NPR: Not Your Father's GOP Debate

Not Your Father's GOP Debate

As someone who grew up watching Republican debates in the '70s when Ronald Reagan debated William F. Buckley on the Panama Canal treaties, and in the '80s when a stageful of Reagan-successor wannabes debated each other, and in the '90s when Republicans competed to displace or succeed Bill Clinton, I can scarcely believe I watched a Republican debate Wednesday night.

I can't imagine an audience at a Republican debate in those days booing some of its candidates so lustily (as Ron Paul and John McCain have been booed). Neither can I imagine a field of Republican candidates having such sharp disagreements over Vietnam, over foreign engagement, over immigration or over abortion.

This is truly a different Republican Party, if indeed last night's audience and questioners are the Republican Party.

- Ron Elving

10:08 AM ET | 11-29-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

did they play any you tube questions by republican women last night? i wonder how many were submitted....

Sent by rachel Harrison | 10:40 AM ET | 11-29-2007

They also barely seem to debate on what they're going to do. Except with building a fence on the border, or saying 'thats for the states to decide', which to me is such a cop-out answer, and an attempt to please both sides.

With taxes, the economy, and illegals in the US, it's always "i cut more taxes" "no i did" "i decreased spending" "but i decreased more" "i hate immigrants" "i hate em more" and it just makes me sick. Even though i will never vote republican, i would like to at least respect them, by hearing HOW they would do these things, expressing details of their plans for the country, not just saying, i've done it before so i'm qualified.

And what about environment, education, and health care? Well i guess if you keep people uneducated that won't learn about the environment, and if theyre busy taking care of their own health, they won't have time concern themselves with the health of the planet. That seems like republican logic to me.

Sent by Bryan | 1:49 PM ET | 11-29-2007

I would HOPE it's NOT my father's GOP!!!
We need action on today's issues, not the 1950's!!!!!
Which brings to mind:
(Sorry, I can't remember who said it)
"Both parties are obsessed with the 1950's. One wants to work there, the other wants to live there."

Sent by Harold | 2:03 PM ET | 11-29-2007

Do you ever remember so many debates with so many candidates? In both parties!! Has this ever happened before

Sent by Mike Ziegler in PA | 3:02 PM ET | 11-29-2007

Another thing that separates the current GOP from the GOP of the past (i.e. my father's GOP) is their stunning hypocrisy.

For example, how can they claim to be "pro-life" but support the death penalty? How can they claim to love Jesus yet condone torture? How can they be the party of "family values" when most of them have been divorced multiple times?

This country needs two strong parties (actually, a couple of more legit ones would be nice), but these guys are losing a huge chunk of the country by taking what are viewed by most as extreme positions.

It's sad, really.

Sent by Mark D | 4:45 PM ET | 11-30-2007

Ron Paul again showed why he's the real republican. No foreign entanglements, small governemnt, fiscal responsibility, and redicing taxes. What's not to love about this guy?

Sent by Tom | 10:35 PM ET | 12-01-2007

Send a Comment

Comments are reviewed and edited by NPR prior to display. All comments will be read, but not all will be posted.

NPR reserves the right to read on the air and/or publish on its Web site or in any medium now known or unknown the e-mails and letters that we receive. We may edit them for clarity or brevity and identify authors by name and location. For additional information, please consult our Terms of Use.

E-mail this Page

Recipient's e-mail address:	» Up to twelve addresses, separated by commas.
Your e-mail address:
Your name:
Personal message (optional, 600 characters max):
Your NPR member station:
Are you a member of your local NPR station?	Yes No
Would you like to receive information from your local NPR member station? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No
May we contact you with information about NPR programming and services? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No

(Information collected by NPR will be used solely for internal NPR or NPR member station purposes and only if you selected 'yes' above. See NPR's privacy policy for more information.)

Tom Regan

Blogger

About Us

This year's election cycle has been one of the most exciting in memory. At the NPR News Blog we'll do our best to bring you interesting, informative -- and controversial -- stories from our own reporters and bloggers, as well as the rest of the best of the Internet and blogosphere. And we hope you'll let us know what you think as well.

Want to learn more? Be sure to read our Frequently Asked Questions and our discussion guidelines.