GOP Debate Turns Ugly as Candidates Spar, Get Personal
Even the sudden death of conservative Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia earlier in the day didn’t manage to contain the fighting during Saturday’s GOP debate in Greenville, South Carolina. The face-off was contentious, loud and at times downright brutal.
The six candidates — real-estate developer Donald Trump, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz — clashed over George W. Bush, immigration, eminent domain and who is the bigger liar.
The event was hosted by CBS and moderated by “Face the Nation” anchor John Dickerson, with CBS News Chief White House Correspondent Major Garrett and the Wall Street Journal’s Kimberley Strassel joining as panelists.
Earlier, Garrett told TheWrap to expect “a lively and interesting debate”… and, boy, was he right.
Also Read: The 2016 Election Just Got a Lot More Important
TheWrap scoured the Internet for instant feedback, analysis and even the occasional wisecrack.
Here is the complete timeline:
5:57: And we’re off…
Which candidates have the most @google search interest ahead of tonight's #GOPDebate? https://t.co/Jdcesy2bTq https://t.co/N6wKLgnv6O
— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 14, 2016
Donald Trump traveled in style…
On the way to the #GOPDebate with my wonderful wife @MelaniaTrump.https://t.co/SnOnu6IHTC pic.twitter.com/f0C429tvHO
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 14, 2016
People are ready for the fight…
Waiting for Bloomberg to announce he's running for president.
— Jim Gaffigan (@JimGaffigan) February 14, 2016
RT
CRUZ' PORN STAR!!WOW!! SOME EVANGELICAL
PREACHER, YOU ARE!!#cruzfraud #GOPDebate #SCPrimary2016 pic.twitter.com/zR01ezld6d— Ciana@mygianluca (@myGianLuca) February 14, 2016
#GOPDebate I'm readyyyyyyy.
— Bethany Sobczak (@BFad_is_Badd) February 14, 2016
6:00: Candidates already at podium… no traffic jam tonight…
At least they avoided the awkward entrances of the last #GOPDebate
— Robert C. Hayes (@brchthe3rd) February 14, 2016
Hey, they walked out on stage without screwing up! Good start, GOP. Good start! #GOPDebate
— Hank Thompson (@Hank_Thompson) February 14, 2016
6:04: People like the moment of silence for Justice Scalia…
Very appropriate & classy gesture to start the GOP Debate tonight with a moment of silence for Justice Anthony Scalia.
— Justin Mathis (@J_Math23) February 14, 2016
6:07: First question about Justice Scalia. Some people aren’t loving Trump’s answer…
#GOPDebate #Trump2016 "delay, delay, delay." Is that the best you can offer?
— Kevin Briscoe (@kbriscoe2010) February 14, 2016
Delay Delay Delay. Also our nation's airports motto. #GOPDebate
— Mr. Jason J Grunner (@MINIGrunner) February 14, 2016
Republicans real salty about Obama potentially nominating a new Justice… #GOPDebate #Scalia
— Laura Farkas (@laurajfarkasesq) February 14, 2016
When you gotta delay #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/j3KrJuf3yS
— Mic (@micnews) February 14, 2016
6:11: Kasich gets high marks…
Well done John Kasich. Off to a great start. #GOPDebate
— Marielle E Reading (@mariellee) February 14, 2016
6:12: Rubio, you’ve been warned… Rubio, you’ve been warned.
Alright Marco, I'm listening for any repeated phrases tonight!
Alright Marco, I'm listening for any repeated phrases tonight!#GOPDebate
— Ryan Ward (@ryanward87) February 14, 2016
Rubio says Scalia will go down as one of the best, due to consistent interpretation of the constitution. https://t.co/7R8tzieZvz #GOPDebate
— Stephanie Hall (@Geekgasm_Inc) February 14, 2016
6:18: Ted Cruz says that for 80 years justices have not been appointed in election years. Dickerson argues with Cruz over the actual time of Justice Kennedy’s appointment versus his confirmation.
The audience doesn’t like all the real-time fact-checking, and Dickerson gets booed…
Dickerson please learn how to ask a question. #GOPDebate
— Troy J Wagers (@TroyJWagers) February 14, 2016
6:21: New drinking game…
New #drinking game for the debate! Every time the crowd boos I'm going to be drinking booze #GOPDebate
— Corporate Curmudgeon (@Corp_Curmudgeon) February 14, 2016
6:23: People are getting tired of Ben Carson’s same old joke…
Ben Carson being questioned about his experience. #GOPDebate
makes joke about finally being included in a debate.
