[pc86]

He didn't do it at the debate.

He did it before, and he did it after. Some times more quickly than other, almost always with that rambling I-don't-even-get-the-question-non-answer sort of thing that people do when they are usually making fun of politicians. But here's the problem.

In a debate, in a high-reward scenario, on national television, Chris Wallace asked if he would denounce these groups and his first response was indignation. Arguing with Wallace over whether or not he'd done it in the past. Asking which groups specifically. Telling the Proud Boys to "stand by." The problem with all of that, right or wrong, is that he could have shut everyone up by denouncing white supremacy in all its forms and all fringe groups associated with it. He could have immediately followed up with "and you know what Chris, I've already done this on these occasions" and listed out all the times he actually did it. He could have dunked on Wallace, dunked on Biden, and picked up 25k votes across the country in the process.

But instead he did exactly what you would do if you were trying to avoid actually saying the thing someone was trying to get you to say. He played right into their hands.

[sfreiberg]

I don't disagree that he could have handled it better. Hell, he's a horrible debater. I'm sure in part because he's not a career politician and in part because he's arrogant and not used to being questioned. But the idea that he could have said anything that would "shut everyone up" is absurd and we both know it. CNN was caught on tape admitting that they made up stories about Trump and portrayed Biden in a positive light every time they could.

When asked to denounce he said sure I will and then immediately jumped to Antifa. As you mentioned that is horrible for a debate and for the sound bites that all of the MSM will of course use but that's not the same as not answering the question at all or saying "no, I will not denounce them". He put them on the same field as Antifa and we know how he feels about them.

You pick and choose items that fit your narrative but don't fit all of the facts. Indignation seems like a pretty natural response for someone who is not a career politician. Also, he told the Proud Boys to "stand down and stand by". Some people might give him the benefit of the doubt that the second part was a slip of the tongue but either way he clearly said to stand down. For some reason you just pick the part that makes him look the worst. Not sure if that's because that's what you heard and just didn't bother to look into it or you are willfully omitting facts.

Also it's pretty unlikely that the Proud Boys are even white supremacists as they were led by a Latino. But again for some reason these facts get omitted. I'll assume you don't have ill intent and are just misinformed.