Expected to be Trump v world, the fifth Republican debate did not deliver on Tuesday night as thin-skinned Donald Trump came under direct attack by name from just a couple Republican presidential candidates, Kentucky senator Rand Paul and former Florida governor Jeb Bush. While Paul hit Trump on his plans for closing parts of the internet, Bush attacked Trump on his plans to temporarily ban all Muslims from entering the country.
Rand Paul: "Trump says we oughta close that Internet thing"
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) December 16, 2015
Rand Paul: "If you're going to close the Internet, America, realize what that entails. It means losing the First Amendment."
— Sabrina Siddiqui (@SabrinaSiddiqui) December 16, 2015
The lack of attacks on Trump was not due to a want of trying on the part of CNN, as Trump pointed out.
“I think it’s very sad that CNN leads Jeb Bush by starting off all the questions, Mr Trump this, Mr Trump this. I think it’s very sad,” said Trump. Then referencing the undercard debate, he continued: “I thought that it was very unfair that virtually the entire early portion was Mr Trump this, Mr Trump that. And just for ratings. I think it’s very unprofessional.”
“It’s not CNN. It’s Americans watching you,” said Hugh Hewitt, a radio talkshow host at the Salem Radio Network and one of the moderators of the debate. Trump, who is leading in the polls, was also booed by the audience at one point of the debate.
But not every candidate took the bait.
When asked about not agreeing with Trump’s plan to ban all Muslims from entering the country, Texas senator Ted Cruz said that while not all Muslims are jihadis, all jihadis are Muslim.
“It’s not a war on faith,” he added. “It’s a war on a political and theocratic ideology that seeks to murder us.”
Cliff notes Ted Cruz: Nice try, CNN. I won't criticize Trump. #GOPDebate
— Heather Long (@byHeatherLong) December 16, 2015
Earlier in the debate, Bush was not as tactful. When asked about his earlier statement in which he called Trump unhinged, Bush said the US needs the assistance of “Muslim world, the Arab world” in defeating Isis and called Trump a “chaos candidate”.
“So Donald, you know, is great at the one-liners, but he’s a chaos candidate. And he’d be a chaos president. He would not be the commander-in-chief we need to keep our country safe,” Bush said.
Trump retorted that Bush was only attacking him because his campaign was a “disaster”. He described the former Florida governor as “ a very nice person”, adding that America needed toughness.
Later on in the debate, Bush, who told Trump that he wouldn’t be able to insult his way into the presidency, turned the tables on Trump accusing him of not being tough enough.
“The simple fact is if you think this is tough and this is unfair, imagine what it’s going to be like dealing with Putin or dealing with President Xi. Or dealing with the Islamic terrorism that exists,” Bush said, referencing Trump’s complaints about CNN’s questions for other candidates. “This is a tough business running for president!”
“You’re a tough guy, Jeb,” Trump retorted.
Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon, and Carly Fiorina, former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, did not attack Trump outright, but did make veiled references to his temperament.
Gee, wonder who @CarlyFiorina is talking about... https://t.co/Ejf4HI1pMV #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/jmFjKXth7q
— Guardian US (@GuardianUS) December 16, 2015
“Some people say you’re weak because you’re not loud and you’re not boisterous and you’re not rude. But the fact of the matter is, look and see what I’ve done. And that speaks volumes about strength,” said Carson.
