GOP Debate on Fox News: Dec. 3, 2011 – Watch Thread
Confirmed to appear: Michelle Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Rick Perry, Mittens Romney, Rick Santorum
Posted on his website by Mike Huckabee:
This Saturday from 8-10pm ET, my show [Mike Huckabee] will have a 2 hour special featuring the GOP Presidential candidates—all of whom are going to be posed questions not by media “stars” but by GOP Attorneys General Scott Pruitt of Oklahoma, Pam Bondi of Florida, and Ken Cuccinelli of Virginia; I will moderate. The candidates all get the exact same amount of time; the order in which they answer questions is determined by a random drawing and not by arbitrary decisions of “king maker” moderators.
The candidates will appear singularly on stage and are not allowed to discuss or attack other candidates, but must stick to questions which will focus on the federal/state relations of immigration, education, jobs, Obamacare, etc. It will be a very unique format and substantive—no “gotcha” stuff. I encourage you to tune in and please let your friends and family know about the debate as well.
Three Attorneys General are actually going to be asking the questions. And they all appear to be fans of the U.S. Constitution.
Holy moley. What a concept!
This isn’t going to be a live blog…I am not a transcriptionist. Just jotting down what I can as it happens, if I can type fast enough.
Newt is first.Pam Bondi is asking about empowering local board to decide which illegal aliens get to stay in the country.
Newt’s answer is about draft boards. He’s making a point about local citizens making decisions about local people. Talking about having a local family having to sponsor the illegals.
Ken Cucinnelli is asking about all the big-government solutions Newt has advocated in the past. Newt is saying it’s important to look at his total record (apparently the conservative half of his record.) Which Ken Cucinnelli points out.
Newt is saying that he has balanced a budget before, been there done that, etc.
First commercial break. I’m glad they’re not just throwing softballs.
Scott Pruett is asking about national problems that neither Congress nor the President should solve. His answer: Education, Medicaid, EPA functions. Newt points out the 10th amendment also covers moving power back to individuals.
My god, he’s starting to sound like Ron Paul…except he’s still talking about the government paying for education.
Pam Bondi: asks about Race to the Top and rigorous educational standards talked about on his website. Is it wrong to the federal government to intrude on the states when it comes to education? He says yes it is. Pam seems dissatisfied with his answer.
Question about Nancy Pelosi on the couch. Newt refers to a book he wrote that talks about free market solutions to environmental problems.
Who’s your favorite founding father…his answer is George Washington.
Good appearance but I don’t think he really put questions about his flip-flopping to bed.
Would I vote for him vs. Obama? I will have to think hard about it. My gut is telling me that once elected, he would go Cocktail Party on us and start reaching across the aisle again. I doubt that he would cut $1 trillion from the budget in his first year and balance it during his term. That’s the standard by which I’m judging all the candidates. So far only one has made a credible promise to do that.
Rick Santorum is up…first question is about the Patriot Act, which he voted for. (Which is why I can’t support him.) Notes that Lincoln suspended Habeus Corpus.
Question about strengthening the family and how is that the business of the federal government. Rick says welfare programs undermine the family (I agree with this.) Marriage tax penalty, etc. Talking about a bully pulpit to promote marriage. He says he authored the federal welfare reform bill. Wants to send entitlements back tot he states (not eliminate them). Says the states’ role is the welfare of its citizens.
Question about pro-life. Since constitution doesn’t speak to abortion, what would he do…he says he wants a constitutional right to life amendment.
Pam Bondi…talks about fighting unsustainable environmental policies coming from the EPA. What environmental regulations would he approve? He talks an awful lot but doesn’t actually answer questions.
I cannot stay tuned in to Rick Santorum. Still waiting for an answer.
He somehow says he’s going to force Congress to do something.
Scott Pruitt is asking about separation of powers…why. Rick correctly answers that it was to protect the rights of the states and the people.
Talks about president’s obligation to uphold the law re the Defense of Marriage Act. Rick says he’s glad Eric Holder’s Justice Department isn’t enforcing the law. WTF? You’re okay with lawbreaking if you don’t agree with the law? Whoa…
Amazing how many of these big-government Republicans have become born-again Constitutionalists.
Rick Perry is up next. I won’t be blogging his answers or Michelle Bachmann’s. I am using the Democrat-Controlled Media’s excuse for not covering them…they’re “unelectable.” Because I say so.
(Actually it’s because I’m blogging and spending time with family and I can’t do both effectively at the same time.)
Okay, I’m catching Rick Perry’s talk. The attorneys general seemed surprised that he would be willing to use Executive Orders to just eliminate any passed legislation he didn’t like.
Blah blah about securing borders, prayer in schools, education. Thinks education money should be spent by the states.
Favorite founding father = Madison because of the Federalist Papers.
Perry just scored big points by pulling out a copy of the Constitution. I have to give him props for that.
Michelle Bachmann is up.
Opponent of Obamacare…asked why States can’t pass individual mandates.
She doesn’t actually answer the question.
Ordered every insurance company in the U.S. to offer “morning after” pill and contraceptives.
Scott Pruitt asked the question again. She’s claiming Obamacare will trump the state statutes. (I think she’s wrong.)
Pam: you’ve pledged to deport all illegal aliens. How will you pay for it and execute it. Notes that it costs states $32 billion a year for all the illegals. She says ICE agents would have to enforce the laws. Says federal government would have to pay.
Tort reform question about federal government caps on state jury awards.
Bachmann supports federal interference in how states manage state lawsuits and jury awards. (IOW, she’s a big-government Republican on this issue.)
