Democratic Debate: Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders Spar Over Obama, Immigration and Super PACs

Another day, another debate.

This time Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton sparred over Obama, immigration and Super PACs during the “PBS NewsHour Democratic Primary Debate,” moderated by Gwen Ifill and Judy Woodruff from the main campus of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

It was the sixth Democratic debate of the campaign, but the first since Sanders dominated the New Hampshire primary.

Here are some of the snarkiest, funniest and most topical tweets of the night, as seen by TheWrap:

Also Read: Bernie Sanders Supporters Pummel Civil Rights Hero John Lewis on Twitter (Video)

And we’re off to the races.

6:01 p.m. PT: Fun fact:

Nice seeing history in making: 1st time presidential debate hosted by 2 female moderators #PBSDebate #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/cJ6FHAYgl9

— Vicky Pasquantonio (@vicpasquantonio) February 12, 2016

6:02: Already some are poking fun at the fact that nobody knows the moderators.

PBS debate should be moderated by @BigBird and @elmo #PBSdebate #GoBernie

— Llamas 4 Bernie (@DonaldRyanMcCoy) February 12, 2016

6:03: Milwaukee?

Great idea, DNC, to have this debate in Milwaukee. #DemDebate

— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) February 12, 2016

6:06: Wine anyone?

This is going to require grapes…fermented …. #DemDebate

— deirdre (@finallydeirdre) February 12, 2016

6:06: Note to candidates:

Actually it's pronounced "mill-e-wah-que," which is Algonquin for, "the good land." #DemDebate https://t.co/gojNF6aeRV

— Jennifer Williams (@jenn_ruth) February 12, 2016

6:10: Commercial break right after opening statements.

Break already!?! Come on #DemDebate! Just the opening pitch and now time to get some advertising dollars #annoyed

— Jason Rivera (@jriv624) February 12, 2016

6:12: Sanders talks political revolution and Trump:

.@BernieSanders: We should not let "the Trumps of the world divide us" https://t.co/NoOSP5ydnk #DemDebate https://t.co/UVVEqxlPXS

— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) February 12, 2016

6:13: Sanders gets high marks

Gotta give credit to Bernie: He is consistently on-message during these debates. Hillary needs to get him off-script.#DemDebate

— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) February 12, 2016

6:14: Some people aren’t feeling it.

Not sure you want to watch another #DemDebate? DID WE MENTION THE SET HAS COLUMNS??? pic.twitter.com/GjQrkmLtk6

— Mark Joyella (@standupkid) February 12, 2016

6:15: New drinking game…

Everytime Sanders wags his finger at us, we should take a drink. #DemDebate

— Spookiest Kelly (@spookykelly) February 12, 2016

6:19: Clinton mentions her position on universal healthcare: “Having been in the trenches, fighting for this, I believe strongly that we have to guarantee health care,” adding that, “We are not England, we are not France, we inherited a system that was set up in World War II.”

6:26: Clinton’s mustard-yellow outfit is getting some attention.

Do you have any Hillary Clinton? pic.twitter.com/ImEildYsYv

— T (@WHUDEY) February 12, 2016

6:28: People have jokes…

WIN LOSE OR DRAW BERNIE SANDERS SHOULD GET A CHANCE TO BE COLONEL SANDERS FOR A MINUTE

— JOE MACLEOD (@JOEMACLEOD666) February 12, 2016

Hillary looks like she dumped about a half-gallon of foundation on her face. #PBSDebate

— Jayson Kennedy (@ghoulbasement) February 12, 2016

This is going to make for an epic meme. #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/lVGSOUDpVA

— Brian Neal (@BrianNealNews) February 12, 2016

6:30: Woodruff asked Clinton about Madeline Albright’s “special place in hell” comment, referring to women who don’t support other women.

“She’s been saying that for as long as I’ve known her,” Clinton says, “but it doesn’t change my view that we need to empower everyone women and men to make the best decisions that, in their minds, they can make.”

.@BernieSanders reminds @HillaryClinton she's not in the White House quite yet https://t.co/9M8ZMm4ymH #DemDebate

— Mashable Politics (@mashpolitics) February 12, 2016

6:29: Clinton might be a woman, but Sanders is Jewish.

