Last Wednesday, The Horn hosted a debate between UT’s College Republicans and University Democrats, which was moderated by The Horn and ORANGE magazine (that’s us). The debate covered topics of economy, education, healthcare and immigration. Overall, the deliberation was a success; a full house packed the Texas Union Theatre, and debaters led substantial arguments with interesting viewpoints. The real action, however, took place on the live Twitter feed rolling in the front of the room with the hashtag #UTdebate. Many questions were posed by the audience, and some brawls even broke out among select handles. By Megan Fullerton
For those that weren’t able to make it, thankfully there is a detailed log of every word said (or not said) during the debate:
At 8:08 p.m., the debate begins.
After winning the coin toss the College Republicans give their opening statement. The University Democrats will follow. #UTDebate
— Chelsey Pena (@ChelseyPena) March 27, 2014
Republicans issue an opening statement.
Highlights in opening statement by @texascr: Innovation like Keystone Pipeline, encourage charter schools, self-improvement. #UTDebate — Larisa Manescu (@LarisaManescu) March 27, 2014
I’m so confused. The @texascr support immigration reform? #UTDebate #backrolls
— Pedro A. Villalobos (@pedro_villa) March 27, 2014
Then, the Democrats state their position.
@UDems: Don’t be afraid of big government. #UTDebate — UT Debate (@UTAustinDebate) March 27, 2014
Then, it gets intense. And personal.
#UTDebate shots fired
— Brigit Benestante (@BBenestante) March 27, 2014
‘This entire debate is for you’ says @UDems representative to ‘one independent in audience’ #UTDebate — Kyle Ver (@cleVER_KYLE) March 27, 2014
“The party of we, and not the party of me.” – @UDems describing the Democratic Party. #UTDebate
— Larisa Manescu (@LarisaManescu) March 27, 2014
The real debate begins.
1st question: Do you believe tuition hikes are necessary to maintain the quality of education? Are they necessary at all? #UTDebate — UT Debate (@UTAustinDebate) March 27, 2014
Republicans: @texascr argue against tuition hikes, believe the current rate is sustainable. #UTDebate
— Larisa Manescu (@LarisaManescu) March 27, 2014
Is this question about tuition hikes or education..? #UTDebate — Grant Wiles (@grantpzw) March 27, 2014
Hmm, interesting:
No females on either side of the debate #UTDebate — Taral Patel (@TaralVPatel) March 27, 2014
.@UDems are ‘with students’ and don’t support tuition hike #UTDebate
— Kyle Ver (@cleVER_KYLE) March 27, 2014
As a college student with a minuscule budget, I can verify this.:
@Udems: You can’t do more with less. #UTDebate — UT Debate (@UTAustinDebate) March 27, 2014
Both parties agree tuition should stay the same. Disagree on solutions to keep current rate. #UTDebate
— UT Debate (@UTAustinDebate) March 27, 2014
So Texas has one of the largest budgets for public education, so what? It is also one of the most populated states in the US. #UTdebate
— Rachel Lea (@raypinez) March 27, 2014
Now, our foreign correspondents talk immigration policy.
Now, on to immigration: What immigration reform is necessary for the nation to move forward? #UTDebate
— UT Debate (@UTAustinDebate) March 27, 2014
“Immigration” *laughter* #UTDebate — Brigit Benestante (@BBenestante) March 27, 2014
Moving on to immigration…reminder I was called an “anchor baby” by @texascr debaters 3 yrs ago let’s see how it goes this time #UTDebate
— Carlos Martinez (@CarlosA_011) March 27, 2014
.@UDems: Provide a pathway to citizenship. Focus should be on the livelihood of people, not border security. #UTDebate — Larisa Manescu (@LarisaManescu) March 27, 2014
Udems: “We are talking about real human beings.” #UTDebate
— UT Debate (@UTAustinDebate) March 27, 2014
Versus fake human beings?
REAL HUMAN BEINGS. Didn’t know that #UTDebate — Jacob Weaver (@theBYXgator) March 27, 2014
CRs can’t mend the cognitive dissonance between their views and the extremism of the Republican Party on #immigration #UTDebate
— Jack Andrews (@jackandrews777) March 27, 2014
TexasCR: Need an incentive to come here legally and a streamlined process. #UTDebate — UT Debate (@UTAustinDebate) March 27, 2014
Oh good, the Internet has arrived just in time for immigration:
New meme: “We agree with the Democrats on this…voted for Ted Cruz” #UTDebate — David Feigen (@DavidFeigen) March 27, 2014
Republicans are beginning to side with Democrats on end goal, but disagree on the path to get there.
Good call Mr. Republican. Let’s help immigrants gain citizenship. It needs refinement. It’s not free; everyone does their part. #UTDebate — Joseph Cheung (@Mister_Cheung) March 27, 2014
On a scale of 1 to Gary Johnson, how ineffective do you think #WarOnDrugs has been in curbing flow of illegal drugs in US? #UTDebate
— Taral Patel (@TaralVPatel) March 27, 2014
Next: Affordable Care Act.
Affordable Care Act. This is about to get heated. #UTDebate — KC McMahan (@KcMc94) March 27, 2014
Woo, healthcare. Is this where we hear all the excuses for Obamacare’s failure? #UTDebate
— Madi (@Madison_927) March 27, 2014
And then we had a House of Cards reference!
