Twitter: Romney's 'Big Bird' reference explodes online

[FrenchieCat]

Source: The Hill

According to Twitter, two of the most popular moments in the first 40 minutes of the debate were both references made by Romney, while discussing some of the federal subsidies he would cut as president.


Looking directly at moderator Jim Lehrer, the host of PBS's "NewsHour," Romney said he would cut subsidies for PBS, even though he likes Big Bird.

"Big Bird" and "PBS" each earned 17,000 tweets per minute, Twitter reports. That's nowhere near the high Twitter traffic during Obama's speech to the Democratic National Convention, which hit 52,757 tweets per minute, but it's more than Romney earned during his nomination acceptance speech at the GOP Convention, which hit a high of 14,289 tweets per minute. None of those numbers indicate whether users were for or against Romney on the "Big Bird" subsidies.


Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/twitter-room/other-news/260161-twitter-romneys-big-bird-reference-explodes-online

---

Big Bird is exploding. Perhaps that's the "zinger" that Romney didn't count on resonating. Well, it has!

[Tx4obama]

1. Here is Big Bird's response to Romney

More Big Bird images here: http://www.buzzfeed.com/jpmoore/the-internet-responds-to-mitt-romneys-big-bird

[VespertineIconoclast]

5. Thanks for the link!

I needed a good laugh.

[lalalu]

10. LOL

[Liberalynn]

15. This one is my personal favorite

Thanks for sharing and making me laugh!

[PossumSqueezins]

2. Mittens loves a big bird

I have a big bird for him.

[gordianot]

3. If it takes Big Bird so be it, never mind..........

Trashing Social Security, public education, Medicare/Medicaid, placing tax burden on Middle Class, starting neocon wars, health care out of control, deteriorating infrastructure etc.

[chelsea0011]

6. Yea, if Big Bird keeps showing up at Rmoney/Ryan rallies.

it is OK with me even if Rmoney debate lies go unnoticed. Big Bird with a "Save Me" sign may go far as the debate is forgotten.

[wordpix]

12. great idea, pass it on

[Spitfire of ATJ]

4. I saw that trend too.

Which is why I posted this:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101763951

Before this:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101763959

[BlueStreak]

7. The tone on NPR was decidedly different this AM

In recent months, they have fallen into this BS false equivalence crap.

This morning, they did an extended fact check segment. I didn't hear all of it, but the part I heard essentially said Obama was accurate in everything he said and Romney was lying and misrepresenting almost continuously.

Of course, their audience is much more likely to support Obama already, so that segment may have limited impact. It will be interesting to see how others size up the facts today.

[flamingdem]

18. great! This is a chance for them to fight

in spite of their critics and sponsors

[qanda]

8. I was trying to tell people this last night

All the political people who follow this stuff day in and day out care about the style and the delivery but every day folks are talking about Big Bird today. Anecdotally, I was driving in the car this morning and the guy on the satellite Christian music station says, "We don't discuss politics here, but I have to say that I really like Big Bird. If you don't know what I mean go watch the debate from last night." Well, most people who didn't watch but want to know what he meant won't go watch the debate, they will look it up online and just in case they look here: Mitt Romney wants to kill Big Bird!

[lalalu]

9. I love it

These are great. I want them as bumper stickers.

[Bluenorthwest]

11. He wants to fire Big Bird, right after Paul Ryan told Seniors to get a job and pay taxes

Big Bird has always been played by an actor named Caroll Spinney, who is now in his 70's and pays Big, Yellow Taxes every year. Big Bird, Big Star....also a liberal.

[Sunlei]

13. Romney makes his cuts into a joke - he wants America to be a 3rd world country, 2 channel free TV

Gov funding is only 15% overall though PBS is the only quality TV in areas where people can't afford pay TV or internet.

Federal Funding of PBS is explained here. "Federal funding is critical seed money for PBS’ member stations -- which are locally owned and operated -- supporting mission-driven programming and initiatives, particularly among underserved groups like rural populations who would not otherwise be able to access what public television stations provide. This includes content that expands the minds of children, documentaries that open up new worlds, non-commercialized news series that keep citizens informed on world events and programming that brings the arts, theater and music to people wherever they live.

These dollars are particularly important to smaller stations. While the appropriation equals about 15% of our system's revenue, this is an aggregate number. For many stations, the appropriation counts for as much as 40-50% of their budget. "

http://www.pbs.org/funding




Americans need free access to history shows like this, it's educational
http://www.pbs.org/tpt/slavery-by-another-name/watch/

[krawhitham]

14. Watching Mike & Mike on ESPN

ESPN tries to stay away from politics but on the show for about a minute they talked about the debate

Only thing said was the moderator got ran over and Romney wants to kill Big Bird

[magical thyme]

16. That's what happens when you have nannies to raise your children

You are oblivious to how very many middle class and low income families depend on a Big Bird to help them raise their children while they're taking care of home business in between working...

Dumb move on Romney's part and hopefully that will be the takeaway from this debate

[FemaleDemfromMass]

17. Get rid of the turd,

and save the bird!!!

[flamingdem]

19. What Rmoney has planned for us

[kiranon]

20. Maybe Obama can wear a Big Bird lapel pin in the next debate. n/t

[Monk06]

21. He just lost the vote of every parent with children between 3 and 5 years old. What a stupid prick.

Sesame Street is very popular with Hispanic families. He is going to find that remark in a few ads.

[budkin]

22. I knew it would end up biting him in the ass

I was shocked that he said that in the debates.

[BigBird- official]

23. JOIN THE SAVE BIG BIRD OFFICIAL PAGE

Join the cause !
http://www.facebook.com/theofficialsavebigbird

[URL=/][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

Uploaded with [URL=http://imageshack.us]ImageShack.us[/URL]

[tabasco]

25. Well, isn't this a cute little

republicon chickenhawk?