@BernieSanders says he isn't worried about thwarting history w/ first female president because he would make history if wins. #DemDebate

— Foon Rhee (@foonrhee) February 12, 2016

6:30: Some people are #FeelingtheBern.

Bernie slaying that debate #feelthebern #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/ZvRWNTgdYS

— (͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) (@karenwitha_y) February 12, 2016

Free stuff is compelling. Who doesn't want free stuff without paying a dime. Hint Hint, lazy young people like me. #PBSdebate

— C L i N T ™ (@TheOwlFeed) February 12, 2016

6:39: Clinton is asked why she’s having trouble connecting with women.

6:39: Clinton slams Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.

.@HillaryClinton goes after Wisconsin Governor @ScottWalker. #DemDebate. Watch: https://t.co/0lvBU6a2xJ pic.twitter.com/SLj2HGFZeD

— The Boston Globe (@BostonGlobe) February 12, 2016

6:40: Sanders talks about Republican hypocrisy when it comes to women’s reproductive choices:

6:52: Sanders and Clinton address African-American incarceration rates in U.S.

6:59: And then this happened…

Actual quote from #PBSDebate moderator Gwen Ifill: "Now I want to talk about white people."

— Matt Mackowiak (@MattMackowiak) February 12, 2016

7:00: Woodruff asks Clinton: “What influence will your campaign contributors have on your administration?”

Clinton says the question should be asked of super PACs that support her, adding that, “I’m very proud of the fact that we have more than 750,000 donors, and the vast majority of them are giving small contributions.”

7:01: But not everyone is buying…

rolling my eyes at @HillaryClinton talking about her donors…#DemDebate

— Sassy Sanders (@SassySenSanders) February 12, 2016

7:02: Clinton on Super PACs and donors:

7:15: PolitiFact gives Sanders high marks.

Sanders said the US has more people in jail than any other country. There are caveats, but Mostly True. https://t.co/GN0PFHZaq2 #DemDebate

— PolitiFact (@PolitiFact) February 12, 2016

7:17: Who are you talking about?

Share of #DemDebate Twitter conversation so far:

-Sanders 50%
-Clinton 50% pic.twitter.com/RVXIVy0u3n

— Twitter Government (@gov) February 12, 2016

7:25: Clinton has used this line before… but it’s a great way to shut down Sanders whenever he mentions his vote against the Iraq war.

A vote in 2002 is not a plan to defeat ISIS in 2016. #DemDebate

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) February 12, 2016

7:25: Sanders and Clinton talk about the size of the federal government.

7:35: Sanders: “I’m proud to say that Kissinger is not my friend.”

We need to talk to both our friends and our enemies, @BernieSanders says: https://t.co/9ldtFl43wS #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/MnwYd34HTc

— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 12, 2016

Meanwhile…

THANK YOU- Baton Rouge, Louisiana! WE will #MakeAmericaGreatAgain! #Trump2016 pic.twitter.com/XV7EIe7A2l

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 12, 2016

7:43: Sanders wags his fingers.

7:49: Hillary Clinton’s attack on Sanders for not being loyal to President Obama is not sitting well with some. Obama’s legacy is a key issue. The president remains popular among African-Americans in South Carolina, a crucial voting block in that state.

I am sickened by @HillaryClinton pandering. She is a disgrace to women. #DemDebate

— Carly Huffman (@StarCarly) February 12, 2016

Strong, prepared Bernie on Obama criticism #DemDebate

— Ron Kampeas (@kampeas) February 12, 2016

How did this substantive debate was derailed into name-calling over who loves Obama more? Clinton started it. #DemDebate

— Erik Love (@ErikLove) February 12, 2016

7:49: In conclusion…

@HillaryClinton is through, grasping at straws, Racism Sexism LGBTQ and then she bombs and deports brown people #DemDebate

— phonocentric (@phonocentric) February 12, 2016

You have my vote @HillaryClinton! #DemDebate #ImWithHer

— Voting for Hillary (@VoteforHillary1) February 12, 2016

#DemDebate Its clear Bernie Sanders won this debate,

— paul knippers (@knippers75) February 12, 2016

Glad Hillary brought up #FlintWaterCrisis in her closing statement and the #LGBT community. Smart to mention unions, too. #DemDebate

