The four remaining GOP candidates reconvened in Tampa, Florida, on Monday evening for the first of two debates focused on the Florida primary. Monday night's debate was sponsored by NBC News, The Tampa Bay Times, the National Journal and the Florida Council of 100. The debate was held at the University of South Florida in Tampa.
Original Air Time: Monday, January 23rd at 9pm ET, 8pm CT and 9pm PT on NBC
Participants: Gingrich, Romney, Santorum, Paul
Here is the entire 97 minute video direct from NBC News:
Report from USAToday:
Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, his one-time lead among GOP voters in Florida and nationwide evaporating, hammered Newt Gingrich as an influence peddler and disgraced politician in a debate Monday marked by the most heated and personal exchanges of the campaign to date.
At one point, Gingrich, who has been the master of the season's 18 debates, briefly fell in a frustrated silence as he responded to Romney's rapid-fire attacks for saying he was hired by mortgage giant Freddie Mac as "a historian" and for advocating health care policies while being paid by health care companies.
"You've been walking around this state saying things that are untrue," an irate Gingrich replied, saying he had advocated policy positions as a concerned citizen, not because of consulting contracts. That isn't lobbying, he said.
The two men faced each other in a forum at the University of South Florida, eight days before the state's crucial primary. At stake is not only Florida's 50 convention delegates — the biggest prize to date — but also a sense of momentum and command in the most tumultuous Republican nomination battle of modern times.
"The race continues with great doubts about the two leading Republican candidates," political scientist Merle Black of Emory University said before the debate. "Republicans haven't come close to closure."
Texas Rep. Ron Paul and former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum also participated in the debate, hosted by NBC News, National Journal and the Tampa Bay Times. Near the end, Santorum made an impassioned plea for his credentials as a consistent conservative. On issues such as health care, he said of Romney and Gingrich, "When push came to shove, they got pushed."
But the focus in Florida and the spotlight on stage were on the two men battling for the front-runner's mantle.
Unfortunately in this debate we saw another example of Rick Santorum and Ron Paul getting only a fraction of the time devoted to Gingrich and Romney. While it may be the case that polls indicate Santorum and Paul aren't likely to win Florida, the nomination process is far from over and surely they should have been given more time.
From the onset, the tone was contentious for the first 45 minutes as moderator Brian Williams seemed to take a hands-off approach letting Romney and Gingrich take their shots at each other. I don't know if we learned anything we didn't already know. Overall a seemingly mild debate compared to previous engagements but educational in the same.
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Potential voters are interested in hearing about issues and plans from ALL candidates, and ALL should be given appropriate time to participate. I'm tired of debates that turn into a 2-man battle because it titillates the moderators to stir the pot while ignoring input from others on the podium.
The Controlled Media is making a mockery of these debates — doing their best to ignore or minimize Ron Paul by directing idiotic questions for him alone!
Tonight's debate is a great example of this perfidy! The dog-and-pony show of Mitt & Newt, and the little mutt snapping at their Achilles's heels — inconsequential Santorum — all these three little mice got to respond on a VERY CRUCIAL QUESTION that has been eroding our Nation for decades: Illegal Immigration! But not Ron Paul — he was asked an idiotic question instead: If he'd agree to some kind of Swamp Protection Law in FL Everglades!?!?!?
What arrogance the main media has, that they can SLAP the American People on the face by saying this was an equitable debate! Do they think us this stupid — not to see their agenda and thus resent them!?
A TRUE debate is when a questions is asked, and ALL candidates are given equal time to respond to said question — THIS WAS NOT THE CASE in Florida tonight!
Shame on the "mediators" — they've exposed themselves for what they are (marionettes who's strings are pulled by those controlling the main media)!
If I was going to dismiss one of the candidates up there as "inconsequential," it would probably be the guy who has yet to win a primary and who is polling dead last in Florida. Three-time loser Ron Paul is lucky to get any questions at all.
Take a look at the current delegate allocation and rethink your idiotic response.
Ron Paul is a distant third. On Tuesday, after he comes in dead last in Florida, he'll be a distant fourth. By no electoral calculus is he any more consequential than Santorum. He's an also-ran.
Yes, let's look at the delegate count.
http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/primaries/delegates
That deligate count is not correct, Iowa was a three way tie and they have them split among two candidates.
There are several reasons why Ron Paul is "of consequence" regardless of your views on him:
- he said he's going all the way to the convention and he has the money and support to do it.
- he will be on every ballot. Most notably VA will only have Romney and Paul, but Santorum and Gingrich have ballot access issues in other states as well.
- he has a decent plan to pick up delegates where he can. Remember that in some states the delegate selection process is more complicated than the direct vote and it favors those with organization and devoted followers.
None of this matters unless there is a brokered convention, but if there is Paul will have significant leverage.
Santorum may stay in as well looking for a brokered convention and his presence makes it more likely. But he has no momentum, no organization and no money. He can basically stick around and see if Newt implodes and/or take his few delegates to the convention.
Winning primaries is not just a matter of coming in first it's a matter of delegates. If you look at the delegate count, Ron Paul is far from inconsequential. If you don't like the guy, just say so. But don't try to hide behind the appearance of knowing what you are talking about.
Actually, Ron Paul is fourth since they changed Santorum to the Iowa winner. Ron Paul has one more delegate than Huntsman, ten less than Santorum, twenty less than Gingrich. Huntsman has two, Ron Paul has three. Being down there with Huntsman looks inconsequential to me.
http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/primaries/delegates
that deligate count is not valid, its media propaganda, paul picked up nearly half of the iowa deligates.
