CNN YouTube Republican Debate - November 28, 2007 | Only A Bill

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CNN YouTube Republican Debate - November 28, 2007

By Bill | November 28, 2007 | Email This Post

On November 28, 2007, CNN hosted a debate at the Progress Energy Center in St. Petersburg, Florida featuring the candidates for the 2008 Republican Presidential nomination. The moderator was Anderson Cooper. The debate was also sponsored by YouTube, who invited people to submit their own questions. I’m watching and blogging this as it happens, so my reactions are coming out as they happen with minimal editing - my apologies for any grammatical or other similar errors. I don’t claim that this represents everything the candidates said, but I believe this is an accurate summary of the major points. My editorial comments in italics.

Rudy Giuliani:

The first question was to Giuliani over sanctuary cities (from someone who obviously has an axe to grind against Rudy… nice setup, CNN.) Giuliani claims New York was not a sanctuary city, that they reported illegal aliens that committed crimes.
Giuliani responds to Romney by saying that Romney had illegal aliens working in his Governor’s mansion.
Pledged to veto efforts to raise taxes.
Believes that we have to be aggressive about enforcing the gun laws that exist. Believes that the second amendment gives people the right to keep and bear arms, and that government has the right to enforce “reasonable regulations” (the crowd boos…) Believes that the right to bear arms is an individual right, not limited to the context of militias. Believes that states can enact various laws as long as they comply with the Constitution, which the Supreme Court is due to interpret in an important decision in the next six months.
Would not sign a federal law banning abortion (because it’s a state issue.) Believes in parental consent, believes that partial birth abortion is wrong.
Guiliani believes in the Bible, but doesn’t believe it’s literally true in every single respect. Some passages are meant to be allegorical or otherwise interpreted.
We must remain on offense against Islamic terrorism. Terrorists are a small group of people who have defiled a great religion. We should engage in “group blame.” We are “intelligent enough, and good enough as Americans” to distinguish between terrorists and Muslims as a whole.
Says he is not merely using 9/11 to propel himself into the White House, but invites people to examine his whole record, including running a city, prosecuting Mafia bosses, etc. The reason he should be President isn’t because of 9/11, but because he’s been tested.
Thinks the Republican philosophy would appeal to black and hispanic communities, but Republicans have done a poor job of presenting it to them.

Mike Huckabee:

Thinks how we treat veterans is disgraceful, and called for a veteran’s bill of rights.
In response to Romney’s attack on his college aid program for children of illegal immigrants, said that we’re a better country than one that punishes children for the acts of their parents.
First program Huckabee would cut: The Internal Revenue Service. Would replace it with something like the Fair Tax.
Pledged to veto efforts to raise taxes.
On Thompson’s video attack on his tax record: “When they’re kicking you in the rear, it shows you’re out front.”
The decision to carry out his duty as Governor to carry out the death penalty was the hardest decision he ever had to make as a human being. Believes there is a place for the death penalty, because some crimes are so heinous that they warrant it.
What would Jesus do on the question of the death penalty? “Jesus was too smart to ever run for public office.”
“The Bible is the Revelation of the word of God.” The part about plucking out your eye is allegorical, but some things like love your neighbor are obvious. Doesn’t understand it all, but he’s “not supposed to” since the Bible represents an infinite God.
Against gays in the military.
About Log Cabin Republicans: disagrees with them, but would be their President, too.
Doesn’t want to decide if we go to Mars, but thinks we should expand the space program because of the technological benefits. We should put more money into science, technology, and exploration in general. If we do go to Mars, “maybe Hillary could be on the first rocket.”
Says he captured 48% of the African-American vote in his state, and that’s because he asked for their vote, and not at the last minute. Also because he spent time on issues they cared about.

