The last GOP debates before the Iowa caucuses have concluded. The prime time debate featured: Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas), Marco Rubio (Florida), retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, former Governor Jeb Bush (Florida), New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (New Jersey), Ohio Governor John Kasich (Ohio), and Sen. Rand Paul (Kentucky).
Notably absent was GOP front-runner Donald Trump who said he was being treated unfairly by Fox News and decided to host a separate event at the same time of the debate.
Sen. Ted Cruz was asked what message Trump’s decision not to attend the debate sends to voters. Sen. Cruz thanked the candidates for showing respect to the Iowa voters by showing up for the debate.
Moderator Megyn Kelly asked Cruz about his the end of the “bromance” between him and Trump. He said there is a difference between attacking policies and spewing personal insults.
Sen. Cruz made the case that his plan to defeat ISIS is not “tough talk” but just different from the current policy under President Obama. Citing details about size and strength of the military and said that it has to be rebuilt.
Sen. Rubio made the same case, stating that the military is the smallest it has been in 100 years and said that ISIS will not be defeated unless the military is rebuilt.
Gov. Christie was asked whether he believes Sens. Cruz and Rubio are prepared to be president. He responded by talking about the Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton’s decision to use her private email server for her convenience and said she is not qualified to be president.
On the issue of domestic terrorism, Gov. Christie said that investigations should be based on facts not just profiling. He said that the neighbors of the San Bernardino shooters knew they were building pipe bombs. When pressed on that statement, he amended it saying that the neighbors thought there was something suspicious happening and that the neighbors should have informed law enforcement.
Sen. Cruz said he would repeal ObamaCare and listed several reforms that he would like to implement in place of ObamaCare.
Gov. Bush said that Puerto Rico should have the right of self determination and said he would urge the people of Puerto Rico to vote for statehood. But he also said that the economic situation there has to be fixed either way.
Asked about his stance on climate change, Sen. Rubio said he never supported the cap and trade policy. He said that economy should not suffer for polices that will not help the environment.
Sen. Rubio was pressed on his stance on immigration and whether or not he supported amnesty. Several clips were showed in which he said that a pathway to citizenship is essentially amnesty. He said that he does not support blanket amnesty.
While trying to convince voters that he did not reverse his position, Rubio argued that the border needs to be controlled before reform on immigration can be implemented.
Without the presence of Donald Trump, the candidates had more time to discuss the issues. The establishment candidates fought among themselves to convince voters that they are the conservative alternative to Donald Trump or Sen. Cruz.
Notably absent was GOP front-runner Donald Trump who said he was being treated unfairly by Fox News and decided to host a separate event at the same time of the debate.
Sen. Ted Cruz was asked what message Trump’s decision not to attend the debate sends to voters. Sen. Cruz thanked the candidates for showing respect to the Iowa voters by showing up for the debate.
Moderator Megyn Kelly asked Cruz about his the end of the “bromance” between him and Trump. He said there is a difference between attacking policies and spewing personal insults.
Sen. Cruz made the case that his plan to defeat ISIS is not “tough talk” but just different from the current policy under President Obama. Citing details about size and strength of the military and said that it has to be rebuilt.
Sen. Rubio made the same case, stating that the military is the smallest it has been in 100 years and said that ISIS will not be defeated unless the military is rebuilt.
Gov. Christie was asked whether he believes Sens. Cruz and Rubio are prepared to be president. He responded by talking about the Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton’s decision to use her private email server for her convenience and said she is not qualified to be president.
On the issue of domestic terrorism, Gov. Christie said that investigations should be based on facts not just profiling. He said that the neighbors of the San Bernardino shooters knew they were building pipe bombs. When pressed on that statement, he amended it saying that the neighbors thought there was something suspicious happening and that the neighbors should have informed law enforcement.
Sen. Cruz said he would repeal ObamaCare and listed several reforms that he would like to implement in place of ObamaCare.
Gov. Bush said that Puerto Rico should have the right of self determination and said he would urge the people of Puerto Rico to vote for statehood. But he also said that the economic situation there has to be fixed either way.
Asked about his stance on climate change, Sen. Rubio said he never supported the cap and trade policy. He said that economy should not suffer for polices that will not help the environment.
Sen. Rubio was pressed on his stance on immigration and whether or not he supported amnesty. Several clips were showed in which he said that a pathway to citizenship is essentially amnesty. He said that he does not support blanket amnesty.
While trying to convince voters that he did not reverse his position, Rubio argued that the border needs to be controlled before reform on immigration can be implemented.
Without the presence of Donald Trump, the candidates had more time to discuss the issues. The establishment candidates fought among themselves to convince voters that they are the conservative alternative to Donald Trump or Sen. Cruz.