At the time Trump responded by saying that the United States is too focused on politically correct language.
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Paul jumped in immediately at the start of the debate to go after Trump’s refusal to rule out a third-party run, saying the billionaire “buys and sells politicians of all stripes” and accusing him of “hedging his bet on the Clintons”. Before the main event, seven candidates whose poll ratings did not qualify them for prime time took part in a separate daytime debate.
The purported quote came from Politico, citing anonymous sources who overheard Bush calling Trump a “clown”, a “buffoon” and an “a-hole” during a meeting with donors. He also defended his past giving to Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi.
The problem, Trump said, is that “our leaders are stupid”.
With 10 Republicans vying for attention on the crowded stage, the candidates frequently turned on one another rather than direct their fire toward Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton or President Barack Obama.
“The great majority of people coming here have no other option”, Bush said.
Kasich drew repeated applause, particularly when showcasing his pragmatic approach to divisive social issues.
Trump slams Rosie: If there were any doubt that Trump would shrink from his persona in the name of debate decorum, he quickly dispelled them as Megyn Kelly challenged some of his comments. There will be at least eight more debates, in addition to a host of media interviews of the candidates, tens of millions of dollars in campaign advertising, and endless speeches between now and the first nominating events early next year. While leading the pack in every sense going into the debate, he was also drawn down into it over the course of the evening.
Ohio Governor John Kasich said Trump “hits a nerve”.
A raucous crowd cheered the candidates on throughout the debate in Cleveland, the same city where Republicans will nominate their general election candidate next summer.
But one Republican told 1010 WINS he’s concerned that Trump doesn’t have any ethics.
While the candidates peppered their remarks with barbs about Clinton, they avoided lengthy attacks on her record as secretary of state and the deadly attack in Benghazi, Libya.
Vox has this excellent breakdown on the incidents that Megyn Kelly was referencing in her continued attempts to hold Trump accountable.
Immigration and counterterrorism dominated the early stages of the debate, two issues that highlight the deep divisions within the Republican Party.
Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky said he supported the idea of diplomatic negotiations with Iran but said Obama didn’t “negotiate from a position of strength”.
Green also said New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Florida Sen. He said he wanted to collect more information from terrorists, not law-abiding Americans.
“And frankly, what I say, and oftentimes it’s fun”. Marco Rubio of Florida tried to establish his new generation credentials.
Mike Huckabee – Huckabee has probably been in more of these debates than the rest of the candidates combined.
The crowded field meant limited talking time for candidates, many of whom were introducing themselves to Americans for the first time.
From former Texas Gov. Rick Perry to former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, several of the so-called “happy hour debate” candidates swung at Trump for his policy positions and his association with the Clintons.
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In the swift-paced rounds of questions and answers that followed, Trump tussled with Rand Paul about single-payer health care and wrangled with Jeb Bush about the tone of Trump’s own rhetoric.