Duncan Hunter:

Says he built a border fence in San Diego, and it worked. As President, would build 854 miles of border fence in six months.
Would not pledge to veto efforts to raise taxes, because there might be a national emergency that required it.
China is “cheating on trade” and using the revenue to build up their military. Suggests that people “buy American” this Christmas season.
Got his first hunting license at the age of 10, and supports the right to keep and bear arms. It’s in the tradition of the American soldier from Bunker Hill to the rooftops of Fallujah.
Has a .20-gauge something or other that’s just like the gun his dad had when he was a kid.
“I will never apologized for the United States of America.”
Believes gays in the military is bad for unit cohesion.

John McCain:

Would veto a bill that offered amnesty for illegal aliens.
McCain says that the American people don’t believe the government will enforce the borders because of other failures including those involving Katrina and Iraq.
McCain says that while enforcing the problem is important, but that we need to remember that prospective immigrants are “God’s children” too and treat them as such.
Believes that Republicans have “absolutely” forgotten how to control spending.
Would “make the authors famous” … the authors being anyone who submitted a pork-barrel bill.
Does not support the national retail sales tax (aka the Fair Tax.) Believes it might actually increase the amount people must pay. On the other hand, the tax code must be reformed somehow. “If congress can’t do it, give me the job.”
Attacked Ron Paul for his foreign policy, saying that the kind of isolationism Paul supports is what led to World War II.
Record shows he won’t raise taxes, but would take an absolute pledge not to do so.
“I used to use a lot of guns” but doesn’t own one now.
We must fight back the Democrat’s efforts to set a hard date for an exit from Iraq. If we had done what the Democrats had wanted six months ago, Al Qaeda would be telling the world “we beat America.”
“We will never allow torture to take place” - this is what America “is all about.” Believes we need to keep the moral high ground on subjects like this.
“We never lost a battle in Vietnam… it was American public opinion [that caused us to lose that conflict].” The difference between Vietnam and Iraq is that the Vietnamese wanted to build a worker’s paradise, not “follow us home” as the terrorists do.
Would not have to lean as much on his vice president as George W. Bush has had to rely on Dick Cheney, because McCain has the experience that George W. Bush lacked when taking office.
The Don’t ask, don’t tell policy should continue because it’s working.

Ron Paul:

Some people believe in globalism, others (like Paul) believe in national sovereignty.
Believes there’s a push by some factions to create a North American Union with the US, Mexico, and Canada. (And Paul is against it.)
“I don’t like big government in Washington, and that’s why I don’t like the move to internationalism” (May not be the exact quote, but darn close.)
“Washington did not change me.”
Top three programs Ron Paul would cut: Department of Education, Department of Energy, and the Department of Homeland Security.
Paul says he’s not an isolationist, but a non-interventionist. We can’t send our troops overseas to tell people how to live.
Says it’s fine to talk about lowering taxes, but you must also lower spending (I don’t believe he took the veto-any-taxes pledge.)
If abortion is illegal, it’s up to the states to determine penalties.We don’t need federal “abortion police.” In his career as an OB/GYN, never saw a medically necessary reason for abortion. Doesn’t believe that a woman who receives an illegal abortion should be punished, but that the doctor performing it should.
“The best commitment we can make to the Iraqi people is to give them their country back.”
We need to “take care of America first.”
The terrorists come here because we’re occupying their countries.
Paul “has no intention” of running as an independent.

Mitt Romney:

