Live Blog: New Hampshire Republican Debate
Posted: June 13, 2011 Filed under: 2012 presidential campaign, Barack Obama, Democratic Politics, Economy, Republican presidential politics | Tags: 2012 presidential election, CNN Republican Debate, live blog, New Hampshire, Robert Gibbs 67 Comments
Tonight’s Republican freak show has just begun. If you’re watching or listening, please post your reactions in this thread. You can watch the live stream at CNN. Candidates appearing in this debate are Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, Michelle Bachmann, Herman Cain, Tim Pawlenty, Ron Paul, and Mitt Romney.
For some reason, New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson was left out of the debate.
Among those invited to the participate in the debate include Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, businessman Herman Cain, former House speaker Newt Gingrich, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum.
Ms. Bachmann has yet to declare her candidacy, leaving many to claim the debate is simply a move to boost ratings.
A number of Republican leaders were also extended invitations, the news networks said. Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman and Donald Trump were also extended invitations. Mr. Daniels, Mr. Huckabee and Mr. Trump publicly announced their intentions not to run for president, while Mr. Huntsman declined the invitation, CNN said.
CNN is allowing audience members to ask questions directly to the candidates and they are also encouraging viewers to use social media while watching the debate. On twitter you’re encouraged to use the hashtag #CNNDebate.
At the Daily Telegraph, conservative columnist Toby Harnden has a list of 10 things to watch for in the debate. According to Harnden, former Obama press secretary Robert Gibbs is at the debate. At the Chicago Sun-Times, Lynn Sweet runs down “Team Obama’s GOP Debate Game Plan.”
Here are the details:
*Gibbs is in New Hampshire booked for a series of national and regional interviews before and after the debate. Exclusive: On Tuesday morning, Gibbs will hit the a.m. talk shows: CNN’s American Morning, Fox and Friends, CBS’ Early Show and MSNBC.
*Flooding the zone. Obama 2012 top strategist David Axelrod was deployed to CNN in D.C., where he guests on the debate pre-show, “John King, USA.”
*Democratic National Committee top spokesman Brad Woodhouse will handle post debate spin room duties at the debate site, St. Anselm’s College.
*The DNC is deploying folks to work all social media-Twitter, web, etc. during the debate and will run a fact check operation.
*The DNC is also doing what is called pre-buttal, taking aim in particular at Tim Pawlenty and Mitt Romney.
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Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)
Sky Dancing 
Bachmann started hitting the bottle early. Newt not at fighting weight. Santorum just flew in from Mars. Cain has grandchildren! ( This got a big cheer. GOPers love grandchildren. ).
Not sure I can stomach this…
Ron Paul’s introduction sounded like he was trying out for a superhero job.
LOL, Beata!
So far, they’re mostly talking about getting rid of Obamacare. They spent some time talking about jobs, but their recommendation for that is lowering corporate taxes and ending all regulation. Michelle Bachmann wants to get rid of the EPA because it’s a “job killer.”
Calling this a freak show is an understatement.
The first mention of Raygun was by Newt.
Santorum said “he cares about every human’s diginity”, excpet for women’s diginity.
Michelle is already lying by saying that the teaparty is made up of democrats.
Watched Republican debate about 15 minutes. Nothing intelligent going to happen here.
Some how the saying: If considered a fool, you should not speak up and confirm it.
If this type of pablem excites you – god bless you – however do not consider it rationality
Unbalanced wingnut Santorum tried to convince a mainstream NH Republican that he will run a balanced campaign. So did Bachmann. Neither was convincing. Wonder why?
Santorum talks way too fact, but John talks twice as fast as Santorum.
I can’t watch any more of this.
I’m hoping for a big gaffe of some kind–preferably from Romney or Santorum.
Santorum is a gaffe machine. So is Bachmann.
My question to the republicans…………what is the original name of the bill that you all Obamaneycare?
Romney’s latest excuse is that Obama didn’t check with him to see what worked in MA. He says the states should be doing health care. If elected, Mitt will give automatic waivers to all 50 states.
I heard that, and why didn’t he step up to plate to help Obama understand what wasn’t working?
Michelle Bachmann claims she “fought behind closed doors” with Paulson to stop the auto industry bailout. Claims she was in on everything every step of the way.
Me, Me, I, I, and Me
Newt: “NASA is a case study in why bureacracies can’t accomplish anything.”
Odd question about the future of the space program of all things. Newt says he is “a big fan of going into space”.
Then I think he should go. Sounds like a great idea, Newt!
Next question: What do we do about natural emergencies. Should we keep FEMA? Mitt is giving a non answer and filabustering so he doesn’t have to deal with the question.
