Profiles Update: The Race to the White House Heats Up

And then there were 16. With Governor Perry out of the race, the Presidential field has narrowed and focused. Even before this week’s schoolyard taunt fest masquerading as a debate, the candidates were trying to shift the focus to issues, even as the mainstream media continued to focus on personality.

This dynamic was front and center at CNN’s myopic excuse for a debate. As Conservative Review’s Daniel Horowitz wrote, CNN’s Jake Tapper’s focus on the mundane, while actively goading the candidates into ad-hominem attacks left some of the real consequential issues of our time on the back burner. Horowitz’s main point: Most conspicuously absent from the prime-time debate was any substantive discussion of Barack Obama’s plan to take in tens of thousands of easily radicalized migrants fleeing Syria’s civil war. Painfully long, what the debate lacked in real substance it did not compensate for with energy or enthusiasm. Its length, pacing, and miniscule—establishment heavy—crowd size resulted in a drawn out affair that had trouble keeping the attention of run of the mill voters. The establishment makeup of the crowd served to diminish the effect principled conservative answers could have. In a setting like the Reagan Presidential library the “pale pastel” audience was not a fitting tribute to a “bold color conservative,” who ran a primary against a sitting establishment Republican president. One of the strongest statements from any candidate came in the undercard debate. Bobby Jindal, showing an increasing frustration with the Washington party establishment said, “If we can’t defund Planned Parenthood now, if we can’t stand for innocent human life after these barbaric videos, it is time to be done with the Republican Party.” He further added that it would be, “time to get rid of the Republican Party, start over with a new one that’s at least conservative.” Where did the candidates break new ground in explaining their policies? Conservative Review’s presidential profiles have been updated with a lot of new information, some from the debate, some from new policy positions. One of the areas of substantive policy that got a surprising amount of focus from CNN was the issue of Planned Parenthood. Many candidates who had previously not weighed in said they would be in favor of calling the President’s bluff and sending him a bill without Planned Parenthood funding even if it meant a veto. Governor Walker is the only candidate to come out with a major policy announcement this past week, centering on labor union issues. One of the highlights was his call for ending the last vestige of Jim Crow legislation, the Davis-Bacon prevailing wage laws which were originally instituted to force all employers to pay a prevailing wage, so that African Americans would not depress the wages and take the jobs of white workers. Here are the major changes made to the profiles this week. Jeb Bush

Bush said that every attempt should be made to make an accommodation for her to practice her faith in the way she deems necessary. On the issue of defunding Planned Parenthood, Bush said he would reinstitute the Reagan era Title X rules which bar funding to any organization that promotes abortion. Conservative Review’s John Gray took an in depth look at Bush’s recent Tax proposal. He went through it to see how closely it adheres to conservative principles. Ben Carson

Ben Carson’s recent support for the federal Department of Education (DoE) having a role to play in influencing local curriculum by pushing for STEM education, and support for the DoE having a role as a censor for political bias, necessitated a change on this issue rating from “good” to “mixed.” The main concern is repurposing and endorsing the existence of the DoE rather than devolving education to the state level. On other policy issues, Carson told Conservative Review’s Editor in Chief Mark Levin that he would not increase spending in any year of his presidency. During the debate he came out for an indexed minimum wage, a position that conservatives believe is worse than periodic voting to raise the minimum wage. He also naively stated that America’s threatening to become energy independent could have an effect on terrorism, and could act as a substitute for a serious foreign policy response to Middle Eastern aggression. On the issue of immigration, Carson made statements that suggest he is unwilling to enforce current deportation laws as they apply to illegal immigrants. Chris Christie

In light of Governor Walker’s labor proposals, Conservative Review looked into the positions of the other candidates on the major points Walker raised. On the issue of prevailing wage laws, which increase the costs of public works projects, Governor Christie has stated he supports them. Christie vetoed legislation that would have expanded the types of projects that qualified for project labor agreements. During the debate Governor Christie said an accommodation should be made for Kim Davis to ensure her religious liberties. He also strongly came out for congress forcing President Obama’s hand on Planned Parenthood funding. Ted Cruz

During the debate, Ted Cruz remained consistent in his principles, therefore there was not much new to report. However, he did lay out his philosophy on when he would apply military force, and strongly defended the reasons for defunding Planned Parenthood. Carly Fiorina

Carly Fiorina rhetorically had a strong debate. But many of her positions were not new. The two areas that stood out were a clear policy for dealing with Russia and a strong condemnation of Planned Parenthood that called on the President to watch the live murder of a born-alive baby. Lindsey Graham

During the debate, Senator Graham continued his penchant for bringing almost every question back to a call for ground troops in Syria and Iraq. Besides that he definitively made some policy news. Graham came out against the enforcement of deportation law as it pertains to illegal immigrants. He said that he wants to bar birthright citizenship mainly for birth tourists, and set a goal of increasing ground troops in Iraq and Syria to 20,000 and compel the other countries in the Middle East pay for this new war.

