Who Won the Debate? Hillary Clinton, the ‘Nasty Woman’

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/21/us/politics/who-won-the-third-debate.html

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There were no handshakes or pleasantries between Hillary Clinton and Donald J. Trump in their final debate, which moved quickly from a discussion of policy to a flurry of personal attacks.

She called him a “puppet” of Russia, he called her “a nasty woman.” While Mr. Trump appeared sharp and steady in the early moments of the debate, his refusal to say he would accept the results of the election and his meandering answers on foreign policy led many commentators and critics to declare that Mrs. Clinton was the clear winner.

Here is a sampling of post-debate reaction:

“Clinton really is doing well tonight. Again and again, she’s taken Trump apart.”

James Astill, Washington bureau chief of The Economist

“Though his temper slipped a few times, he was generally less of a boorish oaf this time than he typically is. In that way, he certainly gave people holding out some modicum of shelter to consider him.”

Caleb Howe, writer for the conservative blog Red State

“This was the Democratic nominee’s best debate performance. She finally figured out the right calibration of ignoring and engaging Trump.”

Chris Cillizza, writer for the Washington Post blog “The Fix”

“What’s the Trump dictionary definition of a woman who is prepared, earnest, ambitious and ready to move past mistakes? Oh yes, nasty.”

Rituparna Chatterjee, deputy editor of Huffington Post India

“Hillary is nasty. Good that Trump pointed it out.”

Ann Coulter, conservative commentator and author

“Trump won. Hillary spun.”

Michelle Malkin, senior editor of Conservative Review

“It’s completely heartbreaking to see Hillary Clinton so outclass a Republican nominee across 3 debates.”

Rich Lowry, editor of the conservative National Review

“He should have said he would accept the results of the election. There is no other option unless we’re in a recount again.”

Laura Ingraham, editor in chief of the conservative website LifeZette

“His only use of Spanish in election was to further nasty stereotypes against Latino immigrants — and ONLY Latino immigrants.”

Van Jones, Democratic commentator for CNN

“She devastated him. He melted down. His refusal to accept the results of this election disqualifies him automatically from any office in the United States. There were several areas where he was utterly incoherent, grasping at ‘facts,’ without any understanding of policy. His personal foulness emerged.”

Andrew Sullivan, blogger for New York Magazine

“Chris Wallace is the real winner of this debate. America is the loser. At least this one was substantive and stayed on topic.”

Meghan McCain, host of America Now Radio

“The Emmys are NOT rigged.”

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, the actress who played Elaine on “Seinfeld”

“Debate 1: Dying of excitement Debate 2: We’re all going to die Debate 3: Kill me already.”

James Poniewozik, television critic for The New York Times