— Scrooge McFcuk (@iN3RT_) February 14, 2016
6:24: Watch Dickerson and Cruz arguing over the Kennedy appointment…
.@jdickerson tries to correct Cruz on Kennedy appointment, gets booed by audience for facts. #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/31bdGQoE7a
— Mashable News (@MashableNews) February 14, 2016
6:26: Some people are not impressed…
Props to the people who have the mental patience to sit through the entire #GOPDebate
— almas (@almas_lf) February 14, 2016
This is a rowdy bunch, lol. #GOPDebate
— Mickey Mouth (@MickeyMouth1) February 14, 2016
#JebBush about to drop the hottest mix tape of the debate #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/QSdTE6glkh
— The Standard Opinion (@STDOPN) February 14, 2016
6:29: Trump gets booed after calling the audience “lobbyists”…
Trump gets booed. And here we go with Trump attacking the audience again. Probably boosts his SC #s to 40 percent.
— Jon Ralston (@RalstonReports) February 14, 2016
Crowd is a total joke. Clearly stacked against Trump. #Scoreboard #Scalia #GOPDebate
— Mentalo Man (@Avergae33) February 14, 2016
Major boos for Donald Trump tonight #GOPDebate https://t.co/6GWyu35e7T
— Huffington Post (@HuffingtonPost) February 14, 2016
Trump is such a bully! #GOPDebate
— Lynette K. Dutton (@LynetteDutton) February 14, 2016
6:37: Bush defends his family’s honor, gets cheered by crowd.
“My mom is the strongest woman I know,” he says. Trump shoots back, “She should be running.”
Kasich has the best line: “This is just crazy. Jeez, oh man…”
JEB!????
TRUMP????#GOPDebate— The Kolbert Report (@KolbertReport) February 14, 2016
6:40: People are not digging Trump’s attack on George W. Bush. He gets booed. A lot…
At any moment the audience at the debate in South Carolina is going to grab their torches and pitchforks and maul #DonaldTrump!#GOPDebate
— JamesFromTheInternet (@JamesFTInternet) February 14, 2016
6:41: Rubio gets cheers for his comment…
Rubio: I thank God it was George W. Bush in the White House and not Gore. (On 9/11) #GOPDebate
— Caleb Howe (@CalebHowe) February 14, 2016
6:45: Best GIF so far…
And we're back! If you're just joining #GOPDebate, here's a glimpse of the first part of the debate https://t.co/xayDdPjWZi
— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) February 14, 2016
JUST IN: Trump rips Jeb: Your brother "lied" before going into Iraq https://t.co/KlRBJ7gsHr #GOPdebate pic.twitter.com/oOZY4cUqRG
— The Hill (@thehill) February 14, 2016
6:49: Meanwhile…
Let's dance in the streets. I am consumed by my purpose to help the world.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 14, 2016
They are calling me to the SNL stage now … Speak soon…
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 14, 2016
6:49: Rubio gets cheers from crowd…
.@marcorubio: You don't earn the tax credit unless you're working. #GOPDebate
— FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) February 14, 2016
But others aren’t feeling it…
Marco Rubio’s tax plan is pure 80s:
↑ taxes for working families
↓ taxes for those at the top #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/MYnussWpPG— The Democrats (@TheDemocrats) February 14, 2016
6:54: And then there are those who don’t know what to make of it…
I didn't know what to tweet so…here a banana ???? #GOPDebate
— luisoncaffeine (@luisoncaffeine) February 14, 2016
6:57: Carson talks taxes…
.@RealBenCarson: "My main goal is to get rid of ObamaCare and put the care back in the hands of patients." #GOPDebate
— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 14, 2016
Ouch.
Ben Carson: My tax plan is going to be zzzzz zzzzzzzz zzzzzz. #GOPDebate
— Eric (@Big_E_Ya_Dig) February 14, 2016
For what it's worth, Ben Carson's tax plan is literally based on the Bible: https://t.co/lpVo1SHcNc #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/f1PQtSsV4v
— Slate (@Slate) February 14, 2016
And this gem…
"Dr. Carson, we have to go to a commercial — the free market wants what it wants." #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/XfL4zOOFPM
— Independent Journal (@INJO) February 14, 2016
7:08: How are they doing so far?
Since #GOPDebate start, share of Twitter conversation around GOP candidates. pic.twitter.com/TlM3cBUoml
— Twitter Government (@gov) February 14, 2016
7:07: Team Bush really likes this one…
We need a president who will stand up to Putin, not coddle him @realDonaldTrump. #GOPDebatehttps://t.co/fDzJnrSQvI
— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) February 14, 2016
7:14: Don’t mess with Cruz…. After Rubio says Cruz doesn’t understand Spanish, Cruz shows him who’s boss. If you’re wondering, Cruz is saying, “If you want say it now! Right now say it in Spanish if you like.”
Marco had jokes. Joke was on him. @tedcruz 'si habla' #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/AlVT5mNhgh
— ForAmerica (@ForAmerica) February 14, 2016
7:18: Cruz says his dad came to the U.S. with $100 in his underwear…. Which got one person asking…
And Cruz's dad stuffed $100 down his underwear. Why not a pocket? #GOPDebate #weird #thatanswersthat
— Dasil (@stand4progress) February 14, 2016
7:24: Cruz is tweeting during debate. Talk about multi-tasking…
I stood with Jeff Sessions, Steve King & the American people to stop @MarcoRubio’s Gang of Eight amnesty. #GOPDebatehttps://t.co/fjRjW6U1JD
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) February 14, 2016
7:25: Lots of people remarking on Trump’s uber-colorful background…
#Trump really needs to stay out of the tanning bed…he's starting to blend with the background. #GOPDebate
— Jason Collett (@R_Jason_Collett) February 14, 2016
7:28: Big fight…. Cruz and Trump going at it. Trump calls Cruz “nasty” and a “liar.”
