Facts and fiction: Many debate questions go unanswered
In our home Tuesday evening we watched the full 90-minute presidential debate. Two observations we agreed upon:
First, the ABC network moderators repeatedly referred to the debaters as “Vice President Harris” and “President Trump.” No one appeared to correct that obvious error on the air. It is “former president Trump.” We only have one president at a time, and for the past three and a half years, that person is President Joe Biden.
Second, we frequently expected Harris to make the observation that “nothing Mr. Trump has said in the past two minutes is true; he has not made a single factual statement.”
Our family has historically voted Republican. We did vote for Trump in 2016. However, we have not been able to support him since because he continually lies to us. Are these untruths not obvious to other voters? Why would any serious voter support a consistent liar to be the leader of our nation? Would the leaders of any other nation accept Trump’s statements as fact?
Rich Crawford, Arvada
Many pundits are offering their opinions about who “won” the debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. This isn’t the question that should be asked. Instead, the question should be, which candidate actually answered the questions given to them and spoke about what their policies would do in response?
Another equally important question is which candidate spoke honestly and provided factual responses. If you watched the debate it should be obvious that Harris spoke from the heart, answered the questions, and provided responses that were factually based. Trump, on the other hand, continued his tactic of baseless attacks on his opponent and continued to endorse lies and misinformation about his achievements. When asked for evidence of his outrageous claim that migrants were eating cats and dogs, he replies that he saw it on television! This illustrates the depth of his knowledge base. Therefore, which of these candidates would you want to represent and lead this country? There is only one answer, Kamala Harris.
Ralph Roberts, Littleton
Fentanyl crisis should be a key concern
Re: “Results: Latinos worry about housing costs, crime, drug use,” Sept. 11 news story
The story showcases that Coloradans want to see a real change. I have always made a point to pay attention to candidate platforms and watch presidential debates. I want to hear from candidates seeking the nation’s highest office on their policies and plans to combat threats facing our country. Last night, with only one mention of the countless families impacted by fentanyl deaths, there seemed to be no plans to tackle the ongoing opioid crisis.
It’s disheartening to see America stuck in a game of political chicken, missing opportunities to act.
Fentanyl is incredibly potent, being up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. It currently claims over 150 lives every day. Our country needs a plan that cuts through politics and provides resources directly to those who need them.
This dire situation prompts some to wonder, “What policy position could possibly tackle this epidemic that seems only to get worse?” The fact is that solutions do exist. There are FDA-approved overdose reversal agents specifically designed to combat synthetic opioids like fentanyl. However, bureaucracy and red tape prevent these life-saving tools from being readily available in states and communities nationwide.
As the FDA continues to approve more agents, officials should prioritize expanding access and making them readily available. These are tools that can save lives – not just in communities surrounding our southern border but on the home front as well. It’s time to address this crisis honestly and put public health at the forefront of the conversation – and the next debate.
Mary Bono, Durango
Bono is the CEO of Mothers Against Prescription Drug Abuse (MAPDA) and hosts the Sagely Speaking podcast. She served in Congress from 1998 to 2013.
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