Posted on 05/15/2007 11:21:01 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Three top Republican presidential contenders took fire from their second-tier rivals and traded digs on Tuesday, with Rudolph Giuliani defending his abortion rights support and John McCain and Mitt Romney trying to burnish their conservative credentials.
In the second debate in two weeks between the 10 men vying for the 2008 Republican nomination, Giuliani, McCain and Romney -- "Rudy McRomney" to their detractors -- tried to ease doubts among conservatives about their records.
The 90-minute session in conservative South Carolina featured a sharp exchange between front-runner Giuliani and longshot Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, who said America's Middle East policies led to the September 11 attacks.
"Have you ever read about the reasons they attacked us? They attack us because we've been over there. We've been bombing Iraq for 10 years," Paul said.
"That's really an extraordinary statement," interrupted Giuliani, who was mayor of New York and widely heralded for his leadership at the time of the 2001 attacks.
"As someone who lived through the attack of September 11, that we invited the attack because we were attacking Iraq. I don't think I've ever heard that before and I've heard some pretty absurd explanations for September 11," he said, demanding Paul withdraw the statement.
It was a welcome return to the security issue for Giuliani, who has spent two weeks explaining his support of abortion rights after drawing attention to the issue in the last debate by appearing to play both sides.
Giuliani leads in national polls but trails McCain in South Carolina, which has a high population of conservative Christians and holds an early primary that has been crucial in determining the Republican presidential nominee in past elections.
That was particularly true in 2000, when Bush won a bitter campaign duel here with McCain, senator from Arizona, that was pivotal in giving him the nomination.
"I ultimately do believe in a woman's right of choice, but I think that there are ways in which we can reduce abortions," Giuliani said during the debate.
"In the kind of democracy we have ... and the kind of society we have where we want to keep government out of people's personal lives," he said.
That drew a quick retort from former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
"If it's wrong, then we ought to be opposed to it," Huckabee said.
McCain has drawn criticism from conservatives for his support of campaign finance reform and opposition to President George W. Bush's tax cuts, while Romney has been hit for his late conversions on issues like abortion rights and gay rights.
"I trust those conversions when they happen on the road to Damascus, not on the road to Des Moines," Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo said.
Romney pledged not to raise taxes and said he backs the right to own guns, but supports a ban on assault weapons. McCain clung to his backing for the Bush administration's surge strategy in the Iraq war.
The debate also featured other candidates trying to elbow their way into contention -- Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas, Rep. Duncan Hunter of California, and former Govs. Jim Gilmore of Virginia and Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin.
Yeah,,, I didn’t bother to watch both debates, my vote is going to Fred Thompson.
Fred Thompson/John Bolton 2008
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
the Fox News text msg poll is being tipped by idiot Dems
to show Ron Paul as the favored winner of the debate.
We all know this is total bullpucky !
I give it to Hunter
At one point in the debate, Giuliani said something like, "I don't want to see another 3,000 Americans dead."
Well, we've already got another 3,000 Americans dead -- it's called the Iraq War, and it hasn't done anything to curb terrorism or keep terrorists out of the U.S.
“Ron Pau’s comments are absurd.”
Why do they attack in UK, France, Germany, Holland, Norway, Sweden, Spain, Italy, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia, Israel, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, India, Sudan, Philippines, Australia, Maylaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and elsewhere?
No doubt I missed some, but the US is hardly the reason.
They are on a violent wave of almost relentless attacking. The reason is them, not us or US.
through the enemedia who will not recognize their existence.
I concur, I thought Tancredo, surprisingly did well, and Pauls antics gave Rudy some opportunities he used to great advantage. McCain, a patriot, but still flakey, Romney, a good man, still fakey. Rudy more a Democrat than Republican, Ron Paul, Uncle Nutsy, comes off as more Murtha than Reagan (was surprised he didn’t call us little Eichmann’s) Of course, Fred will save us all, he played the role of President on film, so the debates were a waste of time anyway.
Did you watch the debate, or read the clip here? When Rudy jumped on that statement the applause and cheering for him was deafening. You got the "isn't popular" part right!!!
and it hasn't done anything to curb terrorism...
5.67 years and no terrorist attack in the USA. You may want to rethink your position.
LOL! Good analysis.
You are so right. 5.67 years, huh? That is what i call attention to detail. :)
LOL! It is that anal-retentive accounting thingy. ;*)
“Ron Paul’s comments are absurd. The terrorists are not attacking us becausen we’re beating them up; to the contrary, the terrorists are fighting us because they hate our free way of life . . . .”
Actually, I suspect the Arabs turned on the TV one day and saw the Jerry Springer Show, Oprah, and then the Michael Jackson TV special - then they decided that the country responsible for spreading this garbage had to be stopped. If I were a foreigner and saw the Jerry Springer Show, I would think Americans are degenerate scum. Sad to say, but true - Hollywood is responsible for making America look terrible to the rest of the world.
I was so impressed by that man that I have volunteered to
work for his campaign .
We need a warrior leader ! Hunter was with the 75th Army Rangers in Vietnam . They were the best!
His son has done 2 tours in Iraq . Who else can claim that?
His Marine son has told him the lowdown , I have no doubt.
I think Hunter is the man ....sounds good too :
President Hunter !
(hunter of al Qaeda...hunter of Taliban , hunter of our nations enemies)
Ron Paul needs to find a new party, like Hezbollah, for example.
Rudy IS old, and certainly not well spiritually. He’s also bald...have we ever had a bald president or will this be another historic first?
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