Twitter reacts to de Blasio in the first 2020 debate

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.

I also think @JayInslee surprised me the most, and props when they're due: not too shabby @BilldeBlasio not too shabby at all. #DemDebate

— Jumaane Williams (@JumaaneWilliams) June 27, 2019

Supportive Journalists and Pundits

Yamiche Alcindor, PBS white house correspondent, NBC, MSNBC

A big moment.

Q: Who would give up their private healthcare for government run healthcare?

Only @BilldeBlasio and @ewarren raised their hands. Others just looked around.

— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) June 27, 2019

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?

That was bad.#DemDebate

— Charlotte Clymer (@cmclymer) June 27, 2019

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."

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

— Shaun King (@shaunking) June 27, 2019

Numbers & Rankings:

Seth Abramson, Newsweek

Referring only to how I think they did tonight (no broader generalization):

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

— Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson) June 27, 2019

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

NATIONAL MEDIA TYPES ON THE TIMELINE ,,, , ,, , , , , ,

IT'S ' de Blasio '

THANK YOU

— Rachel Holliday Smith (@rachelholliday) June 27, 2019

Bill Grueskin, reporter via WSJ, Bloomberg, Miami Herald

pic.twitter.com/b5avgm5wUy

— Bill Grueskin (@BGrueskin) June 27, 2019