Mitt takes Giuliani to task over the sanctuary city question, saying that he didn’t report aliens who were breaking the law, since by definition all ILLEGAL aliens are breaking the law.
Mitt defends his employment record in the mansion by asking if he should have asked for the ID of workers just because they looked and sounded different.
Romney likened Huckabee to liberals in Massachusetts in terms of an Arkansas program that offered college aid to children of illegal immigrants.
How would you control spending? Go after entitlements, and cap non-military discretionary spending. “You can’t get out-of-the-box thinking with inside-the-beltway politics.”
Pledged to veto efforts to raise taxes.
Fred Thompson’s video clip showed an older Romney clip where he supported Roe V. Wade, which is in contrast to his current position. Romney’s explanation: “I was wrong.”
The most important thing for a kid is to have a mom and a dad, and we need to go back to the values that allow kids to have moms and dads (Huh? Romney lost me on the last half of that.)
What would he do to reduce black on black crime? More moms and dads. Is pleased Bill Cosby is telling it like it is.
“We all recognize that [Rudy Giuliani did a great job reducing crime in New York.]”
Would be “delighted” to sign a federal bill outlawing abortion, but doesn’t think the consensus is there. Instead, believes we should focus on overturning Roe v. Wade and returning the decision to the states.
“I believe the Bible is the word of God, absolutely.” Does that mean you believe in every word? “I don’t disagree with the Bible.”
Does not believe that its wise for Presidential candidate to describe specific interrogation techniques that will be permitted, but is against torture. Asked further if that means he’s against waterboarding, and answered again “not wise… specific techniques.” (That’s a weak answer.) Doesn’t want adversaries to know what techniques we might employ. (What, is the mere threat of waterboarding going to keep these people in line. Come on…)
Doesn’t want the inmates at Guantanamo Bay to enter the US prison system and receive legal representation (I suspect he doesn’t quite mean the last half of that sentence - no legal representation at all? - but that’s what he said.)
This is not the time for gays in the military. “Don’t ask, don’t tell” seems to have worked. Once said he “looked forward to the day” when gays could openly serve, now backs off that position and says he’d have to gather opinions from people in the military.
“It’s the right thing” that Americans have decided not to fly the Confederate flag. “There aren’t two Americas, there’s one America.” “That flag, frankly, is divisive and shouldn’t be shown.”

Tom Tancredo:

Says it sounds like everyone is trying to “out-Tancredo Tancredo” on immigration.
Rejects the idea that there are jobs American won’t take, only that there are jobs for which employers are not willing to pay a reasonable wage.
Pledged to veto efforts to raise taxes
“I wish that we lived in the world that Ron is describing” (with respect to pulling our forces back home.)
Thinks the question about space exploration is representative of why we’re so far in debt. “We can’t afford some things, and going to Mars is one of them.”

Fred Thompson:

Would veto a bill that offers amnesty to illegal aliens. For cutting off federal funding for sanctuary cities.
“It’s a target-rich environment” when you start looking at programs to cut to reduce federal spending. We’re going to have to reform Social Security, Medicare, and Medicade to make a dent in government spending.
Would not raise taxes, but would not take a pledge not to do so, because the only pledge he will take “is to the American people”
Anderson Cooper on Thompson’s YouTube video: “What’s up with that?”
“I own a couple of guns, but I’m not going to tell you what they are or where they are.”
Believes Roe v. Wade should be overturned, and allow the states to pass laws against it. Believes the state should pass laws based on the viability of the fetus.
Believes a Vice President ought to be chosen based on his ability to serve as President, should that become necessary, and therefore needs to be an active part of the administration.
On the Confederate flag: “I know that everyone that hangs that flag up in their room is not racist.” However, also knows its a symbol of racism for many Americans. Generally believes that people have the right to fly the Confederate flag on a personal basis, but believes its appropriate that it’s not done in an official way.

