Romney, McCain Clash In Smaller GOP Debate

Romney Says McCain Is Out Of Conservative Mainstream As Super Tuesday Approaches

(CBS/AP)  Mitt Romney said Wednesday that John McCain is out of the conservative mainstream, as the rivals for the Republican presidential nomination vied for votes in next week's multistate primary.

Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, said McCain twice voted against President Bush's tax cuts and pushed campaign finance reforms that restricted fundraising and spending. The Republican establishment embraced the tax cuts and opposed the new campaign law, which many saw as more helpful to Democrats.

"Those view are outside the view of mainstream Republican thought," Romney said in the opening moments of a debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. The forum came 24 hours after McCain won Florida presidential primary despite criticisms that he is too moderate on several issues dear to party loyalists.

McCain, an Arizona senator, disputed the claims, saying "I'm proud of my conservative record." He said Romney left Massachusetts with high taxes and a large debt. "His job creation was the third worst in the country," McCain said.

Romney said McCain opposed Bush's first-term tax cuts because they were tilted largely toward the wealthy. But such a cut, Romney said, "gets our rates down and stimulates the economy."

McCain said he opposes tax cuts not coupled with spending restraints. Republicans lost congressional seats in 2006 less because of the Iraq war than because of out-of-control spending that alienated conservatives, McCain said.

The 90-minute debate allowed McCain and Romney to focus on one another after Florida voters left no doubt they are the two viable contenders for their party's nomination. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani left the race earlier Wednesday and endorsed McCain.

"With some flashes of animosity, front-runners McCain and Romney played to type," said CBSNews.com Senior Political Editor Vaughn Ververs.

"McCain's national security credentials and Romney's business and economic know-how combined with a whole lot of talk about Ronald Reagan to produce very little new in this battle," Ververs added. "With several high-profile endorsements either made or coming, it leaves McCain in the same position he held coming in, that of front-runner."

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Rep. Ron Paul of Texas also participated in the forum, televised nationally on CNN, but largely watched as the two front-runners, seated next to each other, jabbed one another.

Huckabee protested, "This isn't a two-man race."

"If you want to talk conservative credentials, let me get in on that," said Huckabee, who has won no contest since the Jan. 3 Iowa caucus.

McCain tried to deflect questions on illegal immigration, a sore point with many Republicans who resented his push for a bill, ultimately unsuccessful, that would have granted a path to legal status for millions of undocumented immigrants now in the country.

Asked whether he would vote for his bill now, McCain replied, "it won't" come to a vote "because people want the borders secured first." He said he supports new efforts to prevent illegal crossings.

California, with its large immigrant population, is one of several states voting on Tuesday. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will reportedly endorse McCain on Thursday.

[kansas1946]

(CBS/AP) Mitt Romney said Wednesday that John McCain is out of the conservative mainstream, as the rivals for the Republican presidential nomination vied for votes in next week''s multistate primary.
***********************************************

"Out of the conservative mainstream??" LMAO This coming from multiple-choice Romney. The problem with the Republican party is that it is out of the mainstream, period. The far-right whackos took it over a long time ago.

[noloyalisti]

Can someone explain to me why people who hate the government and want to kill it want to work for it?

Can someone explain to me why anyone would vote for this GOP ideology? It seems to be doing a real good job for our foreign policy and economy.

[abbe91]

"Republicans lost congressional seats in 2006 less because of the Iraq war than because of out-of-control spending that alienated conservatives, McCain said."

Of course. People love the war. How else could it be ?

[marinepatriot]

Mike Huckabee is going to win. He is going to sweep the south and carry on till the end. Soon the truths of the other candidates will be well known. Drop the MittMac sandwich and grab a Huckaburger!

See what Senior CNN Political Analyst says about the GOP debate yesterday! Huckabee always wins every debate according to him. And it is true he does, but we already knew that!

That%u2019s coming from a credible source. Watch here: http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=IbE5BhH
sk24

Reject the unfair media coverage at the debate given to Paul and Huckabee. Fight for our freedom!

[formrusmcsgt]

Don%u2019t stop at TV shows, email newspapers, family, friends, and senators too! Go Huckabee!

Posted by apinchofsalt at 03:07 PM : Jan 31, 2008

Yeah...just who we need as president is an ex-dogma peddler.

[apinchofsalt]

Dear Huckabee supporters!

If you want Huckabee to get his far share of news time let your voices be heard. We need to bombard the networks with emails. We believe Huckabee can still win! Stand up for what you believe in and stop letting news decide the candidates!

A place to start:
[e-mail]

Don%u2019t stop at TV shows, email newspapers, family, friends, and senators too! Go Huckabee!

