The Veep Debate

Last night Vice President Joe Biden and Congressman Paul Ryan squared off in the one and only vice-presidential debate of this volatile election campaign. I am not going to go into who I thought won or lost the debate. My only comment is this. If my child had behaved himself in a school debate the way Mr. Biden did last night he would at minimum receive a stern warning from his coaches and the moderator and at worst be removed from the debate and the team. Mr. Biden's boorish behavior included snickering, eye-rolling, mugging for the camera, constantly interrupting what is supposed to be sacrosanct response time and condescendingly referring to Mr. Ryan as "my friend" when Mr. Ryan had asked to be addressed as Mr. Ryan.

This type of behavior has no place in a middle school debate, let alone one in which we are supposed to be judging the character and behavior of the person who is a heartbeat away from the presidency. I am glad my children did not watch this immature display by the nation's sitting Vice President. It was unseemly, ill-mannered and not at all representative of what I desire the comportment of the holder of the country's second highest office to be. After last night, no matter how many times Mr. Biden may repeat the phrase "my friend" to Mr. Ryan in the future I highly doubt Mr. Ryan will consider Mr. Biden his friend.