Is the Democratic party trying to keep people from watching its presidential debates? It’s an accusation that has been made many times this campaign season. The timing of the Iowa town hall forum this past Monday didn’t help – it aired at the same time as the latest episode of The Bachelor. This caused quite the dilemma for some viewers:
Upset #TheBachelor is conflicting w/ my responsibility as a citizen to watch #DemTownHall. Send help @benhiggi @HillaryClinton @SenSanders
— Sophie Babcock (@sophiebabcock) January 26, 2016
Ugh, what to watch tonight… #TheBachelor or #DemTownHall … both are great dramas! 🙈
— 💡Emily Foucault (@EmFoucault) January 26, 2016
the bachelor && the dem debate on tonight…my double life finally collides,,,how do I combat this identity crisis? Which will I choose?
— celina (@kissthecanadian) January 26, 2016
https://twitter.com/nadianeshi/status/691864037647355904
Anyone sad about the bachelor just turn on the dem debate for O'Malley he's way more of a stud
— Chanterelle Davis (@chanterellejoy) January 26, 2016
#DemTownHall is about to start… *Turns on #TheBachelor *
— J E N N Y ♡ (@jennyclairefox) January 26, 2016
Some people tried to compromise:
is there anyone else on the planet that is alternating between #TheBachelor and #DemTownHall? I can't be alone.
— Stephanie (@stepherann) January 26, 2016
https://twitter.com/WhatTheSchmuck/status/691790028901597184
BTW: This is how I'm watching the #DemTownHall at the studio: w/ #TheBachelor on a split screen. #notmycall pic.twitter.com/QXugohww6C
— Sarah Beckman (@SarahBeckman3) January 26, 2016
Others feared for the state of our democracy:
currently judging everyone based on whether they're livetweeting #TheBachelor or #DemTownHall
— Alex Vickery (@alexvickery) January 26, 2016
Frankly… I'm glad to see the #DemTownHall is trending over #TheBachelor…. perhaps there IS hope after all…
— Pete Haviland-Eduah (@TheNotoriousPHE) January 26, 2016
But perhaps the two events have more in common than you think:
I don't think Martin O'Malley is getting a rose tonight. #TheBachelor #DemTownHall pic.twitter.com/qZZCxcgHSk
— Henry Goldblatt (@HenryGoldblatt) January 26, 2016
I hope Hillary and Bernie both get a rose tonight. #DemTownHall Wait… #TheBachelor Wait, what am I watching?
— Sarah Clayton (@SarahOnAir) January 26, 2016
"Has the 3rd one gone home yet or no?"….."Are we talking about the Democratic Debate? Or The Bachelor tonight?" #TheBachelor #DemDebate
— Blake (@blake_weiss) January 25, 2016
And now #DemTownHall is turning into a version of the bachelor/bachelorette – who will voters choose
— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@DeanObeidallah) January 26, 2016
Tweets about The Bachelor and tweets about the Dem Town Hall are impossible to tell apart without the hashtags. #TheBachelor #DemTownHall
— Michael Beeman (@MichaelBeeman) January 26, 2016
This town hall marked the last opportunity for the three candidates to make their case to a television audience before Iowans cast the first primary votes on February 1.
