Republican Debate: Live Blog of ABC News, Yahoo News and WMUR Presidential Debate

I have a question for the candidates. Would they agree to a requirement on all government contracts and things like alternative enregy funding that requires 75% of all components and budgeted expenditures be sourced from companies with american headquartes and employees where at least 75% of the value added and income was reported in the US..

Please ask Santorum if he believes that any two people should be allowed to marry. If not, why and would he seek a Constitutional amendment to restrict who should be allowed to marr?

Ask Santorum to describe his business experience and how it would apply it to the Presidency. He lost his Senate race over 6 years ago and has been functioning as a Washington lobbyist/or consultant to lobbyists so explain how this makes him an outsider?

Please, Diane, keep your questions short like George does. We want and need to hear the
candidates, not you. This was so irritating on the last ABC News debate.

I know that the economy very important. A question that I have not heard is what are going to do about the gas prices. In which I never hear from obam

With nearly 42 Billion dollars lost monthly in trade with half of that being with China, would any of the the candidates consider levying a protectionist tariff the way we did in the early 1800s to protect domestic jobs?

I want to know where each candidate stands on second amendment rights. How do they stand on the bill in congress now for the nation wide recognition of concealed carry permitts, and on gun control laws? Do they believe semi automatic hand guns, rifles and assault riffles should be outlawed? Will they support the UN small arms laws to apply to US citizens?

ABC demonstrates their allegiance to the Obama administration by asking questions designed to cause bickering between candidates. Their debate coverage does a disservice to the American people. Fortunately, we do not have to rely on only their coverage.

I would like to ask Gingrich how he accounts for his huge lose in Iowa.

There were THREE winners in Iowa on Tuesday and one of them was NOT Newt Gingrich. What’s going on, is ABC in a race with CBS to see who can ignore Ron Paul better?

I am an 18 year old girl and I would like to ask the candidates the first and foremost reason I should give them my first legal vote.
Thanks!

Please ask the candidates how they would expain to their wives the changes in their marriage if gay marriage is legalized.

Please give Ron Paul more time and more direct questions.

Can Perry just be quiet?

Correction on typo of previous post/question. I have a question for Mitt Romney. Public Partnership LLC. (PPL) is a company from Mass. that receives money from a Tennessee Medicaid program called “Choices”. Choices is suppose to prevent people with disabilities from being forced to live in nursing homes and so they can live in their own homes while receiving personal assistance. It cost tax payers much less for people with disabilities to live in their own homes rather than nursing homes. Nursing homes are unfortunately businesses. As a person with a disability, I know that PPL is in violation of the Olmstead Decision of 1999, which is a Civil Rights Act. Has Mitt Romney received Campaign funds from Public Partnership LLC., which is a company in violation of the Olmstead Decision of 1999?

Keith Rearden

The two people conducting this so called debate are pathetic. It opened as an attack on Romney and segued to Ron Paul. You have no self respect.

If elected POTUS what strategies would each utilize to de-globalize jobs and bring them back to the United States?

This is typical of ABC and mainstream media in general – their blatant attempt to marginalize Ron Paul first by ignoring him, then changing the feedback on his microphone for his first answer. This type of behavior may is more suited in a banana republic or the old Soviet Union. The majority of people watching this know what ABC’s s dirty tricks are and are not buying it anymore.

Everyone is talking about job creation, but I don’t hear them talking about what kinds of jobs. Mr. Romney mentioned creating jobs at Staples & Sports Authority. Are these really the jobs that are going to help us compete in a global marketplace?

Come on. Mr Paul is not staying focused. I don’t want to hear them picking on each other. Lets get into the meat of the problem. President OBummer. I want to hear their own policies and plans for the country’s future. It looks ugly right now. How are they going to fix it.

Please ask Jon Huntsman Jr:
If you were so great in business and leadership yourself, why did they recruit Mitt Romney from outside the state to save the Olympics? Why didn’t they just get you?

PS:
His unemployment numbers are not really true, as there are many self-employed in Utah including Realtors, Salesmen, who are Not counted in Utah’s numbers! And, he left Utah on a slide down to deficit because of his lack of foresight.

He was a nothing Governor, who even deleted all his files as he left the state of Massachuisetts…
We would like to know why? POSTED BY: DONNA PIELA | ********** That’s because he spent
more time at his vacation home in NH than Bush spent in Crawford TX! He seems to be OCD.
There were months when the only thing on his mind was to bring down Billy Bulger. (Former
State Senate President who then was President of the University of Massachusetts).
I was attending Umass during those days, and it became apparent that after Bulger was forced
out, our campus became extremely top heavy with useless upper management, using cronies
from Romney’s clan. Tuition, and fees went skyrocketing to pay for these clowns. The school is
finally getting back on track, no thanks to him.

Does Rick Perry think he remains the Commander in Chief when his Air National Guard and Army National Guard troops deploy? When they are deployed under Title 10, the POTUS becomes the CinC. Also, why did Gov Perry only serve 5 years as a pilot when the active duty service commitment is 10 years for having the government spend over 2 million dollars to put you through pilot training? Yes, Governor Perry was in the Texas Air National Guard, but shouldn’t he have served longer?

This is more of an ABC “Lets interview all the candidates” instead of a debate. ABC get your act together and get with the program. I just remembered why I never watch anything on this channel!

Why is cutting the budget back to 2000 levels going to jeopardize our safety?

