A Constitutional Report Card on the 1/7/2012 CBS/Yahoo New Hampshire GOP Presidential Debate
by Douglas W. Phillips, Esq., January 12, 2012
On Saturday, January 7, Republican candidates squared off in Manchester, New Hampshire, for the ABC/ Yahoo, and New Hampshire Republican Party debate, one of a series of primary debates for Republicans seeking their party’s nomination for President of the United States.
Today I am pleased to offer you another in our series of Constitutional Report Cards from these debates, the goal of which is to help you better understand the issues on the table and the positions represented by the respective candidates. In this report card, we have graded each of the candidates based on the fidelity of his or her answers to the United States Constitution.
The Bible reminds us that “my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). When it comes to our God-blessed civic duty to cast our votes “in the fear of the Lord,” we must have knowledge. To do so we need to understand the standard. We also need the facts. Please remember to pray for us as we try to be faithful in bringing both to Christian families in our nation.
BACKGROUND: On January 7, 2012, the six leading Republican candidates took the stage at Anselm College for the ABC/ Yahoo, and New Hampshire Republican Party debate. The purpose of this document is to provide a report card that will help Christian families evaluate the statements made by the candidates during that debate from a constitutional perspective. This report card is limited in its scope in that it only addresses issues specifically on the table during the January 7, 2012 debate. The scores are based on the actual statements made by the candidates during that debate. Candidates’ comments are taken at face value and evaluated without regard to their past statements or policy records, unless the candidates or those posing the questions specifically addressed the past statements and previous policy record of the candidate. Nothing in this report card should be construed as advocacy for a specific presidential candidate.
CBS and Yahoo hosted this debate. This report card is intended to score each of the six candidates, on the basis of their own answers, on whether or not their proposals, as stated, are in keeping with their potential duty to uphold and defend the United States Constitution.
* Each candidate is scored on the basis of his or her answers in this debate alone. To score an (A), the candidate only need to provide an answer that will not in some way violate the United States Constitution.
I. Jobs
The Constitution of the United States grants Congress a limited number of powers, under Article 1, Section 8 that residually effect industry and jobs. First, Congress has the power over the federal purse through the taxing and spending clause. Second, Congress is granted the power to regulate interstate commerce between the states. Under the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the commerce power was unconstitutionally expanded to include intrastate commerce also, along with virtually any activity commercial or non-commercial that could be shown to remotely affect commerce. This unconstitutional expansion of power has been used by Congress to regulate areas previously unreachable by the federal power under the Constitution. Third, Congress has the authority to exclusively regulate special areas of law such as maritime law, bankruptcy law, copyright law, and patent law. Finally, Congress has the sole authority to coin money and fix standards for weights and measures. The Federal Government has not been granted constitutional authority to create jobs. Instead the Constitution promotes a limited federal government that cannot regulate private industries outside of the grant of power given by the United States Constitution to the federal government.
Question #1: In the month of December there were 200,000 new jobs created. Is this reason for optimism?
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney:
Governor Romney said that while he was an optimist and hoped that the economic situation would get better, he did not believe that President Obama was the reason why jobs were created. He criticized the President for initiating policies that made the recession deeper and made economic recovery slower. He said that the President’s policies from Dodd-Frank to Obamacare had placed a tremendous strain on businesses making it harder to invest and create new jobs. He said that for the President to attempt to take credit for new job growth is like the rooster taking credit for the sunrise.
Constitutional Grade: A
Remarks: Mr. Romney also failed to mention that many of the jobs added in December were short-term seasonal jobs.
Question #2: The moderator pointed out that Mr. Santorum had said that the United States did not need a CEO or Manager. She asked what he meant by that?
Former Senator Rick Santorum:
Mr. Santorum said that the United States needs a Commander in Chief who is a leader and can paint a positive picture for the nation. He said that the United States needs a President with experience. Mr. Santorum maintained that he had experience as a member of the armed services committee, as a congressman who oversaw important pieces of legislation, and on national security issues such as those surrounding Iran. He said the next president should support our allies and cause enemies to fear us.
When the moderator pointed out that Mr. Santorum had been talking about Mr. Romney when he made the statement, Mr. Santorum responded that business experience does not make a good Commander in Chief. He said that the president must lead and inspire members of Congress. He said that he has a record of doing this in the Senate.
Constitutional Grade: F
Remarks: Mr. Santorum’s foreign policy calls for an unconstitutional intervention in other nations and amounts to a diplomacy that mimics a bully on a schoolyard playground. Children do not befriend the bully because they like him, but only because they fear the consequences of not being his friend. They yearn for a time when there is finally someone strong enough to stand up to him.
Moreover, terms such as lead and inspire are not ends unto themselves. President Obama has been able to inspire and lead; but lead and inspire how, whom, and to what end is what is at issue.
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney:
Governor Romney responded that he did not believe that many who spent their lives in Washington understood how the economy actually worked. He alleged that they thought that business owners and entrepreneurs were merely managers, but he said that it took real leadership to start and build a business from the ground up. He pointed out that he had been a proven leader in the private sector, as Governor of Massachusetts, and in leading the Olympics.
Constitutional Grade: B
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich:
When Mr. Gingrich was asked about an ad, run by close friends and supporters, criticizing Mr. Romney’s record while CEO of Bain Capital, Mr. Gingrich said that he had not seen the film. He said that such a message would be consistent with a New York Times article that was circulated during the prior week and that people should watch the film and determine whether or not it is accurate. He said that he supported free enterprise, but he said that he was not supportive of a Wall Street model in which you flip, liquidate, or decapitalize companies in a way that destroys jobs. He said that this issue was part of a legitimate debate.
Constitutional Grade: F
Remarks: Mr. Gingrich’s statement is self-contradictory. On the one hand he says that he supports a free enterprise system, but on the other he does not support the idea that businesses should be free to engage in certain business practices for profit. His statement implies that an investor or business owner should not look merely to the profitability of a company or investment, but has an obligation to provide jobs and benefits to employees without regard to profitability. This idea runs counter to principles of the Constitution, capitalism and a free market system. Mr. Gingrich is making the same type of critiques that Marxists make of free market economics.
