Trump Doubles Down on Boorishness

Until he did, hours later, sharing a tweet that called Kelly a "bimbo" and telling reporters that she "behaved very badly."

The debate did voters a service by exposing Trump's compulsive bluster and boorishness. Clinton had to go to his (third) wedding, Trump said, because he had bought her attendance. "She didn't have a choice because I gave," Trump said, Godfather-like. Question: Why, exactly, did he want her to be there?

Where the moderators could have done more, and where the next debate could be important, was to expose Trump's empty-suitedness on policy. Asked about his support for a single-payer health care system 15 years ago, Trump replied, "As far as single payer, it works in Canada. ... It could have worked in a different age, which is the age you're talking about here."

Seriously? The health care system was so different 15 years ago?

There's much to say about the other candidates. Jeb Bush seemed uncertain and uncomfortable. Marco Rubio was measured, declining invitations to go at it with Bush and making his case for generational change without seeming too callow. (One looming Rubio problem: opposing an abortion exception for rape or incest.)

But the most refreshing contrast with Trump came from Ohio Gov. John Kasich. I could have done with one fewer reference to his mailman father. But Kasich eloquently defended expanding Medicaid in the state, to keep the mentally ill and drug-addicted out of prison and the working poor out of the emergency room, simultaneously treating people decently and saving money.

Kasich's answer on how he would deal with a lesbian daughter was similarly touching. "I'm going to love my daughters ... no matter what they do," he said. "God gives me unconditional love, and I'm going to give it to my family and my friends and the people around me."

How lovely. How un-Trumplike.

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Ruth Marcus' email address is ruthmarcus@washpost.com.