Review of the Last GOP Debate Before the Iowa Caucus

Wednesday's GOP debate, the 12th of the GOP race, was much more dignified then many of the previous face-to-face meetings. This was the candidates' last face-to-face meeting before the Iowa caucuses Jan. 3, and they all seemed to understand that sticking to the issues instead of sending out personal barbs would be desirable. Perhaps that is partly because there were 9 candidates on the stage, and they might have had difficulty knowing who to attack personally.

In large part the candidates agreed more then they disagreed. Subjects ranged from the desirability of tax cuts, the desirability of a strong defense, and the desirability of a hopeful and optimistic voice speaking from the White House.

The moderator was Des Moines Register Editor Carolyn Washburn. She didn't seem very interested in emphasizing or even finding differences among the candidates. She frequently cut them off, strictly enforcing 30 and 60 second time limits. Of course, the format itself might have helped keep personal attacks under control.

So, what differences did stand out? Ron Paul, Representative of Texas, renewed his call for an end to U.S. involvement in Iraq. He also emphasized a wish for a drastic cutback in U.S. engagement abroad. None of the others jumped on that band wagon. Former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and former Senator from Tennessee Fred Thompson both praised the North American Free Trade Agreement, the accord signed by the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Representative from Colorado Tom Tancredo and Representative from California Duncan Hunter both criticized it.

Thompson responded to a question on taxes with a joke about Romney's money. "My goal is to get into Mitt Romney's situation, where I don't have to worry about taxes anymore." The audience was laughing, and Romney didn't quite know how to be heard over it. But Thompson, who is a former actor, did. He jumped on the suggestions that Romney has switched positions in the past when it was politically expedient to do so. "You know, you're getting to be a pretty good actor, actually," Thompson said.

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee set of a round of lively conversation when he said he didn't think that the education was the federal government's job. He seemed to contradict himself, however, when he then said that he thought every child in every grade should study art and music. Tancredo accused him of daring to dictate curriculum, and told him he should run for governor, not for president. Huckabee returned that he had an impressive education record. Romney was quick to say that he did not think that Huckabee was the most impressive education governor in America, and the audience laughed.

Tancredo also challenged Huckabee to explain why he had changed his moderate stance on immigration to a harder line during the campaign. Huckabee was never required to answer the question.

Huckabee was able to display some of his aw-shucks style and his picturesque manner of making a point. When he said he would switch the emphasis of the American health care system to prevention. "We wait until people are catastrophically ill, and then we spend the most . . . trying to cure incurable diseases," Huckabee said. "There really are savings if you kill the snake, rather than treat the snakebite."

A curious thing happened when moderator Washburn asked all the candidates to raise their hands if they thought global warming was a serious threat caused by human behavior. "I'm not doing hand shows today," said Thompson.

Alan Keyes, who hasn't even participated in most of the debates, seemed to scold both Huckabee and Romney for "squabbling about their personal creed." The former Ambassador from Maryland may be new to the major debate cycle, but this is his third bid for the Presidential nomination.

In the first question the candidates were asked if they believe the national debt is a threat to national security. The moderator gave them 30 seconds to answer. She enforced it, too. That's tough. How do you relate the national debt to national security in 30 seconds or less? Yet, Alan Keyes seemed to take the sarcastic approach when he answered, "It's obviously a security threat. Abolish income tax."

The moderator did allow 30 second "free" statements. The Senior Senator from Arizona, John McCain: "I devoted my life in uniform and in public office to keeping the country safe. I've played a part in every national security issue of our time."

Keyes said toward the end of the debate in Iowa that, given his commitment to human life from "the womb to the tomb," he could not back Giuliani. That would seem to have been a question that didn't need answering.

Most of the debate was so gentlemanly that it might have been deadly dull without the little dabs of rancor from Keyes. Perhaps it was a great idea to have him qualified to participate.