How interesting and truly revealing (though not AT ALL surprising). As the saying goes, "figures don't lie, but liars figure."
Again the lame stream news (NYT's in this case) shows their bias. Delegates in Iowa are not assigned until the convention since it's a caucus and not a primary. So while showing 3 for Paul may be technically correct, it is totally inaccurate, to say it nicely. But what is most revealing is while not showing delegates for Paul, it DOES show them for Romney and Santorumm (12 and 13)which is "figuring" at it's finest.
You can't have your cake and eat it too however. Either show them for all the candidates or none of them AND…
Show the correctly (ok, I am going to say it i.e. DON'T LIE). With Santorum, Romney AND Paul in a statistical tie, barring any bartering at the convention they will get 7 delegets EACH which is accurately reflected in CNN's delegate count at:
http://edition.cnn.com/election/2012/primaries/candidates/302
If the NYT's correctly showed those 7 (since they showed delegates for Romney and Santorum that seems only reasonable, assuming you are reasonable. Might be a big assumption however, I admit) Paul would have 10, Santorum 8 and be in third as the CNN article points out.
As of 2010 is has been estimated that there are over 500,000,000 (that is 500 million, or 1/2 billion) Laws on the books in our Nation! Of these over 99.9% are Negative Laws — stating what 1/2 billion things an American Citizen CANNOT DO upon threat of punishment. And each month tens of thousands more Negative Laws are passed!
All have heard the phrase; "Ignorance of the Law is no excuse…" (judges' favorite expression).
If one finds oneself in a Court of Law (and states: "I wasn't aware I could not do this" and the Judge states the above — hope one will have the guts and say: "This is pernicious sophism — since the absurdity, that one person can memorize over 1/2 billion laws, makes it A PERNICIOUS SOPHISM!")
Only Ron Paul is aware of this castration of Liberties by our Big Brother Government — and wants to reverse this tyrannical trend. No wonder the main media is trying for a "black-out" on his message of TRUTH! The fear the Controllers have is obvious — prevent the American People from hearing what Ron Paul has to say (is their solution)!
Will we allow them to do this to our Nation — or will we take a stand and bombard the main media with unending requests that they play fair — equal time and same questions to be answered by ALL during the debates!!!
kledd — so what you are saying is that you are for inequality (George Orwell would be proud of you: "Some are more equal than others….")
kledd — that was in response to your comment: "Three-time loser Ron Paul is lucky to get any questions at all."
So what you are saying is that you are for inequality (George Orwell would be proud of you: "Some are more equal than others….")
But I would be keeping an eye on the "little mutt" if I were you!
Ron Paul is asked idiotic questions because many believe that he has idiotic answers to them. CNN never got into foreign affairs because they didn't want Paul to look bad–they want him as a condender to make Republicans look silly, like Paul. Also, foreign affairs questions can directly attack Obama, who bows to Islamic kings. Paul has great fiscal ideas at times, but his thoughts about Iran and defense or dangerous and irresponsible, in my opinion, and in the opinion of most Republicans.
By the way, NBC did ask about foreign policy but not in any depth. Paul should stick with medicine, but I suspect he wasn't very good at that either.
What evidence gives you that suspicion?
Find out why former CIA Chief and bin Laden hunter Michael Scheuer says Ron Paul's foreign policy is spot on at youtube link below.
That is assuming you aren't afraid to think for yourself.
/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Aiz85NejIyE
By the way if all the Republicans jumped out the window of a skyscraper, would you join them?
All of Santorums followers would, religious freaks would nuke the ME and start WW3 in hopes it would bring the apocalypse.
I just noticed you are allowed to put in the direct link… so here it is… An interview with form CIA Chief on Ron Paul's foreign policy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Aiz85NejIyE
The purpose of the debate is for all participants to debate the issues. Not to prop up who the current leaders are.
Obama — the next new host of Family Feud (can anyone give a total count of the women he kissed after his Misstate of the Union)?
Afterwards — Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels neutered in a very diplomatic way all the demagoguery Little Hussein parroted!
Not strong enough for me — but still kudos to Mitch!!!
I was totally embarrassed by the poorly moderated event to the point that I turned the TV off about 30 minutes in. Brian Williams should not be allowed another debate until he learns to manage his accepted role and to impart fairness to all candidates.
I would like to see Santorum and Paul take Romney's and Gingrich's heads and butt them together. What a scene. I just want them to shut up so that we can hear something of substance. The issues are not about whining.
I AGREE! I kept saying "When is Brian williams going to stop this" Newt/Romney step aside and let Santorum and Paul fight it out with what they will do not what's wrong with each other!
Plastic romnie keeps going and going attacking attackng we do not care what he is saying he always spend time attacking but not what he will do to resolve our problems. Newt is ready to be our nominee and we will vote for Newt for President.
This was not a "debate" it was the most boring event on television, here in Arizona we did not see it live– it a waste of vedio tape–here just about everthing is taped.
NMJune & Surfisher have right on–when are we going to have (real knock down drag out debate on just the issues ie., jobs, border protection, illegal imigration, strong military, world leadership, get the UN out of the USA–send it the Hague,Switzerland–thar's where it belongs next to the Wolds Court, and when are these canidates going to address Veterans Issues–remember VET's vote and we have saved our nation in all wars and conflicks. NBC has lost it and all the others CBS, ABC,CNN,the other news stations–Thank the" supreme being" for talk radio.
