Will Republicans have to lighten up on social issues in order to succeed in 2012?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Each of the Republican contenders in last night's CNN presidential debate tried to set himself - or herself - apart from the other candidates, but their main message was more about beating President Obama in 2012 than each other.
With the president's approval ratings near all-time lows, our national debt sky-high and climbing, and unemployment above 9%, it would certainly seem it's the Republicans’ race to lose.
According to a CNN Opinion Research Corp. poll, nearly three-quarters of Republicans and Republican-leaning independent voters say they want a real contender who can defeat Obama in 2012, even if that nominee doesn't agree with them on every issue. More importantly, that's up 7 percentage points from January.
But for Republicans to keep conservatives happy, social issues - like abortion, gay marriage, "don't ask, don't tell" - still manage to work their way into the conversation. And that may prove to be a problem for Republicans once we head into the general election campaign.
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For example, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum said on Sunday's "Meet the Press" that not only was he pro-life even in cases of rape and incest, he believes that doctors who perform abortions should face criminal charges. Santorum should save himself a lot of time and money and find something to do besides running for president.
On the subject of gay marriage, all the candidates except Herman Cain and Ron Paul said last night they'd support a constitutional amendment outlawing it. Several of them also said that if elected, they would go back to the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Note to the GOP: These are not the issues that middle America is worried about. They would like to be able to find a job.
Here’s my question to you: Will Republicans have to lighten up on social issues in order to succeed in 2012?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
What do you want to hear from Republicans at tonight’s presidential debate?
The hall at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire is nearly ready for the first CNN Republican Debate. (PHOTO CREDIT: Bryan Monroe/CNN)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
We're about 17 months away from the 2012 presidential election. A handful of Republican hopefuls have already declared they will challenge President Obama, a few others have indicated they will do so in the coming weeks.
If unemployment doesn't come down and people don't start to feel more optimistic about their future, the GOP's biggest challenge will be to avoid snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
Tonight seven Republican presidential hopefuls will debate in New Hampshire, live on CNN starting at eight o'clock. We're likely to hear a lot about the sad state of the economy, how President Obama has failed at job creation, why this country is so deep in debt, and how each of these men and women think they can change things. There will be promises of no new taxes, and steep cuts to government spending. Mitt Romney, who has emerged as the early frontrunner in the field, will have to defend attacks over the universal health care law passed in Massachusetts when he was governor. And Newt Gingrich will try to convince voters he's serious about running after most of his staff abruptly quit late last week.
This is just the second in a series of debates scheduled for Republican hopefuls. The characters will likely change over the months - Jon Huntsman, Sarah Palin, Rudy Giuliani and Rick Perry are all possible additions in the coming weeks. The issues, however, are likely to remain pretty much the same.
Here’s my question to you: What do you want to hear from Republicans at tonight's presidential debate?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Is Sarah Palin's publicity stunt helping or hurting Republican chances in 2012?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Her "One Nation" tour may be taking a brief pit stop in Arizona, stop but the dust Sarah Palin has kicked up along the way has yet to settle.
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The former Alaskan governor started off a well publicized family bus tour in Washington on Memorial Day weekend on the back of a Harley Davidson. From there is was on to visit some national historic sites, pizza with Donald Trump, a testy game of cat and mouse with reporters, and upstaging fellow Republican Mitt Romney the day he announced that he's running for president.
Palin later said she did not mean to distract from Mitt Romney's presidential announcement by visiting New Hampshire on the same day. Sure. She said it was a coincidence she ended up in the first primary state on the same day. Sure.
And then there was her elementary American history mistake over the ride of Paul Revere. While visiting Boston, Palin insisted the essence of Revere's midnight ride was to warn the British soldiers they would have a fight on their hands if they tried to take arms away from Americans. Not exactly.
It's true we all make mistakes. Henry David Longfellow's famous poem about Paul Revere has some historical inaccuracies in it - but at least he got right which side Revere was warning.
Palin defended herself yesterday on Fox News Sunday saying "I know my American history," and gave a long-winded explanation of what she really meant. It's like every time Palin makes a mess, she runs to Fox News where they try to kick sand over it.
She may not know a lot about history, but what she does seem to know how to do is draw attention to herself. And that's not necessarily a good thing for the Republicans whether she decides to run for president or not.
Here’s my question to you: Is Sarah Palin's publicity stunt helping or hurting Republican chances in 2012?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
With the GOP field so weak, should Sarah Palin run for president?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Just when we thought maybe she had decided to just go away comes news of Sarah Palin, the movie. Next month, a secretly produced, two-hour feature film about the former Alaska governor will be released in Iowa, where the 2012 presidential campaign will kick off with the Iowa caucuses in February.