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney:
Governor Romney said it was not unusual for the New York Times or the Obama Administration to place the free enterprise system on trial, but he was surprised to see Mr. Gingrich do so. He said that at times companies are unprofitable and investments do not work out. He said that sometimes a company has to be downsized to create an opportunity to grow again. He said that he was proud of his record of success in the private sector. He pointed out that the businesses that he helped grow have created 100,000 jobs. When asked if the 100,000 jobs created took into account the jobs that were destroyed by downsizing, Mr. Romney said that the number took into account the jobs taken away as well.
Constitutional Grade: A
Remarks: In a free market economy a CEO is concerned with insuring that a company is profitable. A company does not primarily exist to provide jobs or benefits. Ultimately, if a company is not profitable it is not able to justify the expense of labor. On the other hand the more profitable a company is the more capable the company is to grow and spend more on labor, adding new jobs and employment benefits.
Former Governor Utah Jon Huntsman:
When asked if he thought Republicans should be concerned about Mr. Romney’s activities at Bain Capital, Mr. Huntsman said that it was part of Mr. Romney’s record and that it was going to be talked about. Mr. Huntsman pointed out that he also had both private and public sector experience. He said that it was important for the public record to be scrutinized.
In addition, he said it was important to look beyond the private sector experience and look to the public sector experience as well. He pointed out that both he and Mr. Romney were governors and that that record was an indicator of how each would lead as president. Mr. Huntsman pointed out that he had put together bold proposals, established a flat tax, and took the state to number one in job creation. He also pointed out that he had fixed healthcare without a mandate and created a business friendly environment.
Constitutional Grade: B
Remarks: Many of the activities listed by Mr. Huntsman would not be permissible for a President of the United States.
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney:
Governor Romney congratulated Mr. Huntsman for his record as governor with regard to establishing a business friendly environment. He then said that it was important for an individual to actually work in the private sector in order to understand how to create jobs. He said that the problems facing the economy require an executive who has private sector experience and can provide a sound contrast with President Obama.
Constitutional Grade: B
Remarks: It does not take a CEO to realize that high taxes and over regulation of corporations rob profits that could otherwise be spent on innovation and new labor.
II. Federal Budget
The Constitution of the United States grants Congress a limited number of powers, under Article 1, Section 8 that residually effect industry and national economy. First, we have already mentioned, Congress has the power over the federal purse through the taxing and spending clause. Second, Congress is granted the power to regulate interstate commerce between the states. Under the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the commerce power was unconstitutionally expanded to include intrastate commerce also, along with virtually any activity commercial or non-commercial that could be shown to remotely effect commerce. This unconstitutional expansion of power has been used by Congress to regulate areas previously unreachable by the federal power under the Constitution. Third, Congress has the authority to exclusively regulate special areas of law such as maritime law, bankruptcy law, copyright law, and patent law. Finally, Congress has the sole authority to coin money and fix standards for weights and measures. A constitutional response to this question would require the candidates to affirm fidelity to the limitation of the federal government and to commit to widespread deregulation and defunding of those programs which are not clearly within the grant of power given by the United States Constitution to the federal government.
Question #3: The Moderator pointed out that Mr. Paul had approved an advertisement that accused Mr. Santorum of being a corrupt Washington insider.
Texas Representative Ron Paul:
Congressman Paul pointed out that Mr. Santorum had taken among the largest amounts of money from lobbyists. He said that it was more important to look at Mr. Santorum’s record in the Senate. Dr. Paul pointed out that Mr. Santorum had voted to raise the debt ceiling five times, had opposed the Right to Work, voted for No Child Left Behind which doubled the Department of Education, and voted in favor of a prescription drug program. Dr. Paul also pointed out that Mr. Santorum had made his money as a lobbyist in Washington after leaving office and has done quite well.
Constitutional Grade: A
Former Senator Rick Santorum:
Mr. Santorum defended himself by pointing out that the corruption accusation originated with the left wing organization C.R.E.W. He said that he was not a Libertarian, but was a Republican. He said that as a Pennsylvania Congressman he believed that he was obligated to represent his state as best as he could. He said that he was a “cause guy” and after he left the Senate he worked to further causes that he believed in. He rejected the accusation that he was a lobbyist, but instead maintained that he was on the board of directors of a healthcare company. He also maintained that he worked for a company to engage in the battle against cap and trade.
Constitutional Grade: F
Remarks: Mr. Santorum does not have to be a libertarian to understand that there is no constitutional authority for the Department of Education, the Patriot Act, and the Prescription Drug program. These are not libertarian positions, they are constitutional positions.
Texas Representative Ron Paul:
Congressman Paul said he also believed in government, but what separated him from Mr. Santorum was that he always voted against spending while Mr. Santorum had voted in favor of more spending. He accused Mr. Santorum of being a big spender and a big government conservative. He said that his opposition to measures such as Right to Work legislation revealed that Mr. Santorum was not a true conservative.
Constitutional Grade: A
Former Senator Rick Santorum:
Mr. Santorum defended himself by pointing out that he had voted for a balanced budget amendment and a line item veto. He repeated that he was not a libertarian and maintained that some spending was a good thing.
Constitutional Grade: F
Texas Governor Rick Perry:
Mr. Perry said that dialog between Mr. Paul and Mr. Santorum was a good illustration of why he joined the presidential race. He said that he is one of the only candidates who is an outsider not involved with the problems of Washington D.C.. He said that the Republican Party needed a person who could lead the Tea Party, win against President Obama, and cut spending in Washington. He said that voters want an executive who had a constrictive record. Mr. Perry said that he had been the Commander in Chief in Texas, had led troops in Texas, and had created a million new jobs. He said that he was an outsider who was not corrupted by Washington.
When the moderator asked if he was referring to Mr. Paul as an insider, Mr. Perry said that Mr. Paul was a hypocrite because he secured earmarks for bills that he then voted against.
Constitutional Grade: C
Remarks: Mr. Perry may not be a Washington insider, but many of the policies he supported in the State of Texas would reveal that he is not fundamentally different in his approach to government.
Texas Representative Ron Paul:
Congressman Paul responded that while Mr. Perry calls it hypocrisy, he called it following the lead on the Constitution. He said that Congress had a duty to appropriate every penny. He then pointed out that Mr. Santorum boasted of voting for a balanced budget amendment and then voted to raise the debt ceiling five times. He said that this was the kind of activity that the Tea Party Movement was about. He pointed out that while Mr. Santorum had opposed raising the debt ceiling during the campaign, he had not done anything about the issue when he was in Congress, and in fact, contributed to the problem.
