In a night largely expected to be a Gingrich-centered night, the Texas two-some of Rep. Ron Paul and Gov. Rick Perry take home the prize for having the best night in the ABC Yahoo Republican Debate from Des Moines, Iowa.
Paul, who is closing in on second-place former Gov. Mitt Romney in Iowa, was on the offensive tonight as the conservative line attacked Gingrich and Romney for past liberal positions.
In light of the congressman's gains in the Hawkeye State and New Hampshire, the candidates seemed now more willing to accept Paul as a real candidate--and given his pretty unwavering record of libertarian-conservatism--were unable to even question his integrity.
The praise of Perry and Romney for schooling them on the Federal Reserve and how to engage and excite voters will likely resonate for days to come, and could serve very well in both of the first-in-the-nation states as a potential advertisement.
Perry, who has been something of a failure in the debate circuit, had his best evening in the campaign tonight. Without the glare of the front-runner spotlight on him, he was able to launch his own offensive at Romney and Gingrich unlike that seen before.
His jabs on Romney's support for an individual mandate were a direct-hit, and the squabble and rebuttal which followed between the two governors might be the moment of the night. Perry clearly got under Romney's skin, and the audience couldn't help but embrace the embattled Texas governor in those moments.
At the end of the debate, moderator and Good Morning America co-host George Stephanopoulos peppered the team of Newt-Romney, as coined by Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, with additional questions about their support for an individual mandate, illustrating most Americans cannot trust these two, as Perry said.
Despite the Lone Star State's formidable showing tonight, Waterloo's Bachmann may have gotten off with the best line of the night, however, reminiscent of Bill Clinton's best 1992 debate moment in which he connected with economically-challenged Americans:
"We still clip coupons, we still shop at consignment shops," Bachmann said, recalling her childhood growing up with a single mother following her parent's divorce. "I know what it is like to be a single mother."
--Brandon De Hoyos, Guide to IM
Comments
RON PAUL!!! LIKE A BOSS!!
The integrity of Ron Paul is one thing that no one has ever been able to question. Thanks for a good article Brandon. It’s time more people start to pay attention to the only true blue voice we have on the hill.
>>>>>>>> Go Ron Go! >>>>>>>>>>>>
Dr. President is here to stay!
Perry will bring the country back from her knees with the help of God. Vote Perry.
It’s important to know where the top candidates get their campaign funding, since it gives you a clue who they will represent after the election (hint: Romney owes Wall Street everything):
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/264837/20111209/ron-paul-newt-gingrich-mitt-romney-funds.htm
Despite the clever way used to cut down on Ron Paul’s time he hit it out of the park again.
Folks, it’s becoming more obvious by the day. This election will decide if we end up with endless wars, bankruptcy, Depression and a status quo administration, or we start recovery under President Ron Paul.
Let’s all show that a candidate funded and supported by the people can overcome those funded by special interest groups and the elite establishment
Excellent and insightful article, Brandon! It is refreshing to see someone who can actually string a sentence together these days, let alone one who can put together a cogent and clear analysis as you did. One minor point (yeah, I’m nit-picking!), you stated that Ron Paul is “closing in on second-place former Gov. Mitt Romney in Iowa”. Actually, in most polls he is either tied or ahead of Romney in Iowa, and some actually put him within the margin of error with Gingrich! It is amazing how many journalists are ‘in-the-bag’ for either Mitt or (especially these days) Newt, but anyone giving a fair reading of the debate would probably come up with the same conclusions you did.
Well done!
Ron paul!!! Legalize drugs!!
Abolish the income tax!!! And bring our troops home, freedom of choice and your next president RON PAUL!!
Btw I am a democrat who voted for obama and all my democratic friends are for Paul as well (same with the republicans)
I was shocked to hear pundits on ABC, NBC, and FOX all say that they thought Gingrich had won the debate. Huh? Not from this liberal’s chair, he didn’t. He just came off as another blah status quo candidate.
Megan, et al., I think that any assessment that Gingrich won is absolute bologna. Gingrich maybe have appeared to hold his own by answering his critics on stage, but it didn’t convince anyone, and Stephanopoulos alluded to it himself when he revealed most Yahoo users polled this evening wanted him and Romney to answer MORE questions about their positions on the individual mandate.
Ron Paul made a lot of sense tonight when he said the Republican candidate does NOT need to be someone always asked to clarify their positions. Romney and Gingrich are always having to do as much, answering the same questions at every debate, and people are still not satisfied.
These men cannot be the nominee if we hope to win. Ron Paul would, in my opinion, be the best choice. But, it’s up to the voters to decide!
The main stream news media are bought by Newt and Obama. The elites are orchastrating the American public for an Obama win. But this time the American people are waking up to the real issues and will be running the show. The choice for our 2012 President is becoming ever so clear….Vote Ron Paul. He is the absolute new “gold standard” of integrity that we need to restore liberty. Our children deserve better.
Dr Paul is probably too humble to believe this about himself but I believe we are witnessing a man that will go down in history as one of the greats of our time.
A man of true integrity and character; a last true statesman.
End the wars, and rebuild America into a beacon for the world.
RON PAUL 2012
Ron Paul clearly won with his solid answers to the issues and his flawless history of loyalty, credibility and wisdom. Perry did have a good night compared to other debates he spoke in. Bachmann was strong.
Newt Gingrich made a fool of himself by saying that a mans background of loyalty is not an issue. The problem is, the fact that not only is he a serial adulterer, he is the first Speaker to have ethics violations and has a hefty 84 of them with $300,000 in fines.
