Co-Authors: Claudia Morales and Charles Bonkowsky
The Vice-Presidential debates have ended, leaving Americans with a better idea of the views of each candidate. This article will break down the policies, views, and opinions. We will also fact check the information for statements on topics like COVID-19, the battle over the Supreme Court, and racial division and unification.
Main Topic: Covid-19
Sub-Question: Why is the US death toll higher than that of every other wealthy country?
Mike Pence: Pence diverted from the question.
“From the first day, Mr. Trump has put the health of Americans first. People were suspended from traveling to and from there. This was the greatest national mobilization and saved thousands of lives. Doctors and nurses were able to have the resources they need as well as the development of a vaccine.” Biden’s plan (to aid Americans during the pandemic) is very similar to ours. We are advancing testing, creating personal protective equipment, etc. which seems like “plagiarism” on their end. Pence mentioned how Dr. Fauci even noted that the Trump administration did everything right, but that still would not have saved everyone.
Sub-Question: How can you explain to Americans to follow the safety guidelines for COVID when the White House does not follow those guidelines? A recent example is at the Rose Garden where guests were not following safety precautions.
Mike Pence:
“Americans are willing to put the health of their own families first and we trust them to take the information in and put it into practice. We told them what needed to be done and Americans did what needed to happen. At the Rose Garden event, many people were tested for COVID before entering and it was an outdoor event. We trusted the people there to make the best choices for themselves. We are about freedom and respecting the American people.”
Fact Check:
Comparing the two campaigns’ plans for fighting coronavirus, they have some similarities—driven by the recommended scientific guidelines—but differ in the specifics. Trump’s plan appears to be centered around the development of a vaccine and a “Return to Normal in 2021”, while Biden’s gives no definite end-date, has mentioned potential national shutdowns and instead speaks of the need for protection from the virus as well as economic relief.
While Trump set restrictions on travel to and from China, it wasn’t a complete and total ban—as US citizens and family members were permitted to return home, which was reported to be about 40,000 people since the bans were put in place.
And while it’s true that part of the Rose Garden event was held outside (though with many of the guests still maskless, contradicting health guidelines), many guests were also photographed, maskless, indoors at the Whitehouse.
Sub-topic: 39 states have rising numbers and set records for COVID cases. Even with a vaccine that is available, what would your party do to combat this?
Kamala Harris:
She goes over the failures of the President and VP about the handling of COVID-19. In addition, she reviews her and Biden’s plan regarding national strategy, contact tracing, and free vaccines for all. She said, “We need to save our country. Clearly whatever your administration is doing isn’t working.” She mentions how the presidency knew about COVID-19 in early January 2019 but ultimately did nothing.
“You respect the American people when you speak the truth.” She recites how facts are hard, but they need to be known. She further adds, “ Now you are standing in food lines because we have an administration that lies”.
Sub-Topic: Half of Americans say they will not take a vaccine. Should Americans take it and will you take it?
Kamala Harris:
“If doctors say to take it I will. If Donald Trump says to take it I will not.”
Fact Check:
The administration did appear to be aware of the threat of COVID-19 before it was conveyed to the public. In excerpts from Bob Woodward’s book, he recounts an interview with the president where Trump told him the virus was “deadly stuff”; 3 days later, he told supporters that “I think the virus is going to be — it’s going to be fine.”
Within hours of President Trump’s Covid-19 China travel ban on January 31 (the first travel restriction the U.S. implemented due to Covid-19), several top Democrats and media figures stated that the move to ban travel from China was xenophobic and not needed. These figures included Joe Biden coming out with a tweet, echoing voices from other Democrats that the U.S. “needs to lead the way with science not Trump’s record of hysteria, xenophobia…” He claimed later that these remarks were not in connection with the China travel restrictions, which some have said it is hard to believe as the tweet seemed to echo many other media and Democrat voices over the previous 24 hours.
Main Topic: Role of the Vice President
Main question: Being Vice President to what will be the oldest President in the office on both sides, have either parties discussed working on presidential disability?
