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This page features Mahalo's live coverage of the December 12, 2007 Republican Debate at Iowa Public Television Studios.
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Fast Facts:
- Aired at 2 pm EST (11 am PST) on CNN, C-SPAN 3 and Fox News Channel
- Moderator: Carolyn Washburn, editor of the Des Moines Register
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3:21 PM: New Year's Resolutions
- Please suggest a New Year's Resolution for an opponent.
- Keyes: "We are all created equal."
- McCain: Raise the level of dialogue and discussion, and not accuse one another of a lack of patriotism.
- Huckabee: Be careful of everything you say.
- Romney: A spirited campaign that comes together when a nominee is chosen.
- Thompson: His resolution is for himself, to try to be a better man - to be strong and have faith.
- Tancredo: To Romney, "how will you convince America that you have changed your mind on immigration?"
- Paul: Re-read the oath of office and the Constitution.
- Hunter: Buy American goods.
- Giuliani: Take another look at America and give thanks for our accomplishments.
3:03 PM: Romney, Keyes and Giuliani Free Statements
- Romney: Thanks the people of Iowa. "I'll make sure we keep good jobs." Improve schools. Wants to preserve our values.
- Keyes: Need to restore the credibility of the Republican Party, that has been destroyed by a betrayal of limited government principles and an insecure border. "Join the political army of America's revival" at his website, AlanKeyes.com. An active people are needed.
- Giuliani: Experience with optimistic, bold leadership during times of crisis.
- Related: 9-11
- Washington Post: Playing Catch-Up to Huckabee, Romney Shifts Iowa Strategy
2:55 PM: Question #12
- What could you realistically do in your first year as President?
- Giuliani: Secure the country against Islamic terrorism and illegal immigration.
- Hunter: Strengthen the border, strengthen the military, return the industrial base to America.
- Paul: No more preemptive war and no threats made towards other countries. (He explicitly mentions Iran as a country he would approach in a diplomatic, non-aggressive manner.) Steps towards peace.
- Tancredo: Explain that a "battle" is happening in Iraq, part of a larger war on Terrorism and Fundamentalist Islam.
- Thompson: Tell the American people the truth to establish credibility, that we haven't come to terms with the threats that we face. "We're bankrupting the next generation, and no one even wants to talk about it." Stop judges from setting social policy. Collaborate with Congress or go over their head if they won't cooperate.
- Romney: "Strategy to help us overwhelm global jihad." End illegal immigration, growth in entitlements, and reduce tax burden on middle-income families. Health insurance for every citizen in America. (He feels this will all take four years.)
- Huckabee: First priority is to unite the nation and end partisan polarization. "We've got to be the united people of the United States."
- McCain: First obligation is to make America safe. "This is a military, diplomatic, intelligence and cyberspace challenge." Wants to restore trust and confidence in the government.
- Keyes: Restore the moral sovereignty of the American people. Would sign an executive order prohibiting abortion. Cant respect citizens if you're "killing them in the womb." Abolish the income tax and seal the border.
- Related: War on Terror | Immigration Debate | Alternative Energy | China | Abortion
2:46 PM: Question #11
- Does the federal government need to exercise more influence over educational standards?
- Romney: Approves of No Child Left Behind program and increased testing. Standards are key. Wants higher pay for better teachers. More parental involvement.
- Huckabee: Education is a state issue, not a federal issue. Doesn't want to shift burden to federal government. Role of the federal government is to institute best practices from successful states in less successful states. "Personalize the learning for the student." "Unleash Weapons of Mass Instruction."
- Keyes: Upset that he doesn't get a full minute to discuss education as opposed to 30 seconds. The major problem in American education today is the lack of God in our schools. Hurts the nation's moral foundation.
- What is the biggest obstacle standing in the way of education?
- Paul: Doubling the size of the Department of Education with NCLB was a mistake. "We need to look to our local resources." Wants to give tax credits to raise teacher salaries and encourage homeschooling.
- Thompson: The biggest problem is the NEA, which spends taxpayer dollars fighting individual choice. "We're a nation of freedom and innovation and choice."
- Tancredo: Can't be against government intervention and insist on what we should teach in schools. (Directed at Huckabee's sentiments.)
- Huckabee Responds: Defends his education record as a governor and endorses once again collaboration between states. Governors will use information about what works in education.
- Romney Responds: Defends his own education record as governor.
- Related: No Child Left Behind
- US Department of Education: No Child Left Behind
- OnTheIssues.org: Ron Paul on Eduation
- Official Site: National Education Association
- Wikipedia: No Child Left Behind Act
- Christian Science Monitor: 'No Child Left Behind' losing steam
- OnTheIssues.org: Mitt Romney on Education
- OnTheIssues.org: Mike Huckabee on Education
2:42 PM: Question #10
- What educational standards does the U.S. need to adopt and improve in order to compete globally?
