Black and Brown Forum debate
Sanders and Clinton debate policy issues during the Iowa Black and Brown Forum, hosted by Drake University. At specific issue were gun control, Wall Street reform, tax policy and immigration issues. Clinton’s campaign released a statement during the forum, related to questions asked during the event:
Our immigration enforcement efforts should be humane and conducted in accordance with due process, and that is why I believe we must stop the raids happening in immigrant communities.
Says Trump is ‘ISIS best recruiter’
During the Democratic presidential debate Clinton says Trump is hurting the U.S. fight against terrorism with anti-Muslim rhetoric.
He is becoming ISIS’ best recruiter.They are going to people, showing videos of Donald Trump insulting Islam and Muslims in order to recruit more radical jihadists…The first line of defense against radicalization is in the Muslim American community — people who we should be welcoming and working with…I worry greatly that the rhetoric coming from the Republicans, particularly Donald Trump, is sending a message to Muslims here in the United States and literally around the world that there is a clash of civilizations, that there is some kind of Western plot or war against Islam, which then, I believe, fans the flames of radicalization…If you’re going to put together a coalition in the region to take on the threat of ISIS, you don’t want to alienate the very countries and people you need to be part of the coalition.
CNN debate
At the CNN Republican debate in Las Vegas, NV, Carson asks for a moment of silence for the victims of the San Bernardino shootings. Later, he responds to a question from Hewitt:
We’re talking about ruthless things tonight. Carpet bombing, toughness, war, and people wonder, could you do that? Could you order airstrikes that would kill innocent children, not scores but hundreds and thousands. Could you wage war as a commander in chief?
Carson:
Well, interestingly enough, you should see the eyes of some of those children when I say to them, We’re going to have to open your head up and take out this tumor. They’re not happy about it, believe me. And they don’t like me very much at that point. But later on, they love me. Sometimes you—I sound like him. Later—you know, later on, you know, they really realize what’s going on. And by the same token, you have to be able to look at the big picture and understand that it’s actually merciful if you go ahead and finish the job, rather than death by a thousand pricks.
Hewitt:
So you are OK with the deaths of thousands of innocent children and civilian. It’s like—
Carson:
You got it. You got it.
Debate: Cruz vs. Rubio
At the GOP debate, Cruz and Rubio spar over immigration, with Rubio saying his view on immigration was the same as Cruz’s. Cruz responds:
I led the fight against his legalization and amnesty like suggesting the fireman and the arsonist have the same record because they were both at the scene of the fire…I have never supported legalization, and I do not intend to support legalization.
On national security, Cruz:
One of the problems with Marco’s foreign policy is he has far too often supported Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama undermining governments in the Middle East that have helped radical Islamic terrorists,” Mr. Cruz said. “We need to focus on killing the bad guys, not getting stuck in Middle Eastern civil wars that don’t keep America safe.
Rubio responds that while President Obama and Hillary Clinton wanted to “lead from behind,” Cruz was suggesting “not to lead at all.”
GOP debate: Responds to boos
After Rand Paul says Trump’s plan to shut down the internet, would be “getting rid of the First Amendment” Trumps says that if ISIS kills Americans, Americans should be able to kill ISIS and infiltrate their networks.
ISIS is recruiting through the internet. ISIS is using the internet better than we are using the Internet and it was our idea. What I wanted to do is I wanted to get our brilliant people from Silicon Valley and other places and figure out a way that ISIS cannot do what they’re doing…We’re not talking about closing the Internet. I’m talking about parts of Syria, parts of Iraq. Where ISIS is. Spotting it. Now, you could close it. What I like even better than that is getting our smartest and getting our best to infiltrate their Internet.”
Trump appears to be surprised by audience members booing.
I just can’t imagine somebody booing. These are people that want to kill us, folks. And you’re objecting to us infiltrating their conversations? I don’t think so.
Fourth GOP debate
Trump takes part in the fourth GOP debate, in Milwaukee, WI, where he expands on his plan to deport illegal immigrants.
We will have a wall. The wall will be built. The wall will be successful…We’re a country of laws. We either have a country or we don’t have a country? Let me just tell you that Dwight Eisenhower, good president, great president, people liked him. “I like Ike,” right? The expression. “I like Ike.” Moved a 1.5 million illegal immigrants out of this country, moved them just beyond the border. They came back. Moved them again beyond the border, they came back. Didn’t like it. Moved them way south. They never came back.
He also criticizes Fiorina saying:
Why is she always interrupting people?”
Third Republican presidential debate
I read that article today with amusement… This is another example of the double standard that exists in this country between the mainstream media and conservatives.
Jeb Bush jumps in, comparing Rubio’s lack of voting in the Senate to a French workweek, adding ‘You should be showing up for work… or just resign’. Rubio counters:
You said that you’re modelling your campaign after John McCain… I don’t ever remember you complaining about John McCain’s vote record… The only reason why you’re doing it now is because we’re running for the same position and someone has convinced you that attacking me is going to help you.