Danish headline after 3rd debate: "Trump now looks like a finished man."
In the post-debate roundtable on MSNBC, much discussion revolved around Donald Trump’s refusal to state that he would concede the election to Hillary Clinton should she win on November 8th. Analysts and commentators of both parties, while not entirely shocked, were stunned that he would double down on his totally unsubstantiated tirades about a “rigged election” to this extent during the final debate. Within an hour, every major U.S. news source that I checked online (NY Times, Washington Post, LA Times, Newsweek, Time, CNN, etc.) led with a huge headline such as this one from the Wall Street Journal:
Trump Won’t Commit to Accepting Vote if He Loses
After Sedate Start, Trump Takes the Bait
This is certainly distressing in light of the incendiary comments of his most fervent supporters at rallies — calling for revolution, insurrection, or worse in the event of a Clinton win. However, equally disturbing was the response to his statement from a group of young (“millenial”) viewers after the debate who were interviewed by an NBC correspondent:
[ insert “no response” response here ]
That’s it. Nada. As the reporter said, it didn’t even register.
I’m sure there are plenty of young voters who do understand how fundamental the principle of fair elections and the peaceful transfer of power are to the history and sustainability of our country, just as I’m sure there are older voters on whom the significance of this concept is lost. But as one roundtable commentator pointed out, it isn’t just we in the United States who may experience the consequences of deliberate misrepresentation of the electoral process. Around the world our country is viewed as the standard-bearer for the integrity of our national elections and subsequent changes in administrations. And it is widely understood that this is fundamental to our democracy.
While a number of Americans may be unclear about this, a brief tour of post-debate reactions from newspapers around the world shows that much of the rest of the world is not. A sampling of headlines (as in front page, “above the virtual fold”):
Süddeutche Zeitung (Munich):
Süddeutche Zitung headline, 20 October 2016
Es ist so gut wie unmöglich, die US-Wahl zu fälschen
—In der letzten TV-Debatte zeigt sich, dass Donald Trump zur Not auch die letzten Prinzipien der amerikanischen Demokratie opfern wird.
It is as good as impossible to fake the US election
—The last TV debate shows that Donald Trump will sacrifice the ultimate principles of American democracy
Le Monde (Paris):
Débat Trump-Clinton : le républicain refuse de dire s’il acceptera l’issue de l’élection
Trump-Clinton Debate: Republican refused to say if he’ll accept the outcome of the election
El Mundo (Madrid):
Donald Trump se niega a decir si reconocerá la victoria de Hillary Clinton en las elecciones
Trump refuses to say whether he will recognize the victory of Hillary Clinton in elections
Neue Zürcher Zeitung (Switzerland):
Trump stellt Amerikas Rechtsstaat in Frage
Das ist eine unerhörte Aussage. Trump stellt damit den Kern der amerikanischen Demokratie in Frage.
Trump Puts in Question American Rule of Law
This is an unheard of statement. Trump thus challenges the core of American democracy.
La Stampa (Italy):
Hillary-Trump, scontro totale al duello tv. Il tycoon: “Non so se accetterò il risultato”
Hillary-Trump, total clash at TV duel. Tycoon: "I don’t know if I will accept the result”
NRC Handelsblad (Netherlands):
Trump wil systeem meenemen in zijn val
—De Republikein weigerde bij het derde presidentiële debat een verkiezingsnederlaag bij voorbaat te accepteren.
Trump wants to take down the system
—The Republican refused to accept in advance an electoral defeat at the third presidential debate.
On the other hand, here is the debate headline from Moscow:
Rossiyskaya Gazeta (Российская газета) (Moscow):
Трамп: Путин обыграл Клинтон и Обаму
Дональд Трамп уверен, что президент РФ Владимир Путин действовал во всех вопросах международной политики разумнее, чем глава США Барака Обама и экс-госсекретарь Хиллари Клинтон. Об этом миллиардер заявил на дебатах в Университете Невады в Лас-Вегасе
Trump: Putin beats Obama and Clinton
—Donald Trump is confident that Russian President Vladimir Putin, acting in all matters of international politics, is wiser than the head of the US Barack Obama and former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. This billionaire said at a debate at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas
Which sounds a bit, well, Trumpian, eh? (U.S. presidential candidate parts with historical core principle of American democracy — Headline: Vladamir Putin is wiser in all matters than Obama and Hillary Clinton!)
As a proud Danish-American however, my favorite headline of the day for its characteristic nordic bluntness is this one from the 267-year old Copenhagen daily:
Berlingske (Denmark) :
Trump ligner nu en færdig mand — Trump truer han vil ikke acceptere udfaldet af valget
Trump now looks like a finished man —Trump threatening he will not accept the outcome of the election
Fortunately, the electoral college doesn’t depend on a candidate approving of the voters’ choice. Let’s hope Republican party officials can, and strenuously do, reign in the crazy at the local level before something truly dangerous unfolds.
[Note: translations courtesy of Google Translate, with assistance from my own stray linguistical detritus. Corrections of gross errors welcome.]
