Posted on 11/30/2007 7:53:49 AM PST by pissant
Even without a question from a talking snowman, Wednesday's CNN/YouTube Republican debate made for lively viewing. It also left an unsettling aftertaste. Eight years ago, George W. Bush began his first presidential campaign by proudly identifying himself as a "compassionate conservative." But on Wednesday, many of the Republicans who aspire to succeed Bush seemed to be competing for the title of "meanest candidate."
In pursuit of that goal, the candidates' hearts were especially hardened toward illegal immigrants, including children. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-El Cajon) boasted that "I built that border fence in San Diego" and promised that, as president, he would fence off the entire border in six months. Mitt Romney professed dismay at the fact that Mike Huckabee, his fellow former GOP governor, had "fought for giving scholarships to illegal aliens." Rudy Giuliani, on the defensive over charges that New York City was a "sanctuary city" during his administration as mayor, conceded he allowed undocumented children to attend public schools -- but insisted he wasn't interested in giving them an education as much as trying to keep them off the streets "at a time in which New York City was going through a massive crime wave."
It wasn't just the troubles of those in the U.S. illegally whose plight failed to move several of the candidates. Hunter, Huckabee, Romney and Sen. John McCain defended the demeaning policy of "don't ask, don't tell" that still governs gays in the military. Hunter added insult to insensitivity by suggesting that gays can't be allowed to serve because most of their comrades would be conservatives with "Judeo-Christian values." (snip)
In 1999, then-Gov. George W. Bush asked: "Is compassion beneath us? Is mercy below us? Should our party be led by someone who boasts of a hard heart?"
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Finally, completing a tough-guy trifecta, Romney refused to say whether the waterboarding of suspected terrorists amounted to torture.
The debate was not devoid of voices of humanity. McCain -- a former prisoner of war -- upbraided Romney for seeming to wink at torture: "Governor, let me tell you, if we're going to get the high ground in this world and we're going to be the America that we have cherished and loved for more than 200 years, we're not going to torture people." The Arizona senator, a supporter of comprehensive immigration reform, also reminded his rivals that children without immigration papers still are "God's children." Huckabee was equally eloquent in defending the idea that able students in Arkansas high schools, no matter what their immigration status, should have been able to compete for scholarships. "We are a better country than to punish children for what their parents did," he told Romney. He's right, but you wouldn't know it from Wednesday's debate.
Well, well. The LA Times weighs in.
Give me a PASSIONATE Conservative, not a compassionate one.
More well written ad copy from DNC marketing arm L. A. and Times.
Unbelievable. President Bush has proposed enough social liberal spending to make a democrat blush.
the end of compassionate conservatism? We should be so lucky
ANd they still hate his guts.
Who wrote it tells me what it probably says, and I’m not interested in what they have to say. End of story.
Sums it up.
Yes. and it backfired.
Welcome back pissant. Personally, I'm tired of both the passionate and compassionate conservative. How about a dispassionate conservative? How about one that will think with their brain instead of there 'heart' or their 'soul'? I think we could use a little cold objectivity right about now.
I prefer one that is passionate about America and conservatism, as was the Gipper.
It’s funny, Michael Savage once said that Bush needed more JB than JC, although I don’t necessarily agree on the extent.
...What’s that you say? They left their own countries voluntarily, and could easily return for the education, medical and employment benefits offered in their home countries. Well in that case Boo Frigin Hoo.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
But it wasn't just taking back the definition of conservatism from those that had called it heartless - it was introducing more liberalism into conservatism.
Compassion DOES NOT require government action, no matter what evangelicals tell you.
If you ask me, “compassionate conservatism” is for the birds. It seems to mean bankrupting and destroying America more than anything else. It’s time to bring back some real conservatism.
He is the only candidate with the intestinal fortitude to tell the truth re: fags in the army and unit cohesion. In being direct, Jesse Helms, (R-NC) comes to mind - and I smile. Liberals and FoF's apparently don't like hearing the truth, but that's just how it is.
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