.@texascr whips out the first #HouseOfCards reference #UTDebate
— Kyle Ver (@cleVER_KYLE) March 27, 2014
@texascr no spoilers about #HouseofCards y’all #UTDebate — Taral Patel (@TaralVPatel) March 27, 2014
I’m a bleeding heart liberal but big ups to the CR’s for the House of Cards reference #UTDebate
— CW (@caitix16) March 27, 2014
Okay, let’s address the REAL issue here.
Reform not repeal? What is this, the UDems vs UDems debate? #UTDebate — Jack Andrews (@jackandrews777) March 27, 2014
#UTDebate It takes a wise man to trust the Canadians to build a website — Mark Kilaghbian (@ferrariman9101) March 27, 2014
Darn that health insurance that covers pre-existing conditions. #UTDebate
— Pedro A. Villalobos (@pedro_villa) March 27, 2014
NUMBERS.
.@UDems How can you support Obamacare when it raises college health plans by as much as 1,112%? #UTDebate — Spencer Finch (@Spencer_Finch) March 27, 2014
Reality check for @UDems. #UTDebate RCP average on ACA support: For- 39.8%, Against- 53.2%
— Spencer Raley (@texasraley) March 27, 2014
Udems: Americans support ACA policies of expanding healthcare, insurance for pre-existing conditions and insurance for young. #UTdebate — UT Debate (@UTAustinDebate) March 27, 2014
I guess this is what happens when you have a panel full of men:
We got through a whole conversation about healthcare with no mention of women’s health issues #needsomeladiesupthere #UTDebate — Jordan Pahl (@jordanpahl) March 27, 2014
Did I show up late or did these men just skip over government dealing with women’s rights? #UTDebate
— not llama del rey. (@TheBarbaranator) March 27, 2014
Not going to lie, I’m proud of myself for live-tweeting this debate without cheeky personal remarks. It’s hard. #journoprobs #UTDebate
— Larisa Manescu (@LarisaManescu) March 27, 2014
Onto policy concerning poverty:
TexasCR: Safety net for the poor has continually grown, but have seen zero results. #UTDebate — UT Debate (@UTAustinDebate) March 27, 2014
21.5 trillion to help poor, and seen *LITERALLY* zero results. U.S. model: start low & work your way up. – @texascr #UTDebate
— Larisa Manescu (@LarisaManescu) March 27, 2014
Saying that ppl need to work -harder- presumes those who are in poverty aren’t already trying to do so-Regulations aren’t the prob #UTDebate — Grant Wiles (@grantpzw) March 27, 2014
TexasCR: Answer to recession = small businesses. #UTDebate.
— UT Debate (@UTAustinDebate) March 27, 2014
.@texascr and @UDems have hit on tuition hikes, immigration, healthcare, & the economy in the 1st half of #UTDebate, good discussion so far — New Politics Forum (@NewPolitixForum) March 27, 2014
Lastly, social reform:
Something tells me these CRs won’t argue for gay marriage when they are officeholders scared of more extreme primary opponents. #UTDebate
— Grant Wiles (@grantpzw) March 27, 2014
. @texascr strategy on equal rights: pretend to not be republicans. #UTDebate — David Loewenberg (@davidloe) March 27, 2014
Texas GOP channeling their inner Libertarians–differing from party platform. Why didn’t y’all raise hell to change GOP stance? #UTDebate
— Taral Patel (@TaralVPatel) March 27, 2014
.@texascr ‘young repubs agree with gay marriage but disagree w/ gov regulation in general’ #UTDebate — Kyle Ver (@cleVER_KYLE) March 27, 2014
.@texascr suggests that the federal government be taken out of the marriage equation and allow marriage to be a private issue. #UTDebate
— Chelsey Pena (@ChelseyPena) March 27, 2014
The Republicans took a Libertarian social stance:
For real though, I’m super glad both @texascr (at least their debaters) & @UDems agree on LGBTQ equality. #UTDebate #Forward — Taral Patel (@TaralVPatel) March 27, 2014
Christianity doesn’t own marriage, it didn’t invent it. I wish CRs would stand up to their party. #UTDebate #loveislove — David Feigen (@DavidFeigen) March 27, 2014
And of course, the NSA.
NSA will be providing transcripts of the debate for everyone! #UTDebate
— Carlos Martinez (@CarlosA_011) March 27, 2014
TexasCR says everyone agrees the NSA is breaking a lot of boundaries. What say you? #UTDebate — UT Debate (@UTAustinDebate) March 27, 2014
“Those who sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither.” –@texascr wraps up on #surveillance w/ Benjamin Franklin quote. #UTDebate
— Larisa Manescu (@LarisaManescu) March 27, 2014
I have so much to say and twitter isn’t cutting it. @DavidMaly1, I’m pulling up a chair. Scoot over @paxmatterson #UTDebate — David Feigen (@DavidFeigen) March 27, 2014
re:NSA Why is America targeted for attack in first place? Consider decades of heavy-handed foreign policy–in GOP AND Dem admins. #UTDebate
— Andrew Coulter (@AndrewFromChoir) March 27, 2014
UDems: Shantay your stay. CRs: Shashay away. #UTDebate
— Pedro A. Villalobos (@pedro_villa) March 27, 2014
All in all, the debate generated interesting discussion, considering the common ground the two parties found. Although a winner between the UT Democrats and the College Republicans was not declared, Twitter came out victorious.
