A Tale of Two Debates, Boots on the Ground, Russia & Benghazi

Contents

1. The GOP Debate
2. The Democrat Debate
3. Other Political
4. Benghazi Hearing
5. Russia on the Move
6. Boots on the Ground
7. GOP Debate Transcript Excerpts

The GOP Debate

The CU Boulder venue for the GOP debate on Oct. 28 was an interesting choice.  Besides being my graduate alma mater, it is a bastion of liberalism – long known as “Berkeley East.”  They’ll have to bus in any GOP audience, or anyone besides pot-head hippies, although a number of seats have been reserved for students.  Remember that Ward Churchill is on the faculty.  Being in the sciences, I avoided such types.

The CNBC host predictably chose liberal moderators, including another connection I have – John Harwood (my middle name, no doubt related), who works for both CNBC & the New York Times.  And as expected there were plenty of “gotchas” and promotion of mudslinging.  

Interesting that the summer of Trump seems to already be fading, as Carson pulls into the lead.  But the bet makers are placing the odds on Rubio in the end.  And I’m rooting for Fiorina as VP.

When the candidates were asked what was their biggest weakness, there were a few note worthies. Huckabee said ask my wife.  Fiorina heard she hadn’t smiled enough the last debate, and gave a big smile. Cruz said he was too easy going. And Christie said the weaknesses are on the Democrat side, with a socialist, and isolationist, and a pessimist.

The moderators were clearly loaded for bear, and posed gotcha questions in rapid succession, and with demeaning tones. And often based on inaccurate facts. And so it gave me and the audience obviously great pleasure when Sen. Cruz pointed out how the questions so far clearly showed the media bias. By contrast the Democrat debate last week was a relative lovefest with many softballs thrown. Cruz described it as a battle between the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks. Christie also became extremely indignant when the issue of fantasy football was raised, when we have much more important fish to fry like a $19 trillion debt, ISIS, etc.   He also pointed out how the Democrat contestants simply tried to outdo each other in taxing and spending giveaways. Trump also criticized the tone of some of the questions.

One analysis said “The biggest loser in last night’s GOP debate was CNBC, as gauged by the reaction of the candidates, audience and social media, at least.

‘Following the debate, Bill O’Reilly and Charles Krauthammer slammed the “arrogance” of the “obnoxious” moderators for baiting the candidates.

‘Speaking of the media, Marco Rubio had one of the best lines of the night:

“The Democrats have the ultimate Super PAC; it’s called the mainstream media.” [Citing how the media treated Hillary’s performance in the Benghazi hearings, where she was exposed as a liar]

After various individual tax rate proposals were presented varying between 10 and 15%, and corporate rates from 16 to 20%, Fiorina pointed out how many tax reform plans have been proposed over the decades, but what we need is a leader who knows how to get things done. Including a three-page tax code, to replace the 73,000 page code currently.

There wasn’t much in-fighting, but Kasich did attack Carson’s & Trump’s ideas as “fantasy.”  As Trump pointed out, Kasich is desperate to raise his poll numbers.  Kasich is accomplished, but then the whole GOP bench is – especially as compared with the Democrat bench, as was pointed out. There were many excellent proposals for dealing with Medicare, Social Security, etc. -- see the transcript at the end of this post.

When Rubio was asked why he didn’t step down as senator while running for president, after missing some 30% of Senate votes, he smartly pointed out how Obama and Kerry had even worse voting records during their campaigns, but the liberal media never criticized them.

Fiorina was once again criticized for her CEO performance at HP, and she once again had to remind them how the NASDAQ dropped 80%, HP had 9 quarters of poor performance before her, she saved 80,000 jobs and grew to 160,000 jobs. She said there was politics in the board room and the man who led her firing now says they were wrong and that Carly would be right for America. She pointed out that as CEO she would be held criminally responsible for inaccurate statements to the board, and imagine if politicians were held to the same standard.

Huckabee asked what difference there is between the stealing from the public by Madoff and the government. Carly pointed out that crony capitalism is alive and well in the pharmaceutical and bank consolidations. And how big business benefits from big government and crushes small business, so that only the bigger ones survive. This is how socialism starts. There is a need to level the playing field. Christie pointed out how Obama’s Justice Department is so political – they give GM a pass on prosecuting all the deaths due to a switch error, and prosecute general Petraeus.

On women’s issues, Carly said that Hillary is the height of hypocrisy. She said that she would be Hillary’s worst nightmare. Every policy for this administration was bad for women. Regarding super PACs, Rubio said that the Democrats have the ultimate super PAC, namely the mainstream media.

Huckabee said that the runaway blimp today was a perfect analogy for government run amok. He also pointed out that he was the only one who has repeatedly fought the Clinton machine and won.

At the end of this post I have copied more complete portions of interesting parts of the debate transcript.

Some excerpts from Peggy Noonan in the WSJ Oct. 30:

“CNBC’s debate moderators have famously come under fire for questions, statements and a tone that were obnoxious. They were. The moderators seemed intent on trivializing the field. When you say, “Candidate A, you have criticized Candidates B and C, turn to them now and tell them why they’re dopes,” you are presenting yourself as the puppet master and them as puppets. They must either attack their colleagues as instructed and look weak, or push back against the moderator in a way open to charges of defensiveness and cynicism. They can’t win. (Though later one did.)

“There’s nothing wrong with mischief from debate moderators, but this was dumb mischief, plonkingly obvious in its ideological hostility. What’s your greatest weakness? Should fantasy football be regulated? These questions were merely shallow.

‘To Jeb Bush: “Governor, the fact that you’re at the fifth lectern tonight shows how far your stock has fallen in this race, despite the big investment your donors have made.” Donald Trump uncorking a taunt, right? No! It was moderator John Harwood! He followed up: “Ben Bernanke, who was appointed Fed chairman by your brother, recently wrote a book in which he said he no longer considers himself a ‘Republican because the Republican Party has given in to know-nothingism. Is that why you’re having a difficult time in this race?”

‘It is very hard to imagine a candidate in a Democratic debate being asked if he’s not doing well because his party is ignorant and vicious.

‘There was browbeating, and interruptions aimed at forcing a candidate’s thought-train off its tracks:

Since Chris Christie has called climate change undeniable, asked Mr. Harwood, what would he do about it? Mr. Christie said his solutions would not be the usual Democratic ones involving more taxes and more power to Washington.

“What should we do?” Mr. Harwood pressed.