Note: Both candidates diverted from the question but we will keep what they say for the record.
Kamala Harris:
Goes over her time when she first got the call that Biden wanted her as his running mate. She expressed her views on the values of hard work and public service. Goes over her career being the first in many instances like the first black woman. Diverts from the question with her history and values.
Mike Pence:
“Public confidence in a vaccine is being undermined by Harris. The reality is that we will have a vaccine, probably by the end of this year. It’s unacceptable to undermine this. We saw failure in US history through the swine flu back in the Obama administration.”
Fact Check:
The US government effort to develop a vaccine has said that, while vaccine trials may be completed by November or December, large-scale production can likely not begin until early 2021. It’s true that the H1N1 flu-infected many more Americans than the COVID-19 pandemic has—60 million had H1N1 to the estimated count of 7.6 million total COVID cases in the US—the CDC estimates that no more than 12,500 Americans were killed by it. To whit, the coronavirus has killed over 210,000 Americans.
Sub-Question: Do the American people need to know the current health of the President during these types of situations?
Kamala Harris:
Joe Biden has been transparent in regards to his health records. She then diverts to discussing tax issues regarding Trump’s tax record for $750 paid in taxes in 2016 and 2017. “We now know Donald Trump owes $400 million.”
Mike Pence:
“The care that Trump received was exceptional along with the transparency that has been given about his health.”
Fact Check:
Joe Biden’s campaign website has a link to his health records; the report on President Trump’s taxes released by the New York Times shows that he paid only $750 in taxes for 2016 and 2017, and is approximately $421 million in debt.
The president’s care was exceptional—he received care from a team of providers, and was administered an experimental drug that less than 10 others have received. However, his providers haven’t answered due to HIPAA privacy laws about when he last tested negative, as well as given conflicting answers about the state of his health.
Main Topic: Economy
Main Question: 11 million jobs have not been replaced. Those hardest hit are minorities such as Latinos and African Americans. How will both parties deal with the current crisis and recession?
Sub-Topic: Would raising taxes put those already at risk in more debt?
Kamala Harris:
Joe Biden believes you measure the health of the economy based on Americans’ health. She elaborates on the tax bill that would increase taxes on the wealthy and businesses. Biden’s administration will direct money on taxes towards infrastructure, science, and education. Furthermore, Americans will be offered free tuition at a two-year community college. Anyone who makes less than $125,000 can attend a public university for free as well. In addition, anyone with student loan debt will have it cut by $10,000.
Joe Biden will not raise taxes on anyone making $400,000 a year. Biden will not end fracking and was responsible for the recovery act during the Great Recession. She discusses the significance of the Affordable Care Act and protecting pre-existing conditions.
Fact Check:
Joe Biden’s tax plan includes a tax rate increase on personal income, corporate, investment and payroll taxes. For personal taxes, tax increases will only apply to those earning more than $400,000 per year. Corporate taxes would increase from 21% to 28% with a minimum tax on book income. Under Biden’s plan, the Tax Foundation estimates a negative 1.47% GDP and loss of over 500,000 jobs.
Biden has called for “no new fracking” during a town hall but also stated he would not end it. And when the Recovery Act of 2009 was signed, Obama thanked Biden for working behind the scenes to make it happen. He delegated the supervision of the stimulus money to his vice-president.
Sub-Topic: Should Americans be brazed for an economic comeback that might take a year or more to recover from?
Mike Pence:
“When Biden was VP they tried to regulate our taxes. Trump cut taxes. There was a rise in wages for blue-collar jobs. From day one Biden will raise your taxes and bury our economy through the Green New Deal.” Pence stated what the ban on fossil fuels will cost and that half of our trade deficits were with China alone. He said his administration fought for fair wages to families. “The American economy is on the ballot. Trump has a plan to protect American health. Biden’s administration would crush American energy and allow surrender to China. We will keep America growing.”
Fact Check:
Wages for blue-collar workers have risen (barring effects from the pandemic, which throws off many traditional analyses), though analysts credit not only Trump, but also minimum wages rising.
