GOP Rivals Agree On Iraq, Spar On Abortion

9 Republican Presidential Candidates Face Off In Live Iowa Debate

(CBS/AP)  Republican presidential contenders sparred over abortion on Sunday while generally agreeing the United States must remain in Iraq to help win the war against radical Islamic extremists.

"Just come home," dissented Texas Rep. Ron Paul, the lone advocate of a quick troop withdrawal from Iraq on a presidential campaign debate stage. He said there had never been a good reason to go to war in the first place.

"Has he forgotten about 9/11?" interjected former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, referring to the 2001 terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center.

But it was Romney who was forced to answer on the issue of abortion, when Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback defended automated phone calls his campaign has made highlighting his rival's one-time support for pro-choice policies.

"It's truthful," Brownback said. "I am pro-life. I think this is a core issue for our party."

Romney called it "desperate, maybe negative," adding moments later, "I get tired of people that are holier than thou because they've been pro-life longer than I have."

The exchanges took place less than a week before Iowa Republicans gather for a party fundraiser and much-anticipated straw poll which is likely to determine the fate of several candidates. John McCain and Rudy Giuliani are not directly participating in the event but the other candidates have directed time and resources in the hopes of scoring a public relations victory next Saturday.

Tensions in the state have risen over the past several weeks as the campaigns fight for the support of the conservative activists who will participate in the straw poll. "For candidates like Mike Huckabee and Sam Brownback, this is a make-or-break moment," said CBSNews.com Senior Political Editor Vaughn Ververs. "This is their chance to distinguish themselves and break out of a large group of candidates all competing for a limited pool of campaign money and support."

In the absence of direct participation by Giuliani and McCain, Romney is the prohibitive favorite to win the straw poll and has been organizing supporters for months in advance. "Anything less than a clear win next Saturday would be a major setback for Romney, and that is why so many of the attacks by other candidates have been directed at him," said Ververs.

For some of the less-known candidates without the financial resources and organization, the straw poll is even more critical. "A good showing next Saturday can keep a long-shot candidacy alive or even catapult it to a higher level," said Ververs. "But for some of these guys, anything less almost certainly means the end of the road."

The debate unfolded on a Drake University stage, hosted and carried live by ABC television, five months before Iowa caucus-goers begin winnowing the field of White House contenders. The Iowa caucuses are the first major test for candidates in the presidential campaign season when voters in each state begin selecting delegates to their party's national nominating conventions.

Arizona Sen. John McCain, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Romney, the most prominent contenders, agreed the United States must remain in Iraq. So, too, Brownback, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson and Reps. Tom Tancredo of Colorado and Duncan Hunter of California.

"I firmly believe that the challenge for the 21st century is a challenge against radical extremism," McCain said. He forecast a battle in the Senate in September in which anti-war critics will try to cut off funds.

"We will win that debate because the American people understand the consequences of failure," he added.

Giuliani saved his sharpest jabs for Democrats. "In four debates, not a single Democrat said the word, 'Islamic terrorists.' Now that is taking political correctness to extreme," he said.

Romney, too, was eager to criticize Democrats. His chosen target was Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, who said recently he would be willing to meet with the leaders of Cuba, North Korea and Iran in his first year in office, and declared in a speech he would order military action to capture terrorists in Pakistan if that nation's president did not.

"I mean, in one week he went from saying he's going to sit down, you know, for tea, with our enemies, but then he's going to bomb our allies," said Romney. "I mean, he's gone from Jane Fonda to Dr. Strangelove in one week."

Obama's campaign spokesman responded promptly. "Before he makes more false accusations, Mitt Romney should tell us why he believes we should keep 160,000 American troops in the middle of someone else's civil war but not take out Osama bin Laden if we had him in our sights," said Bill Burton.

Giuliani provided a rare moment of laughter, dodging a question about the defining mistake of his life with a quip.

"Your father is a priest," the former mayor said to moderator George Stephanopoulos, the son of a Greek Orthodox priest. "I'm going to explain it to your father, not to you, OK?

Polls consistently show the war in Iraq to be the issue uppermost in the minds of the voters. But abortion is a constant concern in Republican presidential contests, particularly in Iowa, where caucuses attract the most fervent party activists.