How do they purpose to give me and the rest of the country back money we will not receive in social security and Medicare that we have paid in? I receive a statement every year telling me my full retirement benefit will not start until I reach 67….and at that time I will only receive 70 odd cents to every 1 dollar I have paid in. Also, I have just learned that at age 65 now you are charged 99.90 per month for Medicare….so where exactly is the money we are paying in to Medicare? As it seems I would be better keeping my money and drawing at least 1% interest in checking rather than getting money already taken away.

The anchors in this debate are embarassing. They are trying to literally start a bull fight. Where is the integrity? Or are they under orders from Obama to attempt to destroy the Republicans?

Give me a break, moderators!!! How about asking the candidates about this issues. It’s obvious the moderators are deliberately asking the candidates to pit against each other. Stop it!! I want to know where they stand on the issues of this country.

They are all better than Obama we need to stop arguing with each other and move forward to getting a republican in the White House before its too late. The Worlds Ending in 2012 only if we keep Obama, Pelosi, and Reid in there!!

To all candidates..
I am going to become a proud citizen of the United States of America before elections. Why do you think I should vote for you?

Note -In 2008 elections lot of my friends voted for Obama and they regretting now.

What do you differently do to keep economy up and running than current administration.

Thanks

Governor Romney, the income inequity in the United States of America is at an all time high. Can you explain the value of Super PACs which represent anonymous donors who are unrestricted by the amount they can give? Doesn’t this concept allow for the small few with the most wealth, not only in America but in foreign countries, to limitlessly influence who is elected president for the rest?

Why did the on-line commentator “wonder” why Ron Paul is going after Santorum in this debate? Did she watch the debate? It was because one of the questioners asked him about an ad earlier in the week.

All this debate has shown is the canidates are scared to go after Mitt hard. they are scared of what Pro Mitt super pac is going to go after them if they do. Lets just hold the Republican convention Wednesday and end the Primary process. Thanks to the Supreme Court its not about the best canidate but who has the most money or backed by the most secret money.

I sure wish the analysts would stop talking about the horse race aspect and talk about the substance (or lack thereof) of the answers given by the candidates. Huntsman’s answers are so vague and fact-deprived that he says zero everytime he opens his mouths.

And this is why I also don’t watch main streat media. They are wanting the canidates to duke it out. Ask the questions that the people are interested in. NOT THE BICKERING OF ONE ANOTHER!

What would you change with the current war on drugs? How do you feel about medical marijuana?

Sawyer and Stephanopoulis are terrible!! Where are the questions about issues? Are they trying to get a cat fight so ABC news will have a headlines in the morning? This isn’t a debate – it’s a setup.

Ask Rick perry to respond to the recent article in rolling stone- ask him about the state of public education in Texas – the jobs that were created mostly minimum wage thousands of teachers lost jobs – he has the government in the state of Texas up for sale!

So many Americans have lost jobs, our paychecks are less, our 401k’s are reduced to the point that many of us that want to retire now cannot afford to especially with social security is at risk. Folks that thought that they were doing well are now in food lines and applying for food stamps. Some that thought they were set in their homes have now lost them. My question is this. Will the people that serve in Washington such as the president and Congress take a pay cut in order to make ends meet just as we have? Seems fair that their paychecks and benefits get reduced just as all of ours have been if it will out more $$ in the pot.

By refusing to directly go after Romney, ALL of the GOP candidates on that stage look like COWARDS. They say alot behind his back, but not to his face. Why would we want a CEO like Romney as president. Wall Street’s greed took us the brink of the 2nd Great Depression. Why would any American vote the Republicans back into office to finish that job?

Sen. Santorum: Why was sharing a community’s bounty a good thing for the early Christians in the Book of Acts but a bad thing for modern-day America?

Ms. Sawyer can continue demonstrating her glib attitude toward the Constitution. For anyone capable of independent thought, she is the joke.

This is a joke of a debate. It reminds me of MTV’s Real World where the producers (in this case ‘moderators’) force the candidates to fight each other. It’s a joke. The American people deserve better than this. Try asking impartial questions about topics that Americans actually care about such as the economy, job creation, end to the wars, and civil rights. But I guess this is way below the ‘journalistic’ standards of ABC news. They don’t want to host a real debate, only a mudslinging-ratings-grabbing-childish fight. If I wanted forced drama I would watch ‘Kim and Kourtney Take New York’. This viewer is changing the channel…I guess I’m too mature to watch this garbage. ABC News should be ashamed.

I agree with many other commenters here. Ask the candidates how they feel about the issues and their solutions not how they feel about each other. This should be a debate about important issues not a Jerry Springer show. I’m changing the channel!

Santorum blah blah blah people

question for the candidates: we aren’t all innovators like Steve Jobs. And innovators tend to have their ideas manufactured in China, not here. How are we going to compete for JOBS in this globalized world? Do we have to work for lower wages, relax our envirnmental and work safety regulations? Do they get pregnancy leave in China? Are employers in South Korea compelled to make the workplace wheel chair accessible? Do employers in India have to provide health insurance to their workers?

Why is a marriage, a religious institution be dictated by the government, due to separation of church and state?

Has Mitt Romney received Campaign funds from Public Partnership LLC., which is a company in violation of the Olmstead Decision of 1999? Keith Rearden POSTED BY: KEITH REARDEN | JANUARY 7, 2012, 9:08 PM *********interesting, worth looking into ABC.

