Democratic presidential hopefuls participate in the first Democratic primary debate.
Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images
Wait a minute, didn’t we just have a round of political debates? It’s that time again. The first debate of the Democratic presidential primary season, leading up to the 2020 election, is airing Wednesday live from Miami’s Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. NBC, MSNBC and Telemundo are broadcasting the debates from 9 to 11 p.m. ET each night.
Because the Democratic field of candidates is so large, 10 contenders are debating Wednesday, with an additional 10 taking a turn Thursday.
Wednesday’s candidates are Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, Former Housing Secretary Julián Castro, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Former Rep. John Delaney and Rep. Tim Ryan.
Follow this post as we round up the evening’s top meme-worthy moments.
Beto speaks Spanish
One of the first debate moments to stir social-media interest came early on, when former Rep. Beto O’Rourke slid between English and Spanish during his first answer. The bilingual demonstration pleased some and startled others. Some just wanted an answer in any language.
Beto managed to avoid answering the question in both Spanish and English. 😑 #DemDebate
— Jackée Harry (@JackeeHarry) June 27, 2019
Savannah: Would you support a 70% tax rate
Beto: OK, first of all, let me start by reading the lyrics to “Wonderwall” in Spanish #DemDebate
— Lauren Duca (@laurenduca) June 27, 2019
Beto speaking Spanish: a bit cringey, a bit of a flex, but honestly if my Cuban grandma were still alive, I know she would have appreciated it. Millions of other people might, too. #DemDebate
— Michelle Ruiz (@michelleruiz) June 27, 2019
Mas Espańol
Corey Booker wasn’t about to let O’Rourke be the only Spanish-speaker on the stage. He whipped out his own language skills.
Haven’t I seen you somewhere before?
The candidates may talk a good game, but it turns out many of them remind us of other familiar faces.
Jay Inslee: An admiral in a 1995 movie
Jay Inslee looks like the admiral in a war movie from 1995. #DemDebate
— Secular Talk (@KyleKulinski) June 27, 2019
or Yondu
Elizabeth Warren: A Claire’s shopper
A bicyclist
Amy Klobuchar: Auntie Amy
Amy Klobuchar looks and sounds like the Passive Agressive Aunt at Thanksgiving dinner
— HussCar (@HusseyAlden) June 27, 2019
Cory Booker: Lex Luthor
Mr. Clean
Beto O’Rourke: Jack Skellington
Julián Castro: An NPC
Is it me or does Julién Castro look like an NPC in Oblivion
— Colin McDonald (@ColinMcDeez) June 27, 2019
Bill De Blasio: Beto’s dad
Bill de Blasio looks like he’s Beto O’Rourke’s dad
— Palmer Report (@PalmerReport) June 27, 2019
A Bitcoin investor
De Blasio looks like he’s trying to get me to invest part of my 401k in bitcoin.
— kang👎 (@jaycaspiankang) June 27, 2019
An Indiana Jones character
Joe Pesci
Mic mistake
Midway through, NBC experienced a technical goof when the network’s control room neglected to turn off the mics worn by the first moderators.
So far my favorite person of the night is the guy who advised Beto to give his answers in Spanish. My second favorite is the guy in the control room who left everyone’s mics on.
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) June 27, 2019
turn up all the mics in the control room, TURN THEM UP
— Hannah Jewell (@hcjewell) June 27, 2019
Control mics are on, control room people are the real heros
— Sen. Mike Gravel (@MikeGravel) June 27, 2019