Stephanopoulos opened the debate by asking Romney about Brownback's automated phone calls. Moments later, he asked the former Massachusetts governor about having said last spring that Giuliani was "pro-choice and pro-gay marriage and anti-gun, and that's a tough combination in a Republican primary."

Romney deflected the question, saying, "I'd rather him speak to his own positions rather than me speak for him."

Giuliani said he supports the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment, which provides for the right to bear arms, and believes marriage should be between a man and a woman.

"And I believe the best way we can have common ground in this debate that you're hearing is if we put our emphasis on reducing abortions and increasing the number of adoptions, which is something that I did as mayor of New York City."

But former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson said, "Any candidate that's pro-choice is going to have a difficulty with the party faithful. ... The Republican Party is a party of pro-life."

[kansas1946]

OMG. They are back!!!! The men-in-black clones. And you think these guys aren't out of touch. 80pct of Americans want abortion to remain legal and don't want Roe overturned, and about that percentage of Americans want out of Iraq.
So what do the goobers do, argue about who wants to make abortion illegal the most, and agree on staying in Iraq.
Gosh, these guys are just looking better all of the time.

[randalds]

They cut taxes to balance the budget--and spent more $ and raised the deficit faster than any administration in history--any continuation of the present policy will guarantee the quick demise of the US..but keep drinking the kool aid
Posted by lfitts1 at 01:37 PM : Aug 06, 2007

And the bulk of those tax cuts went to the rich and very well to do. The wife and I are middle-class and we saw a grand total savings of just over $20! Twenty dollars! Thanks for Nothing Bush!

[lfitts1]

mudrose..just keep drinking the kool-aid...

This administration reminds me of Alic in Wonderland....at is up is down and what is down is up. I protect the constitution by shredding the bill of rights. The hypocrisy of the Neocons and the cadre of current Republican candidates is incredible. Mitt the moron Romney.. who never met a position he did not want to change as fast as psooible--pro life my tuchas---how about anti choice. This administration and this president is the second worst in history--only Buchanan was worse--but it typical style--they try harder so they are going for #1.

They cut taxes to balance the budget--and spent more $ and raised the deficit faster than any administration in history--any continuation of the present policy will guarantee the quick demise of the US..but keep drinking the kool aid

[mudrose-2009]

Feeble, is the best word for the debate pitiful poodles, we rally need to stand back and ask our selves what we have created in our politicians. Not one of these candidates gives the impression that they can lead or govern or have and ethics or integrity. Slick and not even good at that. Mitt acts like of fool, Giuliani a NY version of a cowboy, McCain well a man past his prime%u2026the rest well different.
Posted by pepperp1

PP you are always spewing poopoo. Haven't a clue what leadership is and if you saw it, it would pass you by. Look at what the left offers. Socialism and that one thing you all like to criticize the Right about which is Relgion. Yet you, none of you have any objection to BIG GOVERNMENT MORALITY. Really PP, like I said you are quite a poopoo.

[stevex47]

The neocon nut jobs are in a frenzy over who they are going to annoint as their next Hitler/Manson/Koresh.

Their need for "spritual" guidance is no different than the radical terrorist followers of Bin Laden.

Shame on them all for what they've done to this country, in the supposed name of ethics and morals...shame.

[prinzowhales]

ConDumism-- I haven't voted for a Republican or Democratic presidential candidate since R. Reagan and regretted it within weeks of his taking office. In the last election I voted for Ralph Nader rather than George Bush's Skull & Bones lodge brother, the child killer, John Kerry who was more hawkish than the Chimp. I voted for Nader because he was an honest man--I would have voted for Aaron Russo if he had won the Libertarian nomination.

If you are caught in the left/right, Democrat/Republican duality, then you are pretty naive about how things work in the nation and the world. The same people who pull Bush's chain pull Clinton's. The war could not have started without the active assistance of the Democratic Party--the Neo-Cons are going over to Hillary. All the Dems but Gravel and Kucinich--both of whom I would vote for--are in the War Pig alliance with the Republicans (Richardson is New World Order to the core and unacceptable).

