A lot has happened in the political world since the last presidential debate with many new tweets, emails, videos and other controversies surfacing about both major party candidates.
Lipscomb’s Political Science Department hosted a watch party for students to view the second 2016 Presidential Debate on Sunday night in Stowe Hall.
For some, like freshman political science major Daniel Karlson, this debate had a very different tone than the first.
“At the last debate, I came here in a shirt, tie and a ‘Proud to be a Republican’ button,” Karlson noted. “This time I came in in sweats.” “After tonight’s debate, I would absolutely be willing to wear that button because Donald Trump absolutely eviscerated Hillary Clinton. He was strong on policy and even on the petty engagement. I think he came out on top.”
Clinton supporter and senior worship ministry major Zack Eccleston was not so sure there was an easy winner.
“I didn’t walk away feeling there was a definite winner, which is upsetting because you obviously want someone to win, but I feel like both candidates tended to not answer the questions that were asked,” Eccleston said. “They both devolved into buzzwords.”
According to an NBC poll, 44% of likely voters say that Clinton won the second debate. However, Karlson does not believe those numbers represent the consensus on Lipscomb’s campus. Karlson explained that he believed that most Christian universities foster more conservative political opinions from students.
“I think that most Lipscomb students, like most students in America, are really torn because they’re obviously not happy with Donald Trump representing our party,” Karlson said. “That being said, as a conservative campus, I think there is a general consensus that most people will be supporting Donald Trump.”
Eccleston supported Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in the primaries and believes the Clinton supporters on campus may be more vocal, but the Trump supporters face a deeper, more polarizing decision. Eccleston said even among his friend group, most Trump supporters tend to be more quiet this election cycle, a silence he believes is influenced by a conflict between Christian convictions and political values.
“I don’t think you can support him as a Christian candidate, and so I think you see a lot of people, at Lipscomb especially, who are really decrying that, pointing out how awful the things he has done are,” Eccleston said. “He tends to dehumanize others that don’t fit a white male narrative or stereotype, and that’s been extremely frustrating for me and a lot of my friends to witness.”
Although Karlson supported Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in the primaries, he has jumped on the Trump train and vocalized his support through the campaign for the general. In light of the surfacing of a recording from 2005 which captured a candid Trump boasting of sexual assault, continuing to support the Republican nominee is not a decision that comes easy to Karlson.
“Over the weekend I saw those comments, and I was wondering how I can continue to be both a Christian man and support this man as the nominee, but I think after the debate we saw a really strong contrast of words and actions,” Karlson said. “Although he has said terrible things, and he has said terrible things about women, about immigrants, at the end of the day, Hillary Clinton has done terrible things, and the Democratic Party has done terrible things. When it comes to moving this country forward, I still think he is the stronger choice.”
For students torn between candidates, Eccleston had some advice before hitting the polls.
“Certainly let your faith inform your politics, but don’t let your politics become your faith,” he said.
Before the November 8 election, the Political Science Department will be hosting another watch party in Stowe Hall at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 19 for the third and final debate.