“What we should do is invest in all types of energy, John—”

“You mean government?” Mr. Harwood interrupted.

Christie: “I got to tell you the truth, even in New Jersey what you’re doing is called rude.”

‘That was a lovely moment. The best belonged to Ted Cruz. ….

‘I don’t know if fights like this win you anything, but the pushback was deserved, and instructive for future moderators: Be tough, incisive, follow up, dig down. But don’t be a high-handed snot, don’t wear your bias on your sleeve. That helps nothing. Don’t you get that?

The Democrat debate

It is rightly said that the Democrat debate was basically a contest to see who could promise the most goodies. But of course a socialist like Sanders will win that contest every time. It’s odd that the more typically irreligious left appeals to the immorality of inequalities, rather than focusing on jobs and raising the standard of living for the lowest income people. Sanders of course touted other model countries with better benefits and democratic socialism, like Denmark and others in Europe. Ignoring many of their economic plights and reforms in the other direction.

Clinton continued to dodge any responsibility for mistakes in Benghazi or with her emails. Or the Russian reset. Or Syria.

Webb, a former Republican, often stood in stark contrast with the other candidates. He was more knowledgeable and national security and pointed out the growing threats of China and Russia. And the situation in Syria. His gun policies would be more at home in the GOP. There was a contrast between his service as a veteran and Sanders conscientious objector status. Not surprising to see him drop out of the race after the debate, and hinting at a possible independent run. It would seem that the Democrat party has left him, just as many others, as it continues to move left. Webb seems to be an artifact of the old Democrat party.

They continue to blame Bush for Iraq, with O’Malley we were led into Iraq under false pretenses. He quoted John Q Adams who warned against searching the world for monsters. But isn’t that what progressives do all the time with all kinds of petty issues? And of course they raise the climate issue to a moral issue with Sanders citing the Pope.

Clinton called for a new New Deal. No specifics and nothing really new, basically just a third Obama term.

Medved pointed out that Clinton did okay especially relative to the pathetic bunch of losers, and especially compared with the GOP field.

Other Political

Joe Biden announced that he had concluded that his grieving for his son’s death had delayed his possible entry into the race until it was too late. But he seemed to have a parting shot at Hillary Clinton’s statement at the debate that she was proudest to have Republicans as her enemy. Biden said we need to think of Republicans as the loyal opposition, not our enemies. We have real enough enemies as a country.

Paul Ryan, the heir apparent as speaker of the house, said that we need to move from being an opposition party to being a proposition party.

More favorable bodings for the GOP in 2016, with the win this week of the governorship & deputy governorship in Kentucky -- only the second in 40 years.  It was partly a referendum on Obamacare.

Benghazi Hearing

The mainstream media widely proclaimed that Hillary did well in the long Ben Ghazi hearing. But one would expect that assessment from them, the Democrats’ super PAC. She did well in artfully dodging any responsibility, and maintaining her composure in contrast to her earlier appearance with the “what difference does it make?” It was a finely coached act to preserve her run for president.

Perhaps the biggest revelation was that within 24 hours of the attack, Hillary emailed her family and told the leaders of Egypt and Libya that it clearly was not a protest, but an orchestrated and planned terrorist attack. But then she and Pres. Obama, through their surrogate Susan Rice, and personally to the victims’ families, repeatedly told America that the blame lie with an anti-Islamic video on the Internet. Which of course supported Obama’s narrative that Osama bin Laden was dead and Al Qaeda was on the run, which was critical in the remaining weeks of his reelection campaign. And so Hillary and the administration were shown to be liars for political gain. And they accuse Bush of stealing the 2000 election?

Some other interesting facts came out. Sidney Blumenthal, not even a government official or employee, had much more access to Hillary Clinton, the head of the State Department, then Amb. Stevens in Libya. In the months leading up to the attack, there were 600 documented requests for additional security, but hardly any of them were honored, and the number of personnel remained constant. The ambassador even joked to his staff that perhaps they should appeal to other governments or take advantage of fire sales, as other consulates evacuated under worsening security.

Apparently Hillary saw none of these requests, and she said that she left it to the lower level specialists. She said it was “not my job.” But it was pointed out that the 1998 ARB recommended that the Secretary of State personally review Embassy security at high risk areas. So Hillary can plead ignorance in the lead-up (but not the cover-up), but she cannot claim competence as an executive. And it was pointed out that in fact no one was held responsible or fired in the wake of the disaster.

Which was why we of course get more incompetence in the civil service.  Similar to the IRS scandal.  And the Obama Justice Dept.  Riddled w. crookedness more than the Nixon administration, but of course these folks get away with it, just as did Bill Clinton. No, Hillary may be an artful dodger, but she certainly is not an accomplished executive, especially in comparison with the entire GOP field.

Russia on the Move

Russia has moved big time into Syria to fill the power vacuum that the US has not wanted to address. The US has no credibility there after drawing a meaningless red line for Assad, laughable token support to his opposition, and pinprick airstrikes against ISIS. And so under the pretext of fighting ISIS, the Russians have moved naval, ground and air forces in, then mainly attacked Assad’s opposition, who are our allies. Russia always seems to find some pretext for such aggressions, just as they did in Ukraine.

Another proxy war like Vietnam, Afghanistan, etc. And they are apparently being joined by some of their communist allies like Cuba and China, which moved naval force into the area, further expanding their sphere of interest and influence. And of course there is also the unholy alliance between Russia and Iran. Anyone familiar with biblical eschatology might suspect the beginnings of the armies of Gog and Magog leading up to the battle of Armageddon.

And of course Obama minimizes this failure of his by claiming Russia is just desperate, and will regret this.  The blame always lies elsewhere for this administration, and the Left in general.  They are never accountable for their failures, and always exaggerate or concoct “successes.”  Being on the Left means never having to admit mistakes or say you’re sorry.  After all the many disasters of Communism and now socialism, they (including Bernie Sanders) still want to tout it, or say it just hasn’t been done correctly. 

“Boots on the Ground” -- Our Troops in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan

After repeated clear and emphatic declarations by Obama that there would be no troops on the ground in Iraq or Syria, we now have 3500 in Iraq and 50 in Syria. And the drawdown in Afghanistan has been put on hold. Clearly Obama is finally facing reality, and not wanting to see a repeat in Afghanistan of what happened in Iraq after his premature withdrawal -- at least before the end of his term of office. Namely the rise of ISIS. They still want to blame Bush for ISIS, but things were under control in Iraq when Bush left office. It’s interesting that Obama’s spokesman would not rule out additional troops in Syria or Iraq. Apparently he’s learning lessons. Military experts agree that these  levels of troops will have little impact. And Obama has no clear strategy in Syria or Iraq.

