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Leadership

‘That Mexican Thing’ Took on a Life of Its Own Online

By
Daniel White
Daniel White
and
TIME
TIME
By
Daniel White
Daniel White
and
TIME
TIME
October 5, 2016, 5:07 AM ET
Vice Presidential Debate Between Gov. Mike Pence And Sen. Tim Kaine
FARMVILLE, VA - OCTOBER 04: Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence (L) and Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine (R) debate as moderator Elaine Quijano (C) listens during the Vice Presidential Debate at Longwood University on October 4, 2016 in Farmville, Virginia. This is the second of four debates during the presidential election season and the only debate between the vice presidential candidates. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)Photograph by Joe Raedle Getty Images

This article originally appeared on Time.com.

Once again, a poorly worded phrase at a debate took on a life of its own online.

At Tuesday’s vice presidential debate, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine had again referenced Donald Trump’s campaign launch, in which he said that Mexico was sending rapists to the U.S.

“You whipped out that Mexican thing again,” Pence replied, peevishly.

Reaction on Twitter was quick, especially among Latinos. The hashtag #thatmexicanthing soon filled with Clinton supporters and Trump critics.

#ThatMexicanThing was my neighbor who works 100 hrs a week to send his kids to a decent private school. #VPDebate

— PA08Voter (@PA08Voter) October 5, 2016

#ThatMexicanThing where my mom has worked as a housekeeper for 25 yrs because her dream is to see her family's dreams come true. #VPDebate

— Gabe Ortíz (@TUSK81) October 5, 2016

https://twitter.com/senatorshoshana/status/783499312261165056

By the end of the debate, some anonymous wag had registered the website thatMexicanthing.com and redirected it to Hillary Clinton’s website.

The moment was the third most tweeted moment on Twitter, behind the two vice presidential nominees discussing Russian President Vladimir Putin and the global use of nuclear weapons.

Overall, the Republican ticket far outstripped the two Democrats in share of the conversation online, on both Facebook and Twitter—meaning more people were talking about them, negative or positive.

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