War of tweets rages around US debate

France 24 ^ | 10/12/2012

[bruinbirdman]

Before, during and after Thursday's US vice presidential debate, the tweets were raging.

Ahead of the event, Vice President Joe Biden tweeted a picture of himself and President Barack Obama, while Republican Paul Ryan showed a picture with his young son, "one of my most trusted advisors."

By the time the debate started, tweets were flying, with fact-checkers on both sides, as Twitter users created pages for @LaughinJoeBiden -- poking fun at his frequent grins -- and hashtages like #LyinRyan, suggesting the Republican was loose with the facts.

"Holy Gish Gallop, Batman! Lie fast, lie often, and don't allow a proper response," said one Twitter user with the #LyinRyan hashtag.

But a Republican supporter tweeted: "When it comes to faith, Biden miserably strikes out: 1. Doesn't donate to charity 2. Pro-death 3. Lying doesn't phase him."

The Romney response team tweeted that Biden "promised the stimulus would 'literally' drop-kick 'us out of this recession' -- but unemployment is still stuck near 8%."

Romney's campaign tweeted during the debate that the Obama administration "has failed to lead in stopping violence in Syria -- where tens of thousands have been massacred by the Assad regime."

The Obama-Biden "Truth Team" countered with its own message: "TRUE: Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan would spend $2 trillion that the military hasn't even asked for."

Halfway through the debate, Twitter said users had fired off more than two million related tweets. At the close, the micro-blogging service said: "Just over 4 million tweets on the night for the VP Debate. 3.5 million of them in the 92 minutes of debate time."

Some news organizations had their own fact-checking teams monitoring the debate in real time.

The Washington Post said "Ryan's critique of the sanctions and the UN diplomacy during the Obama administration is missing certain nuances." But it also said Biden went "a bit far" in contraception claims under Obama's health care reform.

Tumblr produced live animations of "the best debate moments, from zingers to gaffes to awkward silences."

And Microsoft's Xbox Live political network streamed the debate and gave its users the opportunity to answer questions as it went on.

Predictably, both sides claimed victory in their tweets.

From the Republican side: "@PaulRyanVP Offered Solutions, While @JoeBiden Ducked Blame."

But the incumbent side responded: "Biden was more prepared, more experienced and the clear winner."

The flap over the feathered children's television character Big Bird reared its head again after the debate as well.

A tweet from @BigBird said: "RT If you think Joe Biden won the debate. Check with a psychiatrist if you think Paul Ryan won."

[Gene Eric]

>> A tweet from @BigBird said: “RT If you think Joe Biden won the debate. Check with a psychiatrist if you think Paul Ryan won.”

Why are the taxpayers subsidizing a bird that earns over $300k?

[tsowellfan]

Anybody who follows Twitter:

I just got these accounts to follow from the Romney campaign tweeted from Paul Ryan’s account (mainly the bottom 5 accounts)

http://www.twitter.com/@paulryanvp

http://www.twitter.com/@RomneyResponse

http://www.twitter.com/@MittRomney

http://www.twitter.com/@Brendan_Buck
Romney for President, Spox for @PaulRyanVP, Putting jobs first

http://www.twitter.com/@andreamsaul
Romney for President Press Secretary

http://www.twitter.com/@EvanYost2012
Deputy Communications Director for @MittRomney #RomneyRyan2012

http://www.twitter.com/@ggitcho
Romney For President Communications Director

http://www.twitter.com/@ZacMoffatt
Digital Director for @MittRomney #Mitt2012 #RomneyRyan2012

[bronxville]

Andrew Kaczynski ‏@BuzzFeedAndrew So Joe Biden contradicted the State Department on Benghazi security. http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/10/11/biden_contradicts_state_department_on_benghazi_security … Biden contradicts State Department on Benghazi security Posted By Josh Rogin Thursday, October 11, 2012 – 8:06 PM Jason B. Whitman @JasonBWhitman I think Biden's throwing Intel under the bus will get big play other than his inappropriate clownish laughter.

[Ingtar]

It would take a @BirdBrain to think that Biden won.

[Savage Beast]

Reader's comment from the UK Daily Mail:

"Anybody else feel like Biden is a used car salesman trying to sell us a lemon?"

- Elizabeth, Houston, 11/10/2012 21:36

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2216480/U-S-vice-presidential-debate-2012-Joe-Biden-Paul-Ryan-debate-Danville-Kentucky.html#ixzz293nMks4o

[Savage Beast]

Reader's comment from the UK Daily Mail:

"Anybody else feel like Biden is a used car salesman trying to sell us a lemon?"

- Elizabeth, Houston, 11/10/2012 21:36

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2216480/U-S-vice-presidential-debate-2012-Joe-Biden-Paul-Ryan-debate-Danville-Kentucky.html#ixzz293nMks4o

[kearnyirish2]

Biden was sent out to repair some of the damage from Obama’s performance; he probably succeeded. He wasn’t there for a grown-up discussion of facts; he was there to win votes from the least intelligent Americans (and most-scared seniors).