Constitutional Grade: A
Former Senator Rick Santorum:
Mr. Santorum said that he did do something when he had the chance. He pointed out that he authored a bill that repealed a federal entitlement. He attempted Social Security and Medicare reform. He said that he was the only one during the time when there was a surplus who was talking about long-term entitlement reform. He said that routine debt ceiling increases had been acceptable throughout the nation’s history and that he always sought to guarantee spending reductions when raising the debt ceiling.
Constitutional Grade: F
Remarks: While it is true that raising the debt ceiling has been routine, this is not justifiable in light of the fact that it has coincided with the mammoth growth in the size of government and government entitlement programs.
III. Military Policy
The Constitution of the United States grants both the President and Congress the joint authority to engage in foreign policy. However, the President is not authorized to enforce treaties without the ratification of Congress. Moreover, Congress has exclusive authority to tax international trade. The power to declare war is reserved solely to Congress. While the President is Commander in Chief of the armed forces, he does not have the authority to declare war or to engage in international conflicts without a declaration of war issued by Congress. Congress may raise and support armies, but no appropriation for that purpose shall be for a term longer than two years. According to Article 1, Section 8, Congress also has the sole power “To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions; and to provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the Militia....” A war or conflict occurring without an act from Congress is unconstitutional. The Constitution provides no authority to provide for foreign nations’ social welfare. The principles outlined in the Constitution favor a non-interventionist approach to foreign affairs. The United States is not to interfere with other nations unless it is attacked or threatened with actual and immanent harm.
Question #4: In light of the fact that Iran is attempting to develop a nuclear weapon, why are you the best candidate to handle that issue?
Former Governor of Utah Jon Huntsman:
Mr. Huntsman said that being Commander in Chief was not about the insider back-and-forth and political spin. He said that it was about leading organizations, leading people and, leading with a vision. He said that as governor, he led the state of Utah to become the best-managed state in the United States. He pointed out that it was number one in job creation. He pointed out that Massachusetts was # 47 in job creation under Governor Romney’s leadership. He said that the nation needs leadership they can trust. He said there is a trust deficit in this nation. He said that the President needs to reform Congress and lead the charge on term limits. He said that the next President needs to restore trust in Wall Street, which has lost the nation’s trust as well.
When asked if he desired to speak of anyone particular on the stage, Mr. Huntsman said that each of the individuals on the stage could speak for themselves. He pointed out that he was the only one who had spent a significant time overseas. He said that he had run one of the most complex embassies of the world in China.
Constitutional Grade: B
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney:
When called on to address the fact that Mr. Huntsman said he could speak best to foreign policy issues, Governor Romney said he could definitely do a better job than President Obama. He pointed out that President Obama had no executive experience. As a result, the President has had to learn on the job, and has made one mistake after another with regard to foreign policy. He said that the most serious has been the mistake he has made with allowing Iran to seek to become a nuclear nation. Mr. Romney pointed out that the president had failed to enforce sanctions against Iran and had been silent with regard to the support of protestors who took to the streets in Iran. He called President Obama’s tenure a “failed presidency”.
Mr. Romney said that the next president would need to demonstrate real leadership and that each of the candidates on stage were capable of doing a better job than President Obama. He said that he would support whoever became the nominee of the Republican Party. He criticized the President for shrinking the size of the military and for saying that America would never again have the capacity to fight more than two wars at one time. He finished by saying that this president must be replaced.
Constitutional Grade: C
Remarks: If a constitutional foreign policy was enacted, there would be no need for the military budget to constitute a quarter of the federal budget.
Question #5: Do you believe that wearing a military uniform better prepares you for the job of being Commander in Chief?
Texas Governor Rick Perry:
Mr. Perry said that it helped being on the front lines, but also it helped being the Commander in Chief of Texas. He then turned the discussion to the federal budget. He said that the budget was the most important issue. He criticized President Obama for proposing to cut one trillion dollars from the military budget and placing the liberty of the nation at risk.
Constitutional Grade: C
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich:
Mr. Gingrich said that his father was in the military and that he had grown up in a military family. He said that he had worked for 32 years in the Army’s training and doctrine command, he was the longest serving teacher in the senior military for 23 years, and he served on the defense policy board.
He said that he felt for veterans and pledged to reopen a new military hospital, open a telecommunications clinic, and would create a system where a military veteran could go to a local health care provider. He said he was in a good position to understand what military families need.
Constitutional Grade: A
Texas Representative Ron Paul:
Congressman Paul responded that a person who did not serve when they were called, and received five deferments from serving in the military, should not be placed in a position to send young people into a theater of battle. Dr. Paul pointed out that he had served and was the candidate that wanted to end the wars that America was engaged in around the world. He decried the fact that thousands of veterans are coming back from wars that were undeclared and unwinnable. He said that hundreds of thousands were looking for care and that there was an epidemic of suicides coming back. He said that Mr. Santorum had used the word libertarian, but that he was only attempting to follow The Constitution of the United States.
Constitutional Grade: C
Remarks: While Dr. Paul reflects a constitutional standard for foreign policy, there is no constitutional requirement that a Commander in Chief serve in the military as a standard of eligibility.
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich:
Mr. Gingrich said that Dr. Paul had a history of saying things that were false. He said that he was married with a child, so there was never an issue of a deferment. He said that his father was serving in Vietnam at the time in question. He said that he deeply resented the comments made by Congressman Paul.
Constitutional Grade: A
Texas Representative Ron Paul:
Congressman Paul responded that when he served, he was also married and had two children, and that when he was called, he still went to serve. When the moderator asked about newsletters that had been written in Dr. Paul’s name which appeared false or racist, Dr. Paul responded, that it was a diversion to ask about letters that were written 20 years ago and not by him. He said that one of his favorite historical figures was Martin Luther King for his practice of peaceful resistance. He said that he was the only one on the stage who is willing to say that the true racial discrimination existed in the judicial system, where minorities are punished disproportionately for drug related crimes, and are disproportionately subjected to capital punishment. In addition, he said that the military draft was a system that affected poor minorities disproportionately. He said that minorities suffered from our foreign wars.
