The last Democratic presidential debate before the holidays isn’t likely to move the needle much for the candidates. But at least one thing was getting the move on: the background behind them.
The debate included a unique backdrop on which the names of co-presenters PBS NewsHour and Politico slowly drifted by in a manner reminiscent of ocean currents or floating along in a political fever dream.
The effect made people feel sick.
“The floating logos in the background are nauseating,” tweeted Joe Danziger. The New York Times’ columnist Charles M. Blow said, “These moving logos behind the candidates are going to drive me crazy.”
“Those moving logos are messing with my equilibrium. The nausea is real,” said @guitardawn.
Be careful, though, it may make you a bit woozy.
We’re in the fight of our lives—and we can't go into it with one hand tied behind our backs.
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) December 20, 2019
We need everybody by our side. That means Democrats, Independents, and Republicans. So if you’re ready to defeat Donald Trump, join us. #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/DRkq5Ur62Z
It really made Twitter uncomfortable.
https://twitter.com/nikdirga/status/1207829904869298178?s=20
The logos sliding around behind the candidates are deeply unpleasant.#DemDebate
— @bettybarcode.bsky.social (@bettybarc0de) December 20, 2019
STOP THE LOGOS!!!!#DemDebate
— SHAKA JO (@Mishpucha44) December 20, 2019
https://twitter.com/kellie_adamiok/status/1207831821712609282?s=20
@PBS STOP the moving logos behind the candidates! #Dizzy #DemDebate
— Elizabeth Zitrin (@EZitrin) December 20, 2019
These moving logos are giving me a headache. #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/lyBQ8mQ7Hg
— Connor Malbeuf (@ConnorMMalbeuf) December 20, 2019
https://twitter.com/rdwrko/status/1207835001271795718?s=20
The set design at this @CNN #DemDebate is so bad. Who thought it would be good to have hundreds of logos crawling behind the candidates?
— IDK Your BFF Rose (@rose_of_tx) December 20, 2019
After a week of high-flying political news of the impeachment of President Donald Trump, early in the debate, the slow-moving logos had about as much energy as the seven candidates who qualified.
On the bright side, it at least gave people something to focus on other than the canned answers.
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