CNBC Republican Debate: Trump, Carson, Rubio, Fiorina, Bush Square Off In Colorado
The CNBC Republican Presidential debate was hosted at the University of Colorado Coors Events Center in Boulder tonight. Ten candidates for the Republican presidential nomination took the stage and debated issues facing America and the Republican Party in running into 2016.
CNBC’s Carl Quintanilla, Rebecca Quick, John Harwood, and other CNBC hosts posed questions to candidates.
The candidates included Governor of Ohio John Kasich, Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, junior United States Senator Marco Rubio, Donald Trump, Dr. Ben Carson, Carly Fiorina, junior United States Senator Ted Cruz, Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie, and Former Senator Rand Paul.
Carl Quintanilla’s first question to the candidates was about their greatest weakness and what they’re doing to address it.
John Kasich, who was the first to respond, completely ignored the question and instead spoke about how he feels that the Republicans are on “the verge, perhaps, of picking someone who cannot do this job.” Kasich then spoke about plans to dismantle Medicare, plans to deport 11 million people, and plans for “tax schemes.” Kasich then stated that Republicans need someone who can lead, who can “balance books” and “cut taxes.” Kasich never addressed what his greatest weakness was.
Impatience was cited by Jeb Bush as his biggest weakness. He also cited a belief that America is the best nation in the world, and that it “troubles” him when people are rewarded for “tearing down our country.”
Marco Rubio said that while it might not be a weakness, that his “sense of optimism” might be his greatest. Rubio also stated that he feels that the America’s best days don’t have to be “behind us.”
Ben Carson said that his biggest weakness was that he had never pictured himself in the role of president before “hundreds of thousands” of people said that he should.
Not smiling enough was Carly Fiorina’s chosen weakness. The only woman running for the Republican nomination stated that she was told she did not smile enough after the CNN debate in August, as reported by the Inquisitr. Fiorina also stated that she believes that America lives in “serious times.”
Drawing laughs from the audience, Ted Cruz stated, “I’m too agreeable. Easy going.” He then went on to say that the truth is that he is a “fighter” and that he is “passionate” about the U.S. Constitution.
Chris Christie said that he doesn’t see any weakness on the Republican debate stage. The Republican New Jersey Governor said that where he sees weakness is with the Democrats. He mentioned the “socialist,” “isolationist,” and “pessimist” running for the Democratic nomination.
Rand Paul spoke about the “$18 trillion” in debt and how he will say “no” to the United States taking on more debt, avoiding the question about weaknesses.
John Harwood asked Donald Trump about if his platform was a “comic book” presidential platform.
Trump responded that it wasn’t a “very nice” way to frame the question. Trump defended his plan to lower taxes and his Mexico wall plan. Trump compared his Mexico wall to the Great Wall of China. The Republican also reiterated his stance that Mexico is going to pay for the wall.
Harwood then spoke about bi-partisan finance advisers who spoke about Trump’s tax plans having as much chance of working as Trump “would flying away from that podium by flapping your arms.”
Rebecca Quick then pointed out a huge revenue shortfall with Ben Carson’s 10 percent flat tax. Carson answered that his plan called for closer to 15 percent, to which Quick responded that 15 percent still wouldn’t generate the same income the current tax system does. Carson said that Americans must also take into account “deductions” and “loopholes” and perform strategic cutting.
Carson stated “That’s not true.”
Quick replied “That is true.”
John Kasich then spoke about what he feels is a lack of basis in reality of other candidate’s plans and how he took Ohio from being “$8 billion” in the red to having a surplus of “$2 billion.”
Harwood asked Kasich about earlier comments he had made about other candidate’s comments being “crazy” and asked him for elaboration. Kasich immediately spoke with a sarcastic tone about a “10 percent tithe” and “shipping 10 million Americans” away.
Trump stated that Kasich’s success was a result of Ohio prospering from “fracking.” He then pointed out that Kasich was a “managing general partner at Lehman Brothers” when it collapsed in 2008. Kasich responded that he was a banker traveling around the United States learning about how jobs were created.
Ted Cruz was given a chance to speak and stated that he has a balanced plan for a 10 percent flat tax. Cruz stated that his plan would see that “no hedge fund manager pays less [in tax] than his secretary.” Cruz also proposed a flat business tax of 16 percent.
Carly Fiorina then spoke about how the tax code is “73,000” pages long and that more than “4,000” changes have been made to the plan since 2001. Fiorina stated a strong conviction that America needs a leader who can get things done.