Bachmann is asked about eliminating the Dept. of Education. Will that be enough to get the federal government out of education. She says no…must also repeal federal education laws. I agree with her here.
Question about interstate pollution…makes a good point that there are 50 state EPAs.
Ken Cucinnelli seems amazed at her answer…and she’s not really making sense. He has tried several times to get this question answered…and fails. I hope Ron Paul gets this same question, but they don’t appear to be repeating questions.
Question about what is the worst Supreme Court decision of past 50 years. She says the Kelo vs New London decision on eminent domain. She talks about upholding private property rights.
Question re federal human life amendment. Why federal and not State? I don’t think she answered the question.
Next up, Ron Paul.
Ken: what are the 3 primary domestic responsibilities of the fed govt:
Ron says;
- Protecting the borders
- Sound currency
- Enforcing the Bill of Rights – property rights, freedom of speech.
Q: 1995 – Oklahoma City…you are opposed to the Patriot Act. What alternative do you have?
Ron: You can’t prevent all crimes and all criminal acts. You can’t put a camera in every home. Its not a lack of laws that is the problem. We don’t need a comprehensive law at the federal level. We ignore the one law on the federal level that terrorism is a crime, not a war. The Constitution is clear…violent crime is not the purview of the federal government. States have laws against murder, robbery, etc. Nationalization of law enforcement…100,000 federal agents carry guns. Problem isn’t lack of laws.
Pam Bondi seems pissed off when she asks about 9/11.
Ron Paul: What we have been told for 10 years is that they came here to kill us because we’re free and prosperous, and if we don’t understand their motivations we will never be safe.
Q: Liberals say the Republican approach to the economy means dirty air, etc. How do you counter that?
Ron Paul: The problem with federal regulations is that bankers write the bank regulations. Drug companies write the drug regulations. The free market is the best regulator, along with property rights. Enron was taken care of by free market and judiciary. Bad actors went to prison.
All federal government health care mandates are unconstitutional.
Can’t get rid of Medicare, etc., overnight. To save the country we have to cut. Would cut 5 departments, go back to 2006 budget. Ron Paul’s program allows people under 25 to opt out of Social Security. There’s no authority for the federal government to spend a penny on education.
He talks about his transition programs to get out of unconstitutional programs like Social Security, Medicare, etc.
Q: Of the Federal government, state government and People, which should have the most rights?
- The People
- The States
- Federal government (shouldn’t have much)
- International governments (should have least)
Q: Which amendments to the Constitution do you disagree with?
Prohibition – caused a lot of damage until it was repealed
Ron Paul: more concerned with not following the Constitution…doesn’t get too riled up about the current amendments (the Bill of Rights were amendments and they were pretty good.)
W: What one book should every American read?
Ron Paul: If you’re asking about a non-religious book, read “The Law” by Bastiat. Find out the moral principles behind the law. Find out why if stealing is wrong, and you can’t steal, then it’s not right to send a politician to steal on your behalf.
Whew. Live blogging is hard work. They all talk a lot faster than I type. I don’t know how Kevin does this.
Mittens Romneycare is up next, and starts by sucking up to the panel.
I want to like the man. I do. But I just don’t believe a single word that comes out of his mouth.
Now he’s talking about the wonders of Romneycare again.
Pam points out flip-flopping on education re No Child Left Behind. He talks about controlling federal teachers unions (I think he means national). Education should be at local level. Would he support school lunch programs, Pell grants, GI bill?
He waffles, does not commit. Says let the states do it.
Q: What does strict constructionist mean to you?
Like people who recognized it is their job to examine the constitution and federal laws as written.
Q: Given federal government’s complete failure to secure borders, what should Florida do?
He says he vetoed in-state tuition for illegals, and driver licenses for illegals.
Q: Federal role in labor laws?
A: Would not get rid of all federal labor laws. States should have right-to-work laws.
Yeah…turns out I’m pretty lame when it comes to live blogging.
Final statements….look for them on YouTube tomorrow…family calls again.
Have a great weekend, everyone.
© 2011, Kathleen Gee. All rights reserved.
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Excellent idea. I will watch this one.
This should be a great format since they will have equal time. ALL of the debates should be should be set up this way. My Attorney General, Scott Pruitt is one of the moderators. He is wonderful!
This one is especially great since Jon Huntsman (D) will not be there.
Danald trump is a Jackass. He was trying to lure Ron Paul in to his corporate deciet machine but Paul didn't fall for it. Talk about biased when the idiot PIONEERED the "you're Fired!" campaign in America and then vilifies China for a natural reaction taking the jobs we foolishly stopped competing for…Trump is a circus clown! Romney is teenage girl fake and Newt is Draconian Buffoon. I am looking to North Dakota for a safe heaven from American tyranny close enough to the border to escape in the hideous reality of a 2012 election without a Ron Paul Landslide. Tell Obama to eat his own peas…He can eat mine too! But I'd rather see Obama re-elected than to help elect anyone other than Ron Paul! "the best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly"-Lincoln I will write Ron Paul on my ballot regardless.
Thank you for posting, Kathleen…I wanted to watch this, but didn't get a chance to. I think you did just fine, as I definitely got a handle on what each person said.
In response to JD Crazy, I do agree with you that the candidate pool is less than desirable, but I totally disagree that voting for Obama in any capacity is a better option, or even an option. Whoever the Republican candidate ends up being, I will work like crazy to get him or her elected. We cannot have more of Obama!