Wow. Scary, scary, scary. They actually SAY they would reverse Roe vs Wade. The idiot Perry talks about how scary, it is to cut the defense budget and we need to spend more, but how can he then cut the spending?

How come someone doesn’t ask these fools if they’re so bent on cutting the budget, how can they justify ramping up and not cutting the military? How can they justify cutting social services and creating jobs to repair our infrastructure for the returning military?

If they are so government out of our lives, how can they be OK with getting into who marries whom and who can have an abortion?

Paul is the only “conservative” in spending less and getting government out of our lives. The rest of them are all big spenders, in our lives, except when it comes to healthcare, education, and creating fake wars to make their contributors rich?

Award for the dumbest question of the night goes to George Stephanopolous. As well as his attempts to clarify his dumb question.

Would Ron Paul approve preemtive military action (war) against Iran if it can be known that Iran is on the cusp of securing a thermonuclear weapon?

You could not any more meaningless questions as pertained to the situation this country finds itself if you tried. What a bunch of bs questions. This debate has far more to do with abc’s political agenda than anything else. No surprise there

To all candidates, how can you decide that any 2 people who love each other enough to bind themselves by law for the rest of their lives are not worthy of that Right? Marriage is about love and commitment not what sex the married people are. I find it appalling that any person can say it’s not their right marry.

How can you not talk about the constitution? When so many presidents are abusing it, why avoid talking about what it says?

Why not ask “businessman” Romney about how he would take over companies, strip them of their profits, fire many people, and walk off with huge profits? Is that what he plans to do with this country? Make himself rich and screw everyone else?

This should have been the Yahoo debate. Diane must get paid every time she mentions them on the air. Can we get to real issues!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Economy, Economy, Economy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think the goofballs from Utah should go after the polygamists before they go after gay marriage.

I have a question for the moderators. We have people out of work in this country, we have soldiers in the field in harms way in foreign countries and you want to talk about gay marriage? Like that is an important and vital issue. It’s just another attempt by the liberal media establishment to make Republicans answer questions about gay marriage and abortion and not the REAL problems that face this country and the pathetic job our President is doing about it.

Ask how each thinks about the S 1867 bill that just was signed into law Dec 31 as well as Sopa
coming about Jan 24th

Social Securty Reform – Do any of the candidates believe raiding the Railroad Retirement Fund is an option they would consider to reform Social Security?

Why do Christian conservatives want EVERYONE in the United States to believe what they believe, I thought that my spiritual life and my belief in God is protected under the FIRST AMENDMENT?

George is a joke…these monitors are an embarrassment to this country! They are totally
Disrespectful while candidates are talking by talking amongst themselves at their desk…and all they are doing is trying to get the candidates to argue!!!! All 3 of them
Are a joke!!!!!!!! I’ll never watch abc news again!!!!!

Illigal Immigration

Why don’t we have more dialog about how we are going to stop the 20 million illigal immigrants from draining the life from our taxpayers?

how would you as commander and cheif pay for the defense debt that President Obama hasbeen so scrutinized for cutting, without raising the debt ceiling in the United States?

Enough with the gay problems-get to the real issues

Please ask…What will happen to the 20 million illegal immigrants.and will they secure our border.

I want to ask the candidates why they agreed to be in a debate where they are being questioned by Diane Sawyer and George Stephonopolous, two liberal democrats. Do we answer to them? Do they set our agenda? This is completely biased and unfair. I would have respected them more if none would have agreed to debate for this reason alone.

Please ask some questions about what we really care about: the ecomony, jobs, healthcare, education, the military, immigration. Enough time wasting with gay marriage and abortion, I think we know where most Republicans stand on that..Diane and George, very disappointing trying to pit the candidates against each other to make them look bad. Ask some good questions already. Pitiful.

What a BUNCH of hypocrites. We’re all for freedom of Christian religions WE like, but not other ones. If they’re all for the “foundations of marraige” they’d better be talking Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Mormon, whatever. Maybe we should go back to the “foundations” on the Bible where it says it is an “abomination” for man to lie with man, to wear two different fabrics, and to plant two different seeds in the same hole. (They’re all RIGHT NEXT to each other in the Bible, you thumpers.) It seems like all of these “good Christians” are ABOMINATIONS according to the Bible. They’re ALL wearing more than one type of fabric.

Al Kid–AS soon as I can get in your life and tell you how many kids you can have, you can have a say on who marries whom. How DARE you interfere with other people’s lives and tell them what to do, yet you won’t allow me to tell you what to do?

How can these candidates say they favor small government and then think they have the right to tell people what they can do in the bedroom and with their bodies? If you want the government out of your lives, that means you can’t tell people who they can marry or what choices they need to make. You can’t pick and choose your values.

Ron Paul won the first round!!!!
Go RON PAUL!!!!!!!!!!!!

More Ron Paul! He is the only one with any new ideas. All the others count as one and a half candidate combined by comparison, and that’s being generous. Our option is ONE BIG GOVERNMENT CONSERVATIVE or RON PAUL!

To all candidates, what are your feelings on the legalization of medical marijuana at a federal level? Keeping in mind that if this were implemented it would add millions of jobs and billions of tax revenue to each state as well as the federal government over night. while at the same time providing compassionate care to millions using the system that California has successfully implemented.

Ron Paul was third in Iowa and is second in New Hampshire. He has the most controversial foreign policy. WHEN are you going to let him speak on this Middle East issue?

