Debate Moderator Elaine Quijano Falsely Equates The Impact Of Trump And Clinton’s Economic Plans On The National Debt

Written by Media Matters Staff

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CBS News’ Elaine Quijano presented a false equivalency when she said during the October 4 vice presidential debate that the economic plans of both Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton “would add even more” to “the growing $19 trillion national debt” and asked whether such debt increases “could be disastrous for the country.” According to the Center for a Responsible Budget (CFRB), the organization Quijano cited during the question, “Clinton’s plans would increase the debt by $200 billion over a decade above current law levels,” while the current version of Trump’s ever-changing economic proposals “would increase the debt by $5.3 trillion.” From the October 4 vice presidential debate:

ELAINE QUIJANO (MODERATOR): According to the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, neither of your economic plans will reduce the growing $19 trillion gross national debt. In fact, your plans would add even more to it. Both of you were governors who balanced state budgets. Are you concerned that adding more to the debt could be disastrous for the country? Governor Pence?