This is a collection of quotes I collected while going through the 2007 GOP primary debate transcript. I tried to pick mostly quotes that had some meat to them, and not simply ones reflecting views shown on my scorecard.
Mitt Romney
we have a separation of church and state; it’s served us well in this country.
I think that Congress’s job is to make sure that laws are respecting the sanctity of life.
Like I said, he’s the guy the religious right is putting up against Giuliani.
Sam Brownback
We’ve had 40 or 50 years now of trying to run faith out of the public square.
And we’re a nation of faith, as my colleague Senator Lieberman, a Jew, says.
He’s so liberal that he would actually have a Jew as a colleague. What a big-hearted man.
America’s a faith-based experiment as a country.
And there are also Democrat members that there was cash found in refrigerators or deep-freezes.(sic)
“They did it too!” The “(sic)” is actually part of the transcript, I didn’t add it. Some things just write themselves.
James Gilmore
We can’t allow a situation where everyone … believes that the United States does not have their best interests at heart.
You’re a little late on that one, buddy. Does any leader have another nation’s interests at heart? See below.
I don’t tend to want to amend this Constitution in a variety of different ways
my record as governor of Virginia, I think, has been one that the pro-life community, of which I am a part, would be very proud
Cookie?
Mike Huckabee
I tell people up front my faith does affect my decision process. It explains me.
Duncan Hunter
I think we should bring together all of our colleges, our universities, the private sector, government laboratories and … remove energy dependence on the Middle East and … help the climate. … We need to make sure that all the licensing from our laboratories goes to the private sector, goes to the American manufacturing sector for these energy systems.
I don’t quite understand what he’s getting at here, but if he’s encouraging private industry to license and market the things coming out of labs, I’m all for it.
Tommy Thompson
There are 18 territories in Iraq, just like we have 50 states in America. I would require those territories to elect governments, just like we do in our states.
I would split the oil reserves — one-third to the federal government, one-third to the state government, and one-third to every man, woman and child.
I’m sure the Kurds are totally excited about that.
John McCain
The greatest challenge of our time is the specter and threat of radical Islamic extremism.
We did lose our way; We began to value principle over power.
Brave of him to take such a bold and honest position at a Republican debate.
Ron Paul
don’t pretend the Iraqis were a national threat
I am a strong supporter of the original intent
I would work very hard to protect the privacy of American citizens, being very, very cautious about warrantless searches, and I would guarantee that I would never abuse habeas corpus.
Go on, you’ve got my attention now.
I trust the freedom of expression, and that’s why we should never interfere with the Internet, that’s why I’ve never voted to regulate the Internet, even when there’s the temptation to put bad things on the Internet. Regulation of bad and good on the Internet should be done differently.
I’m all ears.
Well, in my first week, I already got rid of the income tax. In my second week — (laughter) — I would get rid of the inflation tax, the tax that nobody talks about.
OK, now you’re scaring me. I really like your ideas, and would like to subscribe to your newsletter, but I’m worried that I’ll start getting free copies of Guns and Ammo and Soldier of Fortune showing up in my mailbox.
Rudy Giuliani
I think it really is important that we, you know, define the Republican party to fit today.
Well, it’s not like any right-wingers were gonna vote for him anyways.
There is plenty of opportunity to then use federal funds [for stem cell research, with restrictions, like Senator Coleman's bill].
The Sunnis believe that the caliphate should be selected, and the Shi’ites believe that it should be by descent.
I wish they could have gone down the line, and asked Giuliani last.
Every single person in this country who comes in from a foreign country should be identified, should be in a database.
I know you mean well, but it’s just a short step from immigrants to everyone.
[Immigrants] who want to pay taxes — God bless them, let them pay taxes.
Sounds reasonable to me. Let’s see what Contestant #10 has to say about that.
Tom Tancredo
No more obfuscating with using words like, “Well, I am not for amnesty but I’m for letting them stay.” That kind of stuff has got to be taken away from the political debate.
Yes, we should just stop talking about the immigrant issue right now. Wait, would that suck for you, since that’s your wedge issue?
I would say pardon [Rove], but right after or before you pardon Ramos and Compean, two people who are presently serving in — prison time for actually doing their job on the border.
Doing their job here means shooting some people who were trying to cross.
If there is a threat to the existence of Israel, then you have to come to the aid of Israel.
A threat to the existence of Israel is a potential threat to the existence of the United States.
How are we supposed to have the Second Coming of Christ with all these Muslims in God’s city?
I don’t believe that the government of the United States should be putting forth a plan [to solve the shortage of donated organs].
The government shouldn’t intervene, except in the case of embryos.
I say that that would be the greatest day in this country’s history when [Roe v. Wade] is in fact overturned.
[Ethics problems] are not unique to the Republican Party. These are failures by individuals.
Except that the Republican scandals all seem to have been agreed upon at high levels of government. There was no email trail discussing which freezer Jefferson should hide the cash in.
Let me also, please — because I haven’t had enough opportunity … to address … whether or not it has be a centrist who wins the presidency. I believe it’s not necessarily whether you’re a centrist or not. I believe it’s whether or not you believe in your heart in the things that you say, and I do.
I’m a nice right-winger.
