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.
— Jim Geraghty (@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
https://twitter.com/amandacarpenter/status/644304468809400320
When the very first question out of the gate was about Donald Trump, Twitter was less than impressed:
https://twitter.com/BecketAdams/status/644304677417390080
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:
https://twitter.com/ellencarmichael/status/644304948549787648
https://twitter.com/ErickaAndersen/status/644305447919468548
Just minutes into the debate, and the tweets were getting harsh:
https://twitter.com/LilMissRightie/status/644305432450830336
Clown Show.
— RBe (@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
https://twitter.com/ellencarmichael/status/644314438716125185
Christie: I've defunded Planned Parenthood. Let's talk about Hillary's extremism & challenge her. #GOPDebate
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) September 17, 2015
https://twitter.com/RealKiraDavis/status/644316348709867521
It was Carly Fiorina, though, who nailed it on the matter of Planned Parenthood:
https://twitter.com/ellencarmichael/status/644315401485205504
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:
https://twitter.com/ellencarmichael/status/644317934156947457
Rubio won on immigration:
https://twitter.com/ellencarmichael/status/644320144722919424
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
https://twitter.com/seanagnew/status/644320192135213056
At the second break, Trump was way ahead in speaking time. Rand Paul was getting the short end of the stick:
https://twitter.com/DomenicoNPR/status/644329250007465984
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 (@esquire) September 17, 2015
Who is the BABE sitting behind Jake Tapper during the #GOPDebate? https://t.co/7mHnTtMPTZ pic.twitter.com/sZ0pCriEej
— BuzzFeed (@BuzzFeed) September 17, 2015
Trump was still getting too much air time for Twitter’s taste:
https://twitter.com/alwaysonoffense/status/644334757833256961
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
— Name cannot be blank (@keder) September 17, 2015
https://twitter.com/TheFix/status/644327696412057601
https://twitter.com/charlescwcooke/status/644320339447709696
After more than 3 hours, it was over:
https://twitter.com/charlescwcooke/status/644348476936036352
https://twitter.com/Heminator/status/644349015967068160
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