Last updated on July 17th, 2023 at 06:09 pm
The Fox News “Happy Hour Debate” featured seven candidates who spent most of the hour dodging questions and reminding viewers why they each have no chance of being elected president.
Bobby Jindal was asked about the fact that Hillary Clinton would beat him in his home state of Louisiana. He replied by pointing to his two election wins, and the number of government employees that he cut.
Jim Gilmore was asked why he was running, and he didn’t have much of a good answer.
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Rick Perry was asked about Donald Trump, and he refused to attack the billionaire. Instead, he said that America needs a president who will walk the walk.
Perry was asked about immigration reform, and he accused the American people of being “baited” on an issue that they are tired of.
Sen. Lindsey Graham was happy to tell viewers that he is going to start another war in the Middle East if he gets elected.
Lindsey Graham told voters not to vote for Hillary Clinton, and Rick Santorum doubled up on Herman Cain by announcing his 20/20 plan. Jim Gilmore claimed that cutting aid to poor and needy Americans would increase opportunities.
Bobby Jindal claimed that President Obama and Hillary Clinton were socialists. Jindal also warped Obama’s words to claim that the president admitted he is weakening the country’s economic standing.
Rick Perry promised to tear up the agreement with Iran. Fiorina said that her first phone call on Iran would be to her good friend Bibi Netanyahu, and that she would shut off Iran’s money flow, and said that she would put America back in the leadership business. If she runs America like she ran HP, we’d be screwed.
Santorum compared Roe v Wade to Dred Scott.
George Pataki brought up some bogus non-science in order to attack Planned Parenthood. Bobby Jindal promised that he would send the entire federal government after Planned Parenthood. Jindal claimed that Obama would shut down the government to fund Planned Parenthood.
Lindsey Graham said that there is no war on women, and said the real war on women is in Iraq and Afghanistan. Graham then promised to send soldiers back into Iraq and into Syria.
As tempting as it is to call all seven of these candidates losers there were some differences.
Republicans were asked to describe Obama, and they all said that he couldn’t be trusted.
Perry used his closing statement to say that America can be great again if corporate taxes are lowered.
Santorum used his seven kids in a closing statement again, just like in 2012. He also claimed that Democrats want more immigration so that they can get more votes.
Jindal attacked Jeb Bush with his closing statement. Jindal said that we need to tell immigrant that they need to assimilate and be more American, because immigration without assimilation is an invasion.
Carly Fiorina used her closing statement to attack Hillary Clinton.
Lindsey Graham used his closing statement to whip more war in the Middle East.
Pataki tried to sell voters on his candidacy with his closing statement.
Jim Gilmore said that he has specific program to change the direction of America, and he has the experience to be president.
Winners and Losers:
Winners:
Carly Fiorina: Was only given a few questions, but she answered both of them. Even if one of them was a tech theme question, that was obviously geared to her.
Lindsey Graham: Graham was the only participant who would answer questions and frankly knew what he was doing there. Graham was promising to send more Americans to die in war, and claiming that the Clintons are direct descendants of Satan. Graham doomed himself by promising to put the nation ahead of his party if elected president.
Losers:
Bobby Jindal: Gov. Jindal was just a mess. He thinks that repeating the typical Republican talking points in the most boring way possible is the key to success.
George Patak: Pataki refused to answer a question about whether or not he would put mosques under surveillance if he were president. Pataki has to be pressed to answer whether or not he would expand Medicare.
Rick Perry: Perry was the team that hoping to play for the national championship and instead ended up in a meaningless bowl game. Perry phoned it in. It was clear that he wasn’t interested in this debate, so he stuck to repeating his talking points.
Jim Gilmore: There was no reason for him to be on the state.
Rick Santorum: His debate performance felt like 2012 all over again, and not in a good way. Santorum had nothing to say.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
