Republicans National Debate Stirs High Emotions
(Worthy News) – Donald Trump spanked the press, the rest of the GOP presidential field, and politicians in general, calling them “stupid” and refusing to commit to supporting the eventual 2016 Republican nominee, kicking off the first prime-time debate of the 2016 nominating contest Thursday by saying he can’t be sure anyone else will be able to match his tough-talking solutions, the Washington Times reported.
The top 10 GOP candidates, as determined by the polls, squared off in Cleveland, but Mr. Trump, who has surged to the lead since announcing his campaign in June, dominated the back-and-forth, with his fellow candidates repeatedly forced to respond to him and acknowledge he’s tapped into deep dissatisfaction among Republican voters.
Throughout, Mr. Trump delivered lectures to the entire political class, calling them incompetent and saying they are too worried about offending people. [ Source ]
GOP Presidential Candidates Blast ‘Obama-Clinton’ Foreign Policy
Republican presidential candidates assailed the foreign policies of President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, his former secretary of state, at Thursday night’s debate as polls show that Americans are increasingly dissatisfied with the current administration’s approach to national security.
Gov. Scott Walker (R., Wisc.) encapsulated much of the candidates’ criticism of the Obama administration when he said that, “we are leading from behind under the Obama-Clinton doctrine.” GOP leaders say the administration has failed to adequately respond to a number of foreign crises in recent years, including the rise of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group in Iraq and Syria, Iran’s efforts to procure nuclear weapons, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and China’s contested building of artificial islands and military outposts in the South China Sea.
Just 39 percent of Americans approve of Obama’s foreign policy, according to the Real Clear Politics poll average. [ Source ]
Trump under fire in fast-paced debate
Trump’s rise in the polls has been fueled by controversial statements about Mexican illegal immigrants and his refusal to be “politically correct.” Even saying that Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., was not war hero for spending several years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam did not stall his momentum. But Republican operatives were wondering if he had finally crossed the line in with his response and demeanor in interaction with Kelly, a respected female journalist, after she asked him:
“Your Twitter account has several disparaging comments about women’s looks. You once told a contestant on Celebrity Apprentice it would be a pretty picture to see her on her knees. Does that sound to you like the temperament of a man we should elect as president, and how will you answer the charge from Hillary Clinton, who was likely to be the Democratic nominee, that you are part of the war on women?”
“I’ve challenged so many people, and frankly I don’t have time for total political correctness,” Trump said. “And what I say, and oftentimes it’s fun, it’s kidding. We have a good time. What I say is what I say. And honestly Megyn, if you don’t like it, I’m sorry. I’ve been very nice to you, although I could probably maybe not be based on the way you have treated me. But I wouldn’t do that.” [ Source ]