If you come for the king you better not miss. That’s what fellow presidential candidate Tim Ryan learned during the second round of Democratic debates. On Tuesday night’s event, the Ohio congressman tried to interrupt a rant from noe less than ever-punchy Vermont senator — and, now, Cardi B collaborator — Bernie Sanders. But he didn’t get very far. And he was instantly put in his place, because that’s what happens when you challenge Bernie.
The subject at this point in the debate was Medicare For All, which Sanders and others support and some do not. One candidate dubious of the proposed plan is Ryan. Sanders was listing all the ways in which MFA is comprehensive.
“It covers all health care needs,” Sanders averred. “For senior citizens, it will finally include dental care, hearing aids and eyeglasses.”
Ryan tried to interject, throw him off. “But you don’t know that,” Ryan told him. “You don’t know that, Bernie.”
But Sanders quickly shot back: “I do know it. I wrote the damn bill.”
Bernie Sanders on Medicare for All: "I wrote the damn bill." pic.twitter.com/ruRdPklxwz
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 31, 2019
Sanders was rewarded with an avalanche of applause, both in the auditorium and all over social media, where the line was singled out as one of the night’s main highlights.
Bernie to Tim Ryan: "I do know that I wrote the damn bill!" #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/OMKlAHFxLU
— Secular Talk🎙 (@KyleKulinski) July 31, 2019
RYAN: You don’t know
SANDERS: I wrote the damn bill
RYAN: [sweats through eyeballs, somehow]— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) July 31, 2019
"I do know it, I wrote the damn bill." That's the bumper sticker.
— Ezra Klein (@ezraklein) July 31, 2019
“I wrote the damn bill” might be the line of the night. @BernieSanders did great job of pointing out American workers can get a RAISE if companies don’t have to pay for insurance. And all Americans would have better coverage than their current private insurance. #DemocraticDebate
— Cenk Uygur (@cenkuygur) July 31, 2019
Ryan: “You don’t know that, Bernie.”
Sanders: “I do know. I wrote the damn bill.” #DemDebate— Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) July 31, 2019
https://twitter.com/nachdermas/status/1156364925763248132
https://twitter.com/MsPackyetti/status/1156364923892641792
https://twitter.com/JasonIsntOnline/status/1156364879860850688
https://twitter.com/laniusschach/status/1156376140749123584
https://twitter.com/naomiibouyerr/status/1156370512588750849
https://twitter.com/thenickarellano/status/1156367393439879168
Team Bernie was quick to seize upon the line, even throwing together a design for stickers, which you can already order.
Bernie Sanders campaign is now selling “I wrote the damn bill” stickers. #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/mHN9nC0LP1
— Bryan Anderson (@BryanRAnderson) July 31, 2019