Constitutional Grade: A
IV. Contraception
The Constitution of the United States only authorizes the United States government to carry out a limited number of functions. If the Federal government exercises a power that is not specifically authorized in the United States Constitution, the exercise of government power is unauthorized and invalid. The 10th Amendment of the Constitution states, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” This gives the states a broader grant of authority than it grants to the Federal Government. However, the 10th Amendment limited the power granted to the states by excluding those powers prohibited by the Constitution. The Constitution guarantees that the states must establish “a Republican form of government, which is a government that will secure the right to life, liberty, property.” While the Constitution promotes “State’s Rights”, those rights of the state are not absolute; States are prohibited from depriving the people of those rights to life, liberty, and property, which are inalienable. The Constitution of the United States provides no fundamental right to privacy. However, to accommodate a public climate of immorality and changing social norms, the Supreme Court invented a “right to privacy” in the case of Griswold v. Connecticut. In that case, the Supreme Court struck down a statute in the State of Connecticut that outlawed the sale of contraceptives. The Right to Privacy is not mentioned anywhere in the U.S. Constitution, but was justified by what the court called the “penumbras, formed by emanations” of the Constitution. Since that time the court’s ruling has been used to open the door to a plethora of “fundamental rights” intended to protect the practice of lewdness, murder, and sexual immorality. Courts have since invented a fundamental right to practice sodomy in Lawrence v. Texas, and a mother’s so-called right to murder her child, in Roe v. Wade.
Question #6: Do you believe that the states have a right to ban contraception, or does The Constitution of the United States contain a right to privacy?
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney:
Governor Romney said that he couldn’t imagine a state having a right to ban contraception and would not know why a state would desire to do such a thing. He said that he would vehemently oppose any attempt to ban contraception. He deferred to Congressman Paul as to the Constitutional issue, but said that he did not know whether or not a state had a right, but that no state wanted to.
When the moderator pointed out that Mr. Romney had attended Harvard Law
School and should know the case of Griswold v. Connecticut, Mr. Romney said that the ruling of the Supreme Court was the “law of the land”. He said that a ruling by the Supreme Court could only be changed by a Constitutional Amendment. He said that for this reason he supported a Federal Marriage Amendment that defined marriage as a relationship between a man and a woman.
When pressed further on the issue, Mr. Romney said that he did not agree with the principle of Griswold v. Connecticut and pointed out that Roe v. Wade was decided on the same basis. He said that if the Supreme Court were filled with conservative judges they might decide to return the issue to the States instead of reading a right into the Constitution that is not there. He said that if the people wanted to add a right to the Constitution they could do so by amendment. He said with regard to contraception, the people should not do that because contraception was working just fine.
Constitutional Grade: F
Remarks: The Constitution states that the Constitution, laws passed by Congress and treaties ratified by Congress were the law of the land. The Supreme Court is not a law-making body and their rulings are not law. While the Supreme Court places a lot of emphasis on precedent, the Supreme Court’s decisions are not even binding on other cases. Moreover, the Supreme Court has no power to enforce its decisions, and in cases where the Congress and the president of the United States disagree with a Supreme Court ruling, the Court’s ruling may be ignored.
Mr. Romney appeared very uncomfortable with this question and did not seem at all familiar with the case of Griswold v. Connecticut. Griswold v. Connecticut is an important case since the ruling invented a right to privacy under the 14th Amendment and paved the way for Roe v. Wade and Lawrence v. Texas. Many of the issues that conservatives are most concerned about, such as homosexual marriage and abortion, were made possible by the Court’s social engineering on the issue of contraception in Griswold v. Connecticut.
Texas Representative Ron Paul:
Congressman Paul said that the Fourth Amendment provided a clear right to privacy. With regard to the sale of contraception, he said the Commerce Clause would suffice to prohibit states from banning contraception, reasoning that if Congress found that the import of contraception was legal, then it would follow that the sale of contraception would also have to be legal.
Constitutional Grade: F
Remarks: Congressman Paul’s answer is not a proper explanation of the Federal Commerce Power. The commerce power, in its unadulterated intent, was to grant Congress the power to organize a system that governed trade between states and settled trade disputes between states. The idea that because the Federal Government did not restrict the import of contraception in the state, states were powerless to regulate its sale within the state, makes a convoluted mess of the original intent of the Commerce Clause. It would effectively require a state to refrain from regulating any commercial activity within the state unless the Federal Government had first sanctioned those restrictions. This would constitute a huge expansion of the commerce power.
Moreover, while Dr. Paul correctly points out that the Fourth Amendment provides a right to privacy, it is equally important to point out that the Fourth Amendment’s right to privacy is a matter of procedural due process. (Procedural due process refers to the limitations placed on the government with regard to interference with people and their property.) This is completely different from the invented right to privacy under the Fourteenth Amendment, which is a matter of substantive due process. (Substantive due process refers to limitations placed on the government to prohibit certain types of conduct and activities.) While there are certain substantive rights guaranteed under the Constitution (i.e. freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom of religion, etc.), the “right to privacy” is not among them.
Furthermore, Dr. Paul’s comments are contradictory with his position on abortion. Dr. Paul maintains that the regulation of abortion is an issue for the states to decide, but that their decision must prohibit abortions, since states are required by the Constitution to provide a republican form of government that defends an unborn child’s right to life, liberty, and property. Since most contraceptives, like birth control pills, are designed as abortifacients, allowing for infanticide by prohibiting an embryo from attaching to a female’s uterus after conception, and/or to kill the egg whether or not conception has taken place, Dr. Paul’s position here seems to be contradictory. He charges the states with a duty to prohibit abortions, but charges them with the prohibition from outlawing abortifacient contraceptives.
Former Senator Rick Santorum:
Mr. Santorum pointed out that there was a difference between the right to privacy found in the Fourth Amendment (which he said the Patriot Act did not violate) and the right to privacy found from what the Griswold court termed the “penumbras and emanations” of the Constitution. He said that the Supreme Court’s decision in that case should be overturned. Mr. Santorum argued that the Constitution did not include a right to take a human life.
Constitutional Grade: A
Remarks: Mr. Santorum is the only candidate to properly understand and articulate the Constitutional position on this issue.
