First GOP Presidential Debate Has Some Surprises, with Same Old Story

COMMENTARY | While many Americans might think it far too early for a presidential debate, some candidates for the GOP nomination hit the ground running Thursday with a debate in South Carolina. Most of the supposed favorites sat it out, including Mitt Romney. There were some surprises mixed with the same old story.

The first surprise came at the beginning from Fox News anchor Bret Baier, who moderated the debate. The expected attacks on President Obama were present, especially from Rick Santorum and Tim Pawlenty.

What are three things that stood out?

Serious Questions

That it was a Fox News-sponsored GOP debate and some tough questions were asked was a refreshing viewing experience. Baier started it off going straight to the quandary most of the GOP is having right now - how to deal with President Obama's success against Osama bin Laden.

"He doesn't understand America's place in the world, America's place in history. He is weak," Baier said, quoting Tim Pawlenty. "Does he still look weak?"

The former governor of Minnesota took the first half of his time thanking Fox News, the other candidates, the South Carolina GOP, then finally, begrudgingly, acknowledged Obama's success.

For the most part, the trend continued with Baier, and the rest of the panel asked some decent questions too. Of course, there were some obligatory softballs, but not what one would expect. Was it because none of the candidates favored by Fox pundits were on the stage, or did Baier set out to actually be "Fair and Balanced?"

Rick Santorum same as he ever was

The uber-conservative Santorum clearly wanted to focus on red meat social issues. When asked about other issues, he fell back to familiar territory. The former Pennsylvania senator blasted the idea that conservatives should shy away from social issues this election cycle and focus instead on the economy and other issues more important to mainstream Americans.

"Anybody that would suggest we call a truce on moral issues doesn't understand what America is all about," Santorum said.

On foreign policy, he said he could only manage to say everything President Obama has done right is rooted in George Bush.

Santorum said of policy decisions made by Obama, "he has gotten it wrong every time," essentially noting Bush could do nothing wrong and Obama can't do anything right.

Strong anti-war message

Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson joined Ron Paul in decrying the military interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"I really thought there was no threat to our national security," Johnson said about Iraq, strongly bucking the party line. He also said he wouldn't favor a time line for withdrawal from Afghanistan, that the "timetable should be tomorrow."

Texas Rep. Ron Paul was as strong in his anti-war position as he has been in the past.

"We went to Afghanistan to get him (bin Laden) and he hasn't been there. Now that he's killed, boy it is a wonderful time for this country now to reassess it and get the troops out of Afghanistan and end that war," Paul thundered.

That message will find welcoming ears with people across the political spectrum. If the thrust of the military debate turns to winding down war, we can actually begin to see the end of huge military involvement.