I cannot stand the spin that Newt does with his high-brow wording. He was an influence peddler. He is a projectionist and turns the focal point off of his failings whenever Mr. Romney explains valid points of Mr. Gingrich's failures. Newt obviously twists the valid accusation in his slower drawl and states, "well, this is all false…." however he never really answers the valid point which Mr. Romney makes. It is as though Newt's mouth is full of marbles. Newt is above the truth and above the bothersome media and the committment of marriage and, etc. Mr. Gingrich is unbelievably pompous and truly unbelievable. He should have shame in how stupid he believes Americans are for swallowing his lies. He belongs on the donkey side.
I can't listen to this carefully scripted drama designed to consume time. It's sad really…It's as if they (Romney, Gingrich, Santorum) believe they have the lead, and just need to run out the clock before Ron Paul can get a word in. I wish these moderators would stop pretending Americans don't understand the free market system. You wonder why Ron Paul supporters are so passionate? It's no opinion to say he received 10% of the debate time tonight. Look at the opposition the man is up against, of course his supporters would be offended and defend him against underhanded attacks carried out by corporate servants. Please stop pretending, demand that your media serve your best interest!
He does not belong to clique and heis honest and wants to careabout his country= USA and not about interests of global,military establishment or global speculators. It is not very strange,your bad, propaganda medias are dependent on some global criminals. Your medias just like your own country is not property of US nation anymore. But you can change it by voting for Ron Paul, it is the last chance for your country to make changes.
You guys rock! Video of Jan 23 debate posted just two hours after it aired! I had to work and missed it, figured I'd have to wait until tomorrow to watch video, but saw it tonight — thanks! You are my go-to website for all debate and primary info.
-And you followed suit by ignoring Ron Paul in this article.
..He's the only decent human being running. The only one with a brain! So- he's not one of 'the two'. If mine were his only vote-I'd still vote for Ron Paul because I have a conscience. I voted for Ralph Nader,and look how he was also pushed aside. I agree that Americans are just plain stupid. People need to pull their heads out of the sand and stop following the crowd. Use your brain.
A very disappointing debate.
This is clearly an attempt of the media to hurdle the republican nominee they want to run against the current president. This moderator purposely made it a two man race. I would hope that the nominees would boycott any further debates by NBC or any other news sponsored outlet. The media is just too corrupt and liberal to handle such debates.
I must agree with you and I am disappointed in Brian Williams.
You have the truth of it.
I hate Newt!!! every time I look at him I only see a cheater and a failure with a big mouth! I hope everybody grounds him again on thursday.
Let us hope you are wrong!
What a joke. These debates really need to be hosted and moderated by an objective media outlet with no advertising affiliates. It's obvious who NBC, Fox and CNN is cheering for.
Ron Paul 2012
Newt will be in town later today in Fort Myers. I'll make sure to cover it.
The beginning of every debate starts with the debate moderator telling the American people (the audience) to be quiet so that the debate moderator can more easily control the flow of the debate.
That proves that the media outlets feel they're the only ones entitled to decide the outcome of the debate.
balanced budget amendment? great. now how about a balanced debate time amendment for gods sake?! i cant wait until someone sums the total time each candidate got and posts it. it will be patently offensive. every candidate should answer every question in the same amount of time. period. their podium positions should be random.
people of Florida, dont be slaves to the media, VOTE RON PAUL
Interesting! I wonder then why Ron Paul skipped the SC Forums where each candidate was allowed to speak for as long as he/she wanted on the particular topic. Could it be that Ron Paul only wants to make outlandish statements that no one in Congress will support as he has proven over his looong Washington career where he was only able to get one of his bills passed? He should be ignored. He has his agenda and it has nothing to do with being elected as he is not a viable candidate. Spend your energy on someone who is more likely to relate to the populace. You will feel less disenfranchised when this waste of everyone's time is over in November.
Interesting Indeed. I believe the reason Paul skipped that debate was that it was "Taped" by FOX News.
FOX News is KNOWN for their Bias and Lies concerning Ron Paul. I'm sure they would have "manipulated" the debate.
FOX News LYING and DECEIVING….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN-jWLRhimo
FOX News APOLOGIZING….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjC9PCZHfzU&feature=related
Hey Joe, how can you say the Ron Paul does not "relate to the populace"? People in this country do now want to jump into another war. Neither does Ron Paul thus RELATING TO THE POPULACE! People in this country want to open up relations with Cuba AND close GITMO, not wait till we over-through their government and push our ideals on their people.
Ron Paul relates to the populace more than any other candidate. They don't want what these other dipsticks are PUSHING which is just more of the same failed polices that continue to get us into conflicts.
Mitt and Bain Capital made their money from "Old Money" – Defined Benefit Pensions – deferred income invested for retirement that was "raided" by Bain and Mitt and others. Over 100,000 Defined Benefit Pensions disappeared along with the "raided Companies" via a Clever and Immoral scheme of "Downsizing – Rightsizing" but was nothing more than a blueprint of what Robert Kennedy accused Jimmie Hoffa of doing with the Teamsters Pension funds.
Only 28,000 DB plans have survived, Military, Federal Employees, Unions, and of course, Congress still have a Defined Benefit Plan. The 401K is nothing more than a "Honey Pot for Wall Street".
We don't need any of these guys, especially Romney, while millions of over age 65 cannot retire, they have no money. The Defined Benefit Pension funds were stolen with Merger and Aquisitions. Wall Street knows it, Congress Knows it, Mitt Romney and other Corporate Raiders know it, and now, we especially the Baby Boomers know it.
