Sep 17, 2015
Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders found another opportunity to spar--at least indirectly--with the Republican field of candidates on Wednesday night as he participated in their debate hosted by CNN via his Twitter account in a display of sharp jabs and critical commentary that lit up the social media network throughout the night.
As 11 of the GOP's top-tier candidates took to the stage inside the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California to face what was described as a "marathon" 3-hour debate, Sanders settled in with his #DebateWithBernie hashtag for the evening and asked his growing list of supporters:
\u201cAt a time when media looks at politics like a baseball game, will the serious issues be discussed tonight? Let's see. #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442448498
It could be argued that 'serious issues' were discussed, but it was clear throughout that Sanders remained unimpressed with the scope of the issues, the tenor of the questions, and the poor quality of the Republican candidates' responses. Meanwhile, as many tuned into the hashtag as they watched the debate live, many declared the longest-serving Independent in the U.S. Congress and the self-identified democratic socialist as the "hands down" winner of the night.
On an early foray into foreign policy and military spending, Sanders bemoaned the lack of vision for the future or sense of responsibility for failures in the past:
\u201cNow we're really getting to the Republican talking points. More money for war and confrontation. #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442450334
\u201cGee. How come these guys are not talking about the great "success" of Bush's foreign policy and the war in Iraq? #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442450446
\u201cCan these guys talk about anything other than their desire to go to war? #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442450847
\u201cWar, war, war. When do we get to their other major priority: tax breaks for billionaires? #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442451142
When the issues of women's health, reproductive rights, and the new effort in Congress to defund Planned Parenthood arose, Sanders lashed out against the GOP slate for marching in step against the rights of women to control their own bodies and the importance of ensuring quality healthcare access for all:
\u201cDoes anyone on that stage believe the women of this country have the right to control their own bodies? Anyone? #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442451870
\u201cKasich. You don't know ANYBODY who doesn't think we should defund Planned Parenthood? Really? You apparently don't know the American people.\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442451464
\u201cTrump: "I will take care of women." Really? What about respecting the right of women to control their own bodies? #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442451980
As his series of tweets began to rack up thousands upon thousands of retweets and favorites, however, Sanders began to lose his patience:
\u201cWaiting, waiting, waiting. Will we hear anything about racial justice, income inequality or making college affordable? #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442452142
\u201cRich get richer. Everyone else gets poorer. And all these guys can talk about is war and defunding Planned Parenthood. #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442452247
As the Republicans discussed which of them could build the biggest most-militarized border wall the fastest and schemed about how long it would take or how much it would cost to forcibly deport as many as 15 million undocumented immigrants, Sanders interjected:
\u201cAnyone on the stage, maybe just maybe, think we might want to pass comprehensive immigration reform and a path toward citizenship? Anyone?\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442453065
On the subject of jobs, the national demand for an increased minimum wage, and overall economic policy, Sanders moved swiftly to condemn the entire conversation:
\u201cVast majority understand we need to raise the minimum wage to a living wage. Is there any R who agrees? Will they discuss? #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442453198
\u201cAt a time of great inequality, there isn't one R on stage who doesn't think we should give huge tax brks to billionaires. #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442454032
\u201cThe American people overwhelmingly want to raise the minimum wage to a living wage. Too bad, the Republicans don't. #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442454382
And what about the specific crisis surrounding poverty?
\u201cHave you heard anyone use the word "poverty" yet? 47.7 million Americans living in poverty. No discussion. #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442454666
And then, with the airplane that served as Reagan's Air Force One as a backdrop and with each candidate claiming the former president's legacy as their own, Sanders' expressed his frustration with the evening by offering his first (albeit sarcastic) endorsement of the Republican primary season:
\u201cOkay. Let's vote for Reagan. Sounds better than any of these guys. #DebateWithBernie #GOPDebate\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442454699
But that was nearly the end for Bernie Sanders. As the debate approached its third hour, he asked, "Does anyone know... when will this debate finally end?" And shortly later, while the GOP candidates rambled on about their high school drug use and confessed to CNN host Jake Tapper what they'd like their Secret Service code names to be as president, Sanders signed off:
\u201cThank you all. I've had it. I'm going home. Talk to you soon. #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442456679
For those who missed it and want to watch it in full, the nearly three-hour debate follows:
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Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders found another opportunity to spar--at least indirectly--with the Republican field of candidates on Wednesday night as he participated in their debate hosted by CNN via his Twitter account in a display of sharp jabs and critical commentary that lit up the social media network throughout the night.
