Some questions for ABC moderators of Harris-Trump debate

OPINION:

Since President Biden’s disastrous June 27 debate with former President Donald Trump did not include any of my recommended questions, I offer ABC moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis some questions they might consider asking Mr. Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris in Tuesday’s face-off.

For Ms. Harris: Some Republicans, including your opponent, have accused you of participating in a cover-up of President Biden’s mental condition. You claimed to have seen him almost daily and said he was engaged, asked relevant questions and had a strong mind. In light of his stepping aside in the presidential race, do you still have that position?

For Mr. Trump: Some prominent Republicans, including former Vice President Dick Cheney, have said that you are a threat to democracy and they are voting for Ms. Harris. How do you intend to convince other Republicans and independents who are turned off by your name-calling and demeaning of others that they should vote for you and not Ms. Harris?

For Ms. Harris: By any objective standard, you have changed your position on many issues — fracking, the border wall and parts of the Green New Deal. Have you also changed your position on price controls, which have never worked whenever they’ve been tried?

Follow-up: You have repeatedly said your values have not changed. What are those values, and on what are they based?

For Mr. Trump: You have promised to remove immigrants who are in this country illegally, starting with criminals, and yet more people crossed the border illegally in your one term in office than crossed during Barack Obama’s two terms. How do you account for that?

Follow-up: Suppose that countries such as Venezuela won’t accept those migrants, especially gang members, who made it here illegally. What would you do as president in that event?

For Ms. Harris: You are not known for having positions on foreign policy. Let’s take several at a time: Russia and its invasion of Ukraine. Would you supply Ukraine with enough weapons to win that war? What would winning it look like?

For Mr. Trump: You have pledged to get out of Ukraine and what you call “endless wars.” Would that not encourage Russian President Vladimir Putin to invade other countries?

For Ms. Harris: Do you consider Hamas, Hezbollah and Israel morally equivalent? If not, why do you equally criticize Israel and the terrorists wishing to destroy Israel?

For Mr. Trump: Please respond.

For Ms. Harris: Should China invade Taiwan, would you commit American forces to help push them out?

For Mr. Trump: Should we defend Taiwan if China were to invade it?

Follow-up: It sounds like you are an isolationist. Under what circumstances would you commit U.S. forces?

For Ms. Harris: Mr. Trump says if elected, he would appoint outside auditors headed by Elon Musk to scale down the bloated federal government. You appear to want to expand government, raise taxes and spend more while we are $34 trillion in debt and prices on everything are higher than when you took office. Do you want to modify that position?

For Mr. Trump: Given all of the legal challenges that confront you — including your upcoming sentencing in New York and the reindictment by special counsel Jack Smith on your attempt to influence the outcome of the 2020 election — upon reflection, what might you have done differently that would have avoided all this?

For Ms. Harris: Would you like to comment on his answer?

For Mr. Trump: You have said you will accept the results of the November election if it’s fair. What standard will you use to determine its fairness?

For both: Many Americans believe our politics have become ugly and too personal. Can each of you find something nice to say about the other that goes beyond the superficial?

Mr. Muir and Ms. Davis, you can thank me later.

• Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com. Look for Cal Thomas’ latest book, “A Watchman in the Night: What I’ve Seen Over 50 Years Reporting on America” (Humanix Books).