[j-whitman]

Now McCain''s boasting about his national security experiance --- ROTFLOL ---

He sucked,,, He stood idle while Bush caused "Exceptionally Grave Damage to our National Security"

[j-whitman]

McCain won''t stop sounding like Rudy --- "I was a POW" every other sentence --- "I was a Reagan Foot Soldier"

[j-whitman]

Romney,, "Russia is using Energy to take over the world"

[news4all]

Romney founded Bain Capital which enabled Staples to expand from one store in 1986 to nearly 1,700 in 2006. Bain Capital founded, acquired or invested in hundreds of companies.

In 1990, Romney was CEO of Bain & Company, which was facing financial collapse. As CEO, within a year, he had led Bain & Company through a highly successful turnaround and returned the firm to profitability without layoffs or partner defections.

Romney served as president and CEO of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games held in Salt Lake City. Before he was called in, the event was running $379 million short of its revenue benchmarks. Romney revamped the organization''s leadership and policies, reduced budgets and boosted fund-raising. He also worked to ensure the safety of the Games following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 by coordinating a $300 million security budget. Despite the initial fiscal shortfall, the Games ended up clearing a profit of $100 million, not counting the $224.5 million in security costs contributed by outside sources. Romney contributed $1 million to the Olympics, and donated the $825,000 salary he earned as President and CEO to charity.


Romney graduated from a joint Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration program coordinated between Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School. He graduated *** laude from the law school and was named a Baker Scholar for graduating in the top five percent of his business school class.

Romney knows how to help our economy!

[j-whitman]

cbscrash07,,, McCain (Mr. Amnesty), "I can secure the borders,, I know how" ---
--- In Arizona Mexico''s army conducts maneuvers at will, locked & loaded against our Border Patrol

[nottellin1]

The people have had enough with the lies, greed, lies, graft, lies and corruption ( and, did I say lies, already?) to last a mere mortal''''s lifetime. Hopefully (and we can hope now, can''''t we!?!) this will be the beginning of the end for the Repub party. It is a dinosaur that deserves its'''' timely and much deserved end.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by RandyNason at 12:59 PM : Jan 31, 2008

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh wait, are you trying to say that Dems do something different than lie, cheat and steal? All career politicians want the same thing, to continue to be career politicians. What better way to continue to screw the American public?

[j-whitman]

McCain,,, "Everything''s better except in Michigan"

[Syndicate]

I agree with McCain.

[j-whitman]

cbscrash07,,

,, Here''s your McCain -- "Gobbal Warming is real" --- then immediatly disqualifies that statement with " What if it isn''t"

[Syndicate]

I really Like McCain. Flip Flopping Romney can blow me. If McCain doesn''t get the Nomination I''ll do Everything I can to make sure No Republican wins. Even If I have to vote for Hillary. The Republican party is not garunteed my vote. Either deliver a moderate or loose. So McCain couldn''t change Washington, funny but Reagan couldn''t change washington either, but he is a Hero?

[lochlan-2009]

news4all - You are for Romney? Have you done any research on this guy? Do you know how he made his money? Do you know about his company Bain Capital or their purchase of Clear Channel Communications (the largest radio broadcaster in the country) this month? Do you know of the billions of dollars he made by helping the rich hide their money in tax shelter through banks in the Caymans? Probably not, the main stream media, big surprise, don''t report this. This guys company made their profits through leveraged buyouts, which, if you watched the movie Pretty Woman, is where you go in, buy a company, sell off all it''s assets for profit and close it down sending all its employees packing. This was his business from ''84 to ''99. A good president for the working class. Do you honestly do any research on a candidate before you put your support behind them?

[j-whitman]

On the Bush Watch :

World Trade Center attacked
Invaded & destroyed Iraq
US National Security Gravely Damaged
Ports, borders more open thnan before
Less than 3% of air cargo is inspected
Recession
Jobs & wages destroyed
Homes lost accross America with no end in sight
Global Terrorism increased
Afaganistan now a failed state.
Fewer Americans with health care or insurance

[randynason]

I look at McCain and Romney and see sacrificial lambs (not-so-innocent lambs, at that) for the GOP. The Republican Party should have a pretty fair idea by now that there is no way in hell that any Republican is going to win this election. The people have had enough with the lies, greed, lies, graft, lies and corruption ( and, did I say lies, already?) to last a mere mortal''s lifetime. Hopefully (and we can hope now, can''t we!?!) this will be the beginning of the end for the Repub party. It is a dinosaur that deserves its'' timely and much deserved end.

[nottellin1]

To Ron Paul supporters: Do you really think a gynecologist can be elected to the Presidency?