Let’s speak about what counts… that is jobs.. the Republicans have had the congress for the last year and where are the jobs….Who raised the minimum wage? Who made it possible for handicap people to park in front, who gave us family leave act? think about it….

I would like to know how the candidates propose to help the postal service? There are currently 19 bills that have been proposed with H.R. 1351 being the most sensible since it does not cut days of delivery and relieves the cumbersome burden of prefunding 75 years worth of retiree benefits in 10 years, a burden no other government agency or private sector business has been saddled with. H.R. 1351 also returns overpayments that have been made totaling in the billions, none of the other bills proposed even come close to doing the right thing. The postal service is closing offices and cutting its way into oblivion with 600,000 jobs on the line within the agency and millions of jobs in the private sector that rely on a viable Postal Service. I hope the candidates understand the dire situation that congress imposed on the Postal Service when it passed the prefunding bill in 2006.

I would like to hear more from Ron Paul?

Why is it that you want to limit our rights as gay people but yet we pay taxes just like every American in this country. We pay more taxes than married people so therefore we pay your salaries. Why should we continue to pay taxes if we can not have the rights as an American. This country was found on freedom and every person is created equal. You all put as second class citizens. What we do in our homes is not anyone business.

Mitt Romney has 5 sons, I’d like to ask him if any of them have served in the military of our great nation and why not if they haven’t served — especially if he wants to be CinC and send our sons and daughters into “harm’s way”.

Newt and Rick S seem up to the debate. Paul is just too cranky and seems to have Pacs that lie quite a bit at least the others are implying that.Mitt is solid but not flashy. Who knows? If Newt makes it through NH, Fla. SC , I will still be supporting him.

Just so I’m clear, a few minutes ago they were complaining about the “war on christianity,” but Rick Santorum was just advocating a war on islam? Really? Seriously? How are those arguments taken seriously?

Seems fair that their paychecks and benefits get reduced just as all of ours have been if it will out
more $$ in the pot. POSTED BY: ELISE | JANUARY 7, 2012, 9:42 PM 9:42 PM ************
Lets put it on the ballot!!!! You can go on the corner and get qualified people who would do
twice as good as these clowns.

how long does it take before a person realizes politicians are masters at crying wolf. Sorry to say but it took me about 40 years. One says if u don’t elect me we’re going down the tubes. The other says if u don’t elect me we’re going down the tubes. Now that i can look back over about 10 presidents my conclusion is our country would not be any better or worse off if we had elected one of the other wolf cryers rather than the one we elected. In the end they’re all in it for themselves. They stand up there and say to us what they’re going to do to help the working and the poor and the lobbyist sit in the background saying yeah we hear ya, u know who butters your bread. Please wake up working and poor people, we don’t stand a chance! i’d like to see a list of who has the senators and presidents personal phone numbers and can call them whenever they see fit. I don’t think many working or poor people would make the list.

The focus of the ABC moderators is misplaced and the moderators themselves are very, very poor. We voters primarily want the hear the candidates’ views on important issues like the economy, jobs, foreign affairs, the deficit, etc. and then, secondarily, to hear their moral views. Like a previous writer, I will never watch ABC News again!

You let Rick Santorum attack Ron Paul, then run his mouth incessantly until the break. I fully expect you to give Ron Paul an opportunity to respond as long as Santorum got, if he wants it and I hope Dr. Paul calls you down on it if you don’t.

I believe Santorum sounds a little confused. He is wet behind the ears. Definitely not ready for presidency. I believe Ron Pauls views make the most sense. I am voting Ron Paul He is the only one
that will stand up against the powers of evil

There has been discussions tonight about “the people” in other countries rising up against their government with protest, yet, they are opposed to Americans protesting? What is each candidates
stand on this?

These interviewers are despicable!! Ask question to address the real challenges we are facing as a nation not a bunch of liberal stuff you care about!

UNBELIEVABLE – these ridiculous “analysts” continue to talk about political miscues instead of substance. They finally started to talk about issues, and one of these guys said “not to get too deep into history” – you know, because that’s boring and all.

I want to ask the candidates if they plan on looking into changing or reorganizing the curent income tax codes to make it more business friendly to bring more businesses back to the US to bring more jobs back to the US? Meaning the Fair Tax Act (H.R. 25).

Can u talk about spending under a Perry adminisration? Perry: let me just say this about marraige… way to avoid the issues like most of the canidates. Viva La Rloveution!

David Brinkley and Howard K Smith are apologizing at the very moment to our Founding Fathers.

Catholicism is definitely not what this nation was founded on and even if it were the government should not be funded the Catholic Church due to Separation of Church and State. Let us not so outwardly show our biases and favoritism of Christianity. This nation was not funded on Christianity either. This nation was founded by people whom hoped to escape religious persecution. The current administration is not attacking religion by not funding the Catholic Church, it is upholding the law and Christianity and Catholicism are different practices whether the persons on the panel realize it or not.

I lived in Utah for 20 years. Jon Huntsman may have helped to improve the business atmosphere, but he did so at the expense of the health of Utahns. The air pollution in the Salt Lake and northern Cache valleys exceeds other states, resulting in the highest cases of childhood asthma in the nation. For example, industry in north Salt Lake is so poorly regulated, one plant spews 7X the legal limit of chlorine. Sawyer needs to ask Huntsman about what he really values.