As 11 of the GOP's top-tier candidates took to the stage inside the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California to face what was described as a "marathon" 3-hour debate, Sanders settled in with his #DebateWithBernie hashtag for the evening and asked his growing list of supporters:
\u201cAt a time when media looks at politics like a baseball game, will the serious issues be discussed tonight? Let's see. #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442448498
It could be argued that 'serious issues' were discussed, but it was clear throughout that Sanders remained unimpressed with the scope of the issues, the tenor of the questions, and the poor quality of the Republican candidates' responses. Meanwhile, as many tuned into the hashtag as they watched the debate live, many declared the longest-serving Independent in the U.S. Congress and the self-identified democratic socialist as the "hands down" winner of the night.
On an early foray into foreign policy and military spending, Sanders bemoaned the lack of vision for the future or sense of responsibility for failures in the past:
\u201cNow we're really getting to the Republican talking points. More money for war and confrontation. #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442450334
\u201cGee. How come these guys are not talking about the great "success" of Bush's foreign policy and the war in Iraq? #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442450446
\u201cCan these guys talk about anything other than their desire to go to war? #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442450847
\u201cWar, war, war. When do we get to their other major priority: tax breaks for billionaires? #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442451142
When the issues of women's health, reproductive rights, and the new effort in Congress to defund Planned Parenthood arose, Sanders lashed out against the GOP slate for marching in step against the rights of women to control their own bodies and the importance of ensuring quality healthcare access for all:
\u201cDoes anyone on that stage believe the women of this country have the right to control their own bodies? Anyone? #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442451870
\u201cKasich. You don't know ANYBODY who doesn't think we should defund Planned Parenthood? Really? You apparently don't know the American people.\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442451464
\u201cTrump: "I will take care of women." Really? What about respecting the right of women to control their own bodies? #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442451980
As his series of tweets began to rack up thousands upon thousands of retweets and favorites, however, Sanders began to lose his patience:
\u201cWaiting, waiting, waiting. Will we hear anything about racial justice, income inequality or making college affordable? #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442452142
\u201cRich get richer. Everyone else gets poorer. And all these guys can talk about is war and defunding Planned Parenthood. #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442452247
As the Republicans discussed which of them could build the biggest most-militarized border wall the fastest and schemed about how long it would take or how much it would cost to forcibly deport as many as 15 million undocumented immigrants, Sanders interjected:
\u201cAnyone on the stage, maybe just maybe, think we might want to pass comprehensive immigration reform and a path toward citizenship? Anyone?\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442453065
On the subject of jobs, the national demand for an increased minimum wage, and overall economic policy, Sanders moved swiftly to condemn the entire conversation:
\u201cVast majority understand we need to raise the minimum wage to a living wage. Is there any R who agrees? Will they discuss? #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442453198
\u201cAt a time of great inequality, there isn't one R on stage who doesn't think we should give huge tax brks to billionaires. #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442454032
\u201cThe American people overwhelmingly want to raise the minimum wage to a living wage. Too bad, the Republicans don't. #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442454382
And what about the specific crisis surrounding poverty?
\u201cHave you heard anyone use the word "poverty" yet? 47.7 million Americans living in poverty. No discussion. #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442454666
And then, with the airplane that served as Reagan's Air Force One as a backdrop and with each candidate claiming the former president's legacy as their own, Sanders' expressed his frustration with the evening by offering his first (albeit sarcastic) endorsement of the Republican primary season:
\u201cOkay. Let's vote for Reagan. Sounds better than any of these guys. #DebateWithBernie #GOPDebate\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442454699
But that was nearly the end for Bernie Sanders. As the debate approached its third hour, he asked, "Does anyone know... when will this debate finally end?" And shortly later, while the GOP candidates rambled on about their high school drug use and confessed to CNN host Jake Tapper what they'd like their Secret Service code names to be as president, Sanders signed off:
\u201cThank you all. I've had it. I'm going home. Talk to you soon. #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442456679
For those who missed it and want to watch it in full, the nearly three-hour debate follows:
Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders found another opportunity to spar--at least indirectly--with the Republican field of candidates on Wednesday night as he participated in their debate hosted by CNN via his Twitter account in a display of sharp jabs and critical commentary that lit up the social media network throughout the night.