And now we have 2 Russian jetliners downed over Egypt (Sinai) within a week, after having flown out of Sharm-el-Sheikh, killing hundreds of passengers.  The indications are they were caused by bombs, and ISIS is taking credit.  Things are definitely warming up in the Middle East – Russia, and especially Putin, is not known for the kind of passive responses that Obama is known for.

Selective GOP Debate Transcript excerpts: (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/10/28/the-third-republican-debate-annotating-the-transcript/)

QUINTANILLA: So when the Sun-Sentinel says Rubio should resign, not rip us off, when they say Floridians sent you to Washington to do a job, when they say you act like you hate your job, do you?

RUBIO: Let me say, I read that editorial today with a great amusement. It's actually evidence of the bias that exists in the American media today.

QUINTANILLA: Well, do you hate your job?

RUBIO: Let me -- let me answer your question on the Sun-Sentinel editorial today. Back in 2004, one of my predecessors to the Senate by the name of Bob Graham, a Democrat, ran for president missing over 30 percent of his votes. I don't recall them calling for his resignation --

QUINTANILLA: Is that the standard?

RUBIO: Later that year, in 2004, John Kerry ran for president missing close to 60 to 70 percent of his votes. I don't recall the Sun -- in fact, the Sun-Sentinel endorsed him. In 2008, Barack Obama missed 60 or 70 percent of his votes, and the same newspaper endorsed him again. So this is another example of the double standard that exists in this country between the mainstream media and the conservative movement.

(APPLAUSE)

……

CRUZ [on the Media bias]: You know, let me say something at the outset. The questions that have been asked so far in this debate illustrate why the American people don't trust the media.

(APPLAUSE) This is not a cage match. And, you look at the questions -- "Donald Trump, are you a comic-book villain?" "Ben Carson, can you do math?" "John Kasich, will you insult two people over here?" "Marco Rubio, why don't you resign?" "Jeb Bush, why have your numbers fallen?"

How about talking about the substantive issues the people care about?

(APPLAUSE)

QUINTANILLA: (inaudible) do we get credit (inaudible)?

CRUZ: And Carl -- Carl, I'm not finished yet.

CRUZ: The contrast with the Democratic debate, where every fawning question from the media was, "Which of you is more handsome and why?"

(LAUGHTER)

And let me be clear.

(CROSSTALK)

QUINTANILLA: So, this is a question about (inaudible), which you have 30 seconds left to answer, should you choose to do so.

CRUZ: Let me be clear. The men and women on this stage have more ideas, more experience, more common sense than every participant in the Democratic debate. That debate reflected a debate between the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks.

(LAUGHTER)

And nobody watching at home believed that any of the moderators had any intention of voting in a Republican primary. The questions that are being asked shouldn't be trying to get people to tear into each other. It should be what are your substantive positions...

…..

PAUL [on the Debt]:   …….This is the unholy alliance that people need to know about between right and left. Right and left are spending us into oblivion. We should use the debt ceiling, as precisely to Don, to force upon them budgetary reforms.

HARWOOD: Senator, if what you just said is true, why did Speaker Boehner craft this deal and why did Paul Ryan, who has a strong reputation for fiscal discipline, vote for it?

PAUL: Well, that's a real question. Is there going to be any change in the House with new leadership? I frankly don't think there will be much change because I think what's going to happen is you're going to get more of the same. People in Washington think they were sent there to be adults and govern and do all this. Well, you know what I'm worried about? Not keeping the government open. I'm worried about bankrupting the American people.

We're borrowing a million dollars a minute. That is important. And that's what we have to contrast. Keeping the government open and continuing to borrow a million dollars a minute.

…………….

CHRISTIE [on Social Security]: Well, I wish you would have asked that question years ago when they broke it. I mean, let me be honest with the people who are watching at home. The government has lied to you and they have stolen from you. They told you that your Social Security money is in a trust fund. All that's in that trust fund is a pile of IOUs for money they spent on something else a long time ago.

And they've stolen from you because now they know they cannot pay these benefits and Social Security is going to be insolvent in seven to eight years. We're sitting up here talking about all these other things; 71 percent of federal spending today is on entitlements, and debt service. And, that's with zero percent interest rates.

Now, I'm the only person that's put out a detailed plan on how to deal with entitlements. And we'll save a trillion dollars over the next 10 years. And, here's the difference between me and Hillary Clinton. What Hillary Clinton's going to say, and has said before is, she wants to raise Social Security taxes.

Now, let me ask you a question everybody, and, this is for the guy, you know, who owns a landscaping business out there. If somebody's already stolen money from you, are you going to give them more? Or, are you going to deal with the problem by saying, I'm going to give people who've done well in this country less benefit on the backend. We need to get realistic about this….

………………

HUCKABEE [on Social Security]: …First of all, yes, we've stolen. Yes, we've lied to the American people about Social Security, and Medicare.

But, you know what we're not telling them? It's their money. This isn't the government’s money. This is not entitlement, it's not welfare. This is money that people have confiscated out of their paychecks. Every time they got a paycheck, the government reached in and took something out of it before they ever saw it. Now, we're going to blame the people.

Today congress decided to take another $150 billion dollars away from Social Security so they can borrow more money. That makes no sense to everybody. And, they're always going to say, "Well, we're going to fix this one day."

No their not. It's like a 400 pound man saying, "I'm going to go on a diet, but I'm eating a sack of Krispy Kremes before I do."

………….

CRUZ [on Social Security]: Well, sure. This deal in Washington is an example of why Washington's broken. Republican leadership joined with every single Democrat, add $80 trillion to our debt to do nothing to fix the problems.

And, let me now on Social Security because we were getting into a good substantive exchange, and I want to say I think both Chris, and Mike are right. Governor Huckabee's exactly right, we need to honor the promises made to our seniors, but for younger workers -- look. I'm 44 years old.

It is hard to find someone in my generation that thinks Social Security will be there for us. We can save and preserve and strengthen Social Security by making no changes for seniors, but for younger workers gradually increasing the retirement age, changing the rate of growth so that it matches inflation, and critically allowing younger workers to keep a portion of our tax payments in a personal account that we own, we control them, we can pass on to our kids.

