Issues relating to small business were largely neglected in the first Republican presidential debate for 2016—and people noticed. Here's how they reacted to the debate on Twitter.
The inaugural Republican Party debate for the 2016 presidential election, while filled with entertaining banter on a range of topics, lacked discussion on issues relating to a significant portion of Americans: small business.
The GOP debate, which featured the top-10 candidates of the party, would have passed over small business completely if it weren’t for a Facebook user who posed a question to Sen. Marco Rubio: “How can you make the economic environment more favorable for small businesses and entrepreneurs?” While some in the small business community appreciated Rubio’s suggestions on taxes and other regulations to help small biz, others felt neglected.
Here’s how some in the small business community reacted to the debate on Twitter:
GOP Debate Recap: More on #SmallBiz and entrepreneurship please. https://t.co/ig3fG7ZcFb pic.twitter.com/AkvffszSxI
— SBE Council (@SBECouncil) August 10, 2015
That’s it on the economy? How about something that matters to all….how we fix tepid job growth? #smallbiz @NFIB #GOPDebate
— Barbara Quandt (@barbicue) August 7, 2015
Aaaaaand we’re done chatting #smallbiz I guess… #GOPDebate
— Candice (@candicehelfandr) August 7, 2015
Shouldn’t we be calling out big corps that avoid and evade taxes for making it more difficult for small biz? @taxjustice @uspirg #GOPDebate
— Jaimie Woo (@jwoo9913) August 7, 2015
Glad to hear a question about #SmallBiz in the #GOPDebate. Thought @MarcoRubio gave a pretty good answer to the question.
— Frank Williams (@FrankWilliams) August 7, 2015
.@marcorubio: Make Amer fair again, Even out tax code for smallbiz, higher ed improvements, repeal Dodd/Frank, repeal Obamacare #GOPDebate
— Sean Maroney (@seanmaroney) August 7, 2015
@RealDonaldTrump is right on a national marketplace for health insurance. Will bring real competition & choice to #SmallBiz. #GOPDebate
— SBE Council (@SBECouncil) August 7, 2015
#GOPdebate #NFIB keeping the candidates honest on #smallbiz issues. pic.twitter.com/T62AtBWMqf
— JackMozNFIB (@JackMozNFIB) August 7, 2015
#GOPDebate part II needs to focus more on economic issues & those impacting #smallbiz & jobs like taxes and regs. https://t.co/wfIXflgPTv
— SBE Council (@SBECouncil) August 6, 2015
Twitter reveals how little the GOP debate focused on small business @jeremyquittner http://t.co/PeeGvnCaLl
— Inc. (@Inc) August 8, 2015
As a small business owner, I’m baffled. These dingbats have absolutely no idea what entrepreneurs need. Clueless and classless. #GOPDebate
— Andrew David Thaler (@SFriedScientist) August 7, 2015
Small business owners want to know: What will the candidates do to modernize the tax code? #TaxReformNow #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/VNHjf32tMl
— Main Street 4 Growth (@MainSt4Growth) August 6, 2015
#GOPDebate @FoxNews Everyone talks about future, what about small business owners that have stuck it out making pennies instead of dollars?
— Richard Magill (@RICHARDMAGILL15) August 6, 2015
Small business applauds Carly Fiorina for making elimination of bad EPA regs one of her first executive actions. #GOPDebate @carlyfiorina
— NFIB Colorado (@nfib_co) August 6, 2015
*Note: This news coverage does not equate to an endorsement of any candidate by NFIB.