The power is still out in the southeastern states ravaged by Hurricane Helene, and the vice-presidential debate between Sen J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, and Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., was the last thing on the minds of the victims. With powerlines snarled on the ground, they couldn’t watch as their tragedy was reduced to a question about “climate change” by tone-deaf CBS debate moderators Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan.
In Appalachia, families mourn some 160 dead, and scores more are reeling from the loss of their homes, towns, and all things familiar. Many are still trying to source regular access to water, gas, and shelter. Storm recovery is one of the biggest things happening in the U.S. right now, so it is not surprising Helene was a debate topic.
Here’s how the only hurricane related question was phrased for J.D. Vance.
“Scientists say climate change makes these hurricanes larger, stronger, and more deadly because of the historic rainfall … Seven in 10 Americans and more than 60 percent of Republicans under the age of 45 favor the US taking steps to try and reduce climate change. What responsibility would the Trump administration have, to try and reduce the impact of climate change?”
It is a leading, assumptive question that suggests, if the weather would stay just a few degrees cooler, hurricanes would not kill people. CBS could have just as easily asked, how will Donald Trump stop hurricanes during hurricane season in the future?
Brennan and O’Donnell had to take the
