GOP Presidential Debate Draws Contrasts

The second major Republican presidential debate drew some elbows and definitive contrasts as 11 candidates battled it out on a national stage.

The candidates – businessman Donald Trump, Fmr. Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, Fmr. Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida, Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin, Gov. John Kasich of Ohio, former HP CEO Carly Fiorina, Dr. Ben Carson, Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas – fielded questions during the three-hour debate at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif.

Huckabee, Trump, Carson and Cruz have all visited Arkansas in recent weeks. Fiorina is scheduled for Northwest Arkansas next month.

The debate questions ranged from whether or not Trump was a serious candidate to Iran, domestic issues and the tax code.

During a good portion of the debate, the elbows were out as several candidates went after Trump. When asked about a comment from Gov. Bobby Jindal, R-La., about Trump’s seriousness as a candidate, Trump said his campaign has done well.

“I will take my business experience to the White House,” Trump said.

However, Walker questioned Trump’s experience. “We don’t need an Apprentice in the White House. We have one right now,” Walker said.

Several of the questions centered around Trump, Fiorina and Carson being the political outsiders in the race. However, Christie said he has been an outsider in his state by vetoing nearly 400 spending bills and tax increases.

Trump and Fiorina also sparred over comments that Trump made during a recent Rolling Stone interview about Fiorina’s appearance.

“I think women all over this country heard what Mr. Trump said,” Fiorina said. Trump responded that Fiorina has a “beautiful face, beautiful woman.”

FOREIGN POLICY
The candidates were asked about several foreign policy related topics.

On the issue of Syria, Rubio said Russian President Vladmir Putin is seeking to reposition Russia in the region. Rubio said Russia will begin flying combat missions in Syria and go to neighboring countries to build support.

On Iran, each of the candidates said it was a bad deal. Huckabee said the agreement would not be worth the paper it is written on. He said the Iranians have killed, kidnapped and maimed Americans for 36 years.

“The President treats it (the agreement) like the Magna Carta. The Iranians treat it like toilet paper,” Huckabee said.

However, Paul argued that the United States should be engaged with countries like Russia and China on the issues.

Later in the debate, both Trump and Bush sparred over the Iraq war and the George W. Bush administration. Trump said he opposed the war. Bush countered that the issue was about judgment and that Trump had, at one time, said the best person to negotiate with Iran was Hillary Clinton.

“But your brother’s administration gave us Barack Obama,” Trump said.

“One thing about my brother, he kept us safe,” Bush said to applause.

IMMIGRATION
Christie, a former U.S. Attorney, said he would like to use the FBI and drones, as well as taking fingerprints of people who are in the country on visas to make it easier to deport people who have overstayed their welcome.

Carson said the issue of illegal immigration has been helped in places like Yuma County, Arizona, with a double fence and a road separating the United States and Mexico.

Fiorina said the issue has been discussed for more than 25 years, with no solution due to Democrats “wanting to seek a political advantage.”

ECONOMICS
Both Trump and Fiorina went after each other on their economic proposals. Trump criticized Fiorina’s work as a CEO, but Fiorina said she led the company during a turbulent time when competitors went out of business.

Kasich spoke about his work as House Budget Committee chairman in the 1990’s and his record as Ohio governor. He said he was able to turn deficits into surpluses, providing strong economic growth.

Huckabee said he supports the fair tax – a tax based on consumption – while Paul said he would like to remove all of the loopholes in the 70,000 page federal tax code.

SECRET SERVICE NAMES
For a bit of levity towards the marathon debate’s conclusion, moderator Jake Tapper asked the candidates what name they would use as a Secret Service code name.

Walker said he would use the name “Harley” due to his hobby of riding motorcycles, while Fiorina said, “Secretariat” after the workhorse that won the Triple Crown in the 1970s.

Bush was asked his favorite. “Ever Ready, because it is high energy, Donald,” Bush said, eyeing Donald Trump who has criticized Bush’s lack of energy on the campaign trail.

“So, what would yours be, Mr. Trump,” Tapper asked. “Humble,” the brazen Trump responded.

The first Democratic presidential debate will be Oct. 13 in Las Vegas.