If a peace candidate isn't nominated I'll vote third party--and yes, I do despise many liberals...the 'Guns and Butter' Liberals of the 1960s who sold war with a hefty side order of big gub'mint aggrandizement. Imperialism in the 19th century was Liberal foreign policy and the rest of the world calls the neo-imperialism of the Neo-cons as just a virulant strain of Neo-Liberalism.

[jasonking4]

Ron Paul has more organised support than anyone - dems or republicans. Why is he being ignored. The news organisations wonder why people are leaving them, now they know why;

YOUR'RE supposed to REPORT the news not MAKE (UP) the news.

Ron Paul's honesty, integrity and principaled stand for the Republican nomination is too much to bear for news organisations. I say to you GROW UP. Your lousy reporting will not change my mind and will make ME more DETERMINED to spread the message and report news.

Ron Paul for President.

[condumism]

Posted by Prinzowhales

If you believe in the primacy of the Constitution, peace and preparedness, you have one choice--Ron Paul.

This guy is a Republicon. I learned even as a small child in the 50's that there were a lot of phoney people in the USA. I later figured out that all these people were Republicons. Nothing in life since then has changed my view of Conservatives. All Cons are liars, clearly the phoniest and the biggest hypocrits on planet earth. Picking Ron Paul as your hero tells me that your pick for president that you hate liberals, yet you hate what you've seen eminating from the Neocon scum that you likely got into office in the first place.

What does Ron Paul plan to do with all the infuencle peddling of corporate and foreign lobbyists that have so much influence over the US Congress?

Barack Obama is the only candidate to state that he will bar all corporate and foreign lobbyists from the Halls of Congress, thus Obama is the only choice for America.

Ron Paul is a REpublicon. Bottom line, most American's can't trust any Republicons, PERIOD!

[prinzowhales]

If you believe in war without end and in the aggrandizement of the State over the Individual, you have a wide range of choices among Repubicans and Democrats. If you believe in the primacy of the Constitution, peace and preparedness, you have one choice--Ron Paul.

It is a rarity in American politics that the primary questions-- and answers-- are so crystal clear.

[forthepeopl1]

we need not to be in iraq,iran,or any were in the middleeast.

to the president of the united states of america. you are not a dictator, no ones is listen to all the lies anymore. any true american in this country is gearing up to have you and your crime buddies taken out by force.

you have to be stoped!!!! as i am a vet. i only wish was i was still in so i could make sure no more of my brothers and sisters get murdered by you and cheney,rumsfeld,rove,and so on.


so keep it up you chimp

nobodys listen to you asap. like i ask yesterday were have you served?? go ahead bigboy go and sign up? whimp,coward,pussie,chimp,like your fathers bush,cheney,rove,rumsfeld,and your mother connie

WHAT NOW AMERICA??? NOW BUSH/CHENEY/GONZO CAN LISTEN TO ALL OF US...............WHAT NEXT

LETS GO AMERICA IT IS TIME FOR A GOOD OLD FASHTION REVOLUTION.............................

CONGRESS IS STILL DOING NOTHING TO HELP AMERICANS....

[pepperp1]

Feeble, is the best word for the debate pitiful poodles, we rally need to stand back and ask our selves what we have created in our politicians. Not one of these candidates gives the impression that they can lead or govern or have and ethics or integrity. Slick and not even good at that. Mitt acts like of fool, Giuliani a NY version of a cowboy, McCain well a man past his prime%u2026the rest well different.

[mcvet]

On EVERY front in the Middle East we are flat getting a old fashioned butt whoopin.. and I do mean EVERY front. Our enemy, you know freaks the guys who actually planned and ordered the attack on this nation, YEAH! THAT ENEMY! Well they have COMPLETELY rebuilt and guess what? They used YOUR policy and YOUR war to do that. But with all the defeat and all the hate World Wide, these LOSERS are still pandering to the likes of Pat Robertson... y'all remember that Nazi don't YOU? He was one of those creatures or should I say SUB HUMAN Creatures who blamed the 9/11 attacks on those who he doesn't agree with politically. Sometimes I wonder which is worse, the Muslim's Taliban or OUR OWN. Sieg Heil and Amen. ROFLMAO

