GOP S.C. Debate; Obama Hit, Perry on Israel

13 November 2011 |permalink | email article

SATURDAY night’s Republican debate in South Carolina, hosted by CBS News and the National Journal, aside from helping Rick Perry redeem himself from amnesia in Michigan and joke about his gaffe, centered on foreign policy issues.

If Democrats thought that Republicans were going to have a tougher time attacking President Obama on foreign policy than they have on the economy they may have to recalibrate. Aside from that was the effort by Newt Gingrich, rising in the polls, to portray himself as Mr. Congenially, if not with the media, in toning down his criticism of Mitt Romney.

There were some sharp clashes on Iran. Herman Cain said he would favor economic sanctions and aid to opposition groups; Romney and Gingrich, went along but did not rule out military force. Ron Paul strongly disagreed. But Romney’s quote that “if we re-elect Barack Obama, Iran will have a nuclear weapon,” will be the most quoted.

Perry’s spin on Israel was inflammatory after the Texas governor suggested as president he would zero out aid to Israel and make the country prove they deserve American commitments. In answer to a Twitter question, Perry said he expected Israel to qualify for significant aid but would have to start at zero. Given a demand that all candidates demonstrate a strong commitment to Israel Perry, in trying to please fiscal conservatives, went a bridge too far in zeroing out foreign aid. Update: Perry campaign frantically trying to clarify his Israel remarks.

Romney’s Brainstorm

Spinning off from Romneycare the Republican frontrunner has a new idea—he’s open to introducing “private sector competition” into the health care system U.S, military veterans receive. Call it a voucher system. Not surprisingly Democrats pounced on his remarks, recalling Sen. John McCain’s plan to privatize the VA in 2008, and articles claiming veterans weren’t happy with the proposal. Neither were the Veterans of Foreign Wars who, through a spokesman, told Talking Points Memo they don’t support Romney’s privatization of health care for vets.

Quotable

“And when I finally realized that it was God saying this is want I needed to do, I was like Moses. You’ve got the wrong man, Lord. Are you sure?”—Herman Cain, suggesting God convinced him to run for president.

“They rely on distraction to skirt responsibility, but we’re going to hold them accountable for their corruption and incompetence.”—Sarah Palin, resurfacing on Facebook, and demanding Attorney General Eric Holder be fired.

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