Photo courtesy:Washington Post
Wednesday’s Republican presidential debate was an abrasive plea for office from seven hopeful candidates. Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley, Mike Pence, Chris Christie, Tim Scott and Doug Burgum took the stage at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California on Sep. 27 for a discourse that would yield no clear winner.
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley fired up a swift shot at entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy on the topic of Tik-Tok concerning the United States safety, which seemed to align with the constant combat towards Ramaswamy from the floor.
“Honestly, every time I hear you, I feel a little bit dumber for what you say,” Haley declared.
Haley attempted to further fuel the flames of distrust for Ramaswamy by mentioning the business dealings between the entrepreneur and China regarding the country’s viral app, TikTok.
The group seemed significantly perturbed by the absence of former President Donald Trump. Florida Gov.
Ron DeSantis claimed Trump was “missing in action,” and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said that the former president likes to “hide behind his golf clubs” and referred to him as “Donald Duck” for refusing to participate in the debates.
The group also criticized Joe Biden in the midst of his support for autoworkers during the ongoing strike.
South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott said that Biden should not be on the picket line and should instead close the southern border. He described the border as “… unsafe, wide open, and insecure.”
Former Vice President Mike Pence also added that Joe Biden does not belong on the picket line but that “…he belongs on the unemployment line.” Pence continued on by saying that as the president of the United States, he would stand in solidarity with workers around the US for their right to join a union or not.
DeSantis also criticized Pres. Biden’s job performance. “He’s completely missing in action from leadership,” he said.
CNN Politics explains that Trump’s absence may have played out in his favor, allowing him to avoid criticism during his presidential tenure.
Trump instead traveled to Michigan, addressing current and former auto union members. NBC News reported Trump will also miss the third presidential debate that will be held in Miami Nov. 8.
Tim Scott, eager for a scramble with his opponents, was met with the same energy from Haley.
CNN states, “He began his line of attack – which Haley interjected with a “Bring it” – by accusing her of spending $50,000 on curtains in a $15 million subsidized location during her time as the US ambassador to the United Nations.”
DeSantis’s performance was shaky compared to his other opponents, as he forced Fox to slip into a commercial break when questioned on a jury decision for a life sentence instead of a death sentence for Nicholas Cruz, the perpetrator of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas school shooting that occurred in 2018.
He finished off strongly by rejecting the initiative of moderator Dana Perino to the candidates to vote each other “off the island essentially”, and rejected that Trump was in the lead by a number of polls, “Polls don’t elect President, voters elect Presidents.”
Photo Courtesy: CNN
The candidates, as well as the moderators, spoke carefully on the topic of abortion. A conversation surrounding abortion came nearly two hours later and lasted all of five minutes. DeSantis, who signed the six-week abortion ban back in April, dismissed concerns of Republicans’ worry regarding electoral backlash due to the bills.
He then turned the conversation back to Trump, who called the laws “a terrible mistake.”
Christie also commented on the topic, stating that his two terms as governor in a traditionally blue state prove that anti-abortion leaders could win surrounded by abortion supporters. And just as quickly as it started, the abortion conversation ended abruptly.
The next GOP debate is scheduled for Nov. 8 in Miami, FL.