After the terror attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, it is not surprising that last night’s GOP debate in Las Vegas focused on national security issues. In the latest installment of AEI’s Debate Debrief series, AEI experts weigh in on how the candidates performed.
National security is the top issue in the polls now and Americans want to hear more about it. They did [last night], with interesting, serious jousting. Will we hear the same kind of substantive discussion to address US weaknesses on Saturday night at the Democratic debate? It is doubtful.
Last night’s debate widened the gulf between candidates serious about national security and those who recycled slogans or avoided the matter entirely. Essentially, it re-litigated the national security arguments of the Bush era about the necessity of American leadership, the utility of strong surveillance authorities, and the connection between military power and political objectives.
Once again, Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, Donald Trump, and Ben Carson essentially endorsed a limited role for American military power and, by extension, a downsized US military—a continuation of the Obama-era status quo. Trump and Cruz both doubled down on their empty toughness regarding civilian casualties, while Trump joined Cruz in lacking substance regarding the nation’s nuclear weapons.
It was interesting that Cruz and Paul decided to go after Rubio vigorously, while only Bush went after Trump without direct prodding from the moderators. To many pundits and reporters tweeting during the debate, this was evidence that Rubio is the front runner. I am skeptical of that. I think for Cruz it was a desire to make sure that Rubio performed badly enough in Iowa that he would be damaged deeply as the process went on, weakening the most credible establishment candidate. And on the immigration issue it might have worked. I was struck that Chris Christie mentioned over and over his experience as a prosecutor, and almost totally ignored his tenure as governor.
For the full Debate Debrief, click here. To check out all of AEI’s 2016 content, click here.
To arrange an interview with an AEI scholar on last night’s debate, please contact AEI Media Services at mediaservices@aei.org or 202.862.5829.
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