7 Takeaways From the Third Presidential Debate

7 Takeaways From the Third Presidential Debate Photo Credit: CNN 1. Once again, the two candidates dont shake hands pre-debate, instead heading to their respective podiums, but unlike the last debate, they also didnt shake hands at the end of the debate. So, no handshakes between the candidates at all at the third presidential debate. 2. When asked if hed accept the results of the election, Trump wouldnt say that hed accept the results, opting instead to say hell look at it at the time a major break from the tradition of the loser coming together with the winner and thus uniting the country post-election, the peaceful transfer of power being one of the prides of this country as said by debate moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News. This failure to agree to honor the results of the election is astounding as every other candidate and winner/loser has done so in the past. Clinton pointed out that Trumps answer was par for the course as hes quick to play the victim and blame the system when hes not the winner, as hes done in this election, calling it rigged when he lost the Iowa GOP caucuses and now that Clinton is in the lead. When his TV show didnt win an Emmy, Clinton added, Trump again blamed the system, which Trump didnt deny, instead interjecting to say that he shouldve won the Emmy. 3. Gun control was one of the foremost topics to be discussed, with Trump saying that if Clinton were to win, the people would end up with a Second Amendment that was a small replica of what it should be. Clinton said that she doesnt see any conflict between saving lives and defending the Second Amendment, as guns are the cause of thousands of deaths each year, and as such, would be in favor of some gun reform measures which would close loopholes that allow people to access guns when they shouldnt be able to. 4. Another topic that came up rather quickly was Roe v. Wade, the court decision which gives women the right to make decisions about their own bodies and the ability to obtain abortions if they choose. Trump said hed appoint justices that are pro-life and who would end up overturning the Roe v. Wade decision, which would then put the burden back on the individual states to make choices about womens abilities to have abortions. Clinton argued that the government has no business in these very personal decisions that women and their families make and she wants the court to represent all of us and would therefore select judges who support marriage equality and abortion rights. Clinton values the Roe v. Wade ruling as abortions should be available to women and they should be the ones to choose what to do with their bodies, unlike Trump who has made past comments saying that if abortion were outlawed, thered be some kind of punishment for women who obtained one. Trump then accused Clinton of being okay with late-term abortions which Trump said rip the baby out of the womb of the mother, while Clinton maintained that under certain circumstances, such as when the mothers health is at-risk, those abortions need to be possible and its still not the governments business. 5. Talking about immigration, Trump said that we have some bad hombres in the U.S. and we have to get them out, stating his desire for strengthened security and border patrol at the U.S.-Mexico border in order to keep the drugs out of our country. 6. Trump repeated his claim that no one has more respect for women than he does, which caused the audience to break their vow of silence to laugh. He flat out denied the validity of the nine women whove come forward in the last week whove claimed Trump allegedly groped or made sexual advances toward them against their wishes, saying that I didnt even apologize to my wife because I didnt do anything. Trump instead accused Clinton and her campaign of either paying the women who came forward or they came forward in hopes of fame or being paid by her campaign, as shes allegedly been paying her supporters to incite violence at Trumps rallies, a claim that has not been substantiated. 7. When the debate somehow found itself talking about Russia and Putin, Trump stated that Putin doesnt respect Obama, and by extension, Clinton, and Clinton memorably responded Well, thats because hed rather have a puppet as president of the United States. Trump interjected twice, saying Youre the puppet in response to Clinton, but did eventually say that of course hed condemn hacking and election interference by Russia or anyone else and that while hes never met Putin, if Russia and the U.S. were to get along, it wouldnt be so bad. Whoever you decide to vote for, just make sure you get out there and vote election day is November 8th. Americas future is in your hands.