— Eric Lacy (@EricLacy) February 12, 2016

15 Most Cringe-Worthy Gaffes From Presidential Debates

1960: During the first televised presidential debate, Richard Nixon refused to wear stage makeup, revealing his sweaty forehead under the hot TV lights. This made the younger John F. Kennedy look much more confident.
John F. Kennedy Library Foundation
1976: Gerald Ford claimed that he didn't believe that Eastern Europe was under "Soviet domain," which proved to be an unpopular opinion, as the moderator repeated the question in bewilderment.
Getty Images
1980: When the moderator tried to silence Ronald Reagan's microphone during a Republican primary debate, Reagan shouted: "I am paying for this microphone!" The line became a "political home run" for Reagan. It was also borrowed it from the 1948 film "State of the Union."
1980: In a general-election debate between incumbent president Jimmy Carter and Reagan, Carter said, “I had a discussion with my daughter Amy the other day before I came here to ask her what the most important issue was. She said she thought the control of nuclear weaponry.” Carter was mocked for taking policy advice from his 13-year-old daughter, helping Reagan to win the election.
ReaganFoundation
1988: Michael Dukakis may have lost the election when he said he would still oppose the death penalty even if the killer raped and murdered his wife, Kitty.
PBS
1988: Vice presidential candidate Dan Quayle compared himself to Jack Kennedy and got hammered by Democratic rival Lloyd Bentsen: "Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy, I knew Jack Kennedy, Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy."
1992: George H.W. Bush checked his watch and tucked in his shirt during his debate with future president Bill Clinton, looking impatient when asked about the economy.
C-Span
2000: Al Gore sighed during a debate with George W. Bush, which was widely perceived as condescending. It was so bad, aides made him watch the "SNL" parody of the gaffe before the next debate.
Getty Images
2008: Hillary Clinton attacked Barack Obama for allegedly lifting lines from the speeches of Massachusetts politician Duval Patrick. She had a good zinger... that didn't quite have the effect she was hoping for. "Lifting whole passages from someone else's speeches is not change you can believe in, it's change you can Xerox," Clinton said -- but the audience booed.
CNN
2008: When a moderator asked Hillary Clinton if she had the personal appeal to overtake Barack Obama, the future president interjected that Clinton was "likable enough."
CBS
2008: While illustrating a point about a Bush/Cheney energy bill that Obama had signed, Arizona Senator John McCain referred to the future president as "that one."
Getty Images
2011: Texas Gov. Rick Perry shifted his reputation from budget-slasher to bungler when he blanked on the names of all three federal agencies he proposed to eliminate as president: "I can’t, the third one. I can’t. Sorry. Oops."
CNBC
2012: Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney claimed that Obama didn’t call Benghazi a terrorist attack. Obama confidently asked Candy Crowley to clear up the charge, which she does, pointing out Romney's mistake.
Getty Images
2016: When asked during an interview in September what he would do about Aleppo, the epicenter of the Syrian refugee crisis, Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson asked, "And what is Aleppo?" That line became a viral sensation, even earning some rather funny spoofs. Johnson then made things worse when later that month he couldn't name a single world leader -- dead or alive -- during a town hall with Chris Matthews. And just to be sure this second flub would get some traction, Johnson told Matthews he was having an "Aleppo moment." Talk about about a triple whammy.
MSNBC
2016: Green Party presidential candidate JillS Stein was hoping to be the answer to Bernie Sanders after he dropped out of the primary race. But answer she gave during an AMA reddit sesh put a damper on her plans. Stein, a Harvard Medical School graduate, raised some eyebrows when she took a decidedly anti-vaxxer stance: "As a medical doctor, there was a time where I looked very closely at those issues, and not all those issues were completely resolved. There were concerns among physicians about what the vaccination schedule meant, the toxic substances like mercury which used to be rampant in vaccines. There were real questions that needed to be addressed." Stein later clarified that she was not, in fact, an opponent of vaccines.
Getty

1 of 15

From Richard Nixon’s flop sweat to Rick Perry’s ”Sorry oops,“ candidates have often stumbled at the podium

1960: During the first televised presidential debate, Richard Nixon refused to wear stage makeup, revealing his sweaty forehead under the hot TV lights. This made the younger John F. Kennedy look much more confident.

View In Gallery

15 Most Cringe-Worthy Gaffes From Presidential Debates

7DAYFREETRIAL

7
DAY
FREE
TRIAL