We don't need guys like this in control of our Governement.
See "Retirement Heist" by Ellen Schultz recent book.
It was very sad last night for Ron Paul supporters. To sit there and watch Ron Paul be deliberately minimized with limited debate time and then asked STUPID questions.
In the beginning, when there were nine candidates, it was obvious that Santorum, Bachmann and Paul were all being "pushed aside" with limited debate time and STUPID questions. Now that there are four, and if I was a supporter of any of the other candidates, I'd be crying "foul".
If this Process is the "battle for the soul" of the Republican Party, then the Republican Party has already "sold their soul" to the wiles of the Media. They will be sorry when it comes to the debates during the General Election against Barack Obama. They will lose again if Ron Paul is not the Nominee.
Watch the State of the Union Speech tonight and you'll get a "taste" of what will happen in November.
See Retirement Heist by Ellen Schultz to see how Bain Capital and Mitt Romney made his fortune. It came from the Defined Benefit Pension funds, 100,000 disappeared and wound up in Mitt Romney's bank while millions of baby boomers cannot retire, Mitt has their money.
It's funny for me to realize that that Punch and Judy show Gingrich and Clinton were putting on from 94 to 98 produced great results for the country. Each was the other's perfect foil (and evil twin), and their attempts to outmaneuver each other gave us sustained growth, a balanced budget, a surplus, etc. Until they both imploded under the weight of their respective vices (which overlapped).
To Surf Fisher: "Captain Video" (aka Ron Paul – the candidate that everyone knos is the only one that can't beat the kenyan) needs to be ignored; as will he be, in the selection of the GOP candidate.
A vote for Captain Video is like a vote for Barry Soetoro.
NBC sucks, also.
To Charles Swann: Step away from the obama-Kool-Aid, that's reserved for brain-dead zombies.
WAIT – You do qualify for that propaganda, from the baboon-in-chief's regime
Overview of Ron Paul's CONCERN about a Balanced Budget, Government Borrowing and the National Debt. (Things NOT being discussed during the Debates)
People really don't understand the NEGATIVE IMPACT that the Economy would take, if balancing the budget were to be implemented onto the Government as it's currently being run. A Balanced Budget Amendment would be fine, and it possibly could be implemented years from now, however the ACTUAL SPENDING of the Government must be cut FIRST for the Budget to Balance. It's the BORROWING which throws the Government's Balance Sheet completely out-of-whack. If a Politician says they can Balance the Budget, without ACTUAL SPENDING CUTS (not cuts on the "proposed rate of growth" proposed by Romney, Gingrich and Santorum), they are LYING! Thus, Ron Paul is the ONLY ONE "Telling the Truth" to the American People. If the Government were to implement Balancing the Budget, without cutting actual spending, then $1.3 TRILLION would immediately be "sucked out" of the Economy the second it was implemented. In other words, a Balanced Budget would DEVASTATE our Economy if it were to be implemented right now. The Debt must FIRST be Liquidated or Paid Down and the Borrowing must cease. Government must learn to live within it's means.
And People don't fully understand how this Government Borrowing Mechanism works. The Government doesn't actually borrow "money" from Foreign Countries, like China. The Government actually borrows money from the Federal Reserve (at Interest) in exchange for Government Bonds (T-Bills) from the Government. These Bonds (Our Debt) then go up for Auction with another rate of Interest and a Timeline attached. This is commonly referred to as "The Terms". Investors and Foreign Countries then purchase these Bonds (Our Debt) looking for a Return on Investment (ROI). But because Investors and Foreign Countries are "scaling back" their purchases of these Bonds (Our Debt) as the Dollar becomes less of a Safe Haven, the FED is now purchasing these Government Bonds (Our Debt), essentially Monetizing the Debt of the United States.
So, in order for the Budget to Balance, this process of Borrowing needs to cease. But in order for it to cease, ACTUAL SPENDING CUTS by the Government MUST take place. However, the "Millstone" that's currently around the Government's neck PREVENTING any kind of Budget Balancing is the OVERWHELMING EXISTING DEBT of $16 TRILLION. The Debt needs to be Paid Down or Liquidated FIRST. It's going to be either RAISE TAXES or DEFAULT because there is NO "Political Will" to CUT ACTUAL SPENDING. We see this Process NOW unfolding in Greece.
Bond Holders in Greece are now being "pressured" to take a "haircut". It won't be long before they are "forced" into taking this haircut. Greece's Debt is primarily financed by private creditors, banks and other investment firms. Greece was supposed to Bailed-Out in May 2011. Since then, Greece has changed and shuffled their leaders. They finally settled for a "Banking Technocrat", Mario Monti, to try to solve the Greek Debt Crisis. This Crisis WON'T BE SOLVED until the Bond Holders are "pushed out of the way", forced to lose everything, and the "Bankster take-over" (privatize) Greece's Natural Resources and Infrastructure. Greece won't declare Bankruptcy with a Banking Technocrat in charge, because the "Banksters" would suffer loss.
We've seen this Process happen here in the United States with the Auto Industry Bail-Out. Instead of the Auto Industry going through a "Controlled Bankruptcy" through the Rules established by a Free-Market Capitalist System, they were Bailed-Out in accordance to a Socialist System and the Bond Holders were "forced" to take the Loss. Thus, Fascism "replaced" Capitalism in the United States and the term "Too Big To Fail" was born. Fascism is the merger of State and Corporate Powers. The Taxpayer money used to Bail-Out the Auto Industry then became MORE Debt that was heaped upon the American Taxpayer. It's all about the "Bankster take-over".
