The 2012 FOX News/Google Republican Presidential Debate

[DACrowe]

I didn't watch the debate but I saw on CNN they were talking about the audience booing a gay soldier. That was disappointing, yet I kind of expected it from this type of crowd...

Didn't see that. Doesn't surprise me. This the Republican party of the new century.

 

[DACrowe]

It wasn't "the audience" it was a few people in the audience. Lets be real here guys. And last night, it was a very, very, very small part of the group that booed the gay soldier. The only people who would take that and acredit their behavior to "the Republican base" are people who already held that view before the debate. Lets stop these idiotic partisan games guys.

These events are supposed to represent the mainstream of the party. It's an indicator of who Republicans are in 2011. What we've seen is they're people who rejoice in high execution rates, salivate at the concept of uninsured people dying in the streets and hate gay Americans serving our country. Each of these events were at separate debates (well the last one had a replay of the execution one). It's a good cross-section of the party and what we see is what we all know is there in the party of Jesse Helms. In the party that ran on a gay-bashing homophobic platform in 2004. Don't pretend it is not there. Otherwise where was the vast GOP support for repealing DADT? This is the party of the new century.

 

[StorminNorman]

These events are supposed to represent the mainstream of the party. It's an indicator of who Republicans are in 2011. What we've seen is they're people who rejoice in high execution rates, salivate at the concept of uninsured people dying in the streets and hate gay Americans serving our country. Each of these events were at separate debates (well the last one had a replay of the execution one). It's a good cross-section of the party and what we see is what we all know is there in the party of Jesse Helms. In the party that ran on a gay-bashing homophobic platform in 2004. Don't pretend it is not there. Otherwise where was the vast GOP support for repealing DADT? This is the party of the new century.

Who are "they"? A few people in the audience. Not "the audience".

 

[StorminNorman]

Because everytime he's out campaigning or doing a debate, all he does is go "Look at me! Look at me, everybody! I'm Ron Paul! I'm Conversative! I'm SO Conservative! I'm the most Conversative candidate out there!" Yes, Ron, we get it. You're the personification of extreme liberty. Enough already!

It makes me want to take a shot of straight tequila everytime he repeats how far on the right he is more then whenever Romney says his "My record as governor speaks for itself." line.

Ron reminds me of that kid in school who tries to be cool, but everybody just winds up ignoring him.

The truth is he is a sad, old man who is out of touch with America (and reality for that matter). His Iran / Muslim comments render him totally unelectable. To his credit, his supporters are intense, but they are very few.

I don't think he once mentioned how "far on the right" he was once last night. He talks a lot about being a champion of the constitution and cause of liberty - but that's what he does, that is who he is, that is why he got into politics.

You are probably the only person to ever see Ron Paul and be reminded of the "that guy in school trying to be cool", lol. Totally bizarre.

-What's Gary Johnson doing there? Seriously, you can't run for president in starts and stops.

My thoughts.

Johnson never stopped running for President. The media stopped giving him a podium. He qualified for this debate.

 

[Faramir]

Because everytime he's out campaigning or doing a debate, all he does is go "Look at me! Look at me, everybody! I'm Ron Paul! I'm Conversative! I'm SO Conservative! I'm the most Conversative candidate out there!" Yes, Ron, we get it. You're the personification of extreme liberty. Enough already!

It makes me want to take a shot of straight tequila everytime he repeats how far on the right he is more then whenever Romney says his "My record as governor speaks for itself." line.

The truth tends to get repetitive when people prefer to live in denial. And all the repetition is a must when media coverage is deliberately scarce and misleading.

But I understand you... it's much easier to mock a character than to criticize political positions. The latter requires effort.

Ron reminds me of that kid in school who tries to be cool, but everybody just winds up ignoring him.

The truth is he is a sad, old man who is out of touch with America (and reality for that matter). His Iran / Muslim comments render him totally unelectable. To his credit, his supporters are intense, but they are very few.

Out of touch, right. I wonder why he gets all those campaign contributions, all those volunteers, all that support from experts, all those numerous (not few) supporters, and all those rounds of applause (even when he mentioned his position on Iran) at the debates.

I wonder who's really out of touch with reality here.

 

[Faramir]

These events are supposed to represent the mainstream of the party. It's an indicator of who Republicans are in 2011. What we've seen is they're people who rejoice in high execution rates, salivate at the concept of uninsured people dying in the streets and hate gay Americans serving our country. Each of these events were at separate debates (well the last one had a replay of the execution one). It's a good cross-section of the party and what we see is what we all know is there in the party of Jesse Helms. In the party that ran on a gay-bashing homophobic platform in 2004. Don't pretend it is not there. Otherwise where was the vast GOP support for repealing DADT? This is the party of the new century.

Tell me, don't you feel bad when you use a few rotten apples to demonize a whole party, with some well-thought and reasonable core ideologies? I wouldn't have a problem using the candidates for that, but most of them are hand-picked by the establishment. Don't take the worst of a group and extrapolate to a whole electorate. Yeah, most of them are very vocal and influential, but they are still minorities. Most people that vote for the GOP are not necessarily radical and retrograde social conservatives... they just don't have any option. Where are little government, anti-tax, fiscal conservatives, libertarians and strictly moderate democrats going to vote? If America was a standard European country, there would be options. Third parties... sixth parties. But there isn't, due to this politics duopoly. But not everyone in under the big tent boos at the same thing those idiots booed to.

