Bernie Sanders described the GOP debate on CNN as “too painful,” admitting that he wasn’t able to watch it all the way through. The Democratic presidential hopeful was only able to watch two-and-half out of three hours. But during that time, Bernie Sanders took to Twitter to sarcastically share his pain.
According to the Washington Post , Sanders watched the debate from one of his campaign offices in Washington, with a staffer acting as Twitter scribe for his reactions to the back and forth under the hashtag #DebateWithBernie. In comments reported by The Hill , Sanders told CNN the next day that he felt that the candidates had avoided speaking about any issue that might be important to the American people.
“It is really remarkable how they avoided the major issues facing the American people.”
Sanders’ Twitter musings made him one of the most successful participants in the debate, with his posts garnering thousands of re-tweets and favorites as the debate wore on. Bernie Sanders took issue with the Republicans for what he saw as their failure to address key issues like climate change. When Senator Marco Rubio made a joke about his compulsive water drinking in a now notorious State of the Union address, Sanders was quick to jump on it.
Rubio knows California has a drought. Will he have the courage to connect that to climate change or reject the science? #DebateWithBernie
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) September 17, 2015
Sanders also vented his frustration at what he saw as the superficial nature of the debate, complaining that issues were not being dealt with in a meaningful way.
Still waiting. Will they ever talk about climate change as a foreign policy issue? Or talk about it all? #DebateWithBernie
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) September 17, 2015
On the issues of poverty and equality, Sanders was characteristically scathing.
Have you heard anyone use the word “poverty” yet? 47.7 million Americans living in poverty. No discussion. #DebateWithBernie
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) September 17, 2015
Waiting, waiting, waiting. Will we hear anything about racial justice, income inequality or making college affordable? #DebateWithBernie
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) September 17, 2015
The somewhat-awkward discussion of foreign policy, made even more uncomfortable by Jeb Bush’s presence on stage, inspired Bernie to wax sarcastic.
. @JebBush – yes. Let’s continue the great ideas that got us into Iraq. Fine idea. #DebateWithBernie #GOPDebate
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) September 17, 2015
Overall, Sanders expressed frustration at the Republicans’ dogged focus on what are seen as popular issues for the conservative base.
Rich get richer. Everyone else gets poorer. And all these guys can talk about is war and defunding Planned Parenthood. #DebateWithBernie
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) September 17, 2015
Towards the two-and-a-half hour mark, Bernie Sanders was clearly showing signs of impatience. Here are a few tweets that show the 74-year-old Vermont Senator throwing up his hands and walking away.
Okay. Let’s vote for Reagan. Sounds better than any of these guys. #DebateWithBernie #GOPDebate
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) September 17, 2015
Does anyone know… when will this debate finally end? #DebateWithBernie
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) September 17, 2015
Thank you all. I’ve had it. I’m going home. Talk to you soon. #DebateWithBernie
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) September 17, 2015
[Picture via Getty Images/Alex Wong]
