To the editor: Suppose both President Biden and former President Trump deliver a coherent, policy-oriented speech in their debate. Should they then be judged only by the performance of that one night? (“Presidential debates usually don't matter. This Biden-Trump showdown could be different,” Opinion, June 25)
What matters when evaluating a person is the context, not a single organized event like the June 27 debate. Both Biden and Trump must be considered within the broader context of their past behavior.
Viewed this way, we, the voters, should do everything we can to unseat and then calmly evaluate both candidates' records on the following:
- What is a man of good character or not?
- What is a man of deep empathy for his fellow men or not?
- Which has demonstrated well-defined, fact-based and well-reasoned visions for the betterment of our country, or not?
- Which has worked well with the other branches of government?
- Which has most effectively communicated with us, the public, the what and why of their decisions and actions?
- Which has shown strong and firm support for the Constitution and the rule of law?
The most important thing is: which candidate would you like your children to emulate?
Victor Wagan Monsura, Garden Grove
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To the editor: After reading articles about the upcoming presidential debate, I think Trump and Biden will put on a pretty horrible show.
The solution was to have independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in the debate. CNN's refusal to allow him on stage is a slap in the face to all of us who would like to listen to anyone other than Biden and Trump.
This is still America, the land of the free, or so I thought.
Virginia Noyes, Glendale