Can we please hear more of Ron Paul’s stance on the issues???

you abc moderaors are doing a lousy job …. stupid questions will little tough followup. diane sawyer acts like she’s competing for an academy award… so dramatic acting. wake up you guys! these guys are saying some dangerous things and are getting away with it. they want to go to war over libya, eygpt, syria, iran, etc etc

Why not ask Willard (that’s Mitt’s name) about why he thinks corporations are people and should have unlimited rights to buy a vote, and yet when they do something like become billionaires by cheating people as a financial company, they can’t go to jail?

Why not ask Willard about his record of job destroying as he ravaged the companies he bought and came out super rich, and then proclaims he’s a “businessman?”

Since they all say they want jobs, they want to help veterans, and they want to cut the budget, why aren’t they going with Obama’s plan to cut the military and give these veterans jobs building our badly decaying infrastructure instead of GIVING money all over thew world to “buy” our allies?

What a sorry bunch of moderators. Diane sounds like she is in downers and george acts like he is afraid of being around so many republicans. This is no debate. Nothing more than abc trying to make republicans look foolish. Why do the republicans fall for this every time. Not a meaningful debate I’d rather watch tennis. Tuning out!

Well if Rick s get elected as President, we will be at war again within months of him taking office

ABC news, you should be ashamed of yourselves. Is this the Mitt Romney show? I thought I was going to watch a dialogue between ALL he candidates.

Arrrrgh! You cretins; you let Santorum attack Paul, promise to go back to Paul, then you change the subject after the break. I hope Ron Paul calls you down on this. I do you, the every time you pull this junk, Ron Paul’s numbers go up; so, keep acting like fatheads.

George S is lame.

I am sickened by the worthless, left agenda of the moderators in this debate. Why don’t you just call it what it is … The Elect Obama Campaign. I have never taken offense at a network for their handling of a debate before, but I am tired of your liberal crap! Don’t ever expect me to take you seriously as a news trotting whence again!

how is the content or questions avoid the bigger issue of if our own economic system meaning big buisness and our banking system going unchecked with massive amounts of profits being used to raise top ceo paydays and the claim of buisness profits are returned back into the economy we all feel the pain of the lies it is right there front and center. if we fixed our corrupt system we would possibly be able to absorb the costs of our commitments to our allies or interest in ohter countries

Please ask what would the candidates do if confronted with a congress that disapproves of their policies?

None of these guys are ready to be president. No past president was ready to be president. Even the current president is not ready to be president….the job simply sucks – bottom line. It’s all about money, who has it, controls it and takes it away from those who need it. America stop voting for guys with money. Stop voting for career politicians. Vote for yourself as a write-in candidate!!!

If they believe in infra structure then why are Republicans in Congress always blocking any bill to promote growth. the stimulus package tried to modernize our infra structure but has been blocked by the Republican Party. They are two faced idiots

GIVE RON PAUL MORE TIME

I would like to know what each candidate would do if infact it was proven with out a doubt that Iran has accuired a nuclear weapon and was on the verge of haveing a delivery system capable of reaching Isreal?

Ron Paul has hardly had time to speak!

Looks like a continuation of the “Mitt Romney Show”. Let’s see – one question for Huntsman, one for Romney. One question for Paul, one for Romney. One for Santorum, one for Romney – ad nausea. Oh – Paul answers, Mitt gets to rebut. Gingrich answers, Mitt rebuts. Perry answers, Mitt gets even more time. This is not my idea of a fair and balanced debate.

This is news and Debates, for the blind. ABC, you are keeping the American Blind, by not asking the right questions. Thank you for keeping us blind. Let’s talk about contraception. Not rights of Americans. Thank you ABC. Welcome to Twitter.

George Stephanopoulous is a pompous, elitist moderator. I haven’t heard one question from him that was not delivered with a overtone of disbelief or sarcastic tone or inflection in his voice. As his last question…”Mr. Gingrich, I know you agree with……” If he’s so darn smart and already knows the answers, why doesn’t he just stick to his Mickey Mouse interviews on Good Morning America? Very apparent why none of the 3 moderators are top level news anchors. As former campaign director for Bill Clinton, then communications director for the administration, George fine-tuned his negative demeanor.

A question I’d ask the candidates is whether they would be willing to take the same cuts in benefits and pensions as the military.
I’d also ask how they feel about gov’t spending cuts not being directed in house e.g. all of Congress and Senators receiving a pension after only 4 years in office, regardless of whether or not the’ve fulfilled their responsibilities to the American people.

I would like to know if any of our candidates are going to address the issue of insurance companies allowing coverage for same sex domestic partners but not domestic partners between a man and a woman. How can it be that both are “non-traditional” couples and yet only one is accepted? Why is there no way to share insurance coverage between straight unmarried couples that have lived together for ten years?

I would like for the interviewers to ask the candidates to answer all questions based upon their current fellow republican candidates and totallly leave the current President out of the answer. They are currently competing against one another yet all of their answers are based on the current President. Tell them to let America know why they are the best candidate amoung those on the stage and worry about letting us know why they are better than President Obama after winning the republican nomination.

I know Ian a kid but I have a question why do we always have to be the big brother for countries we should stop being the big brother and go to college

Diane should deliver a direct question addressing the volume of baby-boomers retiring at a time where they have lost most of their property value and 401K value, with few years to recover. The SS forecasts are bleak, and medicare is also weakening. This is the silent disaster that will cripple our country. What can the panel offer to those quesitons?

