New York City
Twitter reacts to de Blasio in the first 2020 debate
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio received both the good and the bad on Twitter after his debut presidential debate performance.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio solicited a lot of reactions online following the first Democratic presidential debate. Larry Marano/Shutterstock
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio made his national debut Wednesday in the first 2020 Democratic presidential debate.
Here’s what Twitter had to say.
Politicians:
Susan Rice, former national security advisor
Candidates, why is @BilldeBlasio the only candidate to mention Russia as a top threat?? And kudos to @JayInslee for telling home truths about Trump.
— Susan Rice (@AmbassadorRice) June 27, 2019
Joe Borelli, New York City councilman
The reason de blasio is doing well is that he is unafraid to give controversial answers and sounds genuine in his delivery. The rest are scared of saying something they could potentially be criticized for at this early stage. It’s a smart tactic for a 1% poller. Just sayin.
— Joe Borelli (@JoeBorelliNYC) June 27, 2019
Jumaane Williams, New York City public advocate
So I thought @ewarren did pretty good, as did @JulianCastro.
— Jumaane Williams (@JumaaneWilliams) June 27, 2019
I also think @JayInslee surprised me the most, and props when they're due: not too shabby @BilldeBlasio not too shabby at all. #DemDebate
Supportive Journalists and Pundits
Yamiche Alcindor, PBS white house correspondent, NBC, MSNBC
A big moment.
— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) June 27, 2019
Q: Who would give up their private healthcare for government run healthcare?
Only @BilldeBlasio and @ewarren raised their hands. Others just looked around.
Jillian Jorgensen, education reporter at NY1
For all the scoffing, much of it we’ll-deserved, about his campaign... de Blasio is a strong debater.
— Jillian Jorgensen (@Jill_Jorgensen) June 27, 2019
Michael Moore, documentary filmmaker and author
De Blasio wins the first half hour. No one predicted that. Shameful that only he and Sen. Warren raised their hands when the were all asked if they would get rid of private, profit-making health insurance companies. Greed is the enemy. 8 of the 10 don’t want to say that.
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) June 27, 2019
David Klion, news editor at Jewish Currents, writer at The Nation
I’m like 50% joking and 50% serious when I say I respect de Blasio more than most of the non-Warren candidates on stage tonight
— David Klion (@DavidKlion) June 27, 2019
Critical Journalists and Pundits
Jemele Hill, The Atlantic
Bill de Blasio is that ex you get rid of because he couldn’t get his shit together and then you run into him on the street and he has new teeth and good credit. Tonight he had new teeth and food credit. Surprising.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) June 27, 2019
Grace Rauh, NY1 political reporter and host of NY1’s podcast, “Off Topic/On Politics”
Um de Blasio just said he gave people “universal health care” in NYC, which is a tremendous stretch. He has launched a new program to give uninsured NYers a primary care doctor who works in the city’s public hospital system.
— Grace Rauh (@gracerauh) June 27, 2019
Dan Goldberg, health reporter at Politico
For the nth time @BilldeBlasio did not provide universal health care. He knows it’s not true and he repeats it. He has an ad program for public hospitals that isn’t even fully up and running yet. Uninsured got no new access under the mayor.
— Dan Goldberg (@DanCGoldberg) June 27, 2019
Sally Goldenberg, City Hall bureau chief at Politico
He knows Cory Booker is black, right? https://t.co/eDftaJxi4J
— Sally Goldenberg (@SallyGold) June 27, 2019
Bob Hardt, NY1 political director
Mayor de Blasio all but apologized to the NYPD in 2014 for talking about warnings he gave his son about dealing with the police. In a rhetorical reversal, he doubled down on those comments tonight on the presidential debate stage.
— Bob Hardt (@bobhardt) June 27, 2019
Mara Gay, The New York Times Editorial Board
I can’t remember the last time I heard Mayor de Blasio reference having a conversation about the police with his black son. Maybe 2014.
— Mara Gay (@MaraGay) June 27, 2019
Charlotte Clymer, Human Rights Campaign communications
Did Bill De Blasio just say his Black son sets him apart on gun violence compared to Cory Booker?
— Charlotte Clymer (@cmclymer) June 27, 2019
That was bad.#DemDebate
Shaun King, The North Star, Real Justice PAC, The Breakdown podcast host, The Intercept columnist
Also, I have to say that both my wife & I were disgusted with @BilldeBlasio saying "too many tragedies happen between young Black men and police."
— Shaun King (@shaunking) June 27, 2019
That's not what's happening at all. He's putting the burden of the violence between the two on a level playing field. It's not level
Numbers & Rankings:
Seth Abramson, Newsweek
Referring only to how I think they did tonight (no broader generalization):
— Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson) June 27, 2019
3 Tiers (most successful to least successful, also ranked within tiers)
1 Warren, Castro tied w/ Booker
2 Klobuchar tied w/ O'Rourke, then De Blasio
3 Gabbard tied w/ Ryan, then Inslee, then Delaney
Helaine Olen, Washington Post
Warren and Booker did best, with Castro following close behind. Klobuchar, Inslee and Bill de Blasio in the next group, in that order. Ryan, Delaney, Gabbard and O'Rourke can exit now. #DemDebate
— Helaine Olen (@helaineolen) June 27, 2019
Rebecca Baird-Remba, commercial real estate reporter at Commercial Observer
The mayor is truly chilling during this debate pic.twitter.com/QlbeXcU121
— Rebecca Baird-Remba (@thecitywanderer) June 27, 2019
Wits and Wisecracks:
Anna Sanders, City Hall reporter at the Daily News
mayor de Blasio presidential primary debate BINGO! pic.twitter.com/c7Tuvr8rLr
— Anna Sanders (@AnnaESanders) June 27, 2019
J. David Goodman, covering the influence of money in politics at The New York Times
The mayoral sideburns are getting much needed national attention https://t.co/huVG3K2Xbc
— J. David Goodman (@jdavidgoodman) June 27, 2019
Katie Honan, City Hall reporter at The Wall Street Journal
Just one message for the first round of candidates debating tonight, which includes @BilldeBlasio: pic.twitter.com/7SgDttjaGB
— katie honan (@katie_honan) June 26, 2019
Rachel Holliday Smith, reporter at The City
TRIED NOT TO TWEET TONIGHT BUT OH MY HEAVENS
— Rachel Holliday Smith (@rachelholliday) June 27, 2019
NATIONAL MEDIA TYPES ON THE TIMELINE ,,, , ,, , , , , ,
IT'S ' de Blasio '
THANK YOU
Bill Grueskin, reporter via WSJ, Bloomberg, Miami Herald
— Bill Grueskin (@BGrueskin) June 27, 2019
NEXT STORY: De Blasio tries hard to stand out in the first presidential debate