V. Homosexuality
The Constitution of the United States provides no fundamental right to privacy. However, to accommodate a public climate of immorality and changing social norms, the Supreme Court invented a “right to privacy” which is not mentioned anywhere in the U.S. Constitution, but was justified by what the court called the “penumbras, formed by emanations” of the Constitution. Since that time the court’s ruling has been used to open the door to a plethora of “fundamental rights” intended to protect the practice of lewdness, murder, and sexual immorality. Courts have since invented a fundamental right to practice sodomy in Lawrence v. Texas, and a mother’s so-called right to murder her child, in Roe v. Wade. The Constitution of the United States grants that Congress may propose amendments to the Constitution whenever two- thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary. An amendment may also be proposed by the Legislatures of two thirds of the several states. These state legislatures must “call for a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress”. However, there is no authority in the Constitution for the Federal Government to define marriage or intermeddle with the family.
Question #7: Given your opposition to homosexual marriage, how would you approach homosexuals who are in committed long-term relationships?
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich:
Mr. Gingrich said that he would be understanding on issues of hospital visitation and the ability to designate property in a will. He said that there was a huge difference in allowing homosexuals to marry. He said that the sacrament of marriage has been between a man and a woman for over 3,000 years and that he was unwilling to change it. At the same time he said that there was no need to make life as miserable as possible for other people outside of that institution. He said that marriage is not a civil right and was not a civil institution.
Constitutional Grade: C
Remarks: Mr. Gingrich answers better than others since he recognized that marriage is not a civil right or a civil institution. Homosexuals cannot be married regardless of whether a civil authority declares them to be or not.
Former Governor of Utah Jon Huntsman:
Mr. Huntsman said that civil unions were fair and presented equality under the law, but that marriage should be reserved for one man and one woman. He said that he supported civil unions because they brought a level of dignity to a homosexual relationship. He said that he also believed in reciprocal beneficiary rights in civil unions.
Constitutional Grade: F
Remarks: Once a candidate recognizes homosexuality as a legitimate relationship, as opposed to a sexually immoral act, they have lost the moral high ground. Homosexuality is not a relationship or identity, it is an immoral action. The Federal Government has no authority to reconstitute marriage, nor does it have the authority to define words. Civil Government does not have the authority to legitimize what God has called an abomination. The Constitution of the United States does not have the authority to regulate “committed long-term relationships”; that definition could cover an employer-employee relationship, or any other number of relationships. However, the states have the authority to restrict lewd and harmful activities that occur in relationships, such as domestic abuse, theft, or sodomy. There is no dignity in a homosexual act. Homosexuality is harmful and abusive to the individuals involved and to the surrounding community. Offering homosexuals the same rights under the law as married couples, is figuratively placing lipstick on a pig and thinking it changes the pig’s identity in any real way.
Question #8: What is your position on same sex adoptions?
Former Senator Rick Santorum:
Mr. Santorum said the issue of homosexual adoption was a state issue and not a federal issue. However, he said that the issue of marriage was a federal issue and that there needed to be one single law that defined marriage as a foundational institution of our nation.
When asked what he would do with the 1,800 homosexual marriages that have already occurred in the state of New Hampshire, Mr. Santorum stated that if the Constitution defined a marriage between a man and woman, then existing homosexual marriages would no longer exist.
Constitutional Grade: F
Remarks: Mr. Santorum believes the regulation of the family is a federal issue, yet there is not authority under the Constitution for the federal government to regulate or define marriage. If the Federal Government had the authority to define marriage, then it would also follow that the Federal Government had the authority to abolish marriage altogether or exclude heterosexuals from the definition. The institution of marriage is completely outside the reach of federal authority.
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney:
Governor Romney said that he would tell a homosexual couple that they are free to form long term committed relationships, but that they did not have to call it marriage. He said that they did not need the approval of the state. He pointed out that there could exist benefits and contractual relationships for homosexuals that would affect property rights. He said that those benefits would be determined state by state. He said that he did not desire to discriminate against people, but that a society should encourage children to be raised in an environment with a male and female.
Constitutional Grade: F
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich:
Mr. Gingrich said that he wanted to ask the opposite question that was not being asked, due to media bias. He asked if Catholic adoption services should be forced to close because they will not help homosexuals adopt children? He asked if the Catholic Charities in Washington D.C. should be shut down, because they would not give in to liberal bigotry. He asked if the Obama Administration should be permitted to practice bigotry against Christian organizations? Mr. Gingrich said that there was far more bigotry aimed at Christianity then toward the opposite side, but none of it was covered by the news media.
Constitutional Grade: A
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney:
Governor Romney said that he agreed with Mr. Gingrich. He said that he was in a state that found that homosexual marriage was a right under the Constitution. He explained that Catholic Charities, who placed over half of the adopted children in the state, was forced to abdicate that service because they would not place children with homosexuals. He said that calling homosexual relations marriage presents a whole host of issues.
Constitutional Grade: A
Texas Governor Rick Perry:
Mr. Perry said that he would support a federal marriage amendment, but that the Obama Administration’s war on religion was what disturbed him most. He decried the administration for not defending the Defense of Marriage Act and for giving clear instructions to the Justice Department to remove the ministerial exception away from churches. He said that such discrimination would stop under a Perry Administration.
Constitutional Grade: C
Remarks: Not even a constitutional amendment can change the institution of marriage. God has already established marriage and no act of the civil government can change or modify it. The only benefit of a marriage amendment is to insure civil polity conforms to what God has established.
VII. Third Party Candidacy
Question #9: The moderator asked Mr. Paul why he would not rule out the possibility of a third party run?
Texas Representative Ron Paul:
Congressman Paul said that essentially he had ruled out a third party run, but would not speak in absolutes. He said that at the present time, he had no plans or intentions to run as a third party candidate. He said that he disagreed with the other candidates approach to government and that he wanted to see some real changes. He criticized his opponents for not saying anything about spending, foreign policy, monetary policy or changing problems in military policy. He said that if the candidates were serious as conservatives, then they would have to cut from the budget, which was why he proposed to cut one trillion dollars from the Federal Budget. He said that he wanted to place as much pressure on the other candidates as he could.
