump’s character, less concerned about Biden’s notable flaws.
“I think last night’s debate was another example of Donald Trump’s continued inability to answer questions and be truthful to the American people about his record and plans for the future and the country,” Mishler said. “I think that there’s a difference between the ability to campaign and the ability to govern. President Biden has shown continued success as one of the most successful legislative presidents in recent history, and it is up to the American people to determine his strength as a campaigner.”
Republicans, however, found Trump’s presentation to be pretty OK.
“There’s some things that President Trump could have elaborated on a little bit better, but I think comparing the two if those are the choices we have,” Nisley said. “Trump did a much better job at staying focused.”
Doriot thought Trump did all right.
“I was actually pleased that he was not overly harsh,” Doriot said. “I know a few times in the last election he was extremely harsh. I think he was on point and he was saying what a lot of concerned Americans are wanting to hear. We have problems on the border; we need to get inflation in line.”
Those who spoke to The News encourage the community to vote, regardless of party affiliation.
“I encourage all Americans regardless of their political affiliations to stay engaged with politics locally and nationally,” Mishler said. “It is only together that we can solve the problems that face our nation.”
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