Huckabee remained consistent in many of his policies during the debate. The one area that was newsworthy was his pledge to have a pro-life litmus test on judges.

Governor Jindal was the conservative star of the early debate. In addition to the previously mentioned call for a conservative party if the Republican Party doesn’t start performing for the grassroots, Jindal had other strong policy positions.

Jindal turned a question about discrimination against Muslim Americans into a strong defense of the religious liberty of Christians against recent discrimination and jailing. Jindal said that he would look at ending the carried interest deduction as part of a comprehensive overhaul of the tax code that lowered taxes. He also promised to have a pro-life litmus test on judges. Finally in his closing statement Jindal said he blames congressional Republicans more than President Obama for the nation’s problems, because the Republicans are not fighting for their principles.

The main thing learned about Governor Kasich’s policies during the debate is that he is afraid to defund Planned Parenthood at the state level because he would lose Medicaid funding. He is also strongly against forcing President Obama to choose between funding the government and funding Planned Parenthood. Kasich continues his shift to the left.

During the debate Senator Paul said it was “absurd” to rip up the Iran Deal immediately. He would wait to see if the Iranians were actually abiding by it.

At the debate, Marco Rubio proposed ending the current warped incentives for chain migration. Rubio said, "[S]tep two would be to modernize our legal immigration system so you come to America on the basis of what you can contribute economically, not whether or not you simply have a relative living here." He also said that he would not support any so-called green energy legislation that put undue burdens on the ability of Americans to live their lives.

During the debate Rick Santorum said that he supports increasing troop levels in Iraq to 10,000 boots on the ground. On the issue of religious liberty, Santorum strongly stood up for the rights of Christians to practice their religion even in the public sphere. The most surprising thing at the debate was Santorum previewing his tax policy, which he promised would soon be released. Santorum called for a 20% flat tax and elimination of deductions. The flat tax would be on income, capital gains, and corporations.

While the debate was primarily a contest to see who was most offended by past Trump statements, conservatives learned very little about Trump’s actual policy positions. The one new policy position was Trump’s strong defense of a graduated income tax.

Conservative Review also learned that Trump would not eliminate the Department of Education and that he sees some federal role in education.

As mentioned earlier Governor Walker had a major policy address on labor unions. Highlights of his plan include: curbing the establishment of any new federal employee unions, instituting national right to work legislation, repealing the Jim Crow era Davis-Bacon prevailing wage laws, and banning the use of cost-raising project labor agreements on federal construction projects.

During the debate Walker called on the Senate to use the reconciliation process, that the Democrats used to pass Obamacare, to defund Planned Parenthood, which would require only a 51-vote threshold but as shown here by Daniel Horowitz is failed tactic and a show vote.

Robert Eno is the Director of Research for Conservative Review and also is a Contributor. He is a conservative from deep blue Massachusetts but now lives in Greenville, SC. He is also a fill in radio host and appears on television. Follow him @robeno and feel free to email him at reno@conservativereview.com.

Like the Marines’ slogan of a few years ago, “Looking for a few good men.”

Ben Carson - a nice guy and a great doctor - but not ready to be president. The RINO’s or media seem to be getting to him as he skews leftward on several issues or hasn’t thought things through enough.

Scott Walker - another nice guy with a great record as governor - what happened to him? He dropped like a rock but still important to the conservative side and all but destroyed the union in his blue state. That is still impressive!

Ted Cruz - another nice guy. A proven record in the Senate. Has good organization, sufficient money and has done a lot of leg work. Seems to be keeping his power dry. I personally hope some of it (the power, not the money) catches fire here soon.

Bobby Jindal - seems a strong conservative. I like a lot of what he has said of late, is an outspoken critic of the left. Unfortunately, he has slipped into the role of court jester with Trump. It has diminished him greatly.

Rick Santorum - would you ever have believed that the guy who came in 2nd in the last Iowa primary would be where he is today? A good guy. Perhaps he will have a place in the next Republican administration.

Mike Huckabee - very strong on social issues but really, he should drop out. He has no chance and he must know it.

Donald Trump - how far will he go? Will he get in over his head? Does he have ideas he’s not sharing because he doesn’t want to show his hand - or because he doesn’t have any? He has changed the narrative, shaken up the media, owes few to no one, pays his own way. In short, a Democrat that loves his country and a strong capitalist - but a Johnny come lately to the conservative side. Stay tuned. If nothing else it will be entertaining and we never know, he just might make it.

The rest, in my opinion, are not such good guys/gals and should give it a rest. They have no chance of winning and it’s a stretch to call them conservative… but of course we know they won’t spare us the circus.

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