The GOP’s candidate cannot be trusted with nuclear launch codes

Democratic Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican Nominee Donald Trump, met on Sunday, Oct. 9, in the second of three presidential debates.

The debate came in the wake of a breaking news story about comments Trump made in a 2005 tape, where he was not aware the microphone was recording. In the tape, the candidate seems to brag about his ability to sexually harass and assault women without fear of consequences. What more could we want from a national leader?

Shortly before the debate, Trump issued an “apology” calling it “locker room talk.” Despite his efforts to dismiss the so-called liberal media’s attacks—which utilized such dastardly journalistic tricks as playing back the candidates own words—Trump was visibly worn down when he took the stage for the debate.

Trump responded to the stress of his latest campaign debacle in the same mature way he has since the beginning: by attacking everyone in sight. He began with his opponent, then the moderators and then the media as a whole.

Throughout the debate, Trump’s behavior was more akin to that of a petulant child then a presidential candidate. When asked by CNN’s Anderson Cooper about his remarks, which condoned sexual assault, the candidate changed the subject, instead discussing how best to defeat ISIS.

When changing the subject did not seem to work, Trump began interrupting Clinton whenever possible. It got to the point where Cooper had to remind Trump, as one might a child, that “she did not interrupt you.” His reaction was also reminiscent of a child being reprimanded by a teacher.  

When not interrupting his opponent, Trump paced glumly behind her, seeming like a child sulking in a corner, resentful that the attention is not on him. He seemed only one step away from walking off stage and refusing to play until he got his way.

When asked again to address his recent remarks about women, Trump pointed out that Bill Clinton, not a candidate in this election cycle, had said and done far worse, another argument that seems more like that of a bratty child than that of a man running for President of the United States.

Finally, when changing the subject, sulking in the back, deflecting blame and interrupting his opponent did not work, Trump reached the point in his tantrum where he accused the moderators of being against him.

Trump remarked that “it’s three against one,” claiming that Clinton had also gone over on her time without either moderator interrupting, a claim which was refuted by the moderators. To be fair, I believe I have made this argument myself. However, I was five and not running for the highest political office in the world and even at five I knew how to read a clock.

In the end, Sunday’s debate was anything but a debate. It was a nationally televised temper tantrum from a petulant child who should be sent to bed without supper and have his television privileges taken away, not given the nuclear launch codes.

Clinton may be far from the ideal candidate, as she has changed her positions on several issues based on what was popular socially and politically at the time and exercised poor judgment in using a private email server while Secretary of State, to name a few of her shortcomings.

So with these shortcomings, why should she be president? Why should we give her our votes? Simple: at least she is an adult who has never thrown a nationally televised temper tantrum because she didn’t get her way.