All in all, the Free Market Capitalist System is Broken. In Europe, the European Economic Crisis of the Socialist system is both systemic and doomed to fail. The "Banksters" KNOW this! US Banks are heavily invested in European Sovereign Debt. There are TRILLIONS of Dollars in Derivatives exposed if these European countries Default on their Debt. Greece will start the "Domino Effect", as the Euro collapses. The Economic Tsunami created by the Defaults will cross the Atlantic and Collapse our Economy insomuch that will make the Economic Crisis of 2008, look like a walk-in-the-park. THERE IS NOT ENOUGH MONEY IN THE SYSTEM TO BAIL-OUT THESE COUNTRIES AND THE "BANKSTERS" DERIVATIVES. The "Banksters" KNOW this and will then "Take-Over" Everything with a GIANT RESET and form the New World Order (NWO) and New World Government.
To give you an idea for "what's coming" to the American Taxpayer, recently the "Banksters" at Bank of America (BOA) just transferred $74 TRILLION worth of Derivatives to the FDIC (with the FED's Blessing), which is insured by the American Taxpayer. But of course, NO ONE will go to JAIL for this! It's all a "rigged" game and a contrived event ready to be hatched! And one thing's for CERTAIN – Economic Collapse is right around the corner. They "Plan" to turn our Country into "squalor", just like they did during the Great Depression so the People will BEG for relief.
Ron Paul has it RIGHT. We should ALL be getting PREPARED – NOW!
Mitt Romney is the best choice for representing Republicans in the 2012 election. One only needs to look at how he treats his wife. He will make American just as strong and beautiful and proud as his does his wife. Romney made a promise and vow and a true partnership with his wife to raise proud, strong, good children.
Romney will keep an oath when he is sworn in and do the same for United States of America. Romney will make her(USA) strong, proud and beautiful.
So if you are judging candidates on how long they are with a wife, look at Ron Paul 52..53 years or so, I think that holds the test of time!! Regardless, you are saying a lot of pretty hollow words. So if Mitt is the one, what will he do for America? What are his plans? How will he be different then Obama? How will he fix the dept.. crate jobs..stop endless wars… cut spending (real cuts that will cut down on America's dept)? So, what are his plans? And what in his past shows that he will keep true to these plans? For I don't want to be burned again by all talk like Obama. So enlighten me.
Dear people. Voting for president is not like bet and win competitions like horce race or like superbowlor some kind of competitions, who is the most dumb in the village or who is most corrupt.And these both morons ( Gingrich and Romney )are just both dishonest and corrupt and you had already have such presidents and they made 14 trillions of debts in USA and began 2 wars and additionally your politicians are responsible for death of hunderds of tousends of people, ruining lives of your young citizens, who were sentfor these wars.
It is the only candidate – RON PAUL, who is really good, wise, honest, not corrupt, tolerant, peaceful, Christian and conservatist, good husband, good father just like many of you. His whole programm can be described in one sentence: To restore and to protect USA now and stop to ruin USA and stop to ruin the world.
What are objections? Stop to hear your propaganda medias, who are in pockets of foreign speculators and criminal neocons and begin to vote for normal candidate, who is perspctively for your country and your nation. You should have not objections, if he says that he will withdraw these troopsfrom wars.It will be better forthes epeople, they are your children, your sons and daughters, whose lives are destroyed thanks to these wars. Militaries from your army will get money even whent they will garrison in US bases in USA, by the way, army will be strong, militaries can make very good jobs in country just like for instance work and aid by natural disasters in your country ( restoring and rebuilding country after tornadoes, floods, fires )They do not need be sent to murder people globally and to ruin own lives.
Voice and choice belong to you as nation, and not to brainless medias,global speculators, global criminal country or global neocons. You have normal, wise candidate Ron Paul and he should win.
I like you. Where are you from?
I find it interesting the you used the phrase "most dumb" just before you called someone a moron. wow.
Mike Huckabee recently held a debate that was far more satisfying and informative. Questions came only from the audience and a firm rule was in place that candidates could not address one another. Huckabee firmly enforced that rule. It was one of the best debates so far. I'd love to see Gov. Huckabee do a few more of those.
The only Ron Paul has issues and plans, which will be profitable for US nation and USA as country.To restore and to protect USA and stop to ruin USA and stop to ruin the rest of the world (indirect conclusion, which will come after changine of politics )
Brian Williams..you have disappointed me. I could not believe what happened last night. Don't think I did not notice Santorum walk purposefully toward you at the break. I am sure he let you know that your bias was being noticed. You came back from break and immediatley addressed Santorum for a chance to speak.
I have ALWAYS watched your national news over the other channels. NOT ANYMORE.
That's all they did! I hate illegal immigration as much as the next and we should secure our borders but last night where was all the strengthening of the borders talk? Mexicans are coming here to get away from the drug wars as much as Cubans are coming over to get away from communism. What's the difference? Of course the deep Cuban-American pockets who give money to these candidates!
Let's be fair and if we deport Mexicans let's deport Cubans too. In other debates they were strong against illegal immigration but here they never answered the questions. Newt was asked very specifically if Castro died and the Cubans were on their way to Florida what would he do and he never answered the question. Came back with one of his lengthy canned replies that had nothing to do with the question.
When this happens moderators should let the candidate finish then come back with " ok now please answer the question I asked" and I'm sure the place will erupt with applause from everybody!!
