Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump took the stage tonight in New York for their first presidential debate and the gloves came off quickly.
The debate opened with a discussion of income inequality before moving on to trade, business and personal exchanges on Clinton’s email scandal and Trump’s track record and personal taxes.
But the night will probably be most remembered for the sharp exchanges between the two candidates. Some highlights:
“RACIST LIE”
“He started his career … on this racist lie,” Clinton said of Trump’s role in promoting the “birther” controversy against President Obama. “He has a long record of engaging in racist behavior.”
“FACT CHECKERS, GET TO WORK”
“Please, the fact checkers, get to work,” Clinton said after one of Trump’s claims about her record. “I have a feeling before the end of this I’m going to be blamed for everything.”
“Why not?” Trump said in response.
HAPPY DAYS:
“I want you to be very happy,” Trump said at the start of their debate when checking to make sure “Secretary Clinton” was his opponent’s preferred title.
COMMUNITY POLICING AND RACE:
On the issue of race, Clinton and Trump had a rare moment of agreement on the need for better relations between the police and their communities. But they disagreed sharply over the issue of “Stop and Frisk” a policy that has been deemed unconstitutional.
Standing his own ground, Trump pushed back against Clinton, noting her use of the term “Super Predator” in the 1990’s to describe violent black youth. “I think it was a horrible thing to say,” Trump said.
REALITY BITES”
Clinton, questioning one of Trump’s attacks on her record: “Donald, I know you live in your own reality.”
DEATH AND TAXES:
Clinton on Trump refusing to release his tax returns:
“Maybe he’s not as rich as he says he is. Maybe he’s not as charitable as he says he is. … We’ve been told that he’s about $600 million to Wall Street and foreign banks. There’s something he’s hiding.”
LIVING LARGE:
“You don’t know who it was,” Trump said after allegations he encouraged Russia to hack American’s computers. “It could be somebody that was 400 pounds laying in their bed.”
