The question by conservative columnist Byron York drew boos from the audience.
The crowd sure was rambunctious last night. It was the most energetic GOP debate I've ever seen. My favorites were Bachmann,Cain and Ron Paul. I'd like to know what you thought of the candidates?
A Democratic National Committee memo which paints the Republican field of presidential contenders as Tea Party flaks pushing tired, divisive policies which elevate the rich and predicts much of the same at tonight's Fox News co-hosted debate in Ames, Iowa.
"As we expect to see tonight, the GOP candidates' extreme aims to appease the far-right wing of the Republican Party shows that Republicans are more concerned with protecting their special interest friends and the wealthy than protecting working families," the memo, penned by DNC National Press Secretary Melanie Roussell, reads.
"The GOP would rather seniors and the middle class sacrifice and the wealthy pay even less in taxes. Unlike President Obama, their policies would eliminate, not create, opportunities for the middle class."
Though Republicans are far from choosing their last man standing, the memo zeroes in on several top names.
"[T]he actions or lack thereof of candidates like Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, Michele Bachmann and others are clear - these Republican candidates for President are not interested in leading. They simply want to please the far-right, extreme Tea Party base of their party because that is what being the standard bearer of the Republican Party today requires," says Roussell.
The memo is described as a state of play for media and "Democratic friends" which spells out the DNC's predictions for tonight's debate.
In it, Roussell predicts the GOP responses on a series of issues:
ON THE DEBT CEILING DEAL"Expect the overwhelming majority of the Republicans on the stage tomorrow night to proudly state that they would not have supported the bipartisan debt agreement that prevented our country from defaulting on its debt for the first time in history."
S&P DOWNGRADE
The Democrats put the S&P downgrade at least partially in the laps of the Republican party, saying the party's obstinance to raising revenues was a determining factor.
"At a moment when America should have been their top concern, they put politics, party and rigid ideology first. And the Republican presidential candidates backed them up - and the GOP field will double down on that flawed approach to leadership tonight."
ON SENIORS
"Both Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty endorsed a Cut, Cap and Balance proposal that would have cut Medicaid by one-third over 10 years and nearly half by 2050. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, that alone could cause 36 million people to lose their Medicaid coverage, including individuals with disabilities and seniors in nursing homes."
ON MITT ROMNEY
"Mitt Romney has consistently ducked and dodged on the most pressing issues facing America including the debt ceiling debate. Not only did he wait until 12 hours before the final vote to actually say something-leading one reporter to say Romney was in a "Mittness Protection Program"-he endorsed the Cut, Cap and Balance plan that would have harmed our economic recovery in the short-term while simultaneously hurting our long-term economic competitiveness all while putting a greater burden on America's oldest citizens and our most vulnerable. Look for him to reassert his support for Cut, Cap and Balance tonight."
ON MICHELE BACHMANN
"To her credit Michele Bachmann did not actually vote for the Cut, Cap, and Balance - because she didn't think it was extreme enough! She told Fox News that America should pay off all our foreign creditors first, even if that means slashing Medicare and Social Security payments to America's seniors. We expect her to repeat similar sentiments tonight."
ON HERMAN CAIN
"Additionally, look for Herman Cain to tout more failed economic policies like his support for a 'fair tax' for everyone, which even the Wall Street Journal editorial board called 'the most radical reform imaginable' and one that would 'hit hard the young, middle-income families.'"
A Democratic National Committee memo which paints the Republican field of presidential contenders as Tea Party flaks pushing tired, divisive policies which elevate the rich and predicts much of the same at tonight's Fox News co-hosted debate in Ames, Iowa.
"As we expect to see tonight, the GOP candidates' extreme aims to appease the far-right wing of the Republican Party shows that Republicans are more concerned with protecting their special interest friends and the wealthy than protecting working families," the memo, penned by DNC National Press Secretary Melanie Roussell, reads.
"The GOP would rather seniors and the middle class sacrifice and the wealthy pay even less in taxes. Unlike President Obama, their policies would eliminate, not create, opportunities for the middle class."
Though Republicans are far from choosing their last man standing, the memo zeroes in on several top names.
"[T]he actions or lack thereof of candidates like Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, Michele Bachmann and others are clear - these Republican candidates for President are not interested in leading. They simply want to please the far-right, extreme Tea Party base of their party because that is what being the standard bearer of the Republican Party today requires," says Roussell.
The memo is described as a state of play for media and "Democratic friends" which spells out the DNC's predictions for tonight's debate.
In it, Roussell predicts the GOP responses on a series of issues:
ON THE DEBT CEILING DEAL"Expect the overwhelming majority of the Republicans on the stage tomorrow night to proudly state that they would not have supported the bipartisan debt agreement that prevented our country from defaulting on its debt for the first time in history."
S&P DOWNGRADE
The Democrats put the S&P downgrade at least partially in the laps of the Republican party, saying the party's obstinance to raising revenues was a determining factor.
"At a moment when America should have been their top concern, they put politics, party and rigid ideology first. And the Republican presidential candidates backed them up - and the GOP field will double down on that flawed approach to leadership tonight."
ON SENIORS
"Both Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty endorsed a Cut, Cap and Balance proposal that would have cut Medicaid by one-third over 10 years and nearly half by 2050. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, that alone could cause 36 million people to lose their Medicaid coverage, including individuals with disabilities and seniors in nursing homes."
ON MITT ROMNEY
"Mitt Romney has consistently ducked and dodged on the most pressing issues facing America including the debt ceiling debate. Not only did he wait until 12 hours before the final vote to actually say something-leading one reporter to say Romney was in a "Mittness Protection Program"-he endorsed the Cut, Cap and Balance plan that would have harmed our economic recovery in the short-term while simultaneously hurting our long-term economic competitiveness all while putting a greater burden on America's oldest citizens and our most vulnerable. Look for him to reassert his support for Cut, Cap and Balance tonight."
ON MICHELE BACHMANN
"To her credit Michele Bachmann did not actually vote for the Cut, Cap, and Balance - because she didn't think it was extreme enough! She told Fox News that America should pay off all our foreign creditors first, even if that means slashing Medicare and Social Security payments to America's seniors. We expect her to repeat similar sentiments tonight."
ON HERMAN CAIN
"Additionally, look for Herman Cain to tout more failed economic policies like his support for a 'fair tax' for everyone, which even the Wall Street Journal editorial board called 'the most radical reform imaginable' and one that would 'hit hard the young, middle-income families.'"
