Even amid the profound rancor and deep consequence of this political moment, it’s possible for Republicans and Democrats to exchange viewpoints with civility.
That was my main takeaway from Tuesday night’s vice presidential debate between Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) and Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN). While Vance seemed the stronger and more poised of the candidates, both men showed that personal insults and acrimony need not define an election. Considering the venom that defines hard-line supporters in both the Republican and Democratic parties today, the civility on display here deserves recognition. More importantly, its purveyors deserve credit.
After all, that venom is real and the incentive to feed it is also real. But neither man yielded to it. Instead, while they offered sharp words of critique against each other’s respective policy preferences, they did not allow it to define their exchanges. They focused on arguments of policy over attacks against personality. They focused on answering questions and rebutting each other’s arguments. They even joked amicably toward the end of the debate. Walz noted that the two share some common opinions but then added that he sometimes fumbles his words. Vance responded, “Me too, man!” Vance then pledged to offer Walz his help and support should Walz and Vice President Kamala Harris win.
It wasn’t as if the debates on the stage were inconsequential. Healthcare, abortion, the Middle East, and gun control were all featured. These are hardly insignificant or uncontroversial issues. The character and record of former President Donald Trump and Harris also featured heavily. But it was notable that Vance and Walz both repeatedly recognized each other as worth at least listening to. Contrast this with Harris’s suggestion that Trump is simply a maniacal liar and Trump’s suggestion that Harris is a Marxist revolutionary in waiting.
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This civility isn’t, or at least shouldn’t be, a concern worth noting. People should be able to expect their political representatives, whether local council members or senators or presidential candidates, to debate firmly and passionately but also politely. Sadly, however, that’s just not the norm these days. And part of the reason that it’s all not the norm is that civility rarely receives reward from a candidate’s political base.
For reminding the nation that a discussion of great issues with great consequences does not require great personal insults, Vance and Walz deserve our shared national thanks.