The closing question from CNN’s Anderson Cooper in Tuesday night’s debate came under fire from pundits and candidates alike almost immediately. Citing an event from the previous week where Ellen DeGeneres was seen laughing with former President George W. Bush at a football game, Cooper asked each of the 12 candidates to reflect on a friendship that surprised them and that affected their beliefs.

Critics called the query unimportant, trivial and a waste of precious debate time — especially because major topics like climate change, immigration, and China (to name a few) were left wholly unaddressed in the three-hour debate.

I disagree with the criticism.

The closing question from CNN’s Anderson Cooper in Tuesday night’s debate came under fire from pundits and candidates alike almost immediately. Citing an event from the previous week where Ellen DeGeneres was seen laughing with former President George W. Bush at a football game, Cooper asked each of the 12 candidates to reflect on a friendship that surprised them and that affected their beliefs.

Critics called the query unimportant, trivial and a waste of precious debate time — especially because major topics like climate change, immigration, and China (to name a few) were left wholly unaddressed in the three-hour debate.

I disagree with the criticism.