This was a joke of a debate. I do not understand why Ron Paul is left out of every debate ,he never has equal time. We the people want to hear what Ron Paul has to say. It is very clear who the media wants as the Nominee. We the people have a different Nominee that we are supporting only to get shot down in every debate. We the people want our Country back. We the people want to hear Ron Paul's views and we the people are tired of Ron Paul being cheated by the Media, who are for the Crook and lieing cheat Newt aruging with Mitt. Include Ron Paul is that to much to ask? Ron Paul equal time. The Media is being a joke and the American people are not fools to what you are doing. We are sick of it. Give the people a chance to hear Ron Paul.
Does anyone know where I can find a transcript of last night's debate?
I have read all these comments and all but one is the same that Ron Paul was not treated fairly. He recieved very little time and he is the most honest in the race and people want to hear Ron Paul. And each comment was about the Media being for two people Mitt And Newt. The one comment not about how Ron Paul being cheated and did not recieve any time I was going to say equal time but he did not get hardly any time. The one comment about Mitt's love for his wife well Ron Paul also shows love for his wife and love for his family and love for his Country. Media take notice people want a fair debate there are four people not two. It would be nice the next debate we hear from Ron Paul to make up from being left out he should be the only one ask questions and see how the other three feel and the people for them feel.
Newt continues to handle himself very well. NBC pretends to play the game of being unbiased, but they do little things here and there to continue to promote Romney and uncut Gingrich, including the clips they replayed at the end of this video, which did not give Gingrich's full reply. This game the media plays of pretending to be one thing while intentionally being something else is dishonest and Gingrich had the guts to call out CNN on it in the last debate, so NBC created a new rule, no more applause (basically no more standing ovations for Newt) Anything to undercut him and promote their own agenda. The media makes me sick and so does the GOP party that tries to force Romney on us.
Newt won the SC primary but I can't understand how. South Carolinians say they are so conservative and defend all these "values" and are supposed to be against moral turpitude but they voted for Newt who has had THREE overlapping marriages and
- Left his cancer stricken wife for the 2nd wife.
- Left the 2nd wife who has Multiple Sclerosis for his mistress who he had an affair for 6 years, the current up to now, wife #3.
So then when asked about what his previous wife #2 said on TV about his open marriage proposal at the debate he was asked if he wanted to comment on it and he said "No, but I will" but then DIDN'T answer it. He changed the subject and replied with his canned remarks against the media.
He said it was DESPICABLE to ask that question (which is basically about values) but is it not despicable to :
- Get married and vow "in sickness and in health" but leave as soon as they get sick?
- Cheat on your 2nd wife for 6 years?
- When he was Speaker he criticized Clinton while he was doing the same thing?
- Criticize gay people for making a mockery out of the institution of marriage while he's been doing it for decades?
I'm an independent looking in from outside and I would like for someone intelligent to answer my questions, not with fanatical comments but with clear answers to make me understand why I should vote for Newt.
Nice way of putting it, and of looking into this with an open mind. Newt has a lot of skeletons in his closet, he was the one and only speaker of the house that has been kicked out due to ethics violations. Look him up if you want to know more, he has a very long list of things in his privet life and political life that are very very questionable. I do not want to tell you who to vote for, but I think it is great that you are doing some critical thinking. I am unsure why he is popular to some, I think it is the Obama thing again, he says some nice words and people follow. For me I think Newt is the worst of the lot, it just bothers me that someone can be so immoral in their political/private life and yet run for office.
Sex does not define a person's ability to do their job. That is like saying because a man is gay he cannot run a business. One has nothing to do with the other. The fact is Newt threw himself into politics so much so that he neglected his family. When sexual needs arose, he got it from those closest to him, his staff. The fact is he knows how to navigate in politics, he is experienced and the fact that he is not the most perfect man hardly means he cannot do the job of president.
Furthermore, let me add that Obama was only married once and had ruined this country, while Reagan was married twice and is considered one of the beloved presidents of all time. I would hardly measure the capability of a man to do a job by his sexual exploits.
For religious folks, even King David had an affair and further more killed the husband of the women he slept with. God did not remove him has king, even then.
Once again i would add that sex is not a defining issue on whether someone is best suited for a job.
Nobody is criticizing Newt for being a sex addict or a hound dog. We're talking values here. You say he was working long hours so he had sex with his staff. How does that explain that Newt had THREE overlapping marriages and
- Left his cancer stricken wife for the 2nd wife.
- Left the 2nd wife who has Multiple Sclerosis for his mistress who he had an affair for 6 years, the current up to now, wife #3.
So then when asked about what his previous wife #2 said on TV about his open marriage proposal at the debate he was asked if he wanted to comment on it and he said "No, but I will" but then DIDN'T answer it. He changed the subject and replied with his canned remarks against the media.
He said it was DESPICABLE to ask that question (which is basically about values) but is it not despicable to :
- Get married and vow "in sickness and in health" but leave as soon as they get sick?
- Cheat on your 2nd wife for 6 years?
- When he was Speaker he criticized Clinton while he was doing the same thing?
- Criticize gay people for making a mockery out of the institution of marriage while he's been doing it for decades?
Actually, Newt said "No, I but I will and after his comments about the media, he added it was not true. Watch it again.
Look, I don't know if you have ever been married. I have been married to one man and had sex with only one man my husband, but I still understand the struggle that men face and the difficulties. The truth is Newt loved his work, more than his wives. The job he is applying for here regards his work, not his marriage.
Values may or may not have any value. Again remember than Obama has values too. One wife and a nice little family, but has that made a difference in his presidency.
