The eight GOP presidential candidates took to their podiums once again for another debate that gave Americans answers to various questions, and hopefully helped people to narrow down their choices as to who they want to be elected into office.
The event, moderated by Wolf Blitzer and aired on CNN from Constitution Hall in the nation’s capital, focused on national security and topics related to keeping the country safe and secure in these volatile times.
Topics for the evening included border control and immigration, the TSA, relationships with foreign countries such as Iran, and even the economy here at home. Romney, Bachman, Cain, Gingrich, Paul, Perry, Huntsman, and Santorum were in attendance for the night.
Herman Cain, former businessman, said that national security “Is one of the biggest issues we face.” His opponents did not disagree with that statement, reiterating in different words how national security is something that we, as a country, have lacked in with this administration.
The war that we are fighting in Afghanistan, which president Obama is putting to sleep, was another issue that many of the candidates had a problem with. Romney, in his defense of the argument, said that now is not the time to cut and run. Making sure that the people of that country have a good chance at success without being taken over by the Taliban is what Romney ultimately argued.
Newt Gingrich, former speaker of the house, was the frontrunner before the start of this debate!
Huntsman, who previously served as the U.S. ambassador to China, said we do not need 100,00 troops and then went on to point out how, in his opinion, Americans are confused as to where we stand and when the war will officially come to a conclusive end.
Securing the border, once again was a fight in the debate, and many candidates added their input. Santorum stated that he is a supporter of bringing in skilled immigrants that can be a benefit this country. Bachman does not want to make 11 million illegal aliens legal if they are not helping this country is a proactive way. She pointed out that skilled chemists and other immigrants in professions encouraging the well being of the nation, are not going to be forced out of our borders. Another interesting debate question was that of the role of the Transportation Safety Association (TSA), and how they should be handled in government. According to Perry, the TSA should be privatized. This is not the first time Perry pointed this out. He recognized other areas that are making the TSA private and how it is succeeding. Muslims, who according to Santorum, are considered a high threat and should be profiled, became a larger part of the argument. “The radical Muslims are the people that are committing these crimes, by and large along with younger males,” Santorum said. When Blitzer asked Cain if Muslims should present a higher risk at airports than Jewish-Americans or Christian-Americans, Cain could not come up with a concrete answer. Santorum said, “We should be trying to find the bomber, not the bomb.” Paul, on the other hand, suggested that profiling is, “digging a hole for ourselves.”
On the issue of energy and where we get our energy from, Bachman had words to say. Her viewpoint of the Obama administration is that they have ignored any attempt to gain energy independence. Bachman stated that this would change is she was elected into office.
The 2012 race for the presidency seems to have taken over all of the major networks programming, and it is not likely to end anytime soon. The race is basically at its roots and the heat and intensity of the competition is still to come.
The next debate will take place on Dec. 10 and will be aired live on ABC. Turn to bunow.com for more information and the latest news from the various campaign trails up until Election Day.
