Another word for Flamed...

Eric Swalwell roasted for endless 'pass the torch' pleas to Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders

By Eric Ting

Eric Swalwell really wants a torch.

The California congressman repeatedly asked former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders to "pass the torch" to a younger generation of Americans during the second night of the first round of Democratic debates, and a number of Twitter users thought the phrase was overused.

It started early in the evening when Swalwell told an anecdote about a young Biden telling older leaders to "pass the torch."

"I was 6 years old when a presidential candidate came to the California Democratic Convention and said, 'It's time to pass the torch to a new generation of Americans,'" Swalwell said. "That candidate was then-Senator Joe Biden. Joe Biden was right when he said it was time to pass the torch to a new generation of Americans 32 years ago, he's still right today. If we're going to solve the issues ... pass the torch."

He then repeatedly told Biden to "pass the torch," but Biden responded with, "I'm still holding onto that torch."

Swalwell used the line later on when Sanders was talking about climate change, and many debate watchers had heard enough.

"Eric Swalwell's first mention of 'passing the torch' was nice but it's getting old," one Twitter user wrote.

"If your only message is 'pass the torch' you need not come back for the next debate," said another.

Others compared him to Gretchen Wieners from "Mean Girls," who desperately tried to make the phrase "fetch" catch on, but was unsuccessful.