All this talk of Newt's wives is just a way to derail voters from the real issues and clearly you have fallen for the bait.
You definitely won't answer the questions so no need to continue. If you think having values isn't something important then your husband is a lucky guy because he has carte blanche to cheat or if God forbid you get sick, he can leave you and and you won't say a thing….. yeah right.
Julie, morals do matter and they should matter. I can assure you that ones morality does affect their ability to succeed in life or as president. Immorality should not be taken lightly in any case. I would suggest that you take morality into consideration as you vote for president. After all this country was founded under God and if God values morality we should as well.
"only a virtuous people are capable Of freedom." -Ben Franklin
"True religion and good morals are the only solid foundations of Public liberty and happiness." – continental congress 1778
Hi BOB!
Well Obama is morally superior to Gingrich in that he didn't have multiple affairs, I suppose then that you would vote for him based on the comments above?
Let me add that God values people's hearts, more than their morals. If you want to look at religion, lets look at the one this country was influenced by the most, Christianity. The God of Christianity instituted David as King over Israel because of his heart and unlike Saul who was removed as king (without any affairs), he did not remove David as King even though he had an affair and killed the women's husband. If God can forgive David's affair and murder and keep him as king, can he not forgive Newt's affairs and favor him as a president?
Furthermore, based on the Christian religion, God said of the women Caught in an affair, "you who is without sin, cast the first stone" and of the Good law abiding Pharisee, that always followed the law and kept moral lives, Jesus called them "a Brood of Vipers" and "white washed Tombs" (hollow on the inside).
Then furthermore, God sent Jesus Christ to full fill the law for us, so that we would not be bound to the letters of it and instead he send the holy spirit to guide people's hearts.
So, if the God you speak of above values morality, I would add that he values the heart of a man more than morality.
And we cannot judge a man's heart.
Julie, we cannot judge a man's heart, but we are commanded to judge his actions. Some look on the biblical standards for an overseer as only applicable within an organized church, and others see them as generic standards for a godly man of character in a position of leadership. If the latter, then Gingrich does not qualify, of course. If the former, then those standards are not relevant. But trustworthiness does matter, and I think what Bob and others would say is they don't feel they can trust Newt. When people repeatedly break your trust, eventually the relationship reaches a point where that trust must be earned back. I think that Gingrich will have to earn the people's trust, but the problem is that he keeps doing untrustworthy things and then having to start all over.
Now, I don't think that we are above God when it comes to forgiveness. In fact, the scriptures tell us that if we don't forgive people here on earth, that we will not be forgiven in heaven. That's pretty strong talk. If Newt had ever once showed evidence of contrition and repentance, then some might be willing to reconsider him. But he has never indicated any repentance. Instead, he talks about regret. If you say those are different, then you have just come over to our side. If you say that they are different, then I'd like to present you with a highly analogous situation. Scripture tells us that Judas, after betraying Jesus, was filled with regret. Most theologians say this is not the same as repentance, and in fact very different Greek verbs are used for the two in the gospels. So there we have a person who (apparently, since it is documented) expressed regret, but did not explicitly express repentance. What say you, about Judas?
Oops, sorry Julie, I should have written "If you say that they are THE SAME, then I'd like…"
Newt continues to handle himself very well. NBC pretends to play the game of being unbiased, but they do little things here and there to continue to promote Romney and undercut Gingrich, including the clips they replayed at the end of this video, which did not give Gingrich's short direct and full reply. This game the media plays of pretending to be one thing while intentionally being something else is dishonest. Gingrich had the guts to call out CNN on it in the last debate, so NBC created a new rule, no more applause (basically no more standing ovations for Newt). The media makes me sick and so does the GOP party that tries to force Romney on us.
I would add that Ron Paul although having very good ideas that are a great direction for this country in many regards, still needs to start lending support to one of the other candidates for the sake of this country. He is simply not electable and that is why he is getting less time at these debates. To support liberty and inspire it through his writing is great, but that does not make him the right man to lead this country.
@Julie: Ron Paul is totally electable — it is the older generation which keeps voting CLOWNS into office — you are one of the Americans who have helped us get into this mess based on your comment alone it appears you refuse to hear the truth coming from Dr Paul
I respect and admire Ron Paul's contribution and quest for liberty in this nation. I am also glad he is among the candidates for President, not because he will win, but because he raises the bar for all the other candidates.
However, Raul Paul would not make a good presidential nominee or president for several reasons. First, he has not demonstrated the ability to work with congress in the past to bring about change. He in fact alienates most of congress because he is so uncompromising on his ideals, which is respectable, but ineffective at bringing about change. (Perhaps his son Ran Paul will be able to do more and carry on his father's legacy.) Second, although his writings have inspired many, his speaking and debating leaves a lot to be desired. These are simply not his strengths and if he is going to go up against Obama, he will need these strengths to draw in support from people who would not normally support him. Most people are not going to take the time to read his words and thus, if he cannot properly express his ideas in speaking, Obama will win.
I will add that Romney is a pretty face without much depth. Romney is an imitator and he isn't the real deal. Santorum is genuine, but inexperienced, like a gungho teenager and Gingrich even with all his bad choices and baggage is really the only man for the job.
Obama claimed to be transparent, but Gingrich is transparent. Gingrich isn't the perfect candidate with the perfect family like Obama and Romney or Santorum, but he reflects the morals of this nation and comes as he is, the way he is, so that we know exactly what we are getting. Its refreshing. Furthermore, Gingrich is the only man who can debate Obama. Unlike Ron Paul or any of the other candidates, Gingrich has a gift for speaking and debating that allows him to gather supporters as he goes, meaning he has the most potential to gather support from the middle road voters. None of the other candidates will be able to do this.
