GOP hopefuls call for repeal, reform to return to greatness

MANCHESTER, N.H. - Fourteen Republican presidential hopefuls fixed their focus Monday on the three Rs - repeal, reform and returning America to greatness.

In a nationally televised Voters First Forum, which many on social media referred to as 'Republican speed dating,” one after another of the candidates called for repealing the tax code, Common Core education standards, President Barack Obama's executive orders on illegal immigration, the Dodd-Frank act regulating Wall Street, Planned Parenthood funding and the Affordable Care Act.

'I intend to make 2016 a referendum on repealing Obamacare,” Texas Sen. Ted Cruz vowed.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal promised to repeal all of Obama's 'illegal executive orders” on his first day in office.

Like others, retired surgeon Ben Carson would repeal the health care act - but not until something was ready to replace it.

Despite their concerns about the country, candidates voiced optimism about the nation's future.

'I believe we are on the verge of the greatest time to be alive,” former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said. 'We have to fix a few big, complex things. If we do, this country will take off.”

Monday's forum was sponsored by The Gazette and KCRG-TV9 along with the New Hampshire Union Leader and the Charleston, S.C., Post and Courier to help give information to voters in the states that will have the earliest say.

The forum comes the same week that Republican candidates will participate in a Fox News presidential debate. Participation will be limited to the top 10 candidates based on an average of national polls - leaving seven declared GOP candidates off the stage.

'You don't winnow the field in that fashion” six or seven months before the first caucus and primary, Union Leader Publisher Joe McQuaid said before the forum.

One difference between the forum and the Thursday night debate will be the presence of Donald Trump, whose name was not mentioned during the forum.

Trump, like former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, chose not to participate. Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore announced his candidacy too late.

Also taking part were Marco Rubio, Lindsey Graham, Rand Paul, Rick Perry, Chris Christie, Carly Fiorina, John Kasich, Scott Walker, Rick Santorum and George Pataki.

The candidates were singing from the same GOP hymnal of balanced budgets, lower taxes, entitlement reform and military superiority.

'We must have strongest military and everyone has to know it,” Fiorina said.

Graham summed up the GOP perspective of Obama's military and foreign policies harshly by saying Russia, China and Iran 'don't think Obama's going to use military force at all.”

There also was general agreement among the candidates that one key to economic success and quality of life will be reinvigorating manufacturing and expanding free - and fair - trade.

Kasich said a problem with NAFTA is that U.S. workers have not been protected from foreign firms dumping products in American markets.

'I'm a free trader, but a fair trader,” he said.

A number of the candidates have run for the nomination before. Perry demonstrated that he has learned from experience.

'I've heard this question before,” he responded when asked which federal agencies he would eliminate. He stumbled over that question four years ago when he said he would cut three agencies and then forgot which ones.

He didn't list any agencies but said two things Congress must do are cut spending and grow the economy.

Bush might have earned the congeniality award with his compliments to his rivals.

'I'm really impressed with the caliber of the people who are running,” he said. 'Every person who has participated in this debate is far better than any of the Democrats running.”

The candidates didn't show any of that deference to their presumed Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton.

Graham, who lead the impeachment prosecution of President Bill Clinton, said he has been dealing with the Clintons for 20 years 'and I'm fluent in Clinton speak.”

'When (Bill) says ‘I didn't have sex with that women,' he did. And when she says ‘I'll tell you about building the (Keystone) pipeline when I get to be president,' means she won't.”

What they said

Immigration

When you give a visa, and they overstay it, and we don't know where they are. ... I mean, for crying out loud. That agency is broken.”

- Rick Perry, former Texas governor

'With the 12 million here, we need to find out who they are. If they're law-abiding, God-fearing folks, they're going to have to pay a penalty toward legalization and they'll have to wait. ,. The ones of the 12 million who violate the law, they're going to have to be deported or put into prison.”

- John Kasich, Ohio governor

'In the 21st century, legal immigration must be based on merit. On what they can contribute economically.”

- U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio from Florida

'How long have we been talking about the border being insecure? Thirty years. How long have we known it's insecure? Thirty years. How long has it been insecure? Thirty years. We talk a lot at election time but somehow we never solve these festering problems.'

- Carly Fiorina, former Helwett-Packard CEO

Foreign Policy

'I believe this Obama Iranian nuclear deal is the single greatest national security threat facing America.”

- U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas

'China is cheating. They manipulate their currency to create a discount for products made in China. We don't do a damn thing about it. ... They cyberattack us, steal our intellectual property and no one pushes back.”

- U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina

Affordable Health Care Act

'The reason that I don't like Obamacare, first of all, not so much because it doesn't work and not so much because it's unaffordable, but really, because it flies in the face of what we are as a nation. ... Obamacare comes along and the government is saying ‘We don't care what you the people think. We're shoving this down your throat, and if you don't like it, too bad.'”

- Ben Carson, retired neurosurgeon

'Not only is it hurting health care for Americans from all across the economic spectrum, it is also one of the reasons our economy is not growing.”

- George Pataki, former New York governor

Terrorism

'Yes (U.S. citizens caught fighting for ISIS should have citizenship revoked) and in fact, you really don't have any rights on the battlefield if you're aiming a gun at one of our soldiers.”

- U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky.

'We can't negotiate with terrorists. I understand, as the United State Attorney for seven years in New Jersey, I fought against terrorism, right before Sept. 11. We just encouraged those folks by doing that.”

- Chris Christie, New Jersey governor

'I think we've let our guard down a little bit. ... Over time now, concerns about civil liberties and other things have come to the forefront, and I think we need to reinvigorate this. This is a war against western civilization. These are barbarians.”

- Jeb Bush, former Florida governor

Compiled by Jessie Hellmann of The Gazette