For those readers who don’t have time or don’t want to watch the 3rd presidential debate, here is a brief summary of some of the key issues that were discussed in the debate.

Topic 1- The Supreme Court and Interpretation of the Constitution

Where do you want to see the [Supreme] Court take the country, and how do you believe the constitution should be interpreted?

Clinton:

   Clinton said that she wanted the supreme court to stand up for the LGBT community, stand up for LGBT and women’s rights, and wanted stricter campaign finance rules. Clinton also wanted the supreme court to uphold the Roe v. Wade case, which grants women the right to abortion. Clinton also said that she wanted the senate to approve President Obama’s nomination to the Supreme Court.

Trump:

   Trump emphasized the main role of the supreme court as protecting the Bill of Rights, especially the 2nd amendment, which grants the right to bare arms. Trump wanted the justices he appointed to be pro-life in regards to abortion, protect the 2nd amendment, and interpret the constitution in the way the founders of the constitution meant it to be interpreted.

Topic 2- Gun control and 2nd amendment rights

Secretary Clinton, you said last year, and let me quote: “The Supreme Court is wrong on the second amendment.” And now, in fact, in the 2008 Heller case the court ruled that there is a constitutional right to bear arms, but a right that is reasonably limited. Those were the words of the judge Antonin Scalia, who wrote the decision. What’s wrong with that?

Clinton:

   Clinton said she supports the 2nd amendment and the American tradition of gun ownership, but that she thinks reasonable gun regulation is necessary. Clinton supports the use of background checks and the closing of loopholes to get around these measures, but she does not want to entirely get rid of guns.

Trump:

   Trump opposes gun restrictions as a rule, and plans to stop gun restrictions and protect the 2nd amendment by appointing supreme court justices who will do so.

Topic 3- Abortion

Do you want the court, including the justices that you will name, to overturn Roe v. Wade, which includes, in fact, states a woman’s right to abortion.

Trump:

   Trump says that if he is able to appoint 2 or 3 supreme court justices, all of whom will be pro-life, Roe v. Wade will be overturned and the issue of whether a woman has the right to abortion will go to the states.

Clinton:

   Clinton said that she does not want Roe v. Wade to be overturned, that she will protect Planned Parenthood and the funding provided to it by the government, and that she will protect women’s right to abortion.

Topic 4- Immigration Policy

Why are you right and why is your opponent wrong about immigration policy?

Trump:

   Trump criticized Clinton for wanting to give amnesty to illegal immigrants currently in the US, and for wanting to have an open border. Trump emphasized the need for strong borders, referencing crimes committed by immigrants who entered the US illegally. He expressed concern for drugs such as heroin entering the country from our Southern border. Trump stated that he would deport drug lords already in the US, would not give amnesty to illegal immigrants, and that he would build a wall to secure the border. He also stated that he would speed up the current legal process for immigrants to enter the united states because it is inefficient.

Clinton:

   Clinton said that she would not deport illegal immigrants because she did not want to separate families. She stated that she does support stronger border security, that she would not support open borders, that she would support the deportation of violent or dangerous immigrants, and said that if elected she would have an immigration reform plan also including a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants in her first 100 days of office.

Topic 5- The Economy

Please explain to me why you believe your plan will create more jobs and growth for this country and your opponent’s plan will not.

Clinton: Clinton wanted to focus her economic plan on providing more opportunities for the middle class by creating new jobs in infrastructure, manufacturing, and clean energy. Clinton wants to raise the national minimum wage, do more to help small businesses, raise taxes on corporations, and ensure that women get equal pay in comparison to men. Clinton also wants to improve education in order to help the economy by creating more community colleges, wants to eliminate college debt, and wants to waive tuition at public colleges for families making $125,000 per year or less. Clinton said that Donald Trump’s plan would lose jobs because he would only cut taxes and grow the national debt, and said that her plan would create jobs.

Trump: Trump said that Hillary’s tax plan would raise or even double taxes. Trump said that he would do things to make college tuition more affordable, but that Hillary’s plan would make the public pay for everyone’s college tuition. Trump said that he was influential in the decision to make allies being protected by the US pay the US government, and said that he is a big proponent of this plan. Trump said that he would create better trade deals with more free trade, re-negotiate existing trade deals such as NAFTA, cut taxes on businesses to encourage businesses to hire more people, and cut taxes on individuals as well.

For more information on the Third Presidential Debate, find the full manuscript at: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/full-transcript-third-2016-presidential-debate-230063#ixzz4NdvnbJga

Or watch the debate at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANT_ZBhpvtw