The Questionable Quality of the US Presidential Election

Published in Nishinippon Shimbun
(Japan) on 12 October 2016
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Maisha Kuniyuki. Edited by Alexandra Mullin.
During the second presidential debate, the decline in the quality of U.S. politics became apparent when Democratic candidate Clinton and Republican candidate Trump both engaged in multiple personal attacks against each other.

Most of the focus was on how Trump would justify his misogynistic remarks. Eleven years ago, he said in a vulgar conversation that “when you’re a star, [women] let you do it. You can do anything.” Trump also recently faced criticism from his own party after these remarks came to light.

“This was locker-room banter, a private conversation that took place many years ago,” explained Trump. Though Trump attempted to counter this using former President Bill Clinton’s past infidelity, he did not gain the sympathy of viewers.

At this stage of the U.S. presidential elections, the public is once again questioning whether Trump is suitable for the role of president.

To date, Trump has made many discriminatory remarks against women, Muslims and immigrants, and his stance on human rights issues has been questioned.

Also of note are his baseless comments, abusive attacks against his opponents and excessive self-justifications. It is also likely he avoided paying income tax for many years.

Although a political party and its members should thoroughly screen its candidates and weed out any who prove to be problematic by the time of the primary elections, Trump’s history makes it obvious that the Republican Party did not do so and failed to fulfill its duties.

Although there is less than a month until elections, the debate strangely did not discuss detailed policies and instead devolved into a mudslinging match of personal attacks. Trump and the Republican Party are largely responsible.

On the other hand, controversy surrounds Clinton’s use of her private email for official business during her time as secretary of state. Although Clinton has apologized, voters are still not fully satisfied.

Speaking practically, the president of the United States is the most influential leader in the world, whose character and views direct the course of the international community. I urge U.S. citizens to carefully examine the qualities and policies of the candidates and to make the right choice.


米大統領選 資質が問われる異常事態


 米国の政治の劣化ぶりがあらわになったように思える。

 米大統領選の第2回候補者テレビ討論会が行われ、民主党のクリントン氏と共和党のトランプ氏が互いの人格攻撃を繰り返した。

 最大の注目点はトランプ氏が自らの女性蔑視発言をどう弁明するかだった。トランプ氏は11年前、下品な言葉で「有名人なら女を思うままにできる」などと発言したことが明るみに出たばかりで、共和党からも離反が起きている。

 トランプ氏は「(発言は)誇らしくはないが、ロッカールームでの会話のようなもの」と開き直る一方で、クリントン氏の夫の元大統領による女性問題を取り上げて反撃に出たが、視聴者の理解は得られなかったようだ。

 米大統領選のこの局面で、トランプ氏の「大統領としての資質」が改めて問われている。

 トランプ氏はこれまでも女性、イスラム教徒や移民などに対し数々の差別的な発言をしており、人権感覚に疑問符が付いていた。

 また、事実に基づかない批判、対立候補への口汚い攻撃や、過度の自己正当化などの特質も目につく。長年、所得税納付を逃れてきた可能性も指摘されている。

 そもそも、こうした「候補の資質」については、予備選の段階で政党と党員がきちんと判断し、問題のある候補はふるいにかけておくべきなのだ。共和党はその役割を果たさなかった。

 投票まで1カ月を切ったというのに、討論会が個人攻撃の泥仕合に陥り、具体的な政策論争が深まらないのは異常な事態である。その責任の大半は、トランプ氏と共和党にある。

 他方でクリントン氏にも国務長官時代に公用で私用メールアドレスを使用した問題がある。クリントン氏は謝罪したが、まだ有権者を納得させられていない。

 米国の大統領は事実上、世界で最も重要なリーダーであり、その人格と識見は国際社会の針路を左右する。米国民は候補者の資質と政策を精査した上で、間違いのない選択をしてほしい。
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