Also Ron Paul received just about the only rounds of applause from the quiet and unresponsive crowd — please do not think Romney or Gringrich will be elected – they can not beat Obama
So Ron Paul is a great candidate but is not electable… where did you get that? I am sorry I thought people decide who is electable and who is not.. not you, do you know something I don't. Regardless, there are 4 people up there debating, they all have supporters and they should all get due time, end of story. For the sake of this country??!!! Gosh are you kidding, all the other GOP and Obama are worthless for this country, they should support Ron Paul for the sake of this country!!!! You said it your self "good ideas that are a great direction for this country" but then you say he should just support others for the country, man you are contradicting and your logic is very irrational.
The people have decided. Ron Paul has been at the bottom most of this debate and even admits himself that he does not see himself in the white house. He is using the debates as a platform to share his ideals of liberty, but at some point he will have to lend support to someone else because his speaking is not gathering much more support than the base he already had to begin with.
He said he does not "daydream" of himself in the whitehouse, like the rest of the candidates – obviously RP is running to win
Maybe I have missed quite a lot, but why is there so much hate directed at Ron Paul? He is rarely treated fairly in debates and is spoken of as though he were a joke. I am just curious as to what he has done or said that would deserve this negative attention.
Terry – Ron Paul is hated and ignored because he always has and always will speak and stand for the TRUTH!!!!! He is the only man that can stand up to Obama because he is honest and has a rod of iron for a back bone when it comes to what he believes. He is a man of principle, morals and conviction who doesn't shove his beliefs down the throat of others! He is consistent and has a flawless record. He stands for the working middle class who are struggling to survive. He stands for the poor and minorities and wants to make it possible that they can get back on their feet, get jobs and make a future for themselves and their future generations. He stands by the entrepreneur who has a dream of a bright future and wants to build a business and make a difference in the world. Ron Paul stands for America, for freedom and liberty for all race, gender, religion. I love Ron Paul and I hope with all of my heart that America will wake up and see that our freedom is slipping away by slow degrees while we the people eagerly eat up the lies that are fed to us on a cotton candy stick by those who seek to destroy this country from the INSIDE! The information is available for a time at least.(Until they try to pass SOPA again) Thank God we still can research the truth on the internet with out censorship and control of the government. We don't have to listen to the rotten media and the garbage it feeds us. We can stand up and find out the truth. There is hope for America. We are still the greatest country on earth!! The hope lies in our hands. We need to step up and speak out against the pollution and corruption prevalent in the media as well as the Republican and Democratic parties. They have all sold out and become corrupted and we need a DRASTIC change!!!!!! People say that Ron Paul's ideas won't work. HELLO people!!!! Can't you see that what we have been doing isn't working either? Have you listened to the veterans coming back from the war these past 10 years? What are they saying???? Ron Paul gets more support from the military than all the other candidates combined! That should ring a bell on his "naive foreign policies" We need radical changes and a radical man of passion and courage. Maybe a little bit of an extreme will balance out this country and keep us from sinking! So many people only hear what the media is telling them and we who know the truth must spread the word before it is too late.
No body hates Ron Paul. Being electable and hating someone are not even close to the same thing.
That's easy. They hate him because he's FREE (to speak his mind) and PROSPEROUS (without feeding off the government's you-know-what).
Newt handles himself well he has had three wives for practice. And it doesn't look like he controls his temper very well. He acts like a spoiled brat, that is out for himself. if he doesn't get his way just lie or throw a fit. To Julie watch him , listen close to what he says and what he does. If the truth is told about him he changes the subject to get it off him. He has stole from the tax payers. He doomed the housing market. Your vote counts I think you should read about him .
First, every candidate up there has at one point or another acted like a spoiled brat. Truth be told every human being does from time to time. This hardly disqualifies anyone for a job by itself.
Second, the measure of a man's ability to lead is hardly measured by his sexual activities. Look at Obama. He had the ideal marriage, only one wife and two kids, but has managed to cause enough damage to set this country back for years. On the other hand, Reagan had two wives and was considered one of the most beloved presidents of all time.
Thirdly, every candidate has gone off the subject from time to time or completely avoided the subject for various different reasons. Once again this is purely a debate technique, not a deciding factor on whether he can do the job.
Lastly, I would actually advise you to listen to him more carefully and to read more about him, besides the biased media. He is not perfect, but he hardly "doomed the housing market" (no single man could have done that, that is pure drama). Furthermore, the accusations thrown and twisted regarding him are not entirely true and have been twisted to totally discredit him. You have to remember that he has been around a while. A lot of historical and political changes have occurred in that time. You have to look at things in the context of the time frame in which they happened in. In retrospect we would all make better choices. If you really want to know the truth, I recommend a little less drama.
I think the audience were instructed not to show any emotion, such as clapping or whistling. Those that did would be asked to leave. This was the dumbest of the debates. Why would conservative candidates allow themselves to be questioned by any Socialist Commentators?
If NBC is going to run a debate they should make all affiliates air the debate. I had to watch it the next day on your website unlike the other debates. This just shows the bias of NBC to marginalize the debate. You won't do that with anything of President Obama campaign shows.
The debate last night was a HUGE disappointment with Brian Williams. I expected more but should know that NBC (Brian) are major liberal. Why won't they wake up? Our nation is going down the tube!
Did anybody catch Romney's "No speak english" reference 57:30 into the video?