HUCKABEE [on Social Security means testing]: John, listen, let's keep in mind that for one-third of the 60 million Americans on Social Security it represents 90 percent of their income. And, when I hear people talking about means testing, let's just remember what that means. If we means test Social Security, it means that the government decides whether or not I deserve it. If a person lives in a seven room house, does the government get to say you don't need seven rooms, we're going to take two of them away?

HUCKABEE: Folks, the government has no business stealing even more from the people who have paid this in. I just want to remind you, people paid their money. They expect to have it. And, if this government doesn't pay it, than tell me what's different between the government and Bernie Madoff, who sits in prison today for doing less than what the government has done to the people on social security and Medicare in this country.

……………………

CRAMER: … Governor Christie, there has been a lot of political rhetoric that some bank executives should have gone to jail for the 2008 financial crisis.

But General Motors paid more than $1 billion in fines and settlements for its ignition switch defect. One hundred and twenty- four people died as a result of these faulty switches. No one went to jail.

As a former prosecutor, do you believe the people responsible for the switch and the cover-up belong behind bars?

CHRISTIE: You bet they do. And if I were the prosecutor, that is exactly where they would be. The fact is that this Justice Department under this president has been a political Justice Department.

It has been a Justice Department that decided that they want to pick who the winners and losers are. They like General Motors, so they give them a pass. They don't like somebody else like David Petraeus, they prosecute them and send a decorated general on to disgrace. It's a political Justice Department.

…………………………

BUSH: Well, the deal was done. Barack Obama got his massive tax increase, and there was no spending cuts. You just see the recent deal announced today or yesterday, more spending, more tax increasing, more regulation. And now we have to accept 2 percent, the new normal for economic growth.

And the net result is the middle class has $2,300 less in their pockets than the day that Barack Obama got elected president. And now they see Hillary Clinton proposing a third term of economic policy for our country.

…………..

FIORINA: You know, I want to go back for a moment to what we were just talking about. Crony capitalism is alive and well, and has been so in Washington, D.C. for decades.

What's crony capitalism? Crony capitalism is what happens when government gets so big and so powerful that only the big and the powerful can handle it.

So why are the pharmaceutical companies consolidating? Why are there five even bigger Wall Street banks now, instead of the ten we used to have on Wall Street? Because when government gets big and powerful, the big feel like they need to get even bigger to deal with all that power, and meanwhile, the small and the powerless -- in this case, 1,590 community banks -- go out of business.

You see, folks, this is how socialism starts. Government causes a problem, and then government steps in to solve the problem. This is why, fundamentally, we have to take our government back.

The student loan problem has been created by government. Government trying to level the playing field between Internet and brick-and-mortar creates a problem. The FCC jumping in now and saying, "We’re going to put 400 pages of regulation over the Internet," is going to create massive problems.

But guess who pushed for that regulation? The big Internet companies. This is what's going on. Big and powerful use big and powerful government to their advantage.

It's why you see Walgreens buying Rite Aid. It's why you see the pharmaceuticals getting together. It's you see the health insurance companies getting together. It's why you see the banks consolidating.

And meanwhile, small businesses are getting crushed. Community- based businesses and farms are getting crushed. Community banks are going out of business. Big government favors the big, the powerful, the wealthy and the well-connected, and crushes the small and the powerless.

It is why we have to simplify. It is why we have to reduce the size and power of government.

FIORINA: It's the only way to level the playing field between big and powerful and small and powerless.

……………………….

QUICK: Senator Cruz, working women in this country still earn just 77 percent of what men earn. … I just wonder what you would do as President to try and help in this cause?

CRUZ: Well, we've gotta turn the economy around for people who are struggling.

The Democrats' answer to everything is more government control over wages, and more empowering trial lawyers to file lawsuits.

You know, you look at women working. I'll tell you, in my family there are a lot of single moms in my family. My sister was a single mom, both of my aunts who were a single moms. My mom who's here today, was a single mom when my father left us when I was 3 years old.

Now, thank God, my father was invited to a Bible study and became born again and he came back to my mom and me and we were raised together. But I -- the struggle of single moms is extraordinary. And you know, when you see Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders and all the Democrats talking about wanting to address the plight of working women, not a one of them mentioned the fact that under Barack Obama, 3.7 million women have entered poverty.

Not a one of them mentioned the fact that under Barack Obama and the big government economy, the median wage for women has dropped $733. The truth of the matter is, big government benefits the wealthy, it benefits the lobbyists, it benefits the giant corporations. And the people who are getting hammered are small businesses, it's single moms, it's Hispanics. That is who I'm fighting for. The people that Washington leaves behind.

FIORINA: Becky, it is the height of hypocrisy for Mrs. Clinton to talk about being the first woman President, when every single policy she espouses, and every single policy of President Obama has been demonstrably bad for women.

92 percent -- 92 percent of the jobs lost during Barack Obama's first term belonged to women. Senator Cruz is precisely right. Three million women have fallen into poverty under this administration. The number of women living in extreme poverty is the highest level on record. I am a conservative because I know our values, our principles and our policies  work better to lift everyone up, men and women.

[I note that despite the Left’s rhetoric to be looking out for all the minorities and oppressed (to gain their support), their record is abysmal and quite the opposite.  Not only women, but also Blacks have fared miserably under Obama, and in many of the Democrat-controlled cities – in terms of poverty, crime, education, etc.  They’re very recent in their vocal support for the military, but their actual benefits and resources have declined. 

……………………

QUINTANILLA: Dr. Carson, we know you as a physician, but we wanted to ask you about your involvement on some corporate boards, including Costco's. Last year, a marketing study called the warehouse retailer the number one gay-friendly brand in America, partly because of its domestic partner benefits.

Why would you serve on a company whose policies seem to run counter to your views on homosexuality?

CARSON: Well, obviously, you don't understand my views on homosexuality. I believe that our Constitution protects everybody, regardless of their sexual orientation or any other aspect. I also believe that marriage is between one man and one woman. And there is no reason that you can't be perfectly fair to the gay community.

They shouldn't automatically assume that because you believe that marriage is between one man and one woman that you are a homophobe. And this is one of the myths that the left perpetrates on our society, and this is how they frighten people and get people to shut up. You know, that's what the PC culture is all about, and it's destroying this nation.

The fact of the matter is we the American people are not each other's enemies, it's those people who are trying to divide us who are the enemies. And we need to make that very clear to everybody.

………………….

RUBIO: OK. I know the Democrats have the ultimate Super Pac. It's called the mainstream media who every single day...