- McCain: "We need more choice and more competition...We need more charter schools. We need vouchers...We need homeschooling if people want that."
- Giuliani: "I'm here because of the educational choices my parents made. That's the place where the decision should be made." Wants to model K-12 like higher education - more choice and competition.
- Hunter: References Jaime Escalante, the real teacher depicted in the film Stand and Deliver. Take away credentialing of teachers and let private citizens come in and inspire young people.
- Related: No Child Left Behind | School Vouchers | Jaime Escalante | Stand and Deliver
- Wikipedia: Stand and Deliver
2:40 PM: Tancredo and Huckabee Free Statements
- Tancredo: Unlimited immigration is a problem, but when it happens without assimilation, it becomes a catastrophe.
- Huckabee: People are looking for change and leadership, not a ruling class.
- Related: Immigration Debate | Tom Tancredo | Mike Huckabee
- Team Tancredo: Meet Tom
- Mike Huckabee for President: About Mike Huckabee
- OnTheIssues.org: Duncan Hunter on Energy and Oil
- On the Issues: Environment
2:37 PM: Question #9
- Do you support biofuel mandates, even if it drives up the cost of feed for livestock or forces people to buy flex fuel vehicles?
- Huckabee: We are stewards of the Earth and caretakers. Climate change is less important than taking care of this planet generally. Wants the government to start using more alternative energy.
- Hunter: Instead of mandates, wants to use incentives. "Ethanol's not the greatest thing in show business," as it requires energy to create.
- Tancredo: Doesn't believe in mandates. Wants to let the market figure it out.
- Related: Ethenol | Price of Oil and Gasoline | Fuel Cell | Chevrolet Volt | Tesla Roadster
- Des Moines Register: McCain would do more about global warming (November 7, 2007)
- National Academy of Engineering: Mike Huckabee on Biofuels
2:32 PM: Question #8
- How many of you believe global climate change is a serious threat facing the world today? (By show of hands)
- Thompson refuses to participate in a show of hands.
- McCain: Believes climate change is real. He's been focused on this issue since the year 2000. "Suppose that climate change is not real and all we do is adopt green technologies...All we've done is given our kids a cleaner world."
- Giuliani: Agrees with McCain. Best way to deal with it is energy independence.
- Romney: Getting off of foreign oil helps our economy and reduces CO2 emissions.
- Keyes: He represents the people "they don't let you hear from." He says he's in favor of reducing global warming, and the most important emission to control is politician's hot air.
- Related: Climate Change | Kyoto Protocol | Alternative Fuel | Alternative Energy | Peak Oil | Price of Oil and Gasoline
- Wikipedia: Climate Change
2:28 PM: Question #7
- What specific changes should be made to NAFTA?
- Giuliani: It should be enforced. NAFTA is working. "America is a country of entrepreneurs, dreamers, traders."
- Thompson: NAFTA has been as good to us as Mexico. It's a long, complex document. "I have nothing in particular to point out."
- Tancredo: "NAFTA has been a disaster for a lot of places, especially Mexico." If NAFTA had worked, we wouldn't still have immigration problems.
- Hunter: NAFTA created a massive trade loss.
- Related: NAFTA | Poverty in America | Immigration Debate
- Wikipedia: NAFTA
- OnTheIssues.org: Rudy Giuliani on Free Trade
- OnTheIssues.org: Fred Thompson on Free Trade
- IM Diversity: Exporting American Jobs
- Economic Policy Institute: Globalization and American Wages
2:31 PM: Paul and Thompson Free Statements
- Paul: The Constitution was meant to allow the people to control their government, but instead it's used by the government to control the people.
- Thompson: National security is the most important issue. "I know the world we live in. I know what to do. It will require strong leadership...Who do you want sitting on our side of the table representing you?"
- Related: Ron Paul | Fred Thompson
2:27 PM: Question #6
- Should we alter trade policies with countries that violate human rights?
- McCain: "I would open every market in the world...I'm the biggest free-marketer and free-trader you will ever see."
2:24 PM: Question #5
- What's your plan for keeping foreign markets open while protecting American jobs?
- Paul: Change our attitude about Cuba and open those markets. Feels like the problems with the decreasing dollar hurts us overseas.
- Romney: Invest in education and technology, and make sure the playing field around the world is level. Wants to renegotiate with China.
- Huckabee: Put an end to "excessive taxation and excessive regulation." "I can't part the Red Sea, but I can part the red tape"
- Related: Poverty in America | Outsourcing
2:18 PM: Question #4
- Who is paying an unfair share of taxes in comparison to everyone else?
