Occupy Sesame Street: Romney's Big Bird debate comment ruffles feathers

Mitt Romney may have had President Obama on the defensive in the first of three presidential debates, but his remark about cutting off PBS despite loving Big Bird, caught him grief all night on social media.

Romney referenced the debate’s moderator, Jim Lehrer, who hosts PBS “News Hour,” as he talked about ways to drive down the deficit.

“I’m sorry Jim, I’m going to stop the subsidy to PBS … I like PBS, I like Big Bird, I actually like you too,” Romney said.

Within minutes of his remarks, Big Bird was trending on Twitter. And on Facebook a “Big Bird for President” page was set up within minutes.

Some Tweet highlights:

“I love coal. I will fire Big Bird. Children can learn by counting lumps of coal.”

“Mitt Romney definitely looked poised and confident. Especially when he looked America in the eyes & threatened to kill Big Bird.”

Big Bird should moderate the next debate. “Tell me three things you would do as president, all beginning with the letter c.”

“I worked with Big Bird. I served with Big Bird. You, sir, are no Big Bird.”

My son loves Big Bird so he is offended by Romney’s Kill Big Bird platform, and now he’s starting to worry about Cookie, Elmo and Grover.