Tuesday’s GOP debate, sponsored by the Western Republican Leadership Conference and hosted by CNN’s Anderson Cooper, was broadcast live from fabulous Las Vegas. Spectators seated within the Venetian and Sands Expo and Convention Center and those observing from their virtual ring-side sofa’s at home did not have to wait long for the verbal smack down to begin. Minnesota Rep. Michelle Bachmann came out swinging at Herman Cain and his 9-9-9 plan.
“We all have to be concerned about the hidden tax of the value-added tax,” said the 5 ft. 2 inch Republican featherweight per the New York Times transcript of the event.
“Read our analysis,” the former pizza mogul deflected. “It was performed by Fiscal Associates.”
Egged on by liberal moderator Cooper, former Pennsylvania Rep. Rick Santorum joined the attack.
“Reports are now out that 84 percent of Americans would pay more taxes under his plan,” Santorum quoted from the analysis conducted by Brookings Institute’s Tax Policy Center – described by Time Magazine as “the nation’s pre-eminent liberal think tank” — followed by a clumsy accusation that Cain’s bill didn’t provide breaks for poorer families.
“It’s not a value added tax,” Cain informed Bachmann of her economic ignorance. “It’s a single tax.”
“And we do provide a provision,” Cain schooled Santorum who clearly ignored the analysis on Cain’s website, “something we call ‘opportunity zones.’”
Frustrated that Cain remained standing, Cooper encouraged Texas Gov Rick Perry to pile on, followed by Texas Rep. Ron Paul and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
To Cooper’s delight, a series of contentious verbal clashes ensued. But, to his dismay, they ended abruptly when he invited Gingrich to enter the mêlée.
“Herman Cain deserves a lot of credit,” the political patriarch admonished, reminding his arrogant underlings that at least Cain had them “talking about something that matters as opposed to the junk that all too often is masquerading as politics in this country.”
Applause, cheers, point: Gingrich.
Undaunted, Cooper changed targets.
“We’ve been talking about Herman Cain’s plan,” the clever instigator decided. “Let’s talk about Governor Romney’s plan.”
Former Pennsylvania Rep. Rick Santorum threw the first punch saying Romney had no “credibility” in a discussion of repealing “Obamacare.”
Romney simply reminded the debate challenged upstart that he already said his health care plan was “crafted for Massachusetts” only and it would be “wrong” to adopt it “as a nation.”
“That’s not what you said,” Santorum returned, and the childish quarrel played out to Cooper’s utter enjoyment.
With renewed hope for inspiring mayhem, after failing to pit Gingrich against Cain, Cooper tried instead to spur Gingrich into a fight with Romney.
You were “very critical of Mitt Romney’s plan,” Cooper prodded and while Gingrich admitted that “Romneycare,” didn’t contain as much big-government bureaucracy as “Obamacare” it did contain a lot more than Romney admits.
“We got the idea of an individual mandate from you,” Romney blurted.
“That’s not true. You got it from the Heritage Foundation.”
And round and round they went.
The next Romney Perry brawl came when Cooper rang the immigration bell.
Perry threw a low blow, accusing Romney of knowingly hiring illegals at his home.
“I don’t think that I’ve ever hired an illegal in my life,” Romney chuckled.
Yes you did.
No I didn’t.
Perry said the audience wanted to hear Romney admit he “hired illegals” but the audience booed the sucker punch.
To Romney’s expression of empathy that – after “a tough couple of debates” — he understood why Perry would be “testy,” the audience cheered in agreement.
Sensing opportunity to make him stumble over his own words, Cooper asked Cain to clarify whether or not he was serious about installing an electrified fence along the border, which he later said was a joke.
The audience laughed with anticipation.
“Allow me to give the serious answer,” Cain said fearlessly. “Yes,” to which the audience erupted with cheers of wholehearted support.
Point for the pizza man.
Stewing and desperate to reclaim what little dignity he had left, Perry unwisely chose to go after Romney again.
“He said there was a magnet of people that will hire illlegals,” Perry whined, “and you are number one on that list, sir.”
In case Perry missed it the first time the audience booed him again.
“And people need to understand that,” he pushed anyway.
The crowd booed louder.
“You’re one of the problems, Mitt.”
More boos.
Cooper was beside himself with glee.
“I think we’ve been down that road sufficiently,” Romney said dismissively. “Sounds like the audience agrees with me.”
A self-inflicted TKO for Perry and a patience point for Romney.
Some much needed comic relief came when Gingrich was invited to share his thoughts on budget cuts and defense spending.
“If you want to understand how totally broken Washington is,” he said of the obvious, “look at this entire model of a super committee, which has now got a magic number to achieve, and if it doesn’t achieve the magic number, then we’ll all have to shoot ourselves in the head, so when they come back with a really dumb idea to merely cut off our right leg, we’ll all be grateful that they are only semi-stupid instead of being totally stupid.”
Cheers, applause, another point for Newt.
The Nevada debate was by far the most intense. The primary prize is hanging in the air so it’s expected for the heat to start rising. So who won?
Romney’s presentation was confident and strong. Perry came off petty and childish.
While Santorum spent most of his time trying to be relevant, Bachmann used her time to recite staff-crafted sound-bites and reminding us once again that she’s a mom – as if none of her male contenders have any experience being a dad.
Paul simply devolved into the familiar habits that dismantled his first two presidential efforts, starting to express a good idea only to wander off into the inane or implausible.
Cain and Gingrich came closest to connecting with Americans, speaking to rather than above them while clearly addressing specific concerns.
But where Cain scored most of his points defending his provocative immigration statements and proving that his 9-9-9 plan intimidates his opponents, Gingrich gets extra points for calm wisdom, rare political sportsmanship and challenging President Obama “to meet the Lincoln-Douglas standard” of “seven three-hour debates” with “no moderator, only a timekeeper.”
Winner; Newt Gingrich.
Sources:
“Western Republican Leadership Conference (WRLC)/CNN Debate at the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino”, The New York Times
Howard Gleckman, “Cain’s 9-9-9 Plan Would Cut Taxes for the Rich, Raise Taxes for Almost Everyone Else”, Tax Policy Center
“Business: The Other Think Tank”, Time Magazine