(APPLAUSE)

... and I'll tell you why. Last week, Hillary Clinton went before a committee. She admitted she had sent e-mails to her family saying, "Hey, this attack at Benghazi was caused by Al Qaida-like elements." She spent over a week telling the families of those victims and the American people that it was because of a video. And yet the mainstream media is going around saying it was the greatest week in Hillary Clinton's campaign.

It was the week she got exposed as a liar. It was the week that she got exposed as a liar...

(APPLAUSE)

But she has her super PAC helping her out, the American mainstream media.

……………………………….

PAUL: Well, thank you very much. I would like to thank Ted for co-sponsoring my bill, audit the Fed. And I think it's precisely because of the arrogance of someone like Ben Bernanke, who now calls us all know-nothings, that is precisely why we need audit the Fed.

I think it is really very much a huge problem that an organization as powerful as the Fed comes in, lobbies against them being audited on the Hill. I would prevent them lobbying Congress. I don't think the Fed should be involved with lobbying us.

I think we should examine how the Fed has really been part of the problem. You want to study income inequality, let's bring the Fed forward and talk about Fed policy and how it causes income inequality.

Let's also bring the Fed forward and have them explain how they caused the housing boom and the crisis, and what they've done to make us better or worse. I think the Fed has been a great problem in our society.

What you need to do is free up interest rates. Interest rates are the price of money, and we shouldn't have price controls on the price of money.

………………….

TRUMP [on SuperPacs]:  Very good people are making very bad decisions right now. And if anything comes out of this whole thing with some of these nasty and ridiculous questions, I will tell you, you better get rid of the SuperPacs because they causing a big problem with this country, not only in dishonesty and what's going on, but also in a lot of bad decisions that have been made for the benefit of lobbyists and special interests.

………………………..

HUCKABEE: We need to be focusing on what fixes this country. And I'll tell you one thing that we never talk about -- we haven't talked about it tonight.

Why aren't we talking about -- instead of cutting benefits for old people, cutting benefits for sick people -- why don't we say, "let's cure the four big cost-driving diseases...: ..."diabetes, heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer's?" If you do that, you don't just change the economy, you transform the lives of millions of hurting Americans.

……………………..

TAXES:

BUSH: Look, the -- the simple fact is that my plan actually gives the middle class the greatest break: $2,000 per family. And if you make $40,000 a year, a family of four, you don't pay any income tax at all.

Simplifying the code and lowering rates, both for corporations and -- and personal rates, is exactly what we need to do. You think about the regulatory cost and the tax cost -- that's why small businesses are closing, rather than being formed in our country right now.

The big corporations have the scale to deal with all of this. And what I think all of us are saying is, our monetary policy, our tax policy, regulatory policy needs to be radically changed so we can create high sustained growth for income to rise.

The government has tried it their way. Under -- under Barack Obama and the proposals of Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders and others, they've tried it their way, and it has failed miserably.

We need to take a new approach of taxing -- reforming how we tax, and reforming the regulations in our -- in our country before it's too late.

……………………….

RUBIO: ...numerically, it's gonna be higher. But the greatest gains, percentage-wise, for people, are gonna be at the lower end of our plan, and here's why: because in addition to a general personal exemption, we are increasing the per-child tax credit for working families.

We are lowering taxes on small business. You know, a lot of business activity in America is conducted like the guy that does my dry cleaning. He's an S corporation. He pays on his personal rate, and he is paying higher than the big dry-cleaning chain down the street, because he's paying at his personal rate.

Under my plan, no business, big or small, will pay more than 25 percent flat rate on their business income. That is a dramatic tax decrease for hard-working people who run their own businesses.

...The other thing I'd like to make about our plan, one more point, it is the most pro-growth tax plan that I can imagine because it doesn't tax investments at all. You know why? Because the more you tax something, the less of it you get.

………………..

PAUL: Alright. Much of the discussion is centered over whether or not the different tax plans help, or affect the middle class. In fact, it's the chief argument by democrats against many of the different flat tax proposals. Mine is unique in the sense that my tax plan actually gets rid of the payroll tax as well. It shifts it to the business, and it would allow middle class people to get a tax cut.

If you just cut their income tax, there isn't much income tax to cut. Mine actually cuts the payroll tax, and I think it would spread the tax cut across all socioeconomic levels, and would allow then it to be something that would be broadly supported by the public in an election.

……………..

CRUZ: ...Rand is exactly right. His plan is a good plan, and I will note that my 10% plan also eliminates the payroll tax, eliminates the death tax, eliminates the business......income tax...10% flat rate......is the lowest personal rate any candidate up here has, and what it would also enable us to do is for every citizen to fill out their taxes on a postcard so we can eliminate the IRS.

(CHEERING) (APPLAUSE)

………………………

QUINTANILLA: OK. Thank you, Senator. Governor Kasich, let's talk about marijuana. We're broadcasting from Colorado which has seen $150 million in new revenue for the state since legalizing last year. Governor Hickenlooper is not a big fan of legalization, but he's said the people who used to be smoking it are still smoking it, they're just now paying taxes.

Given the budget pressures in Ohio, and other states, is this a revenue stream you'd like to have?

KASICH: Well, first of all, we're running a $2 billion dollar surplus, we're not having a revenue problem right now. And, sending mixed signals to kids about drugs is a disaster. Drugs is one of the greatest scourge in this country, and I spent five years of my administration working with my team to do a whole sort of things to try to reign in the problem of overdoses, and it goes on and on. We could do a whole show on that.

I want to go back for a second thought on this issue of income inequality. My program would move the 104 programs of the federal Department of Education into four block grants, and send them back to the states because income inequality is driven by a lack of skills when kids don't get what they need to be able to compete and win in this country.

The fact is, in order to get this economy moving again, I call for freezing regulations for a year except for the problem of public safety. I believe that we need to cut these taxes down, we need to be on a roadmap to balancing the budget, and we need to send power, money, and influence, the welfare department, the education department, job training, infrastructure, Medicaid, all of that out of Washington back to the states so we can run these programs from where we live to the top, not a one size fits all mentality that they have in Washington.

And, that will get to the nub of opportunity for our children, and an ability to see wages rise. Again...

...One more time, in Ohio, our wages are growing faster than the national average. We've cut taxes, balanced budgets, changed the regulatory environment. Folks, you want to fix America, this is the formula. It worked for Reagan and it works for our team in Ohio. Thank you.