I would like to hear more from Mr. Huntsman. He has experience with China, I believe that is very important for our countries future.

Rick Perry, why don’t you turn TEXAS around?…Our unemployment is sky-high, thousands of home foreclosures, our Deficit is astounding, and you do nothing to improve it!!!

Ron Paul is the only real conservative. Get out of EVERYONE’s business and stop spending money to support the rich and other countries.

Perry–You want to open up federal lands for oil? Address the gulf oil spill. You blamed Obama for not opening up oil, the spill happened, and you blamed him for not cleaning it up or fixing it. Dig up oil in PERRY’s backyard with NO regulation and see who gets sick.

Huntsman–Yeah! Get rid of tax loopholes. The only one to support not supporting the rich to get richer, except his daddy made billions that way.

Romney can’t answer a single question. Check the fool meter–every time you blame Obama, check one for the fools. Romney’s “pursuit of happiness” is to bankrupt companies do HE can be happy and rich?

I am trying not to laugh o well ahhhahahahahahahhahahahahahahahaha! This is pathetic

PLEASE let Romney quit dominating the discussion! It’s not his fault–you keep letting him talk! It would be better if we had moderators who knew how to keep time and allot it fairly.

So Rick santorum, if other countries wanted to come to USA to help the people that doesn’t agree with the way the government is handling this country, would you be ok with that? Because looks like you are ok in going to other countries. Actually it is none of you business or this country business to go anywhere trying to be the king or God of this world!!! I would love you to answer that

I would like to know what Mitt Romney would do if as CEO he had to get approval of 535 Shareholders?
After all, in order to make law, the president has to get the approval of Congress.

Mitt Romney keeps grandstanding during this debate. Please stop this and moderate it so the other candidates can speak. We need to have a fair debate where each candidate has the same amount of time to speak as the other candidates.

I would like a question regarding the following: Obviously jobs and our economy are important, but with the push for economic vision how do we encourage and embrace the preservation and conservation of our environment, wilderness, air quality, and water quality? How would you responsibly guarantee environmental and community security in opening up the energy reserves?

Why are none of the candidates except Paul talking about cutting out-of-control spending?

I have a question for the candidates. With the passage of NDAA and the possible passage of SOPA/PIPA, concern has been raised that these bills infringe upon the constitutional rights of Americans. Do you feel these bills could negatively influence the intrinsic rights of all Americans, specifically the first and fifth Amendments?

How sad that you could have had a great discussion but you let the candidates decide they didn’t want to answer your questions? The moderators looked foolish. I want the questions answered not to hear Mitt Romney spew his verses from America the beautiful. Tell me how are you going to fix the infrastructure with no money? Rick Santorum is wrong we are the “middle class” he is just so far up on his marble pedestal that he can’t see the rest of us…..

I would like to know how all of the changes being proposed are going to happen when any new legislation has to go through Congress.How do the candidates propose to overcome the roadblock that Congress has been in the past?

@ Moderators: Would somebody PLEASE ask any of these Republican candidates whether they support the repeal of the individual mandates requiring automobile insurance?

Could be the worst moderators ever! Their questions are terrible. Please get people that have a clue.

Governor Romney says that we as Americans have the right to pursue happiness. Does this mean that he believes that gays have the right to pursue happiness and get married?

I would like to know what the canidates think about voter ID. You need an ID for everything, but Holder doesn’t think that people should show their ID to vote.

I agree, Rick Perry has been left out almost completely. Why?

How significant a problem do you consider income inequality to be in this country, and what efforts, if any, would you make to improve the income of lower and middle income earners?

Mr.Gingrich You have all my big community and Family vote.You and only You deserve to be my next President ..

Please ask:
How do you push for economic vision, job creation, and regulation loosening, yet protect our water quality, air quality, and preservation/conservation of land/wilderness? How would you guarantee environmental / community protection while addressing economic needs?

Ron Poll came in to this debate second in the polls in NH, Shame on you ABC for not giving him more time.

Why is Romney being allowed to monopolize the debate? I wanna hear from the other candidates. Like Perry!

PLEASE ask about healthcare! I know everyone will appeal Obamacare and that is great! But our premiums go higher for just two of us every year!! They are now at over $900/mo.! What will they do with healthcare AFTER they appeal Obamacare?

I wouls like to ask the candidates “why would you make a pledge to Grover Norquist – the lobbyist – that you will follow what he says as far as taxes is concerned, instead of following the oath of office to do what you can to work for the American people”???????? And it that means raising taxes on the top 1%, that is okay.

Romney, Gingrich, Perry and Santorum…you guys don’t make any sense, you are pro war…good job!
And how many times I heard ” Obama did this and that ” Gimme a break
Santorum wanna be a Pope
Romney want to be a scale ( he will go where there are more votes )
Gingrich is fed up!
Perry …( does he really know where he is??? )
Booooo Boooo

Where is Mitt Romney going to find Americans that are willing to accept the low pay and work the boring repetitive type jobs that are currently being done by the Chinese?

Why are you not asking Gov. Perry any questions?

What a joke this debate is…Why don’t you ignore Paul some more huh? As you can seebfrom the comments people notice.

The term “income” is not defined in the Income Tax. How did the U.S. Supreme Court define “income” and is the IRS required to follow the Supreme Court’s definition of “income” when enforcing the tax?

