How did viewers react to the Republican debate?

Republican members of the Public Insight Network, an online community of people who have agreed to share their opinions with the Miami Herald and WLRN, watched the GOP presidential debate Thursday night. We asked them to name the highlight of the debate.

▪ “Donald Trump’s refusal to support any Republican candidate other than himself. Trump revealed himself, throughout the debate, as a populist demagogue, as dangerous to a democratic government as was Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez.” Jack Hardy, Miami

▪ “I have never been as proud to be a Republican as I am today. We are the party of doers and the party of ideas. The winners were Gov. Bush, Sen. Rubio, Gov. Kasich and Carly Fiorina.” Frank Pena, Miami

▪ “Marco Rubio saying Democrats cannot find a good candidate. They talk about unity and being a united party, but they didn’t talk about how some of us who are still unemployed will find hope.” Salvador Morales, Miami

▪ “Trump was the sole candidate to refuse to pledge his support of the Republican nominee (if it was not him) and to not run as an Independent, even if that would mean dramatically increasing the chance that the Democrats would win the presidency. This clearly shows that although he may be popular for his blunt style, he is not committed to the broad conservative ideals of the Republican party.” Lori Losner, Homestead

▪ “Dr. Ben Carson’s comment about removing half a brain, but somebody beat him to it in Washington. Because it seems that politicians just don’t get it anymore and are only out for their own interest and not that of their constituents or the country.” Mike Vidal, Miami

▪ “Trump’s control of all topics and honesty! Trump doesn’t leave you hanging like the liberal media.” Steven Martindale, Miami

▪ “Questions posed by the people through social media, an excellent move in democracy. … Trump’s ability to address what is really upsetting the American people, Ben Carson’s ability to mention he is the only one who has operated half a brain, then make reference that those in Washington, D.C., had beat him to it, Ted Cruz sharing the story of his father, Marco Rubio’s dream for a better future. It goes on and on. Each candidate did or spoke about some topic that hit home for us.” Esperanza Reynolds, Miami Lakes

Join the Public Insight Network at MiamiHerald.com/insight

This story was originally published August 6, 2015 at 11:54 PM with the headline "How did viewers react to the Republican debate?."