The GOP Debate on CNN: Told in Tweets
The main CNN GOP debate was something else. Here’s how Twitter saw it.
First things first: what was Ben Carson wearing?
Carson suit is 💯💯💯 pic.twitter.com/CPoyzGyFHe
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) September 17, 2015
Some wide pinstripes there, Dr. Carson.
— jimgeraghty (@jimgeraghty) September 17, 2015
That is all the suits
— James Pethokoukis (@JimPethokoukis) September 17, 2015
CARSON'S SUIT!!! That's a BOLD stripe.
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) September 17, 2015
When the camera panned to Ben Carson I heard my neighbor yell "WHAT IS HE WEARING?" through the wall.
— Lyndsey Fifield (@lyndseyfifield) September 17, 2015
Chris Christie started with an unorthodox introduction, asking the audience a question:
Smooth, Christie. Smooth.
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) September 17, 2015
Chris Christie always pulls off the hokey stuff well.
— Amanda Carpenter (@amandacarpenter) September 17, 2015
When the very first question out of the gate was about Donald Trump, Twitter was less than impressed:
…aaaaaand the first question is about Trump.
— T. Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) September 17, 2015
Could every leading question NOT BE ABOUT TRUMP. #gopdebate
— jon gabriel (@exjon) September 17, 2015
It went off the rails quickly when Trump attacked Rand Paul out of nowhere:
Trump responds to Fiorina by attacking Paul. He is so tacky that it hurts.
— Ellen L. Carmichael (@ellencarmichael) September 17, 2015
Best part: @RandPaul's eye roll.
— Ericka Andersen (@ErickaAndersen) September 17, 2015
Just minutes into the debate, and the tweets were getting harsh:
This is garbage.
— LilMissPumpkinSpice (@LilMissRightie) September 17, 2015
Clown Show.
— RB (@RBPundit) September 17, 2015
On abortion, some of the candidates did well:
Dear Kasich – the government shouldn't be funding ANY family planning program
— Elisha (@ElishaKrauss) September 17, 2015
This is a great answer from Cruz re: Planned Parenthood. I’m glad he’s going through the video specifics. Might be first time audience hears
— Ellen L. Carmichael (@ellencarmichael) September 17, 2015
Christie: I've defunded Planned Parenthood. Let's talk about Hillary's extremism & challenge her. #GOPDebate
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) September 17, 2015
Jeb – there are 13,000 other orgs that provide real healthcare for women, we don't need to fund PP #CNNDebate
— Kira Ayn Davis (@RealKiraDavis) September 17, 2015
It was Carly Fiorina, though, who nailed it on the matter of Planned Parenthood:
Ok, Carly brings it back. This answer is INCREDIBLE. I have chills. P.S. This hardly happens anymore for me. But Carly did it.
— Ellen L. Carmichael (@ellencarmichael) September 17, 2015
Carly is visibly pissed about Planned Parenthood. Sounds like a mother. That's going to be extremely compelling to people.
— Liz Mair (@LizMair) September 17, 2015
Just fell in love with Carly.
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) September 17, 2015
It's almost mean to ask anyone to follow Carly. #CNNDebate
— Kelly Maher (@okmaher) September 17, 2015
Here’s where we stood at the first break:
Halftime: In the lead – Fiorina, Walker, Rubio, Christie Middling – Cruz, Paul, Carson, Kasich Trailing – Huckabee, Bush, Last – Trump
— Ellen L. Carmichael (@ellencarmichael) September 17, 2015
Rubio won on immigration:
That Rubio response was absolutely phenomenal. It was America-centric, persuasive, personal and humble. I hope he gets more talk time.
— Ellen L. Carmichael (@ellencarmichael) September 17, 2015
Rubio takes chance to talk about his granddad. I love msg that conservative values are important for all & should be communicated to all.
— Mary Katharine Ham (@mkhammer) September 17, 2015
Rubio always finds a way to segue into the American Dream story. Perfect.
— Sean Agnew (@seanagnew) September 17, 2015
At the second break, Trump was way ahead in speaking time. Rand Paul was getting the short end of the stick:
Brk 2 Trmp 13:32 Frna 10:05 Bsh 7:22 Ksch 7:05 Crsn 6:53 Crz 6:32 Chrste 5:34 Huck 5:05 Wlkr 4:45 Rbio 4:01 Paul 3:56 http://t.co/hg0yJ9aGjT
— Domenico Montanaro (@DomenicoNPR) September 17, 2015
10:00pm read: Fiorina poised, passionate, on-point. Rubio: knowledgable, smart, inspirational. Cruz: in his lane Christie: eager but nah
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) September 17, 2015
Off topic: who’s that guy in the audience, lower left?
Shout to the guy in the front row who looks like the Tom Brady sketch. pic.twitter.com/979tZjdhRc
— Esquire Magazine (@esquire) September 17, 2015
Who is the BABE sitting behind Jake Tapper during the #GOPDebate? http://t.co/7mHnTtMPTZ pic.twitter.com/sZ0pCriEej
— BuzzFeed (@BuzzFeed) September 17, 2015
Trump was still getting too much air time for Twitter’s taste:
tapper: trump, please talk for 5 minutes tapper: not trump, your response? not trump: well, i thi.. tapper: let's move on
— Ryan (@alwaysonoffense) September 17, 2015
Two names kept showing up as front-runners:
Audience clapping mid-answer for Rubio now. Based on the clapping, I'd say the audience really likes Rubio and Fiorina.
— Gabriel Malor (@gabrielmalor) September 17, 2015
Winners: Rubio, Fiorina, Christie Meh: Jeb, Huck, Kasich, Walker Losers: Trump, Carson, Cruz, Rand
— Kevin Eder (@keder) September 17, 2015
Best: Fiorina, Cruz, Rubio Worst: Jeb, Huck, Walker, Rand
— Chris Cillizza (@TheFix) September 17, 2015
The former hasn’t spoken much tonight. But for my money the long-term winners of this debate are Marco Rubio and Carly Fiorina.
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) September 17, 2015
After more than 3 hours, it was over:
Fun fact: When this debate started, Eisenhower was president.
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) September 17, 2015
Sure dad, you did three tours in 'Nam but I SURVIVED FIVE HOURS OF REPUBLICAN DEBATES.
— Mark Hemingway (@Heminator) September 17, 2015
Big winners tonight: Carly, Rubio (equally). Runners-up: Jeb, lesser extent Paul and Cruz.
— Liz Mair (@LizMair) September 17, 2015
If I had to pick one winner, it would be Fiorina. Sharp, prepared, detailed, responsive, and assertive when needed.
— Ed Morrissey (@EdMorrissey) September 17, 2015