………………………

RUBIO [on immigration]: Look, in addition to what Donald was saying is we also need to talk about the legal immigration system for permanent residents. Today, we have a legal immigration system for permanent residency that is largely based on whether or not you have a relative living here. And that's the way my parents came legally in 1956.

But in 2015, we have a very different economy. Our legal immigration system from now on has to be merit-based. It has to be based on what skills you have, what you can contribute economically, and most important of all, on whether or not you're coming here to become an American, not just live in America, but be an American.

…………………..

[On GUNS]

QUINTANILLA: After the Oregon mass shooting on October 1st, you said, "By the way, it was a gun-free zone. If you had a couple of teachers with guns, you would have been a hell of a lot better off."

TRUMP: Or somebody else. Right.

QUINTANILLA: Would you feel more comfortable if your employees brought guns to work?

TRUMP: Yes, I might feel more comfortable. I would say that I would and I have a permit, which is very unusual in New York -- a permit to carry. And I do carry on occasion, sometimes a lot. But I like to be unpredictable so that people don't know exactly... (LAUGHTER)

QUINTANILLA: Are you carrying one now?

(LAUGHTER)

TRUMP: By the way, unlike our country where we're totally predictable and the enemy, whether it's ISIS or anybody else, they know exactly what we're doing because we have the wrong leadership.

(APPLAUSE)

But I feel that the gun-free zones and, you know, when you say that, that's target practice for the sickos and for the mentally ill. That's target. They look around for gun-free zones. You know, we could give you another example -- the Marines, the Army, these wonderful six soldiers that were killed. Two of them were among the most highly decorated -- they weren't allowed on a military base to have guns. And somebody walked in and shot them, killed them. If they had guns, he wouldn't be around very long. I can tell you, there wouldn't have been much damage.

So, I think gun-free zones are a catastrophe. They're a feeding frenzy for sick people.

………………….

[Moral Authority]

HARWOOD: Governor Huckabee, you've written about the huge divide in values between Middle America and the big coastal cities like New York and Los Angeles. As a preacher as well as a politician, you know that presidents need the moral authority to bring the entire country together.

The leading Republican candidate, when you look at the average of national polls right now, is Donald Trump. When you look at him, do you see someone with the moral authority to unite the country?

HUCKABEE: You know, of the few questions I've got, the last one I need is to give him some more time. I love Donald Trump. He is a good man. I'm wearing a Trump tie tonight. Get over that one, OK?

(APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: Such a nasty -- such a nasty question, but thank you, Governor.

HUCKABEE: You're welcome.

(LAUGHTER)

Let me tell you, Donald Trump would be a president every day of the week and twice on Sunday, rather than Hillary. I've spent a lifetime in politics fighting the Clinton machine.

You want to talk about what we're going to be up against next year? I'm the only guy on this stage -- you know, everybody has an "only guy" -- "I'm the only guy this; I'm the only guy that." Well, let me tell you one thing that I am the only guy: The only guy that has consistently fought the Clinton machine every election I was ever in over the past 26 years. And not only did I fight them, but I beat them.

Somebody says "I'm a fighter." Well, I want to know, did you win? Well, I did. And not only did I fight them and win, I lived to tell about it and I'm standing on this stage tonight as evidence of that. And I think that ought to be worth something.

……………………

CHRISTIE: John, I'll tell you something. You want to talk about moral authority. Let's talk about something that happened this week in the news. You know, the FBI director, the president's appointed FBI director has said this week that because of a lack of support from politicians like the president of the United States, that police officers are afraid to get out of their cars; that they're afraid to enforce the law. And he says, the president's appointee, that crime is going up because of this.

And when the president of the United States gets out to speak about it, does he support police officers? Does he stand up for law enforcement? No, he doesn't. I'll tell you this, the number one job of the president of the United States is to protect the safety and security of the American people. This president has failed, and when I'm in the Oval Office, police officers will know that they will have the support of the president of the United States. That's real moral authority that we need in the Oval Office.

……………………………………

[Retirement Plans]

Should the Federal Government play a larger role in helping to set up retirement plans for these workers?

FIORINA: No, the Federal Government should not play a larger role.

Look, every time the Federal Government gets engaged in something it gets worse. And then the Government steps in to try and solve the problem and we get a little further down to that progressive vision that Hillary Clinton is talking about.

Companies should, if they want to attract the best workers, provide a good set of benefits. But honestly, if you're a small business owner today you are being crushed. We have 400,000 small businesses forming every year in this country. How great is that? They are employing themselves, they are potentially employing others.

The bad news is, we have 470,000 going out of business every year. And why? They cite Obamacare.

They are refusing to...

EPPERSON: So you wouldn't agree -- you wouldn't agree with a start for 401(k) for businesses or anything like that?

FIORINA: I think it's a wonderful that that businesses start a 401(k). The point I'm making is this, the Federal Government should not be in a lot of things.

There is no Constitutional role for the Federal Government in setting up -- retirement plans. There is no Constitutional role for the Federal Government to be setting minimum wages...

………………………

[College Debt]

This country has over $100 billion in student loan defaults. That's billion with a b.  What will you do to make sure that students, their families, taxpayers, won't feel the economic impact of this burden for generations?

KASICH:  Well, first of all, in Ohio we're changing the whole system. Universities will not get paid one dime unless the student graduates or -- graduates or completes a course.

Secondly, you can be in high school and complete almost an entire first year before you go to college and get credit to do that. And, of course, in addition to that, we are working now to go after the cost drivers in our universities. And let me give you an example. Universities today have so many non-academic assets. At Ohio State they sold the parking garage and the parking lot, and they got $500 million because they shouldn't be in the parking lot business. They shouldn't be in the ding business, they shouldn't be in the dorm business.

And, of course, we need to take advantage of on-line education to reduce these costs and begin to dis-intermediate the cost of four years.

Now, for those who that have these big high costs, I think we can seriously look at an idea of where you can do public service. I mean legitimate, public service and begin to pay off some of that debt through the public service that you do. And in the meantime, it may inspire us to care more about our country, more about ourselves.

This is a big moral issue in America. Living a life bigger than yourself, and being a center of healing and justice. And people can learn it through public service.

[Medicare & Social Security]

QUICK: Senator Paul, among the leading conservative opponents to the creation of Medicare back in the 1960s was Ronald Reagan. He warned that it would lead to socialism. Considering the mounting cost of Medicare, was he right to oppose it?

