The first debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump laid bare the competing visions the two candidates have for the future of our country, on everything from our economy to national security. But one issue that wasn't asked about--something that undergirds all these issues--is the state of our democracy.
At a time in which so many voters have lost faith in our democratic institutions believing, rightly so, that our government too often works for the wealthy and well-connected--not ordinary people like you and me--it's crucial that we hear from the candidates about how they plan to address this discontent with the status quo and how they plan to restore faith in our democratic institutions.
And on this issue, like with so many policy debates this election, one candidate has a plan to address these problems and the other has offered no more than a sniffle.
Both Clinton and Trump have admitted that our current system of big-money politics demands endless courtship of a relatively small group of extraordinarily wealthy Americans. It's a system Secretary Clinton and Donald Trump have long participated in, but Clinton is the only one who'll say how she'll change it.
Voters may not have had a chance to hear this from the candidates last night, but here's what we know already. Clinton and Trump offer starkly different visions for the future of our democracy.
Trump has talked up the fact that he thinks our campaign finance system is broken--that big donors, like he was as a businessman, can buy politicians and turn them into "puppets"--but he has no plan to fix the system he criticizes.
Trump has repeatedly forwarded the dangerous and irresponsible claim that our elections are "rigged" which risks further undermining faith in our democratic institutions while encouraging unlawful voter intimidation at the polls. He has also voiced support for restrictive voting measures that courts found intentionally discriminated against African-American communities.
What's more Trump has shown a penchant for demonization and demagoguery, preying on our worst fears as a nation. By singling out and marginalizing groups of people on the basis of their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability, or religion, Trump has shown a willingness to contract, not expand, our democracy.
On the other hand when Hillary Clinton stated, "I support our democracy" in her final comments of the debate, she has the plan to back that up--the boldest, most comprehensive plan to strengthen our democracy of any major party nominee in recent history.
Clinton's plan recognizes that the wealthy and powerful have too much influence in our elections and the rest of us too little. She has called for a small-donor matching system for congressional and presidential elections to amplify the voices of everyday American. She has pledged to introduce a constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court's Citizens United v. FEC decision in her first 30 days, while Trump has hired the head of Citizens United to help run his campaign. She wants to bring more people into the political process and ensure access to the ballot box.
Clinton's campaign promises reflect a belief that America's democracy is strongest when it welcomes people of all backgrounds and views, and recognizes the self-worth of every individual and every voice, irrespective of one's wealth or political connections.
That's why, with so much at stake, Every Voice endorsed Hillary Clinton for president last week, our first endorsement ever in the race for the White House.
For the millions of voters fed up with a broken political system that works great for the wealthy few while leaving the rest behind, Hillary Clinton is the only presidential nominee offering real plans to bring balance back to our political system.
With so many important issues at stake--and with as many as two or three future appointments to the Supreme Court--Americans deserve to hear the candidates clearly define their views about our democracy on the debate stage. Moderators Martha Raddatz and Anderson Cooper should ask about this issue in the October 9th debate.