A debate for the ages

For better or worse, the Clinton-Trump debates will be remembered alongside other historic debates that have shaped the future of this nation.

Last week I addressed the role of moderators who, in the tradition of the free press that Donald Trump holds in contempt, should referee on the side of truth when confronted with the politics of lies.

{mosads}Today, let’s consider the debate strategy of Hillary Clinton, whose mission on Monday, before the largest audience she has ever addressed, is not to merely attack her opponent but to paint a portrait of an America that will thrive under her leadership.

Clinton should use the debate to conduct a serious conversation with America — one that’s been sorely lacking in a campaign widely regarded as a choice between the lesser of two evils.

Clinton should remember that what made the Democratic National Convention a huge success was the passion and conviction her friends, colleagues and supporters spoke of her with, about her goodness, qualifications, achievements and how she would lift America up as president.

In the coming debates, her tone should be conversational, reasoned, optimistic and anecdotal about the experiences she has had, lessons she has learned, changes she will bring and mandates she will seek if chosen to helm the nation.

Clinton might thank Trump for the lavish praise he has given her in years past: when she was collaborating with her husband to create tens of millions of new American jobs during Bill Clinton’s presidency, when she was working with both parties as a highly respected senator of New York, and on her service as secretary of State. The real estate magnate generously applauded her work at Foggy Bottom on Fox News, saying he was biased because he has known her so well for so long. 

She should let Trump explain that he was lying in his praise of her for 20 years because he is just a crony capitalist businessman, a phony pretending to admire those he praises for decades only to make more money for himself.

Clinton should proudly explain how the Clinton Foundation saves desperate children in poor nations by providing treatments for AIDS, helps American schoolchildren eat more nutritious lunches, and performs so many services benefiting so many people it receives global acclaim.

Let Trump explain the good works of the Trump Foundation, whose major beneficiary is Trump.

Clinton should ask voters for a mandate for change to bring a higher standard of politics, restore the civic spirit of a nation rooted in the American idea of a shared community of diverse citizens, and fix rigged financial and political systems dominated by corruptions of dirty money she will change by overturning the Citizens United decision by the Supreme Court.

The former first lady should make the debate a thoughtful conversation about the great choice facing Americans. She should explain why our president must be a leader among democratic nations and not an agent of division who praises dictators, helps our enemies and divides America from democratic allies while dividing Americans.

Clinton should vow to be a voice for the voiceless and champion of those who are hurting, hungry, jobless, anxious and angry about a world economy that can be heartless and a system that is rigged against them.

Let Trump promise to create jobs without telling voters how while Clinton explains how she and Bill Clinton actually did it, and will do it again.

She should ask voters for a mandate to give full pay equity to women and higher wages to all workers, and to rebuild the nation with  policies she would seek to enact within days of her becoming president.

Clinton will win a debate for the ages not by being one of two candidates hurling accusations, but by being the only candidate offering voters a reassuring pathway to a safer world and better life.

Budowsky was an aide to former Sen. Lloyd Bentsen (D-Texas) and Rep. Bill Alexander (D-Ark.), then chief deputy majority whip of the House. He holds an LL.M. in international financial law from the London School of Economics. He can be read on The Hill’s Contributors blog and reached at brentbbi@webtv.net.