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The Des Moines Register newspaper sponsored this debate and the FOX News Channel covered it, so it wasn't the usual left wing liberal attack the Republican candidates show that previous debates degraded into. The moderator was Dennis Ryerson of the Des Moines Register, being more informational and less confrontational in his questioning than prior moderators were.
*OPENING STATEMENTS*
George Bush talked about lowering taxes ( nothing new there ), as Orrin Hatch empatically wanted, " the Clinton/Gore team to go ". Gary Bauer worshipped " the sanctity of human life " and demonized ( correctly in my opinion ) the People's Republic of China and vowed to repeal most favored status to China if elected. Steve Forbes, who is looking more and more like a gadfly than a candidate, " visited Iowa more times than any other candidate on this stage " and wanted " to fight for you ". John McCain took back the " want to reform " ( government ), while Alan Keyes was " grateful " to be there.
*ON HEALTH CARE*
Keyes didn't want big government dictating to people how they should spend their health care dollars. McCain attacked Democrats this time, as opposed to his ilk, as he thought " the administration was AWOL " on VA ( Veteran's Administration ) health care, citing, the reason for Washington D.C. inaction with, " The Democrats are gridlocked by the trial lawyers ". Forbes hit on abortion and euthanasia, while Bush criticized the current administration as having a plan that is " inefficient ".
*CANDIDATES QUESTIONED EACH OTHER*
Bauer asked Hatch about MFN for Red China ( Bauer is in favor of revoking MFN with China ) and got Hatch's standard Washington insider answer of, " I don't think the way to solve the problem is to isolate them ". Shame; shame on you Orrin Hatch! Keyes asked Bush about a town in Texas conducting their official business in spanish. Doing his equivalent of the old Clinton lip biting routine, Bush said that he did not agree with their policy. My follow up question would have been something like, ' what are you going to do about it'. Oh well, nobody asked that clarifying question of the Texas governor! McCain asked Bauer about taking foreign campaign contribution. Bauer parroted his factually correct attack on the PRC and this time mentioned the Clinton/Gore administration specifically. Hatch plugged his twenty minute campaign video, asking Forbes about the lack of morality in the current administration. Forbes responded that he would " bring back integrity to the White House ". Bush and McCain turned a question about taxes into an arguement, with McCain sounding like a liberal Democrat, scolding Bush about not putting money in his plan for education, Social Security and paying down the national debt?
Later, on the concerns of the people of Iowa, Forbes wanted to " open up foreign markets ", but Keyes wanted to stop " the death of the family farm ".
A question came from a citizen of Iowa; saying, how would you reclaim the dignity of the White House? Bauer said that it is " our house ". Hatch added another attack on the Democrats, " I have been appalled by what has gone on in Washington ". McCain would not " take a poll on how to conduct foreign policy ".Bush finally opined, " the office is greater than the occupant "!
*ON EDUCATION*
Keyes began, " Put control of our education back in the hands of the parents...reclaim control of our schools ". It is the " choice of the parents not government ". McCain wanted to try " charter schools " all over America, though he still sounded like a Democrat when he talked about taxing and spending more money. Bauer said, " the problem is in Washington D.C. ". Bush thought " one size does not fit all in education ". In a follow-up question about the Ten Commandments, Bush opined that, " schools should be able to post the ten commandments ".
*ON THE ENVIRONMENT*
Hitting on the trial lawyers mantra again, Bush joined with, " This administration tries to sue their way to a clean environment ", while Forbes characterized the ( radical tree hugging Clinton ) administration view as, " junk science ", and urged, " don't let the lawyers get involved ". Bauer added that " the resources are there to be used ( responsibly ) ". Hatch vowed to " get rid of the Kyoto Accords ". Keyes wanted to be " tougher " and " smarter ", and McCain wanted to " examine the current laws " ( that's a reformer for you...always examining something but having no concrete opinion of his own? ).
*CLOSING STATEMENTS*
Bush was as " positive and hopeful ", as Forbes was an " independent outsider ". Keyes offered a brief prayer, acknowledging " the Creator's authority ", while McCain was still " committed to the concept of reform ". Bauer was the " son of a janitor " who would end " abortion on demand ". Finally, Hatch was " concerned about beating Al Gore and Bill Bradley, who are both far left ".
Forbes needed to make a strong showing, but he didn't. Bush is gaining momentum!
- Bongo ( Gone fishin'? )