I think that candidates like Paul or Johnson are injecting the GOP with a lot of new blood, especially one that can be active enough to substitute the traditional, caricatured base.

 

[hitmanyr2k]

I find it abhorrent that people would boo anybody, regardless of your views, that wants to serve in the military. It makes no sense to me at all. It's not like the people are wanting to go join club med or something for the fun and money. Sheesh!

Every candidate on the stage missed a golden opportunity to tell the boo'ers in the crowd to shut the hell up and have respect for ANY man or woman serving this country regardless of their sexual makeup. It would have gone over well with the independents.

 

[DACrowe]

Tell me, don't you feel bad when you use a few rotten apples to demonize a whole party, with some well-thought and reasonable core ideologies? I wouldn't have a problem using the candidates for that, but most of them are hand-picked by the establishment. Don't take the worst of a group and extrapolate to a whole electorate. Yeah, most of them are very vocal and influential, but they are still minorities. Most people that vote for the GOP are not necessarily radical and retrograde social conservatives... they just don't have any option. Where are little government, anti-tax, fiscal conservatives, libertarians and strictly moderate democrats going to vote? If America was a standard European country, there would be options. Third parties... sixth parties. But there isn't, due to this politics duopoly. But not everyone in under the big tent boos at the same thing those idiots booed to.

I think that candidates like Paul or Johnson are injecting the GOP with a lot of new blood, especially one that can be active enough to substitute the traditional, caricatured base.

Perhaps I exaggerate. But these aren't those who rally in DC every weekend or go attack politicians with glitter bombs at book signings. These are crowds picked by the party (or in Fox News's case, it's the same thing) to represent them and there just doesn't seem to be a lot of outrage. If they were so offended, you'd think there'd be some critique in right wing media, but I saw no real backlash to the cheering for the uninsured dying, much less booing of gay soldiers.

And on gay rights, I am just very cynical about the GOP as one of the core (wedge) issues of their successful 2004 campaign was homophobic hysteria. Then I see them try something similar in 2010 with the "Ground Zero Mosque" on the backs of Muslims. All this leads to my cynicism kicking in.

 

[enterthemadness]

Oh MY!

Herman Cain with 37% of the vote in Florida GOP. Ooooooooooooooooooooo

 

[Quetzal]

Just a comment, which might burst the small Johnson buble following his comment... Its not his comment. It's one of Rush Limbaugh's lines stolen word for word, which isnt really a plus for Johnson....

 

[Faramir]

Well, here's hoping people don't notice.

 

[enterthemadness]

Well, here's hoping people don't notice.

I noticed. Just like Dane Cook stealing jokes, I don't care.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

I noticed. Just like Dane Cook stealing jokes, I don't care.

Tomorrow I'm going to start writing a book titled 'The Old Man and the Sea.' Someone else wrote it first, but it's okay.

 

[chaseter]

Surprised Cain won by such a margin. I don't know how the Florida straw poll works but if it's anything like Iowa then it doesn't matter. If it isn't, Cain may be gaining some massive momentum.

 

[Marx]

Booing a gay soldier and cheering the death of the uninsured is downright disgusting and shameful.

 

[StorminNorman]

Surprised Cain won by such a margin. I don't know how the Florida straw poll works but if it's anything like Iowa then it doesn't matter. If it isn't, Cain may be gaining some massive momentum.

All straw polls are the same. It's a measure of organization.

 

[Marx]

UPDATE: PRESIDENT OBAMA CONDEMNS BOOING OF GAY SOLDIER AT GOP DEBATE
http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_..._of_Gay_Soldier_Not_Reflective_of_Who_We_Are/

 

[Marx]

UPDATE: GARY JOHNSON REACTS TO BOOING OF GAY SOLDIER AT GOP DEBATE
http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_...Condemns_Booing_GOP_Front-runners_Are_Silent/

...and of course, Romney and Perry won't comment.

 

[Lighthouse]

Booing a gay soldier and cheering the death of the uninsured is downright disgusting and shameful.

Honestly, I was more offended by Santorum's completely idiotic answer, and the applause he received for it. The booing may have been a tiny group, but the applause was much larger.

 

[Siby]

I saw the video of the gay soldier on The Daily Show and I would love to see those people that booed him do it in person.

It's also very telling how every Republican candidate is hiding behind "no comment", except Gary Johnson, and not saying anything against it.

 

[Marx]

It's very, very telling Siby.

 

[Marx]

VICE-PRESIDENT BIDEN: BOOING OF GAY SOLDIER WAS "REPREHENSIBLE"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/27/biden-on-gop-debate-boo-gay-soldier_n_983263.html

I don't think they give a damn whether the guy firing a rifle to protect them is gay or straight. I don't think they care about that. Look this kid risked his life. This kid is there for them. And I, quite frankly, I thought it was reprehensible.

 

[yoshimura]

VICE-PRESIDENT BIDEN: BOOING OF GAY SOLDIER WAS "REPREHENSIBLE"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/27/biden-on-gop-debate-boo-gay-soldier_n_983263.html

As long as they're going to invade countries and reward biden with more crooked lobby money, [shaft]he don't give a *****[/shaft].

 

[Marx]

UPDATE: FOX NEWS HOST DEFENDS BOOING OF GAY SOLDIER AT GOP DEBATE
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/27/megyn-kelly-defends-debate-boo-gay-soldier_n_983925.html

 

[Marx]

Herman Cain apparently told ABC' "This Week" earlier today that he should have defended the gay soldier who was booed at the debate.

Yes, Mr. Cain...you should have.