The first Democratic presidential debates are in the books. The 20 candidates hit on everything from immigration to health care to gun control – but mostly missed out on one issue that has continually been top of mind for many Americans in recent polling: better government.
The moderators were even thrown a timely news peg, with the Supreme Court ruling on partisan gerrymandering between the two nights. Yet with a few exceptions, mum was basically the word.
The Twitterverse, however, was all about it, starting with how the debate could skip over four candidates.
We are genuinely confused as to why @TheDemocrats can accommodate 20 candidates while arbitrarily excluding a congr… https://t.co/lWtJt4cXBg— Open the Debates (@Open the Debates) 1561592554.0
Once things got down to business (cue Mulan), people had questions.
Gerrymandering? Campaign finance reform? Corruption? Citizens United? #DemDebate— Jacqueline (@Jacqueline) 1561686271.0
I'm actually surprised a bit that money in politics hasn't come up in the context of guns, health care reform, the economy...— Stephen Fee (@Stephen Fee) 1561602563.0
And where are the campaign finance reports to see who's taking $$$ from Big Pharma and Wall Street firms? #DemDebate— Kalitha Williams (@Kalitha Williams) 1561599113.0
Not a single question about voting rights in 25 debates in 2016 Same thing happened in first 2020 debate, even as… https://t.co/t2Vu9TWRps— Ari Berman (@Ari Berman) 1561604572.0
Are we seriously going to end the last 15 minutes of this #DemDebate without addressing at length the Republican-ma… https://t.co/BjsO25xuoF— Stephen Wolf (@Stephen Wolf) 1561689790.0
When mentions did, come up, some folks got pretty excited.
Alright Beto! Love the response on voting rights. #DemDebate— Shaneka L. Stanley (@Shaneka L. Stanley) 1561598258.0
#DemDebate Omg, I thought I had my favorite 3 (Castro, Warren & Booker) then Deblasio nailed it with the answer to… https://t.co/mcg2Zn4DDu— Ericka Keyton (@Ericka Keyton) 1561603538.0
Ok Mayor Pete on democracy reform! #DemDebate— Jessica Barba Brown (@Jessica Barba Brown) 1561688928.0
Thank you Sen. Bennett. We were waiting or somebody to bring up Shelby and this horrific gerrymandering ruling.… https://t.co/2EUxfCx31d— MAYDAY America (@MAYDAY America) 1561688012.0
TY @SenGillibrand for bringing up democracy and campaign finance reform. It's the root of so much bad. #DemDebate— Vicki Shabo (@Vicki Shabo) 1561688083.0
But even when the wannabe future leaders of the free world did bring it up, some people needed more info.
Bennet: We need to "restore our democracy at home." Great! But what does that mean??? Senator Bennet, you recently… https://t.co/bUHCfDx4kx— Equal Citizens (@Equal Citizens) 1561689752.0
With so little detail from the candidates, others got creative.
My plan for campaign finance reform: a $1M fine for every time a candidate says “folks.” Proceeds go to local after… https://t.co/BPbA3qhKo3— Sam Melnick (@Sam Melnick) 1561687436.0
Trump just asked lawyers to start looking into if using campaign dollars for Rosetta Stone is allowed under campaig… https://t.co/FRRJIrcMcn— Big W (@Big W) 1561597713.0
And when all else failed, fashion won.
CAN SOMEONE LET ME KNOW IF ANDREW YANG IS WEARING A TIE???!!? 👔— Seung Min Kim (@Seung Min Kim) 1561683388.0
There’s a Presidential candidate in the #DemDebate without a tie on right now and while I don’t know who the hell h… https://t.co/bAQIK39Okl— Jason Fonder🧢 (@Jason Fonder🧢) 1561685974.0
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