Campaign trail rancor carries into GOP debate

[Terri]

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (CNN) -- The acrimony from the Republican campaign trail carried over quickly into the CNN/YouTube GOP presidential debate Wednesday.

Unlike previous debates in which the candidates focused most of their attacks on Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton, Wednesday night's attacks were launched at each other.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney traded jabs over illegal immigration, something they have been arguing about on the trail for the past month.

Romney attacked Giuliani's record as mayor of promoting illegal immigration, and Giuliani shot back, accusing Romney of having a "sanctuary mansion" at his own home.

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It was a far, far better debate than I thought.

I'll post a transcript when it's available, probably in the morning, and we can add other articles.

[Terri]

Part I: CNN/YouTube Republican presidential debate transcript

[Terri]

Part II: CNN/YouTube Republican presidential debate transcript

[RealDeal]

Wednesday night's attacks were launched at each other.

How else are they going to stand out from each other?? They aren't running as one big conglomerate candidate... and they aren't YET running against Hillary (if they ever run against her, seeing as how she isn't fairing too well lately). And they can't rely on a candidate to bare his own faults... C'MON!!

I didn't find anything offensive about the debate.

Except Huckabee's attempt to justify acceptance of illegal children. Sorry, it's just WRONG!

As are the candidates' stands on guest workers (McCain), and farm subsidies (Romney, McCain), torture (McCain), and a few other areas that I don't remember now. (Not mentioning the poseur, on purpose.)

LOVED THE QUESTIONS! Not at all like I thought it would be. so much better than talking head questions.

Who "shined"?? Romney shined several times...

when asked about abortion, Romney said he was wrong in favoring a woman's right to choose

His answer to the above was spot on.. and I thought, heartfelt and honest.

Giuliani shined as well. The rest.... ho-hum. IMO (Of course Tancredo and Hunter were just bookends... not getting much airtime.)

Sorry Fred fans.. that's the way I see it.

edit: and the black guy asking "why don't we vote for you?"... they ALL fell on this one!! Why don't they say, "Remember, WE'RE the party of Lincoln AND Dr. King!!" Or bring up the Civil Rights movement and the history of the Dems during that time?? Opportunity squandered.

As always, I appreciated their sense of humor throughout.

[Terri]

Hillary plants question in Republican debate

It turns out that Keith Kerr, retired Colonel., U.S. Army; retired Brigadier General, California National Reserve, who submitted a YouTube question about gays in the military, is actually a member of Hillary Clinton's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transexual Americans For Hillary Steering Committee. He's also part of a film production crew trying overturn the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

Now really, it was SO obvious this guy was a plant and yet Tucker Carlson let him give a speech in addition to his original video question.

He got SO MUCH time that he might as well have been one of the candidates.

Anderson Cooper's Mea Culpa

Republican candidates should refuse to attend CNN debates over this.

[RealDeal]

THE CNN YOUTUBE DEBATES-
THE REPUBLICANS

Question by question (you can click on each one separately) and the candidates' responses. THE ACTUAL VIDS.

Watch for yourself.

THEIR OWN THREAD HERE

[RealDeal]

Now really, it was SO obvious this guy was a plant and yet Tucker Carlson let him give a speech in addition to his original video question.

Even before reading the above political connections, I felt he was given too much time, and that CNN was letting their left bias show. Not JUST letting it show, but pushing it in our faces!!

Republican candidates should refuse to attend CNN debates over this.

And the Dems wouldn't go on FNC because of (perceived threat of) political bias..... ?

[Terri]

And there were even more plants.....so many, it was a virtual garden.

Digging out more CNN/YouTube plants: Abortion questioner is declared Edwards supporter (and a slobbering Anderson Cooper fan); Log Cabin Republican questioner is declared Obama supporter; lead toy questioner is a prominent union activist for the Edwards-endorsing United Steelworkers

Phony questions by a biased network but the the answers were pretty darned good.

[84rules]

Although not mentioned as a plant, I am convinced that the woman on the panel of "Registered Republicans" who said she would vote for John Edwards was also a plant. I am basing this on her follow-up answer that if Edwards were not available she would vote for whomever the GOP candidate was.

Firstly, I don't believe that any true Republican would opt for an uber-liberal like Edwards.

Second, if John Edwards were to her taste, then the other Dem candidates would be much more palatable than the GOP candidates.

Anyone else catch that little tidbit?

[Terri]

Yes, I agree and I think I saw her mentioned somewhere.

CNN is really catching heat this morning as they should. I love the smell of burning news networks in the morning.

Hillary has had to issue a statement claiming she knew nothing about her gay general submitting a question. Loser!

The Daily Standard was not impressed either.