- Keyes: "We need to sacrifice incumbents who secure their positions with our money." Wants to limit government, reduce defecits.
- McCain: "We need to reform the tax code. Nobody understands it, nobody trusts it..." Won't raise taxes.
- Huckabee: Wants to institute a fair tax.
- Romney: "I'm concerned about taxes that middle-class families are paying...We need to reduce the burden on middle-income families."
- Thompson: Doesn't want to worry about taxes anymore (joking). "5% of Americans pay over half the income tax in this country..." Wants to preserve Bush's tax cuts.
- Tancredo: We need a fair tax system rather than one that punishes productivity.
- Paul: We need to reduce the cost of living.
- Hunter: Opposes the massive cost of the IRS. Also wants a fair tax, or a flat tax.
- Giuliani: Also wants a simpler tax code and reduced income tax, across the board. "Give the death penalty to the death tax."
- Related: IRS | Iraq War | John McCain | War on Terror | Immigration Debate
- Cbpp: Tax returns: A comprehensive Assessment of the Bush Administration' Record...
- FactCheck.org: Unspinning the Fair Tax
- Wikipedia: Fair Tax
- WhiteHouse.gov: The President's Agenda for Tax Relief
2:14 PM: Question #3
- Are there programs so important you would run a defecit to pay for them?
- Romney: He feels there are too many programs and too much beaurocracy. 13 different programs to prevent teen pregnancy, we could cut that to one. Focus resources on things that have the biggest impact. "Let the programs that don't work go."
- Tancredo: "Follow the Constitution of this country." Doesn't want the government to provide "womb-to-tomb" protection for citizens.
- Thompson: Security, Research & Development and Infrastructure are important enough to run a defecit. Wants to strengthen entitlement programs to save money.
- OnTheIssues.org: Mitt Romney on Budget and Economy
- OnTheIssues.org: Tom Tancredo on Budget and Economy
- Related: Social Security | Earmarks
2:11 PM: Question #2
- What sacrifices should we make to lower the country's debt?
- Giuliani: "What we should be doing is restraining the amount of money Washington spends...The strength of America is not its central government..." Doesn't want universal health care, but wants to reduce the tax burden so people can provide their own health care.
- Paul: No need for sacrifice. Cut foreign policy spending.
- Huckabee: Focus on prevention for health care, and save money that way. No need for elaborate sacrifice.
- Related: Universal Health Care
- Wikipedia: Deficit Spending
2:05 PM: Question #1
- Iowans wanted to discuss the economy and finances. Do you agree that our country's financial situation creates a security risk? Why or why not?
- Giuliani: "I believe it's a major problem." He doesn't feel it has been properly addressed.
- First, reduce government spending
- Second, reduce taxes (corporate tax, death tax, etc.)
- Feels it is a threat to economic security, not national security
- Giuliani: "I believe it's a major problem." He doesn't feel it has been properly addressed.
- Hunter: "Real loss that we have right now that is a threat to national security is the trade loss"
- Paul: "It is a threat to national security." He feels we tax and spend too much, and we print too much currency. "We have lived beyond our means. We can't afford the foreign policy we have. We have to spend within our means."
- Tancredo: Threat concerns the importation of oil. "We are supplying the funds to people in other countries that have a malicious intent as regards the United States."
- Thompson: "We're bankrupting the next generation, without any question." He complains that we're squeezing military spending in favor of entitlements.
- Romney: The overspending and over-promises made by Washington is a challenge, but the future is bright. "We need leadership in Washington that will reign in excessive spending."
- Huckabee: The country needs to feed itself, fuel itself and fight for itself
- McCain: Any nation that does not have economic strength will not have military strength. "We have got to achieve energy independence." Wants to fund a new Manhattan Project.
- Keyes: "It's obviously a national security problem...It has to do with the freedom of our people." He wants to abolish the income tax and replace it with a fair tax
- Related: Subprime Mortgage Crisis | Housing Bubble | High-Risk Mortgages | Mortgages | Alternative Fuel | Fair Tax
- Wikipedia: United States public debt
- USA Today: Ron Paul's YouTube rants about Bernanke grab attention
2:00 PM
- Host Washburn introduces the candidates and discusses the rules
Republican Iowa Debate Background
- CNN: White House hopefuls gear up for final debate before Iowa caucuses (December 11, 2007)
- This will be the final debate before the 2008 Iowa Caucus. Democrats will have a final pre-caucus debate of their own on December 13.
- C-SPAN 3: Watch Live
- FoxNews.com: You Decide 2008
- CNN: Election Center 2008: Debates
- DesMoinesRegister.com: Presidential Debate Information
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