As I write this column, we are entering the week of the first 2024 presidential debate. While I hold no party affiliation nor attempt to promote either candidate in this article, I would like to suggest some questions to help voters better assess their options going into the 2024 election.
The following are my recommendations for questions to be posed to each candidate. (the point of sharing these questions is to help you (the reader) refine your thinking as we move closer to election day later this year.
Biden: Why have you chosen to not close access to our Southern border as a means of national security for the people of the United States and why have you not enhanced our approach to immigration in a caring, yet safe manner, for all involved?
Trump: Considering the events surrounding the January 6th attack on our capital, how would you describe the actions of those that entered the capital attempting to overthrow our government?
Biden: What would you do differently with respect to the planned withdrawal from Afghanistan in lieu of the fact that we lost lives unnecessarily and left millions of dollars of military equipment behind for others to use in the future?
Trump: How could you have made different choices in your past to avoid the number of legal issues that you have faced and are currently facing?
Both Candidates: What would you have done differently during your first term as president if you had the opportunity?
Both Candidates: What is the single most important issue facing the United States that you would prioritize if elected for a second term?
Biden: What is your single most important accomplishment during your first term?
Trump: How will you respond to those that don’t currently support you to unite the country?
Biden: How do you respond to the questions regarding your cognitive ability given the instances sighted that support these questions?
Trump: How will you be able to focus on serving as president given the number of legal issues that you are facing?
Both Candidates: What is one trait in your opponent that you most admire?
Both Candidates: What is the most important difference in you compared to your opponent?
Biden: What’s more important, you winning the election or our citizens prospering?
Trump: What is more important, making America great again, or you becoming president?
Both Candidates: Why do you want to be elected president?
The key is to get beyond the party platform talking lines and get to hard questions on actions taken, what was learned from prior decisions, what one values, how one handles conflict, how one will unite and lead a divided country, and what’s driving the individual to seek this very important role.
So often we get distracted by singular issues and don’t evaluate the candidate as a leader. The issues to be faced over the next four years may not even be a priority now. It’s therefore key to better understand the candidate’s ability to lead and unite a nation than it is to evaluate the talking points on a platform that may not even matter six months from now.