So much yelling. #GOPDebate
— Jamie Tarabay (@jamietarabay) February 14, 2016
But @tedcruz you are a liar #GOPDebate
— Ms. Isoηg (@isongei) February 14, 2016
"You are the single biggest liar," Trump just unloaded on Cruz. This is such an ugly, undignified spectacle. #GOPDebate
— Kate Tuttle (@katekilla) February 14, 2016
Ted Cruz calls Tump a "great entertainer." Trump accepts it as a compliment. #GOPDebate
— Jake Bart (@FilmBart) February 14, 2016
7:31: This is all too much for some people to follow…
I don't even know what is happening anymore. #GOPDebate
— Ike Fink (@ikefink) February 14, 2016
7:32: Others are loving’ it…
This is great theatre #GOPDebate
— Yvette Phipps (@4evershiny) February 14, 2016
7:34: Carson says he’s “not a politician, I’m never going to become a politician.” That’s a relief. For a moment we thought he was running for President…
.@RealBenCarson appears to be skyping into this debate from Mars #GOPDebate
— Gautam Mukunda (@gmukunda) February 14, 2016
7:36: Some Latinos are not feeling the fight between Cruz and Rubio…
This is so bizarre. Óyeme, chico. Two sons of Cuba. Bizarre. #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/Inx2IAC3Uu
— Latino Rebels (@latinorebels) February 14, 2016
7:39: Trump is not having the best night…
#GOPDebate- Everything I say means nothing. pic.twitter.com/MQgDOs08zt
— Robert Fickman (@rfickman) February 14, 2016
Donald Trump spends $3 million like I buy @ChipotleTweets #GOPDebate
— Dan Conroy (@tweenerdan) February 14, 2016
7:40: A “chyron” is the banner on the lower part of the screen. And yes, it actually said that when they asked Trump about the advice he gets…
The CBS News chyron is actually saying right now: “WILL TRUMP FOLLOW ADVICE?” Classic. #GOPDebate
— Douglas Bell (@dbelldc) February 14, 2016
7:40: Sparks fly as Trump calls Bush a liar for saying Trump went bankrupt. People are starting to wonder what’s going on…
This is shameful–the worst debate in history. Nothing here is remotely presidential–sad. #GOPDebate
— Gabriel A. Watson (@LmntryWatson) February 14, 2016
Why would anyone who isn't voting Republican even watch the #GOPDebate?
— Nadeem Gulam (@nhgulam) February 14, 2016
Oh my god, I think I was married to one of these idiots. #GOPdebate pic.twitter.com/AyI9LsEoSF
— Krumkake Monster (@rustystubbs) February 14, 2016
This #GOPDebate is almost as bad as @ZoolanderMovie
— Johnny Agitator (@fuchall) February 14, 2016
Snapchat filters make debates so much more interesting ????????????????#GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/bhBIy1ooyE
— Matt Thielke (@matty_lite1) February 14, 2016
7:48: Following Trump’s proposal to tax manufacturers who move jobs out of the country — after an air conditioner manufacturer laid off 1,400 workers as it moved production to Mexico — the Independent Journal may have created the best GIF so far…
The brave little @realDonaldTrump #GOPDebate https://t.co/Sdta0ky3Xv
— Independent Journal (@INJO) February 14, 2016
7:54: In conclusion…
Poverty is free enterprise not reaching people. https://t.co/DlDwZH1zHA #GOPDebate
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 14, 2016
Voters must determine who has the judgement to nominate principled constitutionalists to the court https://t.co/MJuREMzPc9 #GOPDebate
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) February 14, 2016
Jeb Bush came prepared with a snappy little video…
We need a president with a proven record, not someone who went bankrupt like @realDonaldTrump. #GOPDebatehttps://t.co/hDXR1E0I7h
— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) February 14, 2016
While Kasich’s team wants to leave you with these words…
John Kasich's positive vision has launched his campaign forward. He showed that once again tonight. #GOPDebatehttps://t.co/tbS4BJFLeI
— John Kasich (@JohnKasich) February 14, 2016
And Ben Carson’s team tweeted this final thought…
As President, I will work tirelessly to seek out and destroy global terrorism. #GOPDebatehttps://t.co/HzMQjl3RsL
— Dr. Ben Carson (@RealBenCarson) February 14, 2016
And finally… we leave you with these words from Trump…
This was the weirdest thing said in a presidential debate. #GOPDebate https://t.co/LIB0H937fF
— Huffington Post (@HuffingtonPost) February 14, 2016
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