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The $1 million dollar project was produced by conservative filmmaker Stephen Bannon. He agreed to make the film after Palin and her staff asked him in November to produce a series of videos that would highlight her accomplishments as governor and re-establish her as a GOP maverick. Probably a short movie. After its initial release in Iowa, the film will open in New Hampshire, home to the first official primary. She'd better hope it's a blockbuster. According to the latest poll of New Hampshire primary voters, Mitt Romney outpolls Palin by a margin of more than 6 to 1 or about 33% to 5%.
If you're looking for something besides Palin propaganda, there are two new books to read.
"Blind Allegiance to Sarah Palin: A Memoir of our Tumultuous Years," by ex-Palin aide Frank Bailey, is based on e-mails he kept while working for Palin during her run for governor in 2006 through her failed bid for vice president in 2008. He says Palin loved to play the victim and he calls her leadership style "chaotic.”
I would also recommend "The Lies of Sarah Palin: The Untold Story Behind Her Relentless Quest for Power" by investigative reporter Geoffrey Dunn. This book, which I have read, chronicles a lifelong pathology of deceit and makes the claim that she's lied about almost everything her entire life.
There's also some juicy personal stuff in there.
The book is well researched and should be required reading for anyone considering supporting a presidential run by this woman.
Here’s my question to you: With the GOP field so weak, should Sarah Palin run for president?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Who'll fill void left by Trump and Huckabee in '12 GOP race?
(PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
The Republicans may have the keys to victory in 2012 in their grasp, but it's a question of getting the horses out of the barn, onto the track and into the race.
So far, the Republican presidential field is awful. It's no wonder President Barack Obama is smiling. And it's not just getting bin Laden that has him grinning. The economy is starting to recover. And the Republicans resemble “The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight.”
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and billionaire real estate developer-turned-reality TV star Donald Trump have both said they're out. Huckabee and Trump had shown more promise in the polls than some of the other names running or considering a run.
So, who will fill the void?
There is Mitt Romney - already lost. Newt Gingrich - not happening. Sarah Palin - please, get serious. There is Ron Paul, a man with great ideas about how to solve our problems, but serious questions about electability. Then there's Tim Pawlenty and Michele Bachmann, both with potential to score big with evangelicals, but neither seem to be scoring points with the rest of the electorate.
That brings us to Mitch Daniels, the governor of Indiana, who almost everyone agrees would be a formidable challenger to Obama. And New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Christie says he's not "ready to run for president," despite the fact that Republicans all over the country are begging him to get in the race. And Daniels, who says he hasn't made up his mind yet. Daniels also says he could beat Obama…and he might be right.
It's pretty much a lead-pipe cinch the rest of the Republicans mentioned can't, except maybe for Christie.
Here’s my question to you: Who is likely to fill the void left by Donald Trump and Mike Huckabee in the 2012 GOP field?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Does GOP have the right idea when it comes to budget?
(PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
It’s so far, so good for House Republicans when it comes to how to cut the deficits and balance our budget.
According to a new USA Today/Gallup poll, Americans believe the Republican Party is the party better able to handle the budget problems facing this country and to fix the economy. Apparently that six-month-long game of chicken they played with the 2011 budget really paid off for them. At least for now. However, a much bigger battle over the budget and spending awaits. When Congress returns from its two-week spring break and raising the debt ceiling is front and center, we'll see if popular opinion changes.
It might. According to that same USA Today/Gallup poll, Americans are split on whether the deficit plan drafted by Republican House Budget Chair Paul Ryan or the one proposed by President Barack Obama is the right path for the country. Two-thirds of Americans are concerned the GOP plan for reducing the deficit would cut too deeply into Medicare and Social Security. Everyone wants the deficit cut, but no one wants to cut entitlements.
But it's a topic that's not going away. Republican House Speaker John Boehner said in an interview with Politico on Monday that there might not be a deal on raising the debt ceiling unless Democrats agree to rein in discretionary spending and reform Medicaid and Medicare. Things could get very ugly very quickly when Congress reconvenes.
Here’s my question to you: Do the Republicans have the right idea when it comes to the budget?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Which will cause GOP more problems in 2012: Dems or Tea Party?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Despite last year's midterm shellacking of the Democrats and record low approval ratings for President Obama, there is a big potential problem for Republicans heading into the 2012 presidential election. Other Republicans.
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2011/images/04/21/art.tea.party.jpg caption="Last week's 2011 Palm Beach County Tax Day Tea Party."]
More specifically, the Tea Party; that grassroots movement that helped the GOP win the House last fall and weaken the Democrats' hold on the Senate. These days they are all but driving the Republican agenda. They want big spending cuts and a much smaller government. The thing is a lot of Americans agree with them. And many of the newly-elected lawmakers who ran on those platforms have proven they're willing to stick to the budget-slashing principles even if it effectively paralyzes Congress.
Fifty-four Republicans in the House voted against last week's budget bill and for a government shutdown, a sign that upcoming battles like raising the debt ceiling and reforming Medicare could get very ugly.
