'That Mexican thing' goes viral after Mike Pence rebuttal in VP debate

FARMVILLE, Va., Oct. 5 (UPI) -- What Tuesday's vice presidential debate may have lacked in excitement, it made up for in Internet memes, especially one capturing a memorable response by Indiana Gov. Mike Pence.

Pence criticized his opponent, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, for repeated criticism of Donald Trump's remarks about Mexicans, saying, "Senator, you've whipped out that Mexican thing again."

Twitter users began tweeting with the hashtag "ThatMexicanThing." A quick-thinking Hillary Clinton supporter registered the web domain www.thatmexicanthing.com and pointed the address to her campaign site for anyone searching for the term.

While many of the Twitter references to whipping out "that Mexican thing" were the obvious sophomoric jokes, some users took it as an opportunity to praise their parents and grandparents who emigrated to America and struggled working low-wage jobs.

Wired magazine reported the web domain was registered almost immediately by a Portland, Ore.,- based Clinton supporter, Danilo Alfaro. He told Wired he registered the site on his own, without coordinating with the Clinton campaign.

Alfaro said one of Clinton's "digital people" later reached out to thank him for his effort.