Major newspaper headlines presented the second presidential debate as generally dominated by “slurs,” “intensely personal attacks,” and “tawdry accusations,” even as their articles pointed out that it was Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump lobbing an unprecedented series of smears at Hillary Clinton.
Prior to the second presidential debate on October 9, Trump hosted a press conference with women who had accused former President Bill Clinton of sexual assault and harassment. They were his guests at the debate itself, and Trump highlighted their accusations in an effort to deflect from his 2005 acknowledgement that he regularly commits sexual assault.
During the debate itself, Trump said that if he is elected he would appoint a special prosecutor to ensure Clinton is put in jail, a statement condemned by journalists as “a new low in American democracy.” He also accused Clinton of having “tremendous hate in her heart” and being “a liar” and “the Devil.”
The best indicators the newspapers could muster to suggest Clinton was similarly responsible for tone at the debate were her accurately pointing out that Trump was saying things that weren’t true, and her suggestion that Trump openly acknowledging he had committed sexual assault made him unfit to be president.
But while their articles overwhelmingly show that the actions of the candidates were disproportionate, with Trump responsible for the debate’s “dark turn” due to his indefensible, obscene rhetoric, the headlines left readers thinking that both candidates behaved equally poorly.
Yet again, the asymmetry between the two candidates has left journalists flat-footed with regard to their ability to accurately describe events.
Here are a few examples:
