VP Debate Fall Out: Tweets and that “Mexican Thing”
The reactions to last night’s VP debate range from polished response videos to new hashtags to possibly dissent in the ranks of one campaign. Let’s break it down.
In case you missed it, the first and only vice presidential debate for 2016 happened last night. Unlike the first presidential debate, which ended up drawing in millions (and millions) of viewers, this one probably won’t surpass the 2008 or 2012 VP debates, according to a report from Politico. (We miss you already, Joe Biden.)
First up, let’s check out Hillary Clinton’s general response to her running mate’s performance.
At the #VPDebate, Mike Pence tried really, really hard to deny pretty much everything Donald Trump has said and done. Let's replay the tape: pic.twitter.com/5XNKyFX6az
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 5, 2016
The caption reads, “At the #VPDebate, Mike Pence tried really, really hard to deny pretty much everything Donald Trump has said and done. Let’s replay the tape:” The attached video then shows several instances of Republican VP candidate Mike Pence saying he or Donald Trump didn’t say something, then cutting to video of them saying exactly those things.
It also has some helpful subtitles, so you can watch the video without sound.
Meanwhile, over on the Republican campaign, Donald Trump tweeted this out earlier this morning. (Fortunately, he didn’t do so at 5 a.m. again.)
The constant interruptions last night by Tim Kaine should not have been allowed. Mike Pence won big!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 5, 2016
It reads: “The constant interruptions last night by Tim Kaine should not have been allowed. Mike Pence won big!” (Aw, no “big league”? Sad!)
Anyone else getting the sense that attacking Kaine over interruptions won’t turn out well for the Trump campaign? Especially when Vox reports Trump interrupted Clinton 51 times during the first debate?
Outside of the Campaigns, Clips and Hashtags
Coming out of the debate, the narrative appears to be that Mike Pence’s “You whipped out that Mexican thing again” line will be the only one most people remember. The line came in response to Kaine bringing up Trump’s long list of serious political gaffes as an argument for Trump showing people exactly who he is.
The New Republic editor Jeet Heer highlighted the hashtag for those in the Political Classes who might have missed it:
A worthy hashtag: #thatmexicanthingagain
— Jeet Heer (@HeerJeet) October 5, 2016
“A worthy hashtag: #thatmexicanthingagain,” he tweeted.
Some examples:
#ThatMexicanThingAgain where they pay more taxes than @realDonaldTrump does. #vpdebate
— Emilio Guerra-Estévez (@emilioguerraes) October 5, 2016
My dad served this country in the Army, attended @UTexasLaw, and became the first Latino judge elected in Travis County. #ThatMexicanThing
— Bianca Garcia (@BZGarcia) October 5, 2016
#ThatMexicanThingAgain...more than a "thing", we're millions of people who will attend the polls and vote against Trump
— Lil Yadi (@yabesern) October 5, 2016
And that’s only the tiniest of samplings. Check out the hashtag for sure. It really is a worthy one. (Bring tissues.)
Well, the stories will likely be that hashtag and people reporting that Trump may not be pleased that Pence looked better than he did.
Trump adviser on debate after Pence passed up opportunities to defend him: "Pence won overall, but lost with Trump"
— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) October 5, 2016
CNBC and New York Times reporter John Harwood tweeted last night that a Trump adviser told him that “Pence won overall, but lost with Trump.” Pence repeatedly did evaded charges that he could not defend Trump’s positions. (It really just let Tim Kaine put on his disappointed dad face.)
Next: VP Debate: 5 Notable Moments
Considering that the next presidential debate takes place Sunday, do you think Trump will have time to have a big early-morning tweetstorm about this? Or will it all just come out at the debate?