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 BidenDC residents jumped at opportunity to pay for meals for National Guardsmen Joe Biden might bring 'unity' – to the Middle East Biden shouldn't let defeating cancer take a backseat to COVID MORE; South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg
Pete ButtigiegThe Hill's Morning Report - Biden's crisis agenda hits headwinds Biden signs order to require masks on planes and public transportation Senators vet Buttigieg to run Transportation Department MORE (D); Sen. Elizabeth Warren
Elizabeth WarrenStudent loan forgiveness would be windfall for dentists, doctors and lawyers OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Biden's Interior Department temporarily blocks new drilling on public lands | Group of GOP senators seeks to block Biden moves on Paris, Keystone | Judge grants preliminary approval for 0M Flint water crisis settlement Senate approves waiver for Biden's Pentagon nominee MORE (D-Mass.); Sen. Bernie Sanders
Bernie SandersSunday shows preview: All eyes on Biden administration to tackle coronavirus The Hill's 12:30 Report: Next steps in the Trump impeachment Sanders selling sweatshirts with his famous inauguration pose for charity MORE (I-Vt.); Sen. Amy Klobuchar
Amy KlobucharSunday shows preview: All eyes on Biden administration to tackle coronavirus Do Democrats really want unity? Democrats seek answers on impact of Russian cyberattack on Justice Department, Courts MORE (D-Minn.); entrepreneur Andrew Yang
Andrew YangYang to quarantine after campaign staffer tests positive for COVID-19 Andrew Yang sparks Twitter uproar with pro-bodega video Yang announces run for New York City mayor MORE; and billionaire philanthropist Tom Steyer
Tom SteyerOn The Trail: The political losers of 2020 Biden Cabinet picks largely unify Democrats — so far Late donor surges push election spending projections to new heights MORE — debated issues ranging from President Trump
Donald TrumpNYT: Rep. Perry played role in alleged Trump plan to oust acting AG Arizona GOP censures top state Republicans McCain, Flake and Ducey Biden and UK prime minister discuss NATO, multilateralism during call 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