Constitutional Grade: A
Remarks: This question has been asked over and over, because it represents a real divide among conservatives. In the event that Dr. Paul does not win the nomination, he has the ability to split the conservative vote in an election year that seems very hopeful for the Republican Party. In any event, there is no constitutional justification for an exclusive two party system.
VII. Foreign Policy
The Constitution of the United States grants both the Executive Branch and Congress the power to engage in foreign policy. The power to declare war is reserved solely to Congress. While the President is Commander in Chief of the armed forces, he does not have the authority to declare war or to engage in international conflicts without a declaration of war issued by Congress. Congress may raise and support armies, but no appropriation for that purpose shall be for a term longer than two years. Power over the federal budget, expenditures, and debts are vested solely in the Congress of the United States. The Constitution provides no authority to provide foreign nations with social welfare. The principles outlined in the Constitution favor a non-interventionist approach to foreign affairs. This is a repeat According to Article 1, Section 8, Congress also has the sole power “To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions; and to provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the Militia....” A war or conflict occurring without an act from Congress is unconstitutional. This is a repeat from earlier in the same paragraph.
Question #10: There are 90,000 troops in Afghanistan. What is the earliest time that these troops should be brought home?
Former Governor of Utah Jon Huntsman:
Mr. Huntsman said that after 10 years, the Taliban has been removed from power and free elections had taken place. He said Al-Qaida had been forced into sanctuaries and Osama Bin Laden has been brought to justice. Mr. Huntsman said that he thought it was time for the troops to come home. He said that by the end of the first year of his administration, he would bring the troops home. He said that while he would not want to nation build, he would leave 10,000 troops in place to deal with the counter insurgency that may take place.
Mr. Huntsman said that at the end of the day, the President has to act as Commander in Chief, and that during Vietnam, the president had listened to the Military and did not get good information. He said he believed that there was civil war around the corner in Afghanistan and that he did not want to support another civil war. He said it was time to recognize our achievement and move on.
Constitutional Grade: F
Remarks: Mr. Huntsman’s approach would require an unconstitutional occupation of Afghanistan.
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney:
Governor Romney said that he would like to bring the troops home as soon as possible. He mentioned that 2014 was the date that the Obama administration had placed on withdraw. He said that he would not remove the troops home before Afghanistan was able to defend itself against internal threats. He said that he would have to wait to see how the coming year played out and that he would listen to the commanders on the ground.
Constitutional Grade: C
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich:
Mr. Gingrich said that Afghanistan was only one piece of a huge problem. He pointed out that Pakistan was unstable and had between 100 and 200 nuclear weapons. He pointed out that Iran was running operations to close the Strait of Hormuz, which would throw the world into an industrial depression within 48 hours. He pointed out the Muslim Brotherhood coming into power in Egypt, and that no one knew who was in charge in Libya. He said there was a region wide crisis, which was not primarily a military problem.
Constitutional Grade: F
Remarks: These threats have been the result of America’s failed and unconstitutional foreign policy. Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz is a result of the United States seeking to intermeddle with the affairs of other nations. The United States helped overthrow the government in Egypt and now is complaining about the result of their free elections. Pakistan has been a nuclear power, but has become more destabilized since the United States has carried out unauthorized operations within that nation.
Former Senator Rick Santorum:
Mr. Santorum said that the next president needed to have a strong vision. He criticized President Obama for making mistakes through the Middle East region. He said that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz was an example of what happens when America appears to be soft. He said that he would leave troops in Afghanistan as long as it takes, to insure America’s security. He said this decision was made by understanding the threat of radical Islam and confronting the threat by admitting what the threat is, and then confronting it militarily.
Constitutional Grade: F
Remarks: Mr. Santorum has missed the reality of the situation. A nation does not fight back because you are weak. Here Middle Eastern nations are resisting the United States because they despise the presence of a superpower in their region, from the other side of the globe that is attempting to govern the region, as they deem appropriate.
Question #11: Would you consider sending troops back into Iraq?
Texas Governor Rick Perry:
Mr. Perry said that he would send troops back into Iraq immediately to secure the advancements that may be stolen away by Iran. He said that President Obama had only pulled the troops from Iraq in order to pander to his liberal base. He said that his withdraw was premature, and that we are going to see Iran move in and destroy the work that has been done there. He criticized the president for not knowing what is going on in the region.
Constitutional Grade: F
Remarks: Only Congress can declare a constitutional war.
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich:
Mr. Gingrich said that if you want to solve the threat to Iraq, you have to put an end to the Iranian dictatorship. He said that America needs an energy policy that will ensure that no American president has to bow to a Saudi King.
Constitutional Grade: F
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney:
Governor Romney said that such a decision would have to be made with great sobriety. He said that there were no specific circumstances, but that there would have to be a serious threat to Americans interests. He said that America would need a president who could define for the American people clear goals and the manner of engagement. He said that the Obama Administration has failed to do this in Libya and everywhere else. He criticized President Obama for being three years into his administration and not addressing the nation weekly on the state of the wars that we are engaged in and the sacrifice that was being made. He said that America’s security interests would have to be at risk in a very serious way in order to deploy troops.
Constitutional Grade: C
Remarks: Mr. Romney provides a good answer, but fails to acknowledge that only the Congress can declare.
Texas Representative Ron Paul:
Congressman Paul said that he did not want a nuclear Iran and had voted to go after Osama Bin Laden. He said that America had a Commander in Chief, but that the President was not a king. He said that war must be declared by Congress. He pointed out that America had gone to war with one nation after another in the Middle East without any declaration of war and now there are those who cannot wait to begin bombing Iran. He praised the efforts of the United States navy for securing the freedom of a fisherman from Iran who had been held by pirates. He said this was the type of efforts that America should be engaged in and not placing sanctions on them. He said that our treatment of Iran forces them into the hands of China and will carry many unintended consequences.
Constitutional Grade: A
Former Senator Rick Santorum:
Mr. Santorum said that there would be no American fleet in place to pick up the Iranian fisherman if Congressman Paul’s foreign policy was practiced. He surmised that America did have good relations with the Iranian people who take to the streets regularly. He criticized President Obama for allowing these people to be killed by the thousands in the streets, and for supporting the election results in Iran. He said that a president should never condone these actions. Mr. Santorum said that he had supported helping the revolutionaries in Iran.
