Trump’s ‘locker-room banter’ and threat to jail Clinton: how the second presidential debate got dirty
The encounter drew unprecedented interest, with Trump on the ropes courtesy of a video recording his crude boasts about groping women.
Welcome to the South China Morning Post’s coverage of the second US presidential debate between Republican nominee Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton.
The encounter drew unprecedented interest, with Trump on the ropes courtesy of a video recording his crude boasts about groping women. Was the GOP nominee able to recover from his campaign’s seemingly disastrous position? Did Clinton deliver a knockout blow - or find a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory?
Read on for our coverage of the interactive town-hall style showdown at Washington University in St Louis. It’s a potentially treacherous format, that promises pitfalls for the unwary.
10.34am: Last question from the audience. “Would either of you name one positive thing you respect about one another?” The questioner gets the biggest laugh of the night! Clinton: “I respect his children...and that says a lot about Donald.” Trump: “I consider her statement about my children a very nice compliment...I’ll say this about Hillary, she doesn’t quit. She doesn’t give up.” It comes across as a genuine and (gasp) gracious moment to close the debate.
10.30am: Second mention of China by Trump as he says mainland steel dumping is “killing” US workers. Clinton says she “won’t be taken advantage of by China, on steel or anything else”.
10.27am: Asked about the vacancy on the Supreme Court, Trump says he wants a judge who respects the second amendment to the US constitution, on the right to bear arms. He also adds a non sequitur brag that he has put US$100 million of his own money into his campaign. Clinton: “I respect the second amendment...but I believe we should have comprehensive background checks.”
10.24am: The moderators seem to be cutting Clinton more slack when it comes to talking over the time limit. Might be worth checking with a stopwatch, to see if she’s getting favoured. Trump has raised this complaint several times already.
10.02am: Topic returns to Syria and the atrocious conditions in Aleppo. What to do? Clinton says she advocates a no-fly zone, and getting tough on Russia. Trump blames Clinton and says she was secretary of state when it went bad in Syria; Clinton corrects him. Trump: “Obama still probably listens to you...I agree she wasn’t there but possibly she was consulted.” He offers praise for the targeting of ISIS by Syria, Russia and Iran. Trump attacks US military planners for announcing attacks on Mosul. “Why would you do that? I can’t think of any possible reason.” Says Raddatz: “Maybe they wanted to warn the civilians?”
Clinton says she would not use US ground troops in Syria, other than special forces and trainers. She says that pre-announcing attacks is designed to encourage Sunni fighters in the region. Says she would consider arming the Kurds.
9.55am: First mention of China by Trump as he says a growth rate of 7 per cent in the mainland would be considered a “disaster” as he unfavourably compares this to low growth rates in the US. Does this count as praise for China from Trump? Clinton, back on taxes, says she’d raise rates on the top earners, and says “people like Donald” pay zero.
9.39am: Asked by a Muslim woman how the candidates will protect her from Islamophobia, Trump instead goes on the attack, saying the problem of “radical Islamic terrorism” needs to be acknowledged. Probably not what she wanted to hear. Clinton: “We are not at war with Islam. It is a mistake and it plays into the hands of the terrorists to act as if we are.”
9.34am: Trump, talking about his plan to repeal Obamacare, squeezes in a description of Canada’s healthcare system as a “disaster”.
9.29am: Trump scorches Raddatz and Cooper for supposed bias against him. “Nice. Nice. One on three.”
9.23am: Trump says that as president he will appoint a special prosecutor to look into Hillary Clinton’s behaviour. Clinton, smirking like the cat who got the cream, virtually laughs him off. Clinton: “It’s awfully good...that [Trump] isn’t in charge of the laws” in the US. Trump: “Because you’d be in jail.” Some whoops from Trump supporters.
9.18am: Trump now connects Hillary Clinton to her defence of the rapist of a 12-year-old girl. He gets a smattering of applause. This is some amazing stuff. Clinton: “When they go low, you go high”. Bigger applause. “Everyone can draw their conclusions [on Trump] at this stage...he never apologises to anyone.”
9.16am: Getting crazy now. Trump already in panic mode, offering sarcastic attack on the moderators for cutting him off. “Oh, that’s fair, that’s fair”. “Bill Clinton was abusive to women. Hillary Clinton attacked those women...viciously”.
Clinton goes for the throat: “It’s clear to everyone that [the video] shows exactly who he is,” as she paints Trump as a bully and abuser. “This is not who we are,” she says. “America is already great, but we are great because we are good.”
Trump: “It’s just words folks.”