Running Commentary Kept as the Debate Unfolds

Starting out, the CNN A/V sync seems about as good as if this were actually ON YouTube, sheesh, didn’t they have technical problems last time, too?
Florida governor Charlie Crist gets the honor of introducing the candidates…
Ooo… it sounded to me that McCain got a relatively bigger hand than the other candidates. A resurgence?
Did Crist just mispronounce Tancredo’s name?
Hold on! We have a Chuck Norris sighting!
Anderson says they won’t discourage applause… nice work CNN. Walter Cronkite, wherever you are, feel free to top off your drink now, you’re going to need it.
Whoops… better bring the bottle, Walt. The first question (?) involves an acoustic guitar.
Chuck Norris appearances up to 2.
Okay, this debate’s got some fireworks. Romney is the early target from Giuliani and Thompson. (Twenty minutes in, and those are the only three who’ve talked.)
The first half hour of the debate has largely been about immigration.
McCain taking a swing at Ron Paul on isolationism… this has to be a legitimate philosophical difference, there’s no tactical or strategic political reason that I can see for McCain to attack Paul at this point.
Oh, boy… the campaigns were offered the chance to submit their own YouTube-style vetos. My prediction is that this will go about as well as the jokes the President tells at the White House Correspondent’s dinner. Tancredo’s up first… yep, it fell completely flat.
Fred’s video is next… consists of clips of Romney being pro-abortion and Huckabee being pro-tax.
McCain’s video consists mostly of anti-Hillary clips
Romney’s clip is strictly pro-Romney.
Commercial break here… I notice I’m having a harder time keeping up with these comments than I was during the last Democratic debate… either I’m typing slower are the Republicans are talking faster. (Or saying more, as a spin doctor would put it. )
Remember when “spin doctor” was in current usage?
Commercial for an Elvis album… Elvis and Chuck in the same night? This has got to be an omen of great things for this election.
Giuliani has the funniest video so far, about how he reduced snowfall and fought King Kong; also got in a shot at Hillary at the end.
Duncan Hunter’s video is unremarkable, other than sounding like he hired the guy that does the voiceover for the local Monster Truck rally commercials.
Huckabee’s video is all about his personal faith and values.
An uber-tough-guy Brigadier General, who happens to be gay, asked a question about gays in the military. Fair enough. Then the camera pans back to show him in the audience, dressed like one of the Sharks from West Side Story. Nothing like a good clothing stereotype! (Peace, General… these comments are all in good fun. You’ve earned the right to wear whatever the hell you want.)
Chuck sightings up to three.
Ron Paul’s video clip was… disjointed.
A YouTube view asked a question saying that the Republicans will never give Paul the nomination… I can’t decide if CNN is allowing him to point out the elephant in the room or of they’re trying to take the wind out of Paul’s sails. That really seemed unnecessarily pointed.
Giuliani and Romney good-naturedly got into it over the Yankees and Red Sox. Giuliani came off as much more genuine about the subject, Romney more saying the things he knows he’s supposed to say. Advice to Romney: don’t try to give off the regular-guy-sports-fan-image, it doesn’t work for you. Or at least, it didn’t here.

All right, the debate is over, last thoughts…

Similarly to the last Democratic debate, most of the attacks on the frontrunner (Romney, in this case) happened right off the bat, then things settled down, drat the luck. The audience seemed to have about a two-response limit for that sort of thing, after which they would drown out the candidates with boos.
Fred Thompson seemed relatively energized tonight. No, really.
Ron Paul seemed to get more of a chance to talk tonight… not always to the delight of the audience, but given that the debate was sponsored by the Republican Party of Florida I’d guess they weren’t a completely impartial crowd.
Other than the initial dust-up with Romney, Giuliani has seemed to lack his usual humor and attitude, opting instead for a more sincere approach.
Huckabee continues to be amazingly polished, phrases his answers well, etc. It’s no surprise he’s gaining in the polls. He may present himself even better than does Romney.
Nobody’s going on the attack against Thompson yet. Next debate, for sure.
Overall winner… McCain early on. Huckabee, then McCain and Giuliani? Definitely those three. Ron Paul continued to represent his positions well. Tancredo and Hunter are done.
My totals: Norris sightings three, Elvis sightings one.

Post Debate update: CNN is reporting (and apologizing for) the General who asked the question about gays in the military question is formally associated with Hillary Clinton’s campaign. I don’t know that that has any bearing on the validity of his question, but expect to hear a lot about that tomorrow. I suspect the general theme will be “look, she plants questions for herself, now she’s planting questions for the Republicans.” I’ll post more about this if anything significant comes up.

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