Some viewers of Thursday night’s Democratic debate took to social media to comment on the moving background behind the seven presidential candidates who faced off in Los Angeles, calling it "distracting."
The seven candidates — former Vice President Joe Biden
Joe BidenTop House Republican calls for probe of source of NYT Trump tax documents Judge's ruling creates fresh hurdle for Trump's TikTok ban Harris says she hasn't 'made a plan one way or another' on meeting Supreme Court nominee MORE; South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg
Pete ButtigiegCindy McCain joins board of Biden's presidential transition team Billionaire who donated to Trump in 2016 donates to Biden The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - GOP closes ranks to fill SCOTUS vacancy by November MORE (D); Sen. Elizabeth Warren
Elizabeth WarrenThe Hill's Campaign Report: Trump's tax bombshell | More election drama in Pennsylvania | Trump makes up ground in new polls New Biden campaign ad jabs at Trump's reported 0 income tax payments Democrats blast Trump after report reveals he avoided income taxes for 10 years: 'Disgusting' MORE (D-Mass.); Sen. Bernie Sanders
Bernie SandersPresident Trump faces Herculean task in first debate The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by JobsOhio - Trump's tax return bombshell New Biden campaign ad jabs at Trump's reported 0 income tax payments MORE (I-Vt.); Sen. Amy Klobuchar
Amy Klobuchar3 reasons why Biden is misreading the politics of court packing Social media platforms put muscle into National Voter Registration Day Battle lines drawn on precedent in Supreme Court fight MORE (D-Minn.); entrepreneur Andrew Yang
Andrew YangThe shape of guaranteed income Biden's latest small business outreach is just ... awful Doctor who allegedly assaulted Evelyn Yang arrested on federal charges MORE; and billionaire philanthropist Tom Steyer
Tom SteyerTV ads favored Biden 2-1 in past month Inslee calls Biden climate plan 'perfect for the moment' OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Trump administration finalizes plan to open up Alaska wildlife refuge to drilling | California finalizes fuel efficiency deal with five automakers, undercutting Trump | Democrats use vulnerable GOP senators to get rare win on environment MORE — debated issues ranging from President Trump
Donald John TrumpCensus Bureau intends to wrap up count on Oct. 5 despite judge's order Top House Republican calls for probe of source of NYT Trump tax documents New Yorkers report receiving ballots with wrong name, voter addresses MORE’s impeachment this week to climate change and trade. As they talked, the names and logos of debate's hosts PBS NewsHour and Politico streamed behind the candidates.
Some were quick to complain about the moving text. Attorney Michael Avenatti tweeted: "I don’t know who came up with the idea to have a moving background behind the candidates tonight, but it’s terrible."
I don’t know who came up with the idea to have a moving background behind the candidates tonight, but it’s terrible.
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) December 19, 2019
Washington Post writer Neil Greenberg tweeted: “How distracting is the background during these debates? Very. Extremely. I can’t talk I have vertigo."
How distracting is the background during these debates?
— Neil Greenberg (@ngreenberg) December 19, 2019
Very
Extremely
I can’t talk I have vertigo
Amanda Terkel, HuffPost Washington Bureau Chief, tweeted: “I’m a no on this moving debate backdrop.”
I’m a no on this moving debate backdrop
— Amanda Terkel (@aterkel) December 19, 2019
Others chimed in with their thoughts on the now-viral background behind the candidates.
Overheard at the @DNC : “Hey, I’ve got an idea...let’s take a bunch of unlikable candidates and make their debate even more unwatchable by adding a distracting and dizzying background!” cc: @PBS @politico
— Jon Blumenthal (@JonBlumenthal) December 19, 2019
@NewsHour / @politico: STOP moving the background behind the Democratic candidates at tonight's debate.
— Sharon Carbine (@SharonCarbine) December 19, 2019
The motion is SICKENING – literally! Person behind this problem is a destructive idiot.@PBS @JudyWoodruff @Yamiche @IAmAmnaNawaz @TimAlberta @CNN @MSNBC @ChrisCuomo @maddow
Who’s the doofus who thought it would be a good idea to have the background constantly moving on the Democratic debate? #DemDebate
— Roger Simon (@politicoroger) December 19, 2019
#DemDebate on a stylistic note, this PBS/Politico background at the debate is doing too much should’ve been a majority solid (not moving text) color imo
— Tamanisha J John (@TamanishaJohn) December 19, 2019
