I'd like to preface this article by stating a few pieces of information. This article is controversial, and not everyone will agree with its content. In the style of Mr. Trump, I want to be up front and concise. Every presidential candidate needs to be looked at critically, and Donald Trump is no exception.
Within the first 10 minutes of the third Republican debate, we all heard something that we didn't expect. Moderator John Harwood, Chief Washington correspondent for CNBC, and political writer for The New York Times, asked Donald Trump if his campaign for presidency was "a comic book version of a presidential campaign."
While many journalists, citizens, Democrats and Republicans alike might have been wondering the same question, no one expected a seasoned journalist such as Harwood to ask such a question in that manner at the very beginning of a presidential debate. Harwood continued to press Trump throughout the night with other questions that Trump described as "not very nicely asked." Harwood's demeanor, along with the rest of the leftwing media, was questioned by candidates who stated that media bias was one of their biggest collective threats.
While Harwood's question was framed in an antagonizing way that has spurred considerable controversy, it does present an important question. No, that question isn't whether Donald Trump equates to a comic book character, but rather, is Donald Trump a viable candidate to become the next president of the United States of America?
As far as the constitution goes, yes, Donald Trump is qualified to become president. The 69-year-old businessman surpasses the age requirement and is a U.S. born citizen who has lived in the United States for more than 14 years. However, while Trump may pass all of the constitution's requirements, he may need to possess a few more things to win the vote of the American people.
The biggest con to Trump's campaign is his lack of political experience. While many people find it refreshing to have candidates such as Trump, Carson and Fiorina run for president without having held prior public office, it is also a cause for great concern.
Many people have become sick of the gridlock in Washington D.C. and the "politics as usual" approach to government.They want to see a new face in politics that will rid the American government of its current corruption. While Trump may help solve this issue, his inexperience will come nowhere close to benefiting the United States' international relationships.
Despite having an extensive background in business-related transactions, Trump lacks experience in making international negotiations outside of those regarding capital. Trump has spoken out on numerous occasions on the American government's current involvement with situations in Iran and Syria, as well as addressing the threat of ISIS, but has offered little in terms of solutions to the issues he has criticized. In the midst of ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and all across the world, the U.S. needs a president that can calmly and confidently provide solutions to the collective action problems within our own border and abroad.
Trump's minimal political experience, however, has always been countered with his experience in the business sector. As a business mogul, Trump has found success in real estate, hotels, golf and entertainment among many other sectors. Despite this success, Trump also carries a record of bankruptcy in his various endeavors. Since 1991, Trump has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on four different occasions—with the last filing occurring in 2009.
This question of viable candidacy does not belong simply to Trump. While Harwood may have sought to expose the weaker points in Trump's campaign, it brings forward the idea that every candidate has their flaws and that no single candidate is perfect. In order to find the best candidate for the job, we as an electorate have to research these candidates and find the one that we believe will best represent our nation. After all, a well-informed public is the key ingredient to a democracy.