Any questions on the immigration issues and the related economic drain on our economy?

This is no “debate” at all…once again, ABC has disappointed. Where are the critical questions? This nation is in desperate need of leadership…how will we make a decision on the next leader of the free world with questions like “should states ban contraception?” The moderators seem to not be in touch with the real issues.

Wow, Huntstman has TERRIBLE Chinese. He got his tones wrong, his accent and pronunciation are laughable at best, and that is not a commonly used phrase should follow the introduction “it’s like the Chinese say.” Negative 10 pts. for trying to show off and making a face plant in your own linguistic ability. I hope they didn’t allow him to speak Chinese while he was abroad…

Seriously, 15 minutes of worthless discussion about banning contraceptives? dumbest question yet, George, and a complete waste of time!

In the first 45 minutes of ABC’s GOP debate the moderators merely baited the contestants with ‘gotcha’ questions designed to foment argument between the participants and asked not ONE question that had anything to do with America’s current concern, namely, the economy. Shame on ABC for it’s laziness and for their leading questions and blatant and strategic attempts to inject cognitive dissonance and confirmation bias into the debate instead of trying to find out what ANY of these contestants could offer the USA that would ensure growth, recovery, and security in a nation that has completely lost its way in the world. Very poor job ABC, Diane, George, and whatshisname on the end. You can be proud of yourselves for a job well done… according to your pathetic standards.

This debate was such a joke!!! Ron Paul dominated though.

That was a bad debate. The moderator’s questions were geared at trying to pit the candidates against each other. Shame on you ABC!!!

Mitt comes across as a used car salesman

Ron Paul is just to old!!!

I’m furious!

This was a sham. ABC doesn’t have journalists, they have propagandists!

Ron Paul and Rick Perry were almost entirely left out of this debate by the moderators. NOTE to ABC: It is your job to present my choices, not decide what my choices are.

I don’t Romney answered a single question he was asked. He seemed to go around and around, but I never heard an answer.

In the interest of full disclosure, it should be pointed out that this debate is being held at St. Anselm College, a Benedictine Catholic college with an audience and the applause, most likely, reflecting the Christian, conservative views of the candidates. The fact that the audience applauds the statements that advocate and support the Christian, conservative positions presented by the candidates, gives a biased and partisan assist to the statements made by these candidates.

I really cannot believe how bias this debate was. Why did the moderators not monitor and make sure we heard from all the candidates? Why so much focus on Romney? I wanna hear equally from all the candidates….this was not a debate!

Most unfair debate about non pressing issues. Ron Paul was hardly allowed to speak, called on the least when he leads second in the race. Jobs, economy, china, regulating Wall Street, removing lobbyists.Stopping the bailouts, getting out of debt. These are the issues, not gay marriage. George’s question on contraceptives was a ridiculous waste of time

Lame rhetoric by poor candidates. A few questions should be asked about the housing bubble that was brought on by policies that encouraged the public to rack up debt and politicians that cater to corporate interests. Ask the candidates about the corrupting influence of money in politics and if they think it’s a problem.

Instead of letting the media be the moderators, maybe we should pick the presidents of some colleges At least someone neutral. I think Ron Paul did great tonight. Ron did not need to attack Mitt we need to know where they stand and not hear them fight with one another.

Dan: So the venue was a Catholic College auditorium. It should have been at an Acorn Union Hall? I think viewers would expect the audience to be conservative Republicans, just as we have grown to expect he moderators to be liberal Democrats.

Ron Paul just makes wrong statement as if they are facts and people actually believe him. He attacks Rick Santorum because he is the biggest threat. GO RICK!!!!

As a young voter, I find the current republican candidates dialogue with the public increasingly frustrating as it fails to address the unpopular message which needs to be said. We currently live in an increasinly entitled society in which the average American believes that he or she has far more rights than what is laid out in the Constitution. We cannot reform a government without a reform of the individuals which make that government. We cannot reduce our national debt without addressing the issue of resounding individual debt. We cannot move forward in an every evolving economy without someone standing up and saying to Americans – you have 3 rights: 1) to be alive, 2) to live freely and 3) to PURSUE happiness. If a roof makes you happy – then go earn it. Don’t swipe it on your credit card, becuase eventually its your neighbor who ends up paying for it.

George S is a terrible moderator. He just can’t stop himself from interupting and injecting his liberal bias. The snide mention of Obama in connection with the Simpson-Bowles commission was shameless and unprofessional.

Ron Paul is the only candidate that is focused on the US issues and not party lines. My money goes to him send the other professional politicians home.

Posted by: GHall | January 7, 2012, 7:48 pm 7:48 pm

Is there a chance Dianne Sawyer will curtail her long-winded, meandering, center of the universe, “I love my own voice, it’s about me – welcome to my personal party” glamour news personality style of “moderation” so that valuable debater time will not be wasted?

Good question from GHall, answer not in our lifetimes; but sadly she was joined by George in her pointed meanderings. Unbelievable debate questions without much education for anyone.

RON PAUL is still the only candidate who has the fortitude to tell us what the government needs to do to get this country out of Debt in the quickest amount of time and therefore get this once Great Country moving in a Positive direction and Prospering again.

Was glad Ron Paul had some opportunities to spar with other candidates during the first part of this forum. He definitely won all the mini-debates, and handled the strange question about the 20 year old news letter perfectly!!

