Wednesday evening’s CNN GOP debate started off with some enthusiastic insults, entered into a graceful yet firm turn from Carly Fiorina, and then transformed into a pot-smoking discussion where Jeb Bush was branded a “hypocrite” for toking up a few decades ago. In the end, the entire affair lasted more than two hours, but Twitter kept up enough steam to keep the jokes coming.
Negative reactions to the debate ran far, wide, and according to party lines. Many critics believed the candidates spoke in terms that were too general, so they made too many promises without diving into specific policy proposals. However, these complaints could characterize many political campaigns, and there’s little use in rehashing such tweets here. Instead, we’ll focus on the snappy remarks from celebrities. A surprising number of these famous types live-tweeted their debate reactions.
Early on in the debate, Patton Oswalt made his skepticism known.
Watching the #GOPDebate on set and we're all very confused. pic.twitter.com/3Od13uMtcC
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) September 17, 2015
There's no sound on the TV monitor and Tom Hanks is providing all the candidates' voices and it's goddamned fried magic. #GOPDebate
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) September 17, 2015
One of the most befuddling tweets came from an inappropriate Ann Coulter.
How many f—ing Jews do these people think there are in the United States?
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) September 17, 2015
@AnnCoulter Hey, Ann! You know these are public, right?
— Evan Weiss (@eaweiss) September 17, 2015
Otherwise, the jokes came hard and fast. Twitter has so much energy for these events.
The best part of the #GOPDebate is not having a TV.
— Ali Spagnola (@alispagnola) September 17, 2015
Two minutes in, and its kindergarden slams about who's ugly. Even professional wrestlers are like, Guys, c'mon…a little dignity.
— Bill Maher (@billmaher) September 17, 2015
Donald Trump just did every emoji face on your phone in 7 seconds. #GOPDebate https://t.co/jkTnY0xBp8
— Tim Williams (@realtimwilliams) September 17, 2015
Trump really does have an amazing resting bitch face.
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) September 17, 2015
Mike Huckabee was sweating like he had just performed the 6 minute version of James Brown's "Sex Machine"❗️#towel
— Arsenio Hall (@ArsenioHall) September 17, 2015
I wish Deez Nuts was in this debate, instead of Chris Christie. #heisdone #randtoo #bookends #done pic.twitter.com/kLJxWq8H2g
— Arsenio Hall (@ArsenioHall) September 17, 2015
Carly spanked that ass. Rubio did good too.
— Arsenio Hall (@ArsenioHall) September 17, 2015
Rand Paul's finger tips smell like weed.
— Arsenio Hall (@ArsenioHall) September 17, 2015
Okay. Let's vote for Reagan. Sounds better than any of these guys. #DebateWithBernie #GOPDebate
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) September 17, 2015
Okay Jeb, but who caught Bin Laden? #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/PiMP5cmESf
— may olvera 💌🦦 (@yungfollowill) September 17, 2015
WOULDN'T WANT ANY OF THE REPUBLICANS ON STAGE IN REAGAN LIBRARY, HOWEVER THEY KNOW POLICY & R DRAGGING TRUMPS ASS IN THE DIRT🔥CARSON STARES😳
— Cher (@cher) September 17, 2015
Watching the #GOPDebate can't decide if this is funny or scary
— Caity Lotz (@caitylotz) September 17, 2015
Donald Trump's platform: I have made billions and I want to make the American people rich. Yeah, go, Donald. That's why we have a President?
— Patrick Stewart (@SirPatStew) September 17, 2015
Wow, these #GOPDebate candidates are scary. They can dress up their rhetoric however they want, but, um they just hate Mexicans.
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) September 17, 2015
https://twitter.com/jenniferweiner/status/644308598152122370
Would be great to hear specific policy proposals since 84% of Americans think there's too much money in politics. #gopdebate
— Katie Couric (@katiecouric) September 17, 2015
Watching the #CNNdebate. Clearly no moderator. Politics 2015.
— Lance Armstrong (@lancearmstrong) September 17, 2015
Who won this debate? Clearly, Cher came out on top with Arsenio Hall in second.
