Here's a sentence we haven't heard in quite some time, "there is another Republican debate tonight". All the remaining GOP candidates, aka not Michele Bachmann, were on stage to indirectly answer questions by Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos.
ABC kicked off the broadcast with a dramatic voiceover by Sawyer showing off all the candidates. Mitt Romney was shown leading the way, Rick Santorum was named as the rising candidate and the rest were essentially labeled as "the rest".
ABC, wanting to prove to CNN and Fox News that they are the leaders in candidate silencing technology, showed off a LCD screen that flashed different colors to tell each candidate how much time left they had to answer. I'm sure there is a Rick Perry joke that can be made there.
Diane Sawyer kicked off things with a question about yesterday's job report directed to former job creator, Mitt Romney. Romney, true to his form, praised one side of the debate (the actual jobs created) and then somehow spun that into why President Barack Obama is unfit to lead. He also touted his Olympic background as the winner of the 100-meter backpedal.
After some sort of rambling of Iran by Rick Santorum, the debate shifted towards Bain Capital and Newt Gingrich's opposition to it. Gingrich looked like he was going to go after Romney, but instead sort of stood by his opposition but also kind of hinted he was misquoted. It was probably one of the flimsiest debate showings since Tim Pawlenty was in the race.
But the real fireworks came right afterwards when Ron Paul entered the ring. Ron Paul didn't waste a second and continued blasting Rick Santorum with charges of "corruption", "lobbying", "raising the debt ceiling five times" and being a "big business conservative". Santorum, clearly agitated, attempted to stand up for his record but it fell completely flat. Paul won that squabble.
But the people's champ, Rick Perry, wasn't going to not speak! His attempt to go after Paul was actually surprisingly relevant (calling out Paul's support for earmarks) but Paul went right back after Santorum. Santorum would respond with a thinly veiled jab at "libertarianism" but otherwise, Paul's relentless attacks did throw Santorum off his game.
Hey, Jon Huntsman is here! How could we possibly forget about him? When asked why he was more fit to be Commander-in-Chief, Huntsman totally whiffed. Iran seems to be the go-to answer whenever the military is aided. Romney would answer the question by bashing Barack Obama and praising the field. He is clearly loving the squabbling between Paul and Santorum and is slipping into general election mode. He can be "positive" and attempt to go after Obama. It's sickening actually the faux-praise that oozes out of his mouth.
The military experience of Ron Paul and Rick Perry was brought up and if it would benefit them. Gingrich would tout his father's contributions to this country via service time and how that made him prepared.
But did you expect Ron Paul to take that? He didn't mention "chickenhawk" directly, but he didn't back away from it either. Gingrich would mention he was a father with children and got a deferment. Paul said he had children too and still served his nation. Boom.
Right before the commercial break, Stephanopoulos mentioned Ron Paul's newsletters. Paul, clearly upset about its mention, basically said "it was twenty years ago, I didn't write it but...." then launched into how Martin Luther King, Jr. was a libertarian. Yes, America, Martin Luther King Jr. was mentioned more in a GOP debate than Ronald Reagan.
After the commercials, we are back in Manchester. This is where things got really weird. Stephanopoulos brought up contraception and if states had the right to ban it. I'll be candid, I think Romney for the first time was honest this campaign. He looked completely baffled and thrown off. His lack of contraception preparation showed and he goes "I don't know, George, has the Supreme Court ruled on it?".
Contraception is mentioned for a while and one would only wish Herman Cain was on stage. Jon Huntsman mentions his seven kids and how it's appropriate they are discussing contraception. One of his daughters looks grossed out beyond belief.
Stephanopoulos answered, "Griswold". If I could have a .gif of that it would be amazing. It was succinct and with a hint of incredulousness.
This is the one time where Romney did not look good. He sort of waffled, looked uncomfortable and when in doubt, he whipped out Roe v. Wade and how it was improperly ruled.
Now we go to a question from the Yahoo! community (the website not the GOP base) which is focused on gay marriage and what else could two people who love each other do in its stead.
Jon Huntsman unequivocally stated he supported civil unions. Rick Santorum believes we should amend the Constitution so we can ban same-sex marriage.
Gingrich, fully recovered from being called out by Ron Paul, then goes on a small rant about the anti-Christian bigotry. The crowd roars. Romney agrees. Playing to the crowd is what Mitt is all about.
The Ricks go on about the War on Religion but then Afghanistan is mentioned. Romney wants troops in Iraq but out of Afghanistan. Santorum doesn't want troops in Iraq. Rick Perry decides he needs to be remembered and goes "I want more troops in Iraq" and goes on about Iranian influence infiltrating Iraq (great alliteration). Gingrich doesn't want troops in Iraq.
Santorum makes a Chicago politician wisecrack and the crowd roars. Not sure if they got the reference or just laughing at Santorum.
Mitt Romney, unsurprisingly when you consider his attempts to come across as a neocon, calls out President Obama for wanting to create a European socialist state. Gingrich mentions the need for infrastructure to compete with Southeast Asian countries and then Romney goes on about how taxes are higher under Obama than JFK.
Rick Santorum finally realizes some people think he's relevant and attacks Romney on using the term "class" and sounding like a Democrat. You know since all Democrats want to do is create and divide. Just read our newsletters and you'd know that, right?
The conversation then shifts toward China where Huntsman starts talking and Romney interrupts and calls out Huntsman for being part of the Obama administration. Huntsman replies with something in Mandarin and then goes on about how Mitt Romney has no idea what is going on in China and mentions how a trade war won't happen.
Romney uses a chart with his hands separated to demonstrate China's GDP to ours or something.
After a commercial break, we get a small "what would you be doing on Saturday night?" where Rick Perry mentions he'd be shooting. The crowd roars. Stephanopoulos mumbles "better than getting shot at". Romney tries to act like he's just a regular guy and says he would be watching college football (p.s. the BCS championship is Monday night) and Ron Paul would read a textbook. Huntsman concludes the round by saying he'd call his boys in the Navy because that's what any good American does.
Then the debate ended. Seriously. With 20 minutes to go so ABC could air another round of commercials and recap the debate.
So all tonight proved is that Mitt Romney is the worst frontrunner ever but he wins by being in the worst field ever. Ron Paul probably won the debate in the first hour but I actually think Jon Huntsman, when he started finally answering questions, won the second hour.
But no one attacked Romney until it was too late. If you wanted answers, I think it's safe to say Rick Perry is irrelevant and now Newt Gingrich is. I wouldn't be shocked if Gingrich loses a lot of support before South Carolina. He was soft on attacks and didn't distinguish himself from anyone. He played it way too safe.
Rick Santorum got blasted but didn't blow it really. Ron Paul and him have been going at it all cycle so it's not really a shock to see them quarrel. His candidacy isn't any better or worse off but he did seem weak.
One commercial by the way, stuck out to me and it was concerning Fred Thompson. Apparently he's now a spokesperson for AAG. How the mighty have fallen.