DE BATE, NEW HAMPSHIRE —BobZaguy Even if you haven’t been following our recent series, you may know that recently, seven of the leading extremists of the Tea Party Republicans masterfully debated in New Hampshire.
Two hours is a long time to have to sit and watch, even if playing buzzword bingo as a drinking game. For your convenience, here’s a shorter distillation of what each candidate said relative to questions that were asked, and even Tweeted, by a number of mostly anonymous people, including the ever-unbiased Andrew Breitbart.
This is intended for those who tried to stay awake for the whole time, but couldn’t. It’s also OK for anyone who didn’t watch at all to go through this and get a fix on what went down.
Michelle Bachmann, GOPTea Caucus, Congress, MN
This is the fifth in our 7-part series on this topic. Each day this week we’ve covered one of the seven could-be candidates for our great nation’s highest office.
I’m my husband’s wife of 33 years. It’s a real thrill to be here tonight in the “Live Free or Die” state. By the way John, I’m announcing that I am running for president right now, it’s the right thing to do. [applause]
I also want to announce tonight, President Obama is a one-term president. [applause]
What we need to do is pass the mother of all repeal bills. [applause]
Elvis or Johnny Cash? Both. I fought behind closed doors against my own party on TARP. Sometimes that’s what you have to do. I also announce that now I do believe in the 10th Amendment and I do believe in self-determination for the states. I also believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. [applause]
I was raised by a single mother. That’s why my husband and I have broken hearts. But I don’t think it’s the role of a president to go into states and interfere with their state laws. I’m going to announce another item here, and it’s that I would not be going into the states to overturn their state law. [applause]
I stand for that right. I stand for the right to life. [applause]
The very few cases that deal with those exceptions are the very tiniest of fraction of cases, and yet they get all the attention. Our SecDef Bill Gates, when he came before the United States Congress, he could not identify a single vital national American interest in Libya. [crickets]
So, on our involvement with Libya, is that in the vital national interest of the United States of America? No, I don’t believe so it is. That’s just my opinion. Our policy in Libya is substantially flawed. It’s interesting. The United States doesn’t lead from behind. As commander in chief, I would not lead from behind.
[applause] We are the head. We are not the tail. First of all, we were not attacked. We were not threatened with attack. There was no vital national interest. I sit on the House SelComIntel. We deal with the nation’s vital classified secrets. I know — 0That’s all you need to know. For a running mate, we’ll have to have an “American Idol” contest and go from there. [applause] I’ve learned about the goodness of the American people. [applause]
More on the other debating candidates:
– Debate Summary: Mitt Romney (1 of 7)
– Debate Summary: Tim Pawlenty (2 of 7)
– Debate Summary: Herman Caen (3 of 7)
– Debate Summary: Newt Gingrich (4 of 7)
– Debate Summary: Michele Bachmann (5 of 7)