US Presidential Elections: The Precariousness of Negative Options

Published in Chunichi Shimbun
(Japan) on 4 July 2024
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Dorothy Phoenix. Edited by Helaine Schweitzer.
The first televised debate was held between the presumptive nominees for president in the November election, incumbent Democratic President Joe Biden, 81, and former Republican President Donald Trump, 78.

Biden spoke hoarsely and weakly, and Trump for his part shouted out his opinions without answering any questions. The U.S. presidential election will have a significant impact on the international situation. There is a sense of danger about choosing between two negative candidates whose eligibility for office is in doubt.

During the debate, Biden’s frailty was conspicuous, given that he has been shadowed by apprehension about his old age. Just as he did four years ago, Trump slandered Biden, claiming that Biden called Black people “super predators,” but Biden self-destructed, without offering any retort to the claim.

Some 67% of viewers felt that Trump dominated the debate. In a CBS public opinion poll, 72% of respondents said they “don't think Biden should be running for president,” and among Democratic voters, that number was 46%, a 10% increase over a February poll.

On the other hand, according to CNN, who hosted the debate, Trump told more than 30 false lies during the debate, including that the 2020 election, which he lost, was fraudulent. Although the trade deficit with China set a record high during Trump’s term, he also falsely claimed that it has reached the highest level under the Biden administration.

One can’t help but feel uneasy that the presidential candidate who repeatedly made statements that have nothing to do with reality had the upper hand, but it does not necessarily mean that U.S. voters want to see a Trump comeback.

In a CBS survey, a majority of respondents at 54% said that “Trump should not be running” for president. In a separate poll, the number of “double haters” who dislike both candidates doubled to 25% compared to four years ago.

Although we should respect President Biden's reelection bid, voices seeking Biden’s withdrawal from the race are growing stronger within the Democratic Party. If he proceeds with his campaign, the Democratic Party will need to readjust its strategy and show strength by steadfastly rebutting Trump's misstatement of facts and distortion of reality.

Regardless of which candidate wins, the international community must avoid being swayed by the chaos and lies in the United States.


米大統領選 後ろ向き選択の危うさ

11月の米大統領選に向けて、事実上の候補者となった民主党のバイデン大統領(81)=写真(右)、AP・共同=と共和党のトランプ前大統領(78)=同(左)=による最初のテレビ討論会が行われた。
 声がかすれ、言葉に詰まるなど精彩を欠くバイデン氏と、質問に答えず、一方的に自説をがなり立てるトランプ氏。米大統領選は、国際情勢に大きな影響を与える。適格性を疑われる候補からの後ろ向きな選択に危うさを感じる。
 討論会では、もともと高齢不安がつきまとうバイデン氏の弱々しさが際立った。トランプ氏が4年前と同じく「バイデン氏は黒人を『スーパープレデター(強力な捕食者)』と呼んだ」と中傷しても言い返せず、バイデン氏が自滅する形になった。
 討論会ではトランプ氏が優勢との見方は67%となった。米CBSテレビの世論調査では「バイデン氏は大統領選に出馬するべきではない」との回答が72%に上り、民主党支持層の間では2月の調査より10ポイント増の46%となった。
 一方、主催した米CNNテレビによるとトランプ氏は討論会で、落選した2020年の大統領選で不正があったなど、事実でない発言を30超も繰り返した。自身の任期中に対中貿易赤字が過去最大になったものの、バイデン政権下での出来事とする虚偽も加わった。
 事実と異なる発言を繰り返す大統領候補の優勢に不安を禁じ得ないが、米国民がトランプ氏の返り咲きを望んでいるわけでもない。
 CBSの調査では、トランプ氏も「出馬すべきではない」との答えが54%と過半数に上った。別の調査では、トランプ氏もバイデン氏も嫌う「ダブルヘイター」は25%と4年前から倍増した。
 現職大統領であるバイデン氏が再選を目指す意向は尊重されてきたが、民主党内にも撤退を求める声が強まっている。バイデン氏が選挙戦を続けるなら、民主党は態勢を立て直し、トランプ氏の事実の誤認や歪曲(わいきょく)には毅然(きぜん)と反論する強さを見せる必要がある。
 どちらの候補が勝利しても国際社会が米国の混乱や虚言に振り回される事態は避けねばならない。
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