Privatize FEMA, says Mittens. Heck, privatize everything while we’re at it! Yeah, that’s the ticket.
Stupid questions are thrown in before the breaks: Leno or Letterman? Dancing with the Stars or American Idol. Stupid stupid stupid.
Boxers or briefs?
Someone on Twitter said Casey Anthony or OJ Simpson? I replied: Gary Ridgeway or Ted Bundy?
I thought you were kidding about the Leno and Letterman…sheez.
Back to the dark ages.
I miss hearing Hillary in debates. I still want her to debate Romney after he attacked her in 2008 at a republican debate.
I’m going to try to take this more seriously. Really. /s
yup, this is just jr. varsity, wait till we get Palin and Perry up there answering the questions.
Yikes!!
We are really in trouble – they have nothing and O is even less
John King talks over every candidate telling them they are going too long. Very annoying.
King is doing a terrible job.
That of course is his job…to be terrible lol!
My question, why does the private sector charge $600 for blood testing?
Uh oh, here we go with Social Security. Herman Cain wants private accounts.
Private accounts work in Galveston, Texas, according to Cain. That’s good enough to convince me.
Galveston opted out of Social Security? Is that legal?
Hey, I guess it is official:
Michele Bachmann announces presidential campaign – Political Hotsheet – CBS News
Someone should tell Mitt Romney not to throw stones because he lives in a glass house. He’s saying Obama isn’t a leader. Romney was never a leader.
Mitt says we shouldn’t raise the debt limit, because pretty soon no one will want to lend us money because the dollar won’t be worth anything anymore. Is that a smart thing for a presidential candidate to say? I don’t think so.
Is there one single atheist in congress?
And Cain will make sure that not one single Muslim will serve in congress. I thought we already had one serving? Huh?
I believe there are two Muslims serving in the House of Representatives now.
Andre Carson ( D-IN ) and Keith Ellison ( D-MN ) are Muslim.
These people have a very twisted idea of separation of church and state.
Twisted Masters of Faith
Bachmann and her husband have “broken hearts” for children and that is why she is opposed to same-sex marriage. Or something like that. Very confused answer. The woman gives me hives.
She gives me the heebeejeebees.
They should play Twilight Zone music when they go to break.
Not true, not true Newt – The army was for and the Marines were against don’t ask don’t tell.
Stupid, Stupid – Michele , I’d talk to the Commander in Chief about don’t ask don’t tell.
Rachel Madow is going after the Republican sex offenders. Rachel played a clip from Sunday show where Debbie Waserman Schutz went after Vitter and Ensign who did break the law.
So talk show dynamic went from Weiner who did not technically break the law to Vitter and Ensign who did break the law. Debbie out shouted the Republican in his response
Looks like the Democrats are going to fight – about time – wonder if that will extend to the president.
Fly on the wall time will be when Weiners wife comes home.I bet she will seek Hillary’s advoce
She’s already getting Hillary’s advice. She’s with Hillary. Hillary and Bill have both talked to Weiner several times already.
I would love to hear what Hillary told him.
They all want to drill baby drill.
Raygun caused this when he granted amnesty to get votes and trying to destroy unions. Military should be on the border,but what are you going to do with the people already here. No one ever answered that question,because the only answereis amnesty and no one will ever admit that.
God bless Paul for speaking the truth about the wars…..
Alan, I agreed too. Pawlenty, I think said he wouldn’t cut other military bases, but rather increase them.
That was just mind-numbing.
I’ll say.
Pawlenty came across as particularly weak. I think he is a non-starter, especially if Huntsman is in the race.
Really, all I heard about jobs was eliminate all the taxes and subsidize them.
@BorowitzReport: #CNNDebate: Mitt Romney looked like a zombie who couldn’t find any brains onstage to eat.
A Repug can pull away from the pack now if they appear to be at least partially sane… that’s the Huntsman attraction isn’t it? . Mitt’s moment has passed….seems to me
Obama promotes corporate profits in the name of job creation
Obama is not creating jobs…but he did create a Jobs Council ! and whoes on said Jobs Council ??
http://tinyurl.com/3htd5vs
Why the usual supects of course
That group included the CEOs of GE, Intel, Xerox, UBS, American Express, Southwest Airlines, DuPont, Eastman Kodak, Comcast, Facebook, and the banking giants Citigroup and UBS. It also included Obama’s longtime financial backer Penny Pritzker, a multi-millionaire Chicago real estate mogul, and Joseph T. Hansen, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, who is also on the council, did not attend the event
the veryt folks who are sitting on huge piles of cash and refusing to hire, are those chagred woth job creation
HELP!!!!!!
not as bad as i’d thought. so you guys are worried too. thank you mr. megehee
for your kind nod to mr. paul…h