PAUL: The question always is, what works better, the private marketplace or government? And what distributes goods better? It always seems to be the private marketplace does a better job.

Is there an area for a safety net? Can you have Medicare or Social Security? Yes. But you ought to acknowledge the government doesn't do a very good job at it.

The main problem with Medicare right now is that the average person pays in taxes over their whole lifetime about $100,000. But the average person takes out about $350,000. We have this enormous mismatch because we have smaller and smaller families. [& are living longer, with more medical treatments that cost more]

When people ask me, whose fault is it? Whose fault is it that Medicare is broken, out of money, that Social Security is broken, out of money? And I say, look, it's not Republicans' fault, it's not Democrats' fault, it's your grandparents' fault for having too many damn kids.

(LAUGHTER)

After the war we had all of these kids, Baby Boomers. Now we're having smaller families. We used to have 16 workers for one retiree, now you have three workers for one retiree.

It's not working. I have a bill to fix Medicare. I've a bill to fix Social Security. For both of them you have to gradually raise the age. If you're not willing to do that, nobody wants to do it, but if you're not willing to gradually raise the age, you're not serious about fixing either one of them.

……………………….

HARWOOD: Governor Bush, Mr. Trump says that he is capable of growing the economy so much that Social Security and Medicare don't have to be touched. Do you want to explain how that is going to happen, Mr. Trump?

TRUMP: Yes, it's very simple. We're going to make a really dynamic economy from what we have right now, which is not at all dynamic. We're going to bring jobs back from Japan, we're going to bring jobs back from China, we're going to bring, frankly, jobs back from Mexico where, as you probably saw, Nabisco is leaving Chicago with one of their biggest plants, and they're moving it to Mexico.

We're going to bring jobs and manufacturing back. We're going to cut costs. We're going to save Social Security, and we're going to save Medicare.

…………………..

BUSH: You have to reform Social Security, and the simple way to do it is to make sure that the wealthiest don't receive the same benefits as people that are lower-income.

And make sure you enhance savings in the private market. The idea of 401(k)s. I have a small business that I set up. It took -- it took an arm and a leg to be able to set up a 401(k). Because of all the federal mandates and federal laws, it was too expensive.

We need to incent private savings and make sure that Social Security is protected for those that have it.

But the idea that you can't -- that you're just gonna grow your way out of this -- I have a plan to grow the economy at 4 percent, but you're gonna have to make adjustments for both Medicare and Social Security.

……………………

KASICH: I wanna tell you, in my state, we took Medicaid, the hardest program to control, and we took it from a 10 percent growth rate to 2.5 percent without taking one person off the rolls or cutting one single benefit.

And so much of what we did -- to force competition, to use technology, to stand down the special interest groups -- can you imagine taking Medicaid from 10 to 2.5 percent?

We can take many of those same procedures, we can apply it to Medicare. We can make a stronger program. But I agree with Jeb, you can't just do this by growing the economy. You can't grow your way out of demographics.

……………………..

PAUL: You can't do nothing. And that's what I hear from some people, "we'll do nothing and it will just be fixed." That's absurd, and I think people who don't want to fix it, really, or unwilling to take the chance to say, "Something has to change," are missing the boat here.

The age will have to gradually rise, there is no question. It's the only way you fix Medicare, the only way you fix Social Security. You will also have to means-test the benefits and declare there's not enough money.

It isn't "I put money in, I'm getting it back." There is no money, it's a stack of paper. There is no money in the Social Security account. There is no money in the Medicare account. There's only a promise to pay by the next generation, and the next generation's not big enough to pay it.

………………..

HARWOOD: Yes. You've said that you would like to replace Medicare with a system of individual family savings accounts, so that families could cover their own expenses.

Obviously, that would be a very controversial idea. Explain how that would work, exactly.

CARSON: Well, first of all the -- the plan gives people the option of -- of opting out. But I think they will see a very good option here. You know, the annual Medicare budget is over $600 billion. And there are 48 million people involved -- 40 million, 65 and over, and 8 million other.

Divide that out. That comes out to $12,500 for each one. Now, I can tell you there are a lot of private-sector things that you could do with $12,500, which will get you a lot more than you get from this government program.

And that's really a theme of a lot of the things that I'm talking about. How do we utilize our intellect rather than allowing the government to use its, quote, "intellect," in order to help us to be able to live healthier and better lives?

It was never intended that the government should be in every aspect of our lives. This is a country that is of, for and by the people.

………………

HARWOOD: ...that Dr. Carson's right, that we can replace Medicare with individual savings accounts?

RUBIO: No. No. What I said was that I think that Dr. Carson's ideas are good ideas. They're not my ideas, and I don't necessarily agree with all of them.

But this is what you're seeing in the Republican debate that you didn't see in that Democrat debate.

You didn't see it for a minute. You didn't see these kind of ideas being batted around, and being batted around in a way that's civil and smart and that's trying to help to inform the voter out there.

What you saw was a parade of, "I'll give you this for free; I'll give you that for free."

Let me tell you, everybody, when they say they want to give it to you for free, keep your hands on your wallets because they're coming to you to pay for it. And that's why I think these ideas up here are great, and that's what we should have is have more discussions like this and less gotcha.

…………………..

FIORINA: I would just say that...... I would just say this, we've heard a lot of great ideas up here, and I agree with what Senator Rubio said. Every election we talk about this. Every election we talk about Medicare and Social Security reform. It never happens.

I would like to start with a basic. Let us actually go to zero- based budgeting so we know where the money is being spent. It's kind of basic. There is a bill sitting in the House that would actually pass and have us go to zero-based budgeting so we know where every dime of your money is being spent instead of only talking about how much more we're going to spend year after year after year.

My point is this. While there are lots of good ideas for reform, we have never tackled the basics. And we finally need to tackle the basics to cut this government down to size and hold it accountable. So let's start by knowing where your money is being spent by the federal government.

Closing Statements:

HARWOOD: We have now reached the point in the program where candidates are going to give their closing statements, 30 seconds apiece. We're going to go right to left and start with you, Senator Paul.

PAUL: Liberty thrives when government is small. I want a government so small I can barely see it. I want a government so small that the individual has a chance to thrive and prosper. I think, though, government is too big now. And what you're going to see in Washington this week is establishment Republicans have made an agreement with the president to raise the debt ceiling in an unlimited fashion; no limit to the debt ceiling raise.

This is extraordinary. It's extraordinarily wrong. You'll see me on the floor of the Senate tomorrow filibustering this and saying enough is enough, no more debt.