Biden has committed to ending fossil fuel subsidies.
In August, the US trade deficit was the highest it’s been in 14 years, although the deficit with China fell 6.7%.
Trump currently has no official policy for a new healthcare plan other than the executive order he signed on September 24 and Second term plans in which he has promised to protect those with pre-existing conditions.
Main Topic: Climate Change
Main Question: What will your party do about the issue of climate change?
Sub Question: As a co-sponsor of the green new deal, Joe Biden says he does not support it. What is your stance towards the Green New Deal?
Kamala Harris:
She gives a reminder once again that “Joe Biden will not ban fracking, that is a fact.” She then stated that Moody’s will create more jobs than Trump ever has. Biden understands that the west coast is burning. The gulf states are being battered by storms. Biden believes in science. Climate change and science have been taken off the website by Trump’s administration. They are of the opinion that “Science does not know.” Biden will focus on renewable energy. They plan to achieve zero-emission and carbon-neutral by 2025 and re-enter the Paris Accord.
Concerning what was accomplished with China in the Trade War, the economy worsened because of it. America lost 300,000 factory jobs. We are in a manufacturing recession because of this. Overall, we will have lost more jobs than any other administration in history.
Joe Biden saved the auto industry as well.
Fact Check:
References to climate change were removed from many government websites, although not all—Climate.gov and CLEANet.org, government-administered websites, and Trump’s second term plans.
The idea that America lost 300,000 manufacturing jobs due to the trade war is not true. Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the US gained 483,000 manufacturing jobs under Trump. Due to the pandemic—but not the trade war—the total record under Trump is now -164,000 manufacturing jobs.
Sub Question: With record-breaking climate issues like hurricanes, wildfires, and temperatures. What do you think should be done about these issues and climate change?
Mike Pence:
“I’m very proud of our record on the environment. Our air and land are cleaner than they are compared to anywhere else. Trump made a commitment to environmental conservation. We will continue to listen to the scientist in regards to climate change. The Green New Deal will crush American jobs. The progress we have made in a clean environment is due to a strong economy. We have done this through innovation and natural gas. Biden wants to abolish fossil fuel. In regards to wildfires, we believe that we need to work on forest management. There are no more hurricanes today than there were 100 years ago.”
Fact Check:
The US does not have the cleanest air in the world (reports estimate that such a title would likely belong to Australia or New Zealand), and the country experienced far more polluted air days in any of the past four years than it did during Obama’s presidency.
It’s true that there aren’t, on average, more hurricanes than 100 years ago.
Sub Question: Do you believe that climate change is an existential threat?
Mike Pence:
Pence states that harris is denying the fact that they will raise the taxes and the Trump tax cuts will be repealed. He states how terrible it would be to rejoin the Paris accord. “We have made great progress in reducing CO2, we don’t need a Green New Deal that will harm the economy. Trump will put jobs first.”
Pence said that the administration never lost the war with China, but that Biden did during Obama’s administration. “In our first three years, we sold 500,000 jobs.”
Fact Check:
In terms of CO2 output, there was a spike in emissions in 2018 followed by more decline—however, emissions are still higher than before he took office.
Main Topic: China
Main Question: What is our current standing with China right now?
Mike Pence:
Pence went over on Trump’s actions to stand up against China. He blames China for the pandemic. He further adds how Biden was opposed to Trump’s decision to impose travel bans. “Biden has not stood up to China during Obama’s administration.”
Kamala Harris:
She discusses how there is a strange obsession with Trump to destroy what Obama created. There was a way for us to track pandemics in the White House and the Trump administration destroyed that. The trade war with China resulted in the loss of thousands of manufacturing jobs. Also, there was a price hike in goods due to the loss of China manufacturing. She stated that PEW has done an analysis of leaders from all of our allies and they hold greater respect for the Xi Jinping than for Trump.
Fact Check:
Recent evidence has resulted from a Chinese whistleblower who recently stated that China’s government ‘intentionally’ released Covid-19.