Carl Quintanilla asked Fiorina, “You want to bring the 70,000 pages to three?”
Fiorina replied quickly, and with confidence, “That’s right, three pages.” The Republican hopeful stated that three pages would “level the playing field” because only the richest can hire the accountants and lawyers necessary to navigate 70,000 pages in tax laws.
Marco Rubio was asked about missing senate votes. He quickly pointed to Barack Obama, John Kerry, and others missing many votes when running for office. Rubio pointed to a double standard that he believes exists in the media between Democratic and Republican politicians running for president. The audience cheered, hooted, whistled, and applauded for Rubio vigorously.
Carly Fiorina deflected a question from Rebecca Quick about her firing by Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE: HPQ) by saying that Tom Perkins, a former HP board member, now regrets her firing. Quick responded with a quote Perkins had reportedly made indicating an elitist stance, and asked if Fiorina agreed with Perkins on this.
Fiorina answered Quick, “This is one of the reasons Tom Perkins and I had disagreements in the boardroom, Becky.”
Ted Cruz was asked about recent moves to increase the U.S. debt limit. Cruz fired back, attacking the questions that had been asked of other candidates, recounting almost every question asked of Trump, Rubio, Carson, and the rest.
Ted Cruz asked the CNBC hosts “How about talking about the substantive issues?”
Carl Quintanilla responded, holding up the answer card, “So this question about the debt limit?”
Cruz again dodged the question and spoke about how every Republican candidate at the debate was more qualified than their Democratic counterparts.
Quintanilla stated again, “I asked you about the debt limit and I got no answer.”
Harwood then moved the debate on, with Cruz talking over top of him “So you don’t actually want to hear the answer John?”
Harwood moved on to Rand Paul and ignored Cruz.
Paul spoke about the United States borrowing “a million dollars a minute.”
Chris Christie stated that social security is going to be bankrupt in “seven to eight” years and how he is the only person with a detailed plan to address it.
Mike Huckabee and Christie spoke about being accountable to seniors who have contributed to social programs for years and the promises made to them. Huckabee compared the U.S. government with Bernie Madoff.
Rebecca Quick asked Donald Trump about his bankruptcies. Trump pointed to other business people using the “chapter laws” for their own benefit and that “hundreds” of companies that he has started have thrived.
Jim Cramer asked Dr. Carson about “profiteering” by drug companies. Carson said that “as leaders” what candidates need to start thinking about is “average Americans.”
Jeb Bush spoke about $19 billion in tax cuts and 13 million jobs created during his tenor as Florida governor.
Carly Fiorina spoke about how big business and big government go hand in hand and how Wall Street has gone from having 10 major banks to five.
Rubio spoke about his financial literacy and experience. Kasich spoke about his fiscal record. Ted Cruz spoke about working women and wages for women falling under Barack Obama’s presidency. Fiorina spoke about Obama’s and Clinton’s policies being bad for women. Ben Carson spoke about his views on homosexuality and that because be believes that “marriage is between one man and one woman” doesn’t mean he is a homophobe.
Carl Quintanilla was booed by the audience about his questioning of Ben Carson over his likeness appearing on a Mannatech website.
Marco Rubio spoke about job and career training. Donald Trump spoke about how he is the only self-funded candidate and that dollar-for-dollar, he is getting better results than any other presidential candidate. Trump also called Super PACs a “big problem.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKr1UgFF8X4
Marco Rubio called the “mainstream media” the ultimate Democratic Super PAC. Ted Cruz spoke about a need to audit the U.S. Federal Reserve and getting back to “rules based” monetary policy. Rubio also spoke of the absurdity of a small business run by individuals paying a higher tax rate than bigger corporate companies that they compete with.
John Kasich was asked about his view on marijuana in Colorado. Kasich referred to all drugs as a “scourge.”
Rubio spoke about changing to an immigration system that is “merit based” rather than based on family relations.
Donald Trump called gun free zones “catastrophes.”
Mike Huckabee was asked if Donald Trump has the “moral authority” to lead America. Huckabee responded that he was wearing a Trump tie and that he thinks that Trump would make a much better president than Hillary Clinton. Carly Fiorina spoke about small business owners in America being “crushed.”
John Kasich suggested a system by which students could perform legitimate public service toward the repayment of student debt. Christie spoke about fantasy football being discussed when issues like “ISIS and Al-Qaeda” face America.
[Feature Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]