As 11 of the GOP's top-tier candidates took to the stage inside the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California to face what was described as a "marathon" 3-hour debate, Sanders settled in with his #DebateWithBernie hashtag for the evening and asked his growing list of supporters:
\u201cAt a time when media looks at politics like a baseball game, will the serious issues be discussed tonight? Let's see. #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442448498
It could be argued that 'serious issues' were discussed, but it was clear throughout that Sanders remained unimpressed with the scope of the issues, the tenor of the questions, and the poor quality of the Republican candidates' responses. Meanwhile, as many tuned into the hashtag as they watched the debate live, many declared the longest-serving Independent in the U.S. Congress and the self-identified democratic socialist as the "hands down" winner of the night.
On an early foray into foreign policy and military spending, Sanders bemoaned the lack of vision for the future or sense of responsibility for failures in the past:
\u201cNow we're really getting to the Republican talking points. More money for war and confrontation. #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442450334
\u201cGee. How come these guys are not talking about the great "success" of Bush's foreign policy and the war in Iraq? #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442450446
\u201cCan these guys talk about anything other than their desire to go to war? #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442450847
\u201cWar, war, war. When do we get to their other major priority: tax breaks for billionaires? #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442451142
When the issues of women's health, reproductive rights, and the new effort in Congress to defund Planned Parenthood arose, Sanders lashed out against the GOP slate for marching in step against the rights of women to control their own bodies and the importance of ensuring quality healthcare access for all:
\u201cDoes anyone on that stage believe the women of this country have the right to control their own bodies? Anyone? #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442451870
\u201cKasich. You don't know ANYBODY who doesn't think we should defund Planned Parenthood? Really? You apparently don't know the American people.\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442451464
\u201cTrump: "I will take care of women." Really? What about respecting the right of women to control their own bodies? #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442451980
As his series of tweets began to rack up thousands upon thousands of retweets and favorites, however, Sanders began to lose his patience:
\u201cWaiting, waiting, waiting. Will we hear anything about racial justice, income inequality or making college affordable? #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442452142
\u201cRich get richer. Everyone else gets poorer. And all these guys can talk about is war and defunding Planned Parenthood. #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442452247
As the Republicans discussed which of them could build the biggest most-militarized border wall the fastest and schemed about how long it would take or how much it would cost to forcibly deport as many as 15 million undocumented immigrants, Sanders interjected:
\u201cAnyone on the stage, maybe just maybe, think we might want to pass comprehensive immigration reform and a path toward citizenship? Anyone?\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442453065
On the subject of jobs, the national demand for an increased minimum wage, and overall economic policy, Sanders moved swiftly to condemn the entire conversation:
\u201cVast majority understand we need to raise the minimum wage to a living wage. Is there any R who agrees? Will they discuss? #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442453198
\u201cAt a time of great inequality, there isn't one R on stage who doesn't think we should give huge tax brks to billionaires. #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442454032
\u201cThe American people overwhelmingly want to raise the minimum wage to a living wage. Too bad, the Republicans don't. #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442454382
And what about the specific crisis surrounding poverty?
\u201cHave you heard anyone use the word "poverty" yet? 47.7 million Americans living in poverty. No discussion. #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442454666
And then, with the airplane that served as Reagan's Air Force One as a backdrop and with each candidate claiming the former president's legacy as their own, Sanders' expressed his frustration with the evening by offering his first (albeit sarcastic) endorsement of the Republican primary season:
\u201cOkay. Let's vote for Reagan. Sounds better than any of these guys. #DebateWithBernie #GOPDebate\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442454699
But that was nearly the end for Bernie Sanders. As the debate approached its third hour, he asked, "Does anyone know... when will this debate finally end?" And shortly later, while the GOP candidates rambled on about their high school drug use and confessed to CNN host Jake Tapper what they'd like their Secret Service code names to be as president, Sanders signed off:
\u201cThank you all. I've had it. I'm going home. Talk to you soon. #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1442456679
For those who missed it and want to watch it in full, the nearly three-hour debate follows:
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