Constitutional Grade: F
VIII. Infrastructure
The Constitution of the United States grants Congress the authority to govern federal lands. However there is no authority granted to the Federal Government for the building and updating of the American infrastructure. The matter of infrastructure, such as the building of roads, bridges, and railways, is to be addressed by the local and state governments.
Question #12: With an increasing demand on roads and bridges, what would you do to invest in America’s infrastructure?
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney:
Governor Romney said that among the things that Government can do to invest in the economy, improving an aging infrastructure is one of them. He said that the roads, bridges, rails, and air travel needs to be improved in order to remain competitive. He said that government was not responsible for creating jobs. He said that by and large, the government gets in the way of creating jobs. He pointed out that the government taxes and regulates too much, has a poor energy policy that keeps us from using our own energy, and has trade policies that favor those who take jobs overseas.
He said that government needs to change its policy fundamentally to favor the private sector. He pointed out that America’s income per household was 50% higher than that of nations in Europe and attributed this to the entrepreneurial spirit of the American people. He said that America is a nation that is based on opportunity and merit, and attracts people from all over the world to build enterprise and make America stronger.
He criticized the Obama Administration for having a different policy to turn America into a welfare state. He said that this would kill the opportunity of Americans and undermine the Constitutional principles of American Government.
Constitutional Grade: F
Remarks: The Federal Government does not have the constitutional authority to build infrastructure. This is a power reserved to the states under the 10th Amendment.
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich:
Mr. Gingrich said that America couldn’t compete with China in the future if significant investments are not made in the American infrastructure. He proposed burying the Northern Pass Project, which seeks to bring energy from Quebec to New England. He said that he would seek energy independence in order to end America’s dependence on foreign oil. He proposed that two thirds would go toward paying off the debt, and one third would go to paying for new infrastructure.
Constitutional Grade: F
IX. Taxation
The Constitution of the United States grants Congress the power “to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States; but all duties, imposts [a compulsory fee] and excises [a tax on the manufacturing, sale, or consumption of goods within a country] shall be uniform throughout the United States” (Article 1, Section 8). In Article 1, Section 9, the Constitution originally forbade any “capitation, or other direct, tax [to] be laid, unless in proportion to the census or enumeration.” In other words, taxes were to be collected directly from the states, apportioned according to the size of their population and not according to the size of their wealth. In this manner all states were to be taxed equally. The Sixteenth Amendment to the Constitution changed this by providing, “The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.” The Sixteenth Amendment allowed for the Federal Government to levy an income tax directly without regard to the population of the state. Many constitutional scholars still point out that the current graduated tax system is unconstitutional since it appropriates an uneven and non-uniform tax burden throughout the United States, contrary to Article 1, Section 8.
Question #12: What could we expect from your administration with regard to the tax code?
Former Governor of Utah Jon Huntsman:
Mr. Huntsman said that America would have to earn its way forward. He said in order to pay the bills; we need to expand our economic base. He said that everyone is encouraged about job growth, but asked where the nation would have been if President Obama had not been president. He said he would have removed the tax deductions and loopholes from the tax code. He said he supported the kind of measures suggested in the Simpson-Bowles plan to provide the innovators to invest and grow.
Constitutional Grade: C
Remarks: It is important to point out that a tax deduction provides the ability to declare an item or an event non-taxable. By removing “loop holes” and deductions, Mr. Huntsman would make property and events taxable that were formerly not taxable. Therefore, his answer is a pledge to issue a tax increase.
Former Senator Rick Santorum:
Mr. Santorum said that he did not support the Simpson-Bowles, but rather supported a simplified tax code that includes only five deductions: Healthcare, housing, pensions, children, and charities. He said that he would focus on the pillars of our economy, especially our children. He also said that he would cut the tax for corporations in half. He complained that the United States already has the highest corporate tax in the world at 35%. This kills American manufacturing industries. He said that he would bring the corporate and labor tax for manufacturing to zero. He criticized the Obama Administration for implementing over 150 high cost regulations in the past year, according to the Congressional Research Office.
Constitutional Grade: F
Remarks: Although, Mr. Santorum is attempting to argue for a pro-family position, he is seeking to achieve a pro-family solution by means of an unconstitutional disproportionate taxation. In effect, he is arguing that the same items and events that are tax exempt for some groups of people are taxable for other groups of people. Mr. Santorum’s plan would favor certain groups of people over other groups of people and, therefore, reflects Marxist notions of class warfare.
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney:
Governor Romney said that he would like to go to zero taxes, but unfortunately taxes were necessary to pay for the military, and to support programs that care for those that cannot care for themselves. He said he did agree that taxes were too high. He pointed out that under John F. Kennedy, these taxes consumed only a quarter of the economy. Today taxes consume 37% of the economy. He said that the size of government needs to be downsized and corporate taxes needs to be reduced to 25%.
Mr. Romney said that the middle class had been hurt more than anyone else from President Obama’s policies. He proposed creating tax-free savings accounts. He proposed eliminating the tax on dividends, interest, or capital gains on the middle class. He said that he would also eliminate many of the deductions and exemptions in the tax code. He said that he did not agree with raising the capital gains tax under Simpson-Bowles.
Constitutional Grade: F
Question #13: How would you provide a real vision for America?
Texas Representative Ron Paul:
Congressman Paul said that the most important vision was to restore freedom to America. He said that a realistic vision would be to insure the liberties guaranteed under the Constitution and strive to establish a sound currency. He pointed out that in order to solve the economic crisis, you have to know where the economic problems came from. He pointed out that the United States is in a bubble that had been growing for over 40 years and there is going to have to be a correction. He said that the only way through the crisis was to liquidate the debt. Instead of liquidating debt, both the Bush and the Obama administrations bailed out those on Wall Street who were responsible for the debt.
Mr. Paul said that he is the only candidate who is calling for real cuts in spending. He said that the Republican Party used to stand for these principles. He said the economic problems would not end until we understand the business cycle.
Constitutional Grade: A
Texas Governor Rick Perry:
Mr. Perry said that he had a vision to get America moving again by cutting taxes and regulations and getting out of the way of businesses so that they can grow. Mr. Perry said that Texas was a model for the rest of the nation. He also pointed out that there is at least 300 years of energy in the United States. He proposed that American lands and waters be opened up to create energy independence. He said that there would also be jobs created in the energy sector if these lands were opened up. He said that he would allow the revenue from federal land to pay down the national debt. Mr. Perry also proposed passing a national right to work law.