HARWOOD: Governor Christie?

CHRISTIE: I want to talk to the folks at home. I want to ask you: Are you fed up with how Washington taxes you? Are you fed up with how Washington wastes your money? Are you concerned like I am that the debt and deficits of Washington, D.C. are endangering America's future?

I've got one more question for you then. Are you serious about this election? Because if you are, you need to elect someone who's deadly serious about changing this culture. I am deadly serious about changing this culture. I changed it in New Jersey. I'm deadly serious about doing this job the right way.

I'm prepared. I'm tested. I'm ready. And I want to make this our government. For the people who say we can't do it, I say hell no, we can do it together.

HARWOOD: Thank you, Governor.

Senator Cruz?

CRUZ: You know, everyone here talks about the need to take on Washington. The natural next question is who actually has done so. Who actually has stood up not just to Democrats, but to leaders in our own party? When millions of Americans rose up against Obamacare, I was proud to lead that fight. When millions of Americans rose up against amnesty, I was proud to lead that fight. When millions of Americans rose up against Planned Parenthood, I was proud to lead that fight.

If people are promising they're going to take on Washington and cronyism, you need to look to who has been doing it. In my family, my dad fled oppression in Cuba to come to America. Freedom is personal for me, and I will always keep my word and fight for freedom.

HARWOOD: Thank you, Senator.

Mrs. Fiorina?

FIORINA: You know, every election we hear a lot of talk. We hear a lot of good plans. We hear actually a lot of good intentions. But somehow for decades, nothing really has changed. What we need now is a proven leader who has produced results. That's how you go from secretary to CEO. You lead and you produce results. I will cut this government down to size and hold it accountable, simplify the tax code, roll back the regulations that have been spewing out of Washington, D.C. for 50 years.

I may not be your dream candidate just yet, but I can assure you I am Hillary Clinton's worst nightmare. And in your heart of hearts, you cannot wait to see a debate between Hillary Clinton and Carly Fiorina. I will tell you this, I will beat Hillary Clinton. And with your vote and your support and your prayers, I will lead with the citizens of this great nation the resurgence of this great nation.

HARMAN: Thank you, Mrs. Fiorina.

Dr. Carson?

CARSON: I just want to thank all my colleagues here for being civil, and not falling for the traps. And, I also just want to thank the audience for being attentive, and noticing the questions, and the noticing the answers. And, this is what I am finding throughout America.

People are waking up because it is going to be us who will determine the direction of our country. And, it was made for we the people, we are the ones who decide who we are, and we should never give away the values and principles that made America into a great nation for the sake of political correctness.

(APPLAUSE)

HARWOOD: Mr. Trump?

TRUMP: Our country doesn't win anymore. We used to win, we don't win anymore. We lose on trade. We lose with ISIS. We lose with one of the worst deals I've ever seen negotiated of any kind, that's our recent catastrophe with Iran. We don't win.

Let me give you one quick example. These folks, CNBC, they had it down at three, three and a half hours. I just read today in the New York Times, $250,000 for a 30 second ad. I went out and said, it's ridiculous. Nobody -- I could stand up here all night. Nobody wants to watch three and a half, or three hours. It was a back sacrifice, and I have to hand it to Ben.

We called Ben, he was with me 100%. We called in, we said, that's it. We're not doing it. They lost a lot of money, everybody said it couldn't be done. Everybody said it was going to be three hours, three and a half, including them, and in about two minutes I renegotiated it so we can get the hell out of here. Not bad.

(APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: And, I'll do that with the country. We will make America great again. And, thank you everybody. Just for the record.

HARWOOD: Just for the record, the debate was always going to be two hours. Senator Rubio?

TRUMP: That's not right. That is absolutely not right. You know that. That is not right.

MALE: Thank you.

HARWOOD: Senator Rubio.

RUBIO: You know, America doesn't owe me anything. I have a debt to America I'll never repay. This isn't just the country I was born in, this is the nation that literally changed the history of my family. My parents in this country were able to give me the chance to do all the things they never did. We call that the American Dream, although, it's built on the universal dream of a better life.

The fact that it's happened for so many people here throughout our history, that's what makes us special. But, now for millions of Americans, it's slipping away. And, we have a government and leaders in government that are completely out of touch, and that's why I'm running for president. Because we can't just save the American Dream, we can expand it to reach more people, and change more lives than ever before.

And, that's why tonight I'm asking you for your vote.

HARWOOD: Thank you, Senator. Governor Bush?

BUSH: America's at a crossroads. The D.C. politicians continue to make things worse. I have a proven record of success, 32 years in business, and 8 years as Governor of the state of Florida.

I will change the culture in Washington, just as I changed the culture in Tallahassee. I will do so in a way that will bring people together. We need a unifier, not a cynical divider in chief, and that's exactly what I will do.

Imagine a country where people are lifted out of poverty again. Imagine a country where the middle class can get rising income again. I know we can do this because we're still the most extraordinary country on the face of the Earth.

HARWOOD: Thank you, Governor. Governor Huckabee.

HUCKABEE: You know, I know to a lot of people in the media, this is just a great big game, and we're the players. And, we come out here, and we do our thing. And, sometimes we're held up in contempt by people who write columns, but, I guarantee you to every person on this stage there's something deep inside of us that would cause us to give up our livelihoods and step out on this stage and fight for the people of America.

I've got five grandkids. I do not want to walk my five grandkids through the charred remains of a once great country called America, and say, "Here you go, $20 trillion dollars of debt. Good luck making something out of this mess."

And, for those of us who are serious enough to run for president, think long and hard why we're here, and hopefully you'll know we're not here for ourselves. We honest to god are here to get this country back on track. I know this, I certainly am.

HARWOOD: Thank you...

HUCKABEE: ...Thank you.

HARWOOD: Governor Kasich?

KASICH: I was on morning Joe at a town hall and a young student stood up and said, "Can I still be idealistic?"

I said, absolutely, you can still change the world. And, you know the old inscription, if you save one life, you've changed the world. Folks, we have a problem here with the leadership in Washington, but I'll tell you another problem. We need to rebuild our families. We need to have stronger families. We need to know who our neighbors are. We need to come together as a country because we have to realize that America is great, not from the top-down. Oh yeah, we want to elect a good president, but America is great from the bottom-up, and the bottom-up is us in our families, in our communities, in our neighborhoods. We will renew America if we work together, and I am totally confident that we will. And God bless America.