The old line establishment Republicans aren't nearly so extreme, and that could become a problem when it comes time for the GOP to run against the Democrats in next year's elections. Potential GOP candidates like Sarah Palin, Tim Pawlenty, and Donald Trump have all made appearances at Tea Party events this month. Others like Mitt Romney and Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour have chosen to steer clear of events, while still speaking favorably of the group.
According to a CNN/Opinion Research poll, just 32% of Americans have a favorable view of the Tea Party, while 46% have a favorable view of the Democratic party and 44% have a favorable view of Republicans.
Here’s my question to you: Which will cause Republicans more problems next year: Democrats or the Tea Party?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
House GOP breaking promises after only one day?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
That didn't take very long, did it? Republicans have officially been in control of the House of Representatives for a day now, and they're already backpedaling on some of the promises of transparency they made during the campaign.
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2011/images/01/06/art.swear.in.jpg caption="Members of the 112th Congress are sworn into office on January 5, 2011 in Washington, DC."]
For starters, Republicans promised all bills would go through a regular committee process. Not exactly.
Wouldn't you know that the bill to repeal the health care law won't go through a single committee?
Republicans say it's because the committees haven't been fully formed yet and they want to move quickly. They also insist the repeal bill will be "a very straightforward document," whatever that means.
When Democrats were in charge, Republicans complained they didn't allow unlimited amendments and debate on a single bill. So they promised a more open amendment process for bills. Not exactly. With the bill to repeal health care reform, there will be practically no amendments.
You have to give the Republicans credit. It's not easy to break this many promises in a single day. House Republicans said they wanted to publish committee attendance lists - you know, so the people who elect them could see who was actually showing up for work.
That one never had a chance. They claim it wouldn't work since multiple committee hearings can happen at the same time.
Lastly, the Republicans had said they would include a constitutional justification with every bill. Not happening either.
All this comes after we learned that the estimate for how much the GOP would shave off the budget is now about half what it was in their "Pledge with America." So apparently that was a lie, too.
The more things change in Washington, the more they stay the same.
Here’s my question to you: What does it mean if House Republicans are breaking promises after only one day?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Would promise to undo health care get you to vote for a Republican?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Much like the Democrats themselves, President Obama's signature issue of health care reform might get quite a beating in the midterm elections.
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For starters, three states will vote on proposed constitutional amendments that would let them opt out of key provisions in the health care law.
Arizona, Colorado and Oklahoma are all hoping to follow the lead of Missouri - which has already passed a similar initiative with a whopping 71 percent of the vote.
The idea of these measures is to ban the federal government from forcing people to buy health insurance.
Supporters say it's unconstitutional. Whether it is or not, there is a lot of opposition to this law which was cobbled together out of public view, contains no public option, and so far hasn't done a single thing to bring down health care costs.
A lot of Republicans are latching on to the discontent over this issue; pledging to repeal the health care law if they win control of Congress.
Democrats who voted against the bill are also making sure their constituents know it, and a lot of those who voted for the bill are keeping quiet.
It's unlikely Republicans will be able to repeal the measure while President Obama is still in office. And it's unclear if moderate Republicans and Independents will support efforts to undo the law.
A recent CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll shows 47 percent of those surveyed want Congress to repeal and replace the health care law; and fewer than one in five think the law will personally help them or their families.
Here’s my question to you: Would a promise to undo health care reform be enough to get you to vote for a Republican?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
If GOP wins Congress in Nov., repeal health care reform?
(PHOTO CREDIT: THINKSTOCK)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Remember how health care reform was supposed to make health care affordable for all Americans? Well that's not what's happening.
A new report says employer health care costs will jump another nine percent in 2011 - and you can bet that companies will pass along those higher costs to their workers.
The Price Waterhouse Coopers survey of 700 employers shows they plan to offset costs by raising deductibles. By 2011 - more than 50 percent of employees will have a deductible of $400 or more... that's compared to only 25 percent who paid that much in 2008.
Also, 13 percent of companies say their primary plans in 2010 had deductibles of more than $1,100... that's more than double the level in 2008.
If these troubling trends continue, health care will become less affordable for those people who actually have insurance.
And, in the end, the health care law will be another gift to the insurance and pharmaceutical companies... and another burden on taxpayers.
Republicans are trying to seize on this.
More than 70 incumbent lawmakers and more than 330 GOP candidates have signed a pledge to support legislation that would repeal the health care law - and replace it with something less costly - if they win in November.
Meanwhile - Democrats are hoping that as more parts of the law take effect and the public feels the benefits, they'll get behind it.
But, for now, polls still show that majorities of Americans oppose health care reform... months after it was shoved down our throats.
Here’s my question to you: If the Republicans win control of Congress in November, should they repeal health care reform?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
@jackcafferty on Twitter
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