[pepperp1]

have wondered where we got the idea that we must force our political philosophy on the rest of the world. ..............................
Posted by geezer62 at 08:44 AM : Aug 06, 2007

The philosophy is found in the Bush Doctrine and it hails from and was written by the Republican Neo Conservatives sect controlling the GOP and the puppet president GBII. While Bush ran on a compassionate conservative platform he has ruled as a Neo Conservative, remember papa GBI was thrown out when the religious right did not turn out for him, which is the far far right political sect of the party with all the power. And the GOP faithful appear to be clueless of this ideological bent it is certainly not based on Christian philosophy and most appear not even to be aware that they run the party and the Presidents actions are not mistakes not wrong not incompetent but they are clearly focused on the power in the partys wishes. The Christian right is window dressing has always been window dressing cover for the party of supposed values, no President could have been elected even by Repugs if they would have openly ran on this Neo Conservative fringe platform it in practice is down right anti American, GBII revenge he used the sheep and did great harm sinned in their name.

[donnie900]

"Even if you are usually wrong!"

Thank you. Sometimes I get overly emotional because I'm schizophrenic and too toastmastered posting from my home computer. I apologize too for seeming like a doofus. :)

[panhandlpete]

America, what has become of you? This group of REPUBS sounded like they were practicing for a "recital".....KEEP THE WAR GOING, KEEP THE WAR GOING, KEEP THE WAR GOING. Only one dissent!

John McCain said he would not make decisions dictated by the polls (what the people think), but what HE felt was best for the country and let History judge him. (SOOOO, now we know the voters are not to be reckoned with except in election years.)

Does anyone remember what America stood for prior to the Patriot Act? Even if the terrorists don't kill us all, they have benefited from our reactions, as we have relinquished our freedoms for the false sense of security.

[geezer62]

Donnie900:
I have read many of your postings and, quite honestly, have come to think of you as a dufus. However I feel comnpelled to offer an apology after reading the post concerning the declaration of war. Not only do I completely agree with you but this comment cuts right to the heart of the matter. I have wondered where we got the idea that we must force our political philosophy on the rest of the world. While I do believe that we have a good system I do not believe it is perfect. We really should let the rest of the world determine their own fates and make their own decisions. In closing, please accept my apology Donnie and keep posting..Even if you are usually wrong!

[rushlimpdrug]

What an odd bunch the repubs have brought to the top.
After all these years of being SOOOO conserv this is the best they can do.

[realpatriot1]

As a Democrat, my opinion about the Republicans shouldn't count for much.

Here it is anyways. I generally like Ron Paul but I didn't like his comment about how we shouldn't be threatening Iran and Pakastan. I humbly disagree.

Guliani seemed to be saying that the way he fixed bridges in New York was to cut taxes on the wealthy and raise taxes on the poor and to characterize it as not raising taxes. He's a double talker on taxes like he is on abortion...Slick Rudi.

Romney apparently would've thought Kissinger was Jane Fonda and Dwight Eisenhower was Dr. Strangelove..he's ok with attacking and occupying a sovereign country who didn't attack us(Iraq) but wants too give a free pass to Bin Laden and the Taliban leadership because they've set up camp with an "allie"(like when they came from Saudi Arabia to attack New York).

He Republican who talks with the most sense with the most intelligence and who expresses the most empathy for regular people is Mike Huckabee. He and Paul are the best of the bunch in my democratic opinion.

[johnpatrick9]

HOW can a Party call itself PROLIFE and be for WAR????...George Orwell was so correct in his prophecy of a corrupted future and a dumbed down population accepting of absurdities from fools who have labeled themselves Leaders of the LAND.
"IF ONE BELIEVES IN ABSURDITIES THEN ONE CAN BE MADE TO COMMIT ANY ATROCITY. " VOLTAIRE

[oakishpines]

' a million years from now i can look back and say i was the few and proud what ravaged them all and before the few and proud ravaging them all was legal '


' without the front page, the tyrant won't stand a chance: i'm just keeping it warm for her coming '