SmallGovTimes.comRomney and McCain do battle, monopolize California debate By: SGT News | Published on 01/30/08 The remaining four GOP presidential candidates debated Wednesday evening at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, but Romney and McCain emerged from the debate with battle scars to show for it. Trying to make themselves out to be the most Conservative of the bunch, Romney quickly said that McCain’s views are “out of the mainstream” of what many would consider true Conservative ideals, and added that the New York Times endorsement of McCain indicates the Arizona senator is out of touch with Conservative values. McCain jabbed back, claiming that Romney’s job creation record was “the third-worst in the country,” and added that he is proud of his record and his ability to reach across the aisle to “get things done.” During questions regarding the War in Iraq, McCain accused Romney of supporting a timetable for withdrawal, drawing an eventual sharp interruption by Romney who accused him of not using the full quote and simply getting the facts wrong. Romney insists he never supported a timetable for withdrawal, but rather timetables that address troop levels and their collective responsibilities. Also at the debate were Texas Representative Ron Paul and ex-Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. Huckabee was visibly upset at the balance of questions being thrown at McCain and Romney, and at one point said, “I’d like to be in on the discussion.” Drawing applause from the audience, Ron Paul poked fun at McCain and Romney’s disagreement over “who said what, when”, and argued that more serious and fundamental discussions over the United States’ foreign policy should be more in focus. When asked if Ronald Reagan would have supported them, both Romney and McCain suggested that he would have. Paul said he was not sure what Reagan would support today, and Huckabee suggested that it would be arrogant to presume that Reagan would have endorsed anyone on the stage. View the transcript of this debate Original URL: http://www.smallgovtimes.com/story/08jan30.war.romney.mccain/index.html |