Twitter seemed to enjoy Thursday night’s Democratic debate despite it being largely substantive, as opposed to the freak show that the GOP has been putting on every week. Wonkette, NRO’s Jonah Goldberg, and others went classy before the debate even began:
"I'm on PBS, so I wore my Big Bird colors. Bernie always dresses as Oscar The Grouch. I win."https://t.co/Sr2zmVpgjc pic.twitter.com/h9JY15kqs8
— Wonkette (@Wonkette) February 12, 2016
Hillary's outfit would be perfect for a major diplomat on Star Trek: Next Generation.
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahDispatch) February 12, 2016
After the opening statements, PBS cut straight to what it considers “commercials,” and people weren’t pleased, albeit for different reasons:
PBS commercials are boring
— James Taranto (@jamestaranto) February 12, 2016
Everyone was acutely aware that this was a PBS debate:
Both candidates tonight appear to be making effort to use their PBS voices
— Singer (@singernews) February 12, 2016
Debate live-tweeting celebrity Patton Oswalt claimed he wouldn’t be live-tweeting the debate:
Not Live Tweeting tonight's debate (late shoot) or Saturday's (WGA Awards). See you on the 25th for the next #GOPFecalCircus.
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) February 12, 2016
But couldn’t help himself:
Just glanced at the #DemDebate over at video village. Bernie Sanders is the David Bowie of normcore.
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) February 12, 2016
People were very sure they knew when Sanders first stumbled:
Sanders: "Secretary Clinton, you are not in the White House, yet."
— Dan Merica (@merica) February 12, 2016
Bernie to Hillary: "You're not in the White House yet." Said in the spirit of "you're likable enough"
— HowardKurtz (@HowardKurtz) February 12, 2016
Bad moment for Bernie? "Secretary Clinton, you're not in the WH yet." Sounded like "likable enough."
— Jonathan Allen (@jonallendc) February 12, 2016
And when he outed himself as “an old”:
"do marijuana"
He is 74, I suppose.
— Erik Marshall (@emarsh) February 12, 2016
"do marijuana"
He is 74, I suppose.
— Erik Marshall (@emarsh) February 12, 2016
Many conservatives were very happy that the travails of white people were addressed:
Wait, life is also terrible for white people, in case you were wondering if it's not terrible for everybody
— John Podhoretz (@jpodhoretz) February 12, 2016
But it’s difficult to see this debate making much of a difference:
The clearest difference between the two seemed to be on the fate of children immigrating from Central America:
This Central American migrant crisis exchange shows a clear contrast bw @BernieSanders and @HillaryClinton #DemDebate
— Julio Ricardo Varela (@julito77) February 12, 2016
Sanders went after Wall Street as a way to attack Clinton:
Clinton attempted to deflect, but to no avail:
Good use of the Obama Cloak™ by HRC. #DemDebate #WallStreet #GunLobby
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) February 12, 2016
Which isn’t to say that Sanders made no questionable assertions:
His attack on Clinton for consorting with Henry Kissinger was on point however:
One of the most pressing issues of the night was noticed by conservative radio host Todd Starnes:
In the end, though, it was pretty clear what was wrong this debate. It:
NEEDS MORE RACIST FEARMONGERING
— Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) February 12, 2016