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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Mr. Cooper,
- Posted by Tom NaramoreAs an American Civics teacher I was horrified by your disrespect towards hearing ALL the candidates. You should never be given a position of such responsibility again. I cannot even show the debate to my students unless I want to show an example of the far reaching and dangerous power placed in the hands of young, inexperienced amateurs with a “ratings agenda”
Substance??? Cut them off. Bickering…..fuel that fire. You made me ashamed of democracy last night. Shame on you
“..it does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people’s minds..” — Samuel Adams
Let’s set this bi#ch on fire!!!
RON PAUL 2008
- Posted by DEREKRON PAUL IS A BETTER MAN THAN MCCAIN AND ROMNEY AND HUCKABEE THOSE 3 CFR MEMBERS ARE FOR A NORTH AMERICAN UNION INCLUDING NOW DISGRACED DROPPED OUT CANADATE RUDY GHOULAINI IF MCCAIN GETS THE NOD I WILL NOT VOTE FOR ANY REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT I HOPE RON PAUL GETS THE NOD FIGHT RON PAUL AND HIS SUPPORTERS I SUPPORT PAUL ALL THE WAY!!!! GO RON PAUL 2008!!
- Posted by Infowarrior1984The pretentious moderator of last night’s debate should be ashamed of his apparent bias towards Dr. Paul and Governor Huckabee. Anderson Cooper’s exclusive treatment and broken promises for equal air time was rude, disgraceful and disservice to the American people. Let the people speak, this presidential campaign is far from over. The political pundits should have learned their lesson about volatile voters as the media’s horrendous calling of the Democrat New Hampshire polls will attest. We’re spoon fed enough rhetoric by slippery lipped politicians…we certainly don’t need to be force fed ideological agendas by the media.
- Posted by MarkAnderson Cooper…..
- Posted by Robert LewisYou should be ashamed of yourself for your unfair treatment of Ron Paul and Mike Huckabee in the debate. Grow a set of ba##’s when your schedule permits and tell your superiors that they are ruining the foundation of the fine country
This is the beggining of the end. The death of big media in the U.S. is inevitable.
- Posted by JasonCan I also ask, what would be so great about a Commander in Cheif who was CAPTURED?!
Alexander the Great was never captured.
Cesar was never captured.
Napoleon was never captured.
Hitler almost was captured, like McCain.
Even Hitler wasn\’t captured.
What kind of awesome war hero gets captured and sits out the biggest part of the war? McCain was captured in time to miss everything big.
And if you want to know how he exchanged US Service Man\’s life\’s for his own in captivity, read my post above.
- Posted by RhysI think CNN is guilty of giving an illegal inkind campaign contribution to McCain and Romney.
Funny since McCain helped make it illegal and yet would sit by and let it happen..much less benefit from it.
- Posted by AaronI am appalled and disgusted by the media coverage of McCain and Romney. The media has made this a race between them, not the American people. The American people want change and the first change that needs to happen are these media outlets. They cover what THEY feel is necessary, not what the PEOPLE want to see. This country NEEDS RON PAUL. Anderson’s behavior towards Huckabee and Paul was uncalled for and absolutely disheartening. He should NEVER be allowed to conduct another debate. I cannot believe CNN would even put their name behind such atrocities. You all should be ashamed of yourselves. Everyone should get equal airtime. Your favoritism is SICKENING.
- Posted by TamaraThanks a lot CNN for waking up the public to the fact that you’re just a bunch of tools who couldn’t find your way out of a paper bag. Did you think we wouldn’t notice how you spread the love around ?
- Posted by RoryNow I know why people watch American Idol. If you’re gonna waste your time, you might as well admit it.
McCain just wants to take revenge on the “barbarians of the world” who tortured him. He also probably plays too much RISK. What’s more, people in Washington are saying McCain sold US information to the N. Vietnamese in exchange for medical treatment. He also recorded 38 separate radio broadcasts condemning the United States, in exchange for special treatment. In the Navy, he was an admirals son, hardly difficult. In the 60’s, while he was helping the N. Vietnamese, the economy was tanking because of the war that he sat out from his 5 star room at the Hanoi Hilton. Now, because of that, he doesn’t get it. He came back, told us he’s a hero and now he loves war. He thinks it’s about hero’s. He wasn’t actually around for the war. He said he was “tied up” but probably tied up by a N. Vietnamese hooker, paid for by China as a thank you gift.