Trump did disband the National Security Council pandemic response office created by Obama in 2018.
The trade war with China did not result in the loss of jobs, although it has raised prices for consumers.
Sub Question: What is the definition of the role of US leadership in 2020?
Kamala Harris:
“Joe said foreign policy is not complicated, it is relationships. You have to be loyal and stick by them, know who your adversaries are and keep them in check.”
Trump has embraced dictators around the world. Russia interfered in 2016 and is trying to do the same now. “Trump takes the word of Vladimir Putin over the American intelligence community.” He has pulled us out of the nuclear deal which will result in a substantial nuclear arsenal.
What happened with the American deaths is tragic. After the strike on Soleimani there was a counter attack on American troops. Some suffered severe trauma and he called those injuries “Headaches.” What Trump said about John McCain that he does not deserve to be a hero is not acceptable. On the other hand, Russia had bounties on the head of American soldiers. Trump had six opportunities to bring this up with Putin but failed to do so.
Mike Pence:
“Today two of the Isis killers were brought to justice for Kayla Mueller. The reality is that when Biden was VP, we had an opportunity to save Mueller. The military came to Obama’s administration and notified Mueller’s location, but they took so long in their response. If that had happened during Trump’s administration, Mueller would still be alive today.” Pence also recalls that it has been through a military force that the Trump administration has been able to make progress in strengthening alliances in the Asia Pacific and countering terrorists in the Middle East.
Fact Check:
The Obama administration was criticized over their response to Kayla Mueller.
Main Topic: Supreme Court
Main question: With the new Supreme Court nominee Judge Cony Barret, it could enable more restrictions on abortion or overturn acts like Roe v. Wade. What is each party’s stance on this?
Sub Topic: What would you like California to do in regard to access to abortion?
Kamala Harris:
“Joe Biden and I are people of faith.” Biden will be the second practicing Catholic as President of the United States if elected. Over 4 million people have already voted. She strongly supports that women have rights to their own bodies, especially in regard to abortion. Obamacare is immensely helping people during this pandemic with pre-existing conditions. However, Trump’s administration wants to overturn this, and people with these conditions will lose coverage.
Fact Check:
Joe Biden would be the second Catholic president if elected—John F. Kennedy was the first. However, Biden has been denied Holy Communion because of his pro-abortion views.
Yes, more than four million people have already voted in the 2020 election.
There is currently a pending Supreme Court case (California v. Texas), supported by the administration, which seeks to invalidate the entirety of the Affordable Care Act.
Sub Topic: If Roe V. Wade is overturned, what would Indiana do? Would you want your home state to ban abortions altogether?
Mike Pence:
Pence diverted from the question to respond to the previous topic. “Trump and I cannot be more enthusiastic to see Connie Berrett become a Supreme Court Justice. We hope she gets a fair hearing. The Democratic chairman of the Judiciary Committee expressed concern that the dogma of Berrett’s faith lived loudly in her. Harris attacked her because Berrett expressed support for pro-life.”
Kamala Harris:
In 1864 one of the political heroes, Abraham Lincoln, 27 days before the election had an open seat in the Supreme Court. He decided to wait for this stating “a President is four years, a Judge is a lifetime.” The American people are voting now and it is their decision to choose who sits in the Supreme Court. Out of the 50 people Trump has wanted to appoint to the Supreme Court, none of them were black.
Fact Check:
The Democratic ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, Senator Feinstein (D-CA) did state that “the dogma lives loudly within you” during her 2017 hearing to the Court of Appeals.
The “history lesson” Harris provides is largely true: Lincoln had his Chief Justice pass away just weeks before an election, and told his aides that he was “waiting to receive expressions of public opinion from the country,” before nominating anyone else.
Sub Question: How would the administration take the dismantle of Roe V. Wade?
Mike Pence:
I couldn’t more proud to support Trump’s view on pro-life. Harris wants to increase funding for planned parenthood. We will continue to stand strong for pro-life. Biden’s party is openly advocating open seats to the courts if they can’t win by the rules. Are they going to pack the Supreme Court to get your way? Harris never answered this question.