Constitutional Grade: B
Former Governor of Utah Jon Huntsman:
Mr. Huntsman said that in order to determine an individual’s vision, you have to look at his record. He pointed out that he had helped bring Utah to the number one position for jobs. He also pointed out that Massachusetts was rated at number 48 under Governor Romney. Mr. Huntsman said that America is on the cusp of a manufacturing renaissance if we do it right. Growth in China is slowing and unemployment is going up. He said that no other candidate on stage is calling for the complete elimination of tax loopholes and deductions. Mr. Huntsman called for tax reform and regulation reform to allow businesses to grow.
Constitutional Grade: A
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney:
Governor Romney said that jobs, tax reform, and regulation reform were all important issues. He asserted that our federal entitlements needed to be preserved to secure the future of America. He criticized the Obama Administration for putting America on a road to decline and pressing further toward European socialism. He said that Americans need to get back to taking advantage of the right to pursue happiness. He said that President Obama did not understand the heart of American Entrepreneurialism and work. He said that America is never going to have bright a future if we do not return to the foundational constitutional principles.
Constitutional Grade: F
Remarks: The Constitution of the United States provides no authority for federal entitlement programs. Contrary to Mr. Romney’s remarks, these entitlement programs are a huge drain on the American economy and a threat to the economic security of America’s future.
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich:
Mr. Gingrich also criticized President Obama for attempting to create a radical European socialist model in America. He pointed out that his plan was an aggressive jobs program: no tax on capital gains, and a 12% corporate tax. In addition, he proposed offering 100% expensing for new equipment and to abolish the death tax. He pointed out that in comparison to Mr. Romney’s plan, the Wall Street Journal said Mr. Romney was timid and more like President Obama. He said that Mr. Romney’s plan was an establishment model, whereas he was putting forward a Reagan style model.
Constitutional Grade: B
Former Senator Rick Santorum:
Mr. Santorum said that he agreed with Mr. Gingrich that the Romney Plan was not nearly aggressive and targeted enough. He said that he also disagreed with Mr. Romney’s use of the word “class”. He said there were no classes in America and the word should not be used among Republicans. He said that such terminology bought into the left’s “class warfare” argument. He said that the left only wants to divide people up and pit one group against another. He said it was important to bring people together. He said that he could contrast himself on healthcare in ways that Mr. Romney could not. He said that he never advocated a government run top down. He also said that he opposed the government bailouts and cap and trade. He said that if Republicans wanted a conservative with a proven record, and who could appeal to blue collar workers in the mid-west, they should support him.
Constitutional Grade: A
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney:
Governor Romney said that his plan went beyond his tax plan, but also sought to open up markets for American goods. Mr. Romney pointed out that President Obama has not opened up any trade relations with other nations, while European nations and China have opened up dozens. He proposed not only lowering the amount of regulation, but changing the old regulation to encourage enterprise. He said that he had been on the frontlines of the economy and understood what regulations hinder businesses and which regulations help to grow business and create jobs. He said that the next election is critical to determine the direction of the country.
Constitutional Grade: C
X. China
The Constitution of the United States grants both the President and Congress the joint authority to engage in foreign policy. However, the president is not authorized to enforce treaties without the ratification of Congress. Moreover, Congress has exclusive authority to tax international trade. The power to declare war is reserved solely to Congress. While the president is Commander in Chief of the armed forces, he does not have the authority to declare war, or to engage in international conflicts, without a declaration of war issued by Congress. Congress may raise and support armies, but no appropriation for that purpose shall be for a term longer than two years. According to Article 1, Section 8, Congress also has the sole power “To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions; and to provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the Militia....” A war or conflict occurring without an act from Congress is unconstitutional. The Constitution provides no authority to provide foreign nations with social welfare. The principles outlined in the Constitution favor a non-interventionist approach to foreign affairs.
Question #14: What would be your approach to relations with China?
Former Governor of Utah Jon Huntsman:
Mr. Huntsman said that the relationship with China was the most important relationship of the 21st century. He said that there were problems in the relationship, but the relationship has always had problems. He said it was naive for Mr. Romney to propose slapping tariffs on China his first day in office. He said that it would be a great advantage to have a president who understood the issue from an economic perspective and a security perspective.
Constitutional Grade: C
Remarks: What China has done by stealing trade secrets, intellectual property, and military and security secrets, is nothing short of an act of war. It is a threat that has a decided effect on the American economy and injures Americans at work and at home. Mr. Huntsman is downplaying the problems that exist with China.
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney:
Governor Romney criticized Mr. Huntsman for spending the past two years implementing President Obama’s policies in China, while the rest of the candidates had been working to stop the president’s policies around the world. He called attention to the fact that China has been stealing intellectual property, hacking into corporate and government computers to steal secrets. He also pointed out that the the Chinese have been manipulating their currency. He said as president of the United States, he would stand up to China and tell them that they cannot destroy American jobs any longer.
Constitutional Grade: A
Former Governor of Utah Jon Huntsman:
Mr. Huntsman said that what Mr. Romney was proposing would lead to a trade war with China. He said that placing a tariff on China would cause them to also place a tariff on the United States. In the end, such a move would harm small businesses in the United States.
Constitutional Grade: C
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney:
Governor Romney responded that the United States buys more from China than China buys from the United States. China is in no position to engage in a trade war. He said that the Chinese need to be held accountable for stealing intellectual property and American jobs.
Constitutional Grade: A
XI. Closing Comments
Question #15: If you were not here on a Saturday night, where would you be?
Texas Governor Rick Perry:
Mr. Perry said that he would be at a shooting range.
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich:
Mr. Gingrich said he would be watching the college championship football game.
Former Senator Rick Santorum:
Mr. Santorum said that he would also be watching the college championship football game with his family.
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney:
Governor Romney said that he would also be watching the college championship football game.
Texas Representative Ron Paul:
Congressman Paul said that he would be at home with his family reading an economic textbook.
Former Governor of Utah Jon Huntsman:
Mr. Huntsman said that he would be on the phone with his sons who are serving in the U.S. Navy.