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Debate one-on-one: Who was the real winner of Sunday’s debate?

Hillary got Trumped on tax policy

BY KYLE STONE

Looking past issues of personal ethical conduct, Donald Trump was the clear winner of the Oct. 9 debate.

My statement is supported by both Hillary Clinton’s and the moderators’ focus on Trump’s tax history. Anderson Cooper asked a question about a $916 million loss taken by Trump in 1995, which in turn allowed Trump to avoid paying personal income tax for years. Trump confidently and justly asserted that he has avoided paying personal income tax, as he was allowed to under the law. But it was his next move that won him the debate.

As Clinton rebuked how terrible it was that Trump didn’t pay personal income tax, Trump threw her cards right back at her. Trump argued Clinton had never made it a focus of her time as a senator from New York to close loopholes in the tax code, such as the one Trump utilized. Essentially, he was telling Clinton not to hate the player, but to hate the game that permitted his actions, a game that she took part in allowing.

Further, Trump asserted that many of Clinton’s donors (two of the top three happen to be large hedge funds) utilize the same loophole Trump used in ’95.

Trump isn’t likable, and I’m not going to argue that he was civil throughout the debate, but Trump exposed one of the many holes in Clinton’s campaign last Sunday.

Clinton can harp on Trump about him not being qualified or not having the right temperament to be president, but until she holds herself accountable for things she has done or continues to do –such as accepting money from people who conduct business very similar to Trump– she should not be taken any more seriously than the man she hopes to defeat come November.

And all Sammy is going to do is act like TMZ. Don’t let her convince you that Trump is the devil without realizing that Clinton is no better.

Hillary Clinton smashed it

BY SAMANTHA DELLARIA

If I am being perfectly honest, it would have been very difficult for Clinton to walk out of last Sunday’s debate without the upper hand on her opponent. On Oct. 8, “The Washington Post” revealed Donald Trump’s 2005 “Access Hollywood” interview in which Trump was unknowingly recorded speaking with then-reporter Billy Bush. The recording captured Trump explaining to Bush how he felt he was entitled to treat women.

It’s like a magnet,” Trump said in the recording. “Just kiss. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.”

The scandal caused some GOP members to withdraw their support and endorsements for Trump, and it became likely that Clinton could capitalize on the opportunity when the debate rolled around on the following Sunday.

I’d imagine Clinton’s campaign headquarters had to be somewhat similar to “Saturday Night Live’s” portrayal of Clinton, in which Kate McKinnon impersonates the presidential hopeful celebrating after the news of Trump’s October surprise.

From the beginning of the evening, Clinton walked onto the debate stage looking comfortable and confident. She clearly demonstrated her experience in politics was her advantage over her opponent’s. In addition, she was able to make her points in a calm manner.

In opposition, Trump appeared uncomfortably rigid and often made many obvious pivots in his answers to avoid answering questions asked by audience members.

Kyle will tell you about the things Clinton has done wrong in her career, but as Trump has demonstrated, he messes up in big ways. Clinton knows how to handle White House situations in a way that Trump cannot be trusted to do.

Clinton’s composure during the second presidential debate is her saving grace.

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