Fact Check:
Biden said a few days after the debate that he would wait until after the election to give his stance on “packing the court” with more supreme court justices that support Democrat ideologies. The Biden campaign does call for restoring federal funding to Planned Parenthood.
Sub Question: In the case of Breonna Taylor, was justice served?
Kamala Harris:
“I have talked to the family and they deserve justice. Her life was taken unjustifiably.” She elaborates on other unjust actions that have recently occurred. An American man was tortured and killed by a uniformed police officer. People marched shoulder to shoulder to fight inequality. “I was a part of those protests. Bad cops are bad for good cops.” Biden’s administration plans to ban chokeholds, require a national registry, get rid of private prisons and decriminalize marijuana.
“I am the only one on stage who has personally prosecuted child abuse, for big banks taking advantage of the American people. The president took a debate stage and refused to condemn white supremacists. He called Mexicans rapists and criminals and enacted a Muslim ban. I was the first to institute police to wear body cameras and have training on implicit bias.”
Mike Pence:
“Taylor’s family has our sympathy, but I trust our justice system. In regards to George Floyd, there is no excuse for that. There is also no excuse for rioting. This presumption that you hear consistently from Harris and Biden that America is systemically racist is an insult to the men and women who serve in law enforcement. The media selectively edits information.” Pence furthers his discussion by counteracting Harris’s statement that Trump supports White Supremacy. Pence claimed that “Trump condemns white supremacists and he respects and cherishes all American people. When Harris was DA in San Francisco, Africans were more likely to be prosecuted as well as for Latinos.”
Fact Check:
Harris is correct about Biden’s plans for criminal justice, which can be found here on his campaign website.
Harris is correct that Trump has called Mexicans “rapists” and “criminals”—his travel ban was not instituted explicitly towards Muslims, but banned travel from many majority-Muslim countries.
Pence’s statistics on relative arrests of African-Americans and Latinos are correct, but reference arrests, not prosecutions.
Main Topic: Presidential Transition
Main Question: What steps would you and President Biden take for a peaceful transition into the White House?
Kamala Harris:
“Joe and I are proud of our coalition and have the broadest coalition.” She states how seven members of George W. Bush’s cabinet are in support of them. Of course, we have the support of Democrats, but also independents and Republicans. In fact, seven members of president George W. Bush’s cabinet are supporting our ticket. We have the support of Colin Powell, Cindy McCain, John Kasich.” She then states they have 500 generals, retired generals, and former national security experts and advisors are supporting their campaign. She states her administration believes in democracy and that people should “vote early.”
Fact Check:
Yes, all those Republicans have endorsed Biden.
Sub-Topic: If Biden wins the election and Trump refuses a peaceful transition what will you do?
Mike Pence:
“I personally believe we will win this election. Trump has launched a movement for everyday Americans and walks of life. I have confidence that they will see how we have revived our economy by standing next to men and women in our law enforcement, delivering tax cuts, etc. When Biden was VP, the CIA was spying on Trump. Those allegations were supposedly coming from the Clinton campaign, but this wasn’t the case. We are fighting in the courthouse every day to make sure we have a fair election.”
Final Question: The Utah debate commission wrote questions for tonight. An 8-year-old Utah resident wrote “When I watch the news all I see is arguing between Democrats and Republicans… If our leaders can’t get along, how are we supposed to get along?”
Kamala Harris:
She stated that she loves hearing from the young leaders of our country. Joe Biden decided to run after Charlottesville that there was so much hate and division. “Joe works in a bipartisan way and has a history of fighting for dignity. Joe has known pain, suffering and love.” She goes onto say when you think of the future it is bright, we will fight and we will vote.
Mike Pence:
“I started following the news when I was very young. We believe in the freedom of an open debate. Don’t assume that what you’re seeing in the local news presents reality. Ruth Ginsburg and Scalia are polar opposites, but they were very close friends. When the debate is over, we come together as friends. We are going to work every day to have a government that is as good as the American people.”