Romney’s no better. He was a democrat until he ran for President. Literally. Now he has the nerve to say anyone is not conservative? Where the hell did he get conservative cred? Why does the media give him a pass on this? Why does the media give McCain a pass on being a collaborator while he claims to be a hero?
McCain BLOCKED the Senate process to get the POW’s home. WHY?!?!? He SAID he was a POW! I don’t believe him.
This is not well known, but it is on Capitol Hill. People just don’t talk in Washington.
Anyway, I actually felt bad for Huck last night too. Obviously Ron Paul should be taken seriously, but Huck is running so at least let him talk.
It baffles me. I wanted Paul or Huck to say “I’m running for President of the United States of America. You’re just watching. You wont cut me off again.”
Huck is a joke, but the Media is the punchline.
if you would like to learn about Ron Paul go to http://www.ronpaul2008.com
he’s not worthless like the rest. He just doesn’t bullshit so the media doen’t like him. He CAN win if you vote for him. Don’t vote for the devil just cause he can win. That’s stupid.
- Posted by RhysLast night’s presidential “debate” was pathetic. Anderson Cooper is not a journalist. He should never be allowed to moderate a debate again - at least not on CNN
- Posted by Rolf BickelThat was not a debate at all. I am not a supporter of Mike Hucakbee or Ron Paul, but your obvious bias towards McCain and Romney is unmistakable. You have done a great disservice to the American people and the democratic process. You should be ashamed.
- Posted by James CowhenIf any nay-sayers would just LOOK at Ron Pauls record and what he stands for,They would see that there really are no alternatives.
- Posted by RealistMccain,Romney,Hucksterbee would just be four more years of the same tired policys.
I realize the sticking point with most of these people is the proposed pullout,but if you REALLY think about it the problems prior to 9/11 and that horrible day really ARE due to our interventionist policies.
These terrorists give two shits whether we are richer than them…they want us off their “sacred soil”…if the arguement that they hate us because we are rich and prosperous were true,where are the attacks on Switzerland?..Japan..Brazil?..all three of those countries and many more are just as rich and prosperous.
I never thought I would say this but our media has chosen to go on a power trip and decide the election for the U.S. citizens. If any man is successful enough to be running for the office of president, he should be given equal coverage. I hope one of the two fine men who were shut out wins this election.Only then would Mr. Cooper be concerned about his actions.
- Posted by alanThank You CNN for being blatenly bias. You did our country a favor by not letting everyone have a fair shot. Now hopefully Americans will realize that there is information out there but you can not get it from mainstearm media. It is unbelievable that Cnn and what seems to be most other media refuse to understand that the people want to hear from all four canidates and make their own decision. That is our right we decide not you.
- Posted by HKI took part in the Ron Paul rally last night with a packed room and people standing all the way into the hall. It is irrevolent how much time they give Ron Paul. We all expect that. The important part is the Revolution is alive and growing everyday. Every person who takes part will never go back to the same neo-con democrat/republican way of thinking again. That is what they are scared of! Ron Paul! Ron Paul!
- Posted by R CrosbyIt should be noted that when looking at only the people serving in our military, Ron Paul receives the most donations of any candidate. They are behind RP!
And with non-military, he also has received the most from donations than any other candidate. He has record-breaking “money-bomb” days where people contribute all on the same day. There’s one tomorrow : RonPaul2008.com
We want our country back!
- Posted by PDEI’m glad to hear Americans are outraged at censorship over presidential debates. Reading the comments it seems clear that even people that support other candadites besides Ron Paul and Huckabee are quite upset at media bias.
We pick the president. Not the media. For us to make a good decision we need all viewpoints on the table. This is a job interview for the American people. If someone garners even 1% of a vote they should be given a chance. You cannot pick a president based soley off the results of 5 states. Remember there are another 45 states.
- Posted by ShannonSince the media outlets have decided to block Ron Paul’s from speaking: check out the link for a way to hear him talk about the issues that he’s addressing.
http://www.ronpaulintro.com/slide-slidei ntro.phtml
(remember all the corporate merging that has been going for a while and now we have these enormous corporations with multiple interests. For instance, GE owns Raytheon which makes bombs and other vehicles needed for war, they also own MSNBC… hmm.
Profit from constantly selling more weapons to the government, then make money from ads of all the people watching the news to find out about the war… there are some people getting very rich from all this.)
- Posted by PDE