Newt Gingrich is dangerous for this country because he has clearly demonstrated his liberal character and is untrustworthy.
Really, the line of the night was ‘we still clip coupons?’
God Bless Ron Paul
end prohibition,end the wars, end the lies
#Romney showed himself to be a trite, game playing scumbag liar http://www.scribd.com/doc/66081535/Romney-Deletes-Romney-Care-Reference-From-Book Glad the audience saw him for what he is.
Perry showed himself a good blocking back for Ron Paul.
I’ve been for Dr. Paul since the last primary, couldn’t bring myself to vote for McCain, and supported Bob Barr. This time I’d be happy to support either Paul or Perry in either order.
They clearly enjoyed their talk across the bows of Ginrich and Romney about the Fed and the 10th amendment!
Ron Paul or No One.
all they can say is how Gingrich held his own and is clearly the front runner,what a joke! i guess if want someone who is in bed with Freddie Mack ,and all the other cronnies in washington and wall street then ues go with Newt. but if yo want someone that will bring the troops home, end the fed, and get us out of this mess then vote for Ron Paul!!
Ron Paul is the Champion of the Constitution and showed it last night !!!! INCREDIBLE JOB !!!!!
Obama and the Democratic Party, therefore ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN Journalist do not want to run against Romney because Obama will lose the Election.
ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN are trying to deliver the easy loser so Obama will be re-elected. Gingrich is the latest Democratic Party choice/hope!
Question is will a few GOP extreme deliver Obama ab election victory?
First I would like to tell the other commentator that Ron Paul does not want to legalize any drugs he simply wants the individual States to mandate enforcement as per Constitution and leave the Federal government out of criminal drug laws.As far as the assessment of the article,I agree that Ron Paul was the most stable on the stage and Rick Perry redeemed himself by not looking completely awkward.At the end of the debate when Perry was talking about how much trouble this country was in,and how we need to choose the best leader,he glanced at Ron as if to acknowledge that it probably was not him,but Paul,who has the correct vision for America.Ron Paul and Perry were the only two on stage who served.
There simply is no substitute for integrity. Thank you Dr. Ron Paul for your steadfast grasp of truth and support of the Constitution. (Sure would hate to see that document suffer any further deterioration of content and purpose. Ron Paul 2012.
Ron Paul did well in the debate and I think Romney buried himself with the $10,000 bet. Paul is consistent and honest. Even though I don’t completely agree with his foreign policy I am voting for him because he sticks to the constitution. Gingrich is in love with himself and Perry can’t remember anything. Bachmann is a broken record and Santorum seems nice and all but doesn’t offer anything new. Ron Paul is fiscally responsible and that is what we need as a country!
RON PAUL 2012
http://www.whatthehellbook.com/the-book/
Ron Paul wins or we all lose!
Get out and vote! You must register as a republican if you are to vote for Ron Paul in the primaries, use this link to know the laws in your state!
http://www.bluerepublican.org/
Closing in on second-place Romney in Iowa? When did you write this? Last summer? He’s been ahead of Romney for quite some time.
If Ron Paul dont make it………….We wont make it!!!!!!!!! go to you tube and view guard stands down, winter soldiers, fema camps, ect forbiden fruit lies within………..knowledge is everything1
IF RON PAUL DONT MAKE IT…………….WE, WONT MAKE IT……..GO TO U TUBE LOOK AT FEMA CAMPS, PATRIOT ACT, AND OMG THE REAL NEWS IS ALL ON THE TUBE THOSE PPL ON THE STREETS OCCUPY ARE BEING BRUTALY BEAT DOWN INCLUDING OUR VETERANS . THERE IS NO NEWS ON TV……….AND WATCH WINTER SOLDIERS….PREPARE FOR GUT WRENTCHING TRUTHS…ITS GOING TO HURT TO KNOW THE TRUTHS BUT IS DANGEROUS NOT TO KNOW FOR EXAMPLE, THE VATICAN HAS A NEW MILLION PLUS DOLLAR TELESCOPE NAMED LUCIFER………THINK ABOUT THAT…………….THEY TELL US HE IS ENEMY #1 THEN NAME THE SCOPE AFTER HIM…LUCIFER MEANS BRINGER OF LIGHT…………WOW WHO KNEW…….SO STICK WITH THE OLD TESTAMENT go RON PAUL<3<3
IF RON LOSES WE ALL LOSE……GO TO YOU TUBE ……..CHECK OUT WINTER SOLDIERS, PATRIOT ACT, AND OCCUPY BRUTALITY
IF RON PAUL LOSES WE ALL LOSE EVERYTHING…….YOU CANT EVEN IMAGINE….PROOF? YOU TUBE WINTER SOLDER,…….PATRIOT ACT, FEEMA CAMPS START WITH THOSE THREE AND WELCOME TO ENLIGHTMENT IN THE MATRIX……
Rick Perry on the rise.
God bless Rick Perry with a land slide victory.
Rick Perry 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rick Perry is on the rise.
God Bless Rick Perry with a Land Slide Victory!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!RICK PERRY 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Watch Ron Paul blowout the compitition at the Iowa caucus.
Ron Paul will blowout all the other candidates in Iowa.
I watched the debate out of curiosity. The two moderators hardly asked questions to Santorum; Perry seemed like an Elementary school student trying to embarrass the other debater; Romney appears to have a good heart but naive; Gingrich is way too political; Bachmann put her best foot forward; but the only person that I really enjoyed listening to was Ron Paul.
Two Words: RON PAUL