Absent Rick Perry Likely Winner of GOP Presidential Debate Brawl (ContributorNetwork)
COMMENTARY | Debates continue to be a strange spectacle of moderators asking dumb questions and candidates answering with the same canned sound bites we have all heard before. They peppered the night with jabs at each other that may sound good in their head or on paper, but they end up coming across as childish and irrelevant. Regardless, the debates go on, and on and on.
The Thursday, Aug. 11, GOP/Fox News debate pitted former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, businessman Herman Cain, Ron Paul, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Michele Bachmann, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. The eight candidates were fighting for a top spot and ultimately a chance to challenge President Barack Obama in the presidential race.
Indeed, as if the presidential race was a true boxing match, the debate broke down into sparring matches between candidates with Fox News moderators shouting, "Fight, fight, fight!"
Michelle Bachmann vs. Tim Pawlenty: It hardly matters what was said between the two; Bachman came out ahead simply for her opponent's lack of skill in handling himself in this setting. He came across as a bit too aggressive and defensive, while she threw him under the bus with a single characterization. They were arguing their records, both claiming the other either did not have one, or had a poor history.
"It's an indisputable fact that in Congress her record of accomplishment and results is nonexistent," Pawlenty said of the congresswoman. She delivered the one-two punch with this, "You said the era of small government is over. That sounds a lot more like Barack Obama, if you ask me."
In a Republican setting, those are fighting words.
Rick Santorum vs. Ron Paul: Paul, a frequent participant of these debates, was given a lot of speaking time at the Thursday GOP presidential debate. His words garnered rounds of applause, often punctuated by roaring cheers. His ideas have always been teetering on the edge, but with the country in the state it is in, it seems people were willing to listen.
Paul will most likely not win the straw poll, but according to polls, he is in line with Bachman at 9 to 11 percent, while Santorum doesn't even register. Rick Santorum seemed to have listened to advisors and cleaned up his on stage presence though, so he gets points for that. He also compared Paul to Obama, after Ron Paul spoke of letting Iran do what they want with nuclear weapons, "Stay out of their internal business," Mr. Paul said, arguing against sanctions on Iran for trying to get nuclear weapons: "Don't get involved in these wars. And just bring our troops home." Santorum said, "Anyone who says Iran is not a threat is not seeing clearly. That's Obama's way of seeing the world."
Newt Gingrich vs. Fox News: Newt Gingrich came across as too important to be bothered by all this nonsense. He jabbed back at Fox News host Chris Wallace, "I wish you would put aside the gotcha questions... I intend to run on ideas." If Wallace was running, he would have lost last night. Wallace was snakier than he had to be and the questioning was oddly positioned away from important issues.
Rick Perry
The stealthy fighters, Rick Perry, and possible candidate Sarah Palin were absent from the debate, but end up with just a good a chance in the end. Well, at least Perry does. According to the Associated Press, the Texas governor will be making his intentions known on Saturday. Perry has a record of being a pro-business tax-cutter, a social conservative and career politician. He kept his hands clean by steering clear of the playground fight Thursday night, and still comes out far ahead of the pack.