SIMI VALLEY, Calif. - Much of the attention in the race for the Republican presidential nomination has narrowed to Arizona Sen. John McCain and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, apparently irking rivals former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Texas Rep. Ron Paul.
As McCain and Romney stressed their conservative credentials at a debate Wednesday night at the Ronald Reagan presidential library, Huckabee tried to get a word in — and Paul interjected, too, both with little success.
“There are a number of pieces of legislation where his views are out of the mainstream, at least in my view, of conservative Republican thought,” Romney said, chastizing McCain for his initial support for giving amnesty to illegal immigrants and opposing drilling for oil in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge.
McCain shot back that Romney raised taxes as governor and the state saw large manufacturing jobs disappear. “I’m proud of my conservative record. It’s one of reaching across the aisle to get things done for Americans,” McCain said.
When Huckabee was asked a different question, he tried to steer the conversation back to highlight his conservative credentials.
“You want to talk conservative credentials? Let me get in on that,” Huckabee said, and then described his opposition to abortion and gay rights. After McCain and Romney clashed bitterly over the Iraq war, Huckabee said: “I didn’t come here to umpire a ballgame between these two.”
“Governor Huckabee, we’re going to shower you with questions now,” moderator Janet Hook of the Los Angeles Times said.
It didn’t make much difference, and he was soon complaining he had not been showered with questions. “I’m going to make sure I get a little time here.”
Paul, who has not won any of the early primary contests but still has raised millions of dollars from supporters, was not able to detail his credentials. “I would like to take one minute, since I didn’t get a chance to answer this discussion on conservative versus liberal,” he said.
Moderator Anderson Cooper promised him he would have an opportunity later. But it never came.
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.
- Additional reporting by Claudia Parsons
- Photo credit: Reuters/Danny Moloshok
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I will never watch CNN again. Cooper is a tool.
- Posted by missourimikeMcCain and Romney are cowards, not patriots.
Imagine… if the media did not treat candidates unequally but instead gave each of the four Republican presidential hopefuls equal time and consideration… Would Ron Paul be doing better in at the ballot box? If the media gave equal coverage, equal interviews, resisted from injecting subjective comments and just let the voters decide. I think Ron Paul would be winning.
- Posted by Melanie BradyElection 08 is fixed!
- Posted by Adam RodriguezDear Reuters,
Thank you very much for publishing this article. Keep up the good work.
- Posted by SteveRon Paul is the only candidate that seems honest and true to his beliefs. It was a PRIME example of media manipulation. Oh well.
It would be grand if Ron Paul were to win.
- Posted by Sean AitkenHow does that go again? First they ignore you, then they fight you, then you win!
- Posted by Rob ClementI want to see a debate between Ron Paul and Huckabee. Leave McCain and Romney out for a change.
- Posted by SteveI use to be a fan of Anderson Cooper, but not anymore. It was an absolute disgrace how Cooper and his other two panelist disrespected Ron Paul. Anderson Cooper actually lied to Ron Paul on national TV and “it was noticed”. McCain and Mitt bickering back and forth disgust me. Only Dr. Paul speaks true and knows what ails our nation. The media has taken it upon themselves to choose our President of the “World”. We need a President of the United States of America and Ron Paul is that.
- Posted by taflyntDoes foreign policy genius McCain still think Putin is president of Germany? I see why your banker cartel bosses prefer McCain. He’s dumber that a rock!
- Posted by Tomas Estrada-PalmaMadrassa propaganda on Senator Obama:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/01/22/o bama.madrassa
- Posted by MarkThe moderator should have asked McCain to expound on “military Keynesianism”, which President Eisenhower alluded to in his farewell speech to the nation.
- Posted by mcthorogoodIt is disgraceful how the moderators decided for the viewers that only two of the four candidates deserved to be heard. This should have been a thorough discussion of complex issues between all four of them–not a showcase of bickering between two about one single point. I am disappointed and very disheartened by this.
- Posted by M. S. H.Debate summary:
“Now that we’ve wasted our mandatory 9 seconds to those what’s-their-names, let’s get to the important stuff. John McCain: describe in detail your opinion of Mitt Romney’s opinion of your opinion of Ronald Reagan’s hypothetical opinion of your opinions. Please, take all the time you need.”
- Posted by ChezI now have zero respect for the mainstream media. Fox, CNN and the rest have gotten their orders to blackout Ron Paul. Even NPR is joining the game of blacking out Paul. Disgrace.
- Posted by EddieHuckabee, Romney, and McCain “conservatives”? ha! All three of them want more taxes and more spending! Huckabee’s even more liberal then McCain. Tax Hike Mike never met a tax he didn’t like.
- Posted by joeThe major problem here is simple dishonesty:
The media allocate time on the basis of the latest national polls, which they pay for (so they can write headlines about the “horserace”).
They are not willing to tell their audience, up-front, that they *will not be* “fair and balanced” during the debate.
- Posted by WestmillerRon Paul represents the people. #1 He’s the true conservative here. Unless you are deaf, you will note that he is running on Reagan’s platform and GW’s 2000 platform. The traditional GOP conservative platform people! Sure, he could use some public speaking classes but that’s hardly a reason not to vote for the guy. While the other slick willies smooth talk the pants off ya, they would really steal what’s left of your civil liberties while destroying the economy. Dr. Paul is an expert on the economy- not McCain, not Romney, not Huckeby. This debate showed the world his best qualities. Patience and Respect for those whom he does not agree with. I want a guy like this guy negotiating with world leaders.
- Posted by Joe DThis debate was so blatantly biased it is disgusting. Paul and Huckabee were practically spat at on prime TV. Anderson Cooper has lost all credibility in my books. CNN should be ashamed. Ron Paul in particular is constantly marginalized and ridiculed by mainstream media in hope that the American public will not support them. You are wrong. Ron Paul is the only man worth voting for. He is actually honest and has the only real solution to restoring this great country to what is was.
- Posted by Paul[...] a piece from Reuters discussing how Paul and Huckabee were left out of last night’s debate. From what I understand CNN is getting a lot of flack for focusing too [...]
- Posted by Hey Anderson…We’re Down Here!The show that CNN and Anderson Cooper ran last night was just sad. It was the furthest thing from a debate that I’ve witnessed ever!
I don’t mind Anderson Cooper and I’ve watched him since his days on Channel One. But Anerson Cooper really made a mockery of the debate format last night.
It seems that the televised media has conspired to lead the public to the candidates they deem worthy. It wasn’t too long ago that there were actually a decent amount of candidates running. For whatever reason, the media has more or less dwindles away the field to Obama, Clinton, Romney, and McCain. I am neither happy with those choices or the fact that the media has attempted to make them for me.
These are trying times in this great nation and they are going to be even more trying if we get stuck with any of the four I mentioned in the prior paragraph. My great wish is that we can turn this country around, but with the media controlling the race, I doubt we’ll ever get the chance.
- Posted by Joel Paterson