Would love to see a GOP candidate support gay marriage.

Would any of these candidates re-institute Glass- Stegal? What is their remedy for the derivative debacle?

Ask all candidates what they think of the TAPI pipeline, running from Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan to India that will be built beginning this yr & completing 2014… does this have any relation to why our US troops are they? Troops are set to be there until 2012. Are they providing security for the building of this pipeline and if so, why?

Are comments on the site being censored? I have looked for my previous comments but they are not showing up.
Posted by: Alvin | January 7, 2012, 11:01 pm 11:01 pm

It looks like it, Alvin. I keep getting little warning boxes telling me to slow down, I’m posting too fast.

It disturbs me that these candidates want to put American lives in danger by so aggressively provoking a 7th war during the middle of a depression. How do these lunatics plan to pay for a 7th war? These people are absolutely NUTS. Most of these candidates belong in a mental facility, especially Romney, and inSanitorum. Sending MORE troops into Iraq? Talk about out of touch with reality, when %94 of Americans want us OUT of all of these wars, as do %70 of our troops.

Ron Paul, and Huntsman were the only two that make sense. As a business owner, I’m sick of giving money to these lunatics and getting absolutely NOTHING in return for it. Ron Paul has the numbers, and the plan for abolishing the IRS, so I will be voting for Ron Paul.

Abolish the IRS, support our troops, vote for Ron Paul.

I’ve lost all the admiration I once had for Diane Sawyer. I felt tortured while I waited for her to spit the questions out. It seemed like the her verbosity was an attempt to cover up her inadequate knowledge of the topics. Why the emphasis on gay marriage and contraception anyway? Really now, with all the major issues this country is facing, this is what the moderators think was important to discuss? WE ARE ON THE BRINK OF BANCRUPTCY for crying out loud! I could care less what any of the candidates think about birth control!

Legalizing drugs will decrease our debt, decrease our prision spending, make prisions less crowded for the violent offenders, create jobs, bring in tax income from the sales

The after commentary by the top media analysts obviously listened to a different debate than America. The media analysts were looking for a dogfight between candidates and America was looking for a candidate. Doesn’t the media realize we are so tired of the government arguments and Congress infighting…that we want a debate that identifies the person and the position and the issues. Diane, George and the others need to rethink what is important not their opinion….but the American people.

This debate seemed like free air time for Rommey. He was allowed to talk too much and was saying the same old thing. Time was not evenly distributed amoung the candidates.

I was disappointed that they didn’t allow Paul to respond to Santorum after the break. Quit asking him about his letters and if he’ll run 3rd party. He’s answered plenty of times. He is NOT a racist and he is NOT interested in running for a third party when he is polling so high! The military people support him with donations more than all the other candidates combined. If Americans support our troops then support who they support! More blacks also support Ron Paul more than any other candidate. Would they do so if he were a racist? His message is FREEDOM and that’s always popular!
Go Ron Paul 2012. You are our last hope!

Ms. Sawyer seems to love the sound of her own voice. She stretches out her questions with so much editorializing I’m surprised there is any time for the candidates to debate it!!

Too much time for Romney/Huntsman/Paul. The only two I am interested in are Perry and Gingrich. They might as well not have made the effort to get dressed and attend–and it was definitely a waste of time for me. I am wondering why the liberal media has such an interest in Romney?!! Could it be his beliefs are closest to theirs? Your after-program analysts are kookoo. The reason the other candidates did not “attack” Romney is because they were not given time to do so. We need a president who knows how to pray, because when intellect is not enough, or when fear sets in, prayer is the only thing that will save this country.

What a farce!

What a stupid blog! Who ever heard of a blog where you have to scroll down to the bottom to see the most recent posts. As bad as the debate format!
What do we expect from ABC?

Melanie,
The reason I think Ron Paul is dangerous has nothing to do with the media. I’ve head his stance (or lack of it) on Israel and Iran. He is in the dark if he thinks Iran isn’t a threat! America needs to be strong, not stoned on Humbolt!

Benjamin Netanyahu Prime Minister of Israel agrees with Ron Paul about Israeli Independence and Self Reliance. RP doesn’t want to see another war. We are too war crazy and we cannot afford it. The danger is blown out of proportion!

Benjamin Netanyahu does not agree with Ron Paul. He sees Iran as the threat they are. He lives it everyday!
Ron Paul is THE most dangerous politician in DC!!!
Don’t be fooled by his internet popularity and promise to legalize pot.

I’m not sure that it is the moderators or the candidates. After watching every debate thus far- the answers are the same (except for Ron Paul). The stock response “We have a terrible President and then I would do a variation of what Obama did, but of course my way is correct.” Not one new idea on how to create jobs. Every one of them is the same in terms of reforming the tax code as if that will do anything. You cannot create jobs without demand for products. so if you cut the taxes for the ‘job creators’ you end up with richer people and no new jobs because there is no money in the economy.

I was very disappointed again with the debate moderators. Can you be any more obviously biased? When posing questions to the candidates it seemed that every time a question was asked of Ron Paul it was phrased in either a derogatory or an accusative manner. Dr. Paul is a great candidate, his views voice a lot of concerns that the average American wants addressed. No candidate should be spoken to so rudely by a moderator. Your job is to ask the questions, but it should be done in a neutral manner. Shame on you ABC for being biased!

Well at least I am not the only one who noticed how stupid the question were.