2016 Presidential Campaign Blog

RNC Statement On The CNBC Republican Debate

RNC Statement On The CNBC Republican Debate

 

WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus released the following statement at the conclusion of the CNBC Republican Primary Debate:
 
"While I was proud of our candidates and the way they handled tonight’s debate, the performance by the CNBC moderators was extremely disappointing and did a disservice to their network, our candidates, and voters. Our diverse field of talented and exceptionally qualified candidates did their best to share ideas for how to reinvigorate the economy and put Americans back to work despite deeply unfortunate questioning from CNBC," said Chairman Priebus.

 

 "One of the great things about our party is that we are able to have a dynamic exchange about which solutions will secure a prosperous future, and I will fight to ensure future debates allow for a more robust exchange. CNBC should be ashamed of how this debate was handled.”

DNC Chair Statement on 3rd GOP Presidential Debate

DNC Chair Statement on 3rd GOP Presidential Debate
 
Washington, D.C. – DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement tonight after the conclusion of the third Republican presidential debate:

 

“Tonight the GOP candidates proved what an oxymoron it is to use the phrase, ‘Republican economic debate’.

 

“There was in fact no substantive debate about ideas to strengthen our economy. Instead, what the American people heard was an unyielding desire to return to the failed policies of the past that preceded an economic disaster with 750,000 job losses a month, foreclosure signs dotting too many streets, and families deciding between paying the bills and accessing health care.

 

“Nearly twelve hours of GOP debate has produced zero serious ideas to move America forward. Despite repeated questions from the moderators, no candidate in Boulder offered plans to help the middle class. They didn’t discuss ways to ensure moms and dads have access to paid family leave or how to end pay disparities and narrow the income inequality gap, but they did find ways to attack raising the minimum wage, discuss building walls and blame the media for their woes.

 

“The GOP field’s crocodile tears for the supposed decline of America shouldn’t fool anyone; America is already great and we need to continue the economic progress that began and continues under President Obama in order to create more opportunity for more people. The President was handed the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression and under his leadership, we’ve had 67 months of private-sector job growth resulting in 13 million new jobs. Any one of our Democratic candidates would build on that progress.

 

“That’s why I’m confident that the more the GOP keeps highlighting their tired, old policies, the more Americans will vote for the Democratic nominee to become the 45th President of the United States.”

What They Are Saying About Marco Rubio at Tonight's CNBC Debate in Boulder, Colorado

What They Are Saying About Marco Rubio at Tonight's CNBC Debate in Boulder, Colorado

"Rubio steals the debate show"

 

Hey - Marco stole the show. The moderators and even another candidate came to the debate ready to attack Marco, but Marco turned the tables and knocked their ridiculous attacks out of the park. Don't take my word for it, though, see what others are saying below:

 

POLITICO: “Trump? Carson? Rubio steals the debate show.” “Donald Trump and Ben Carson may have stood at the center of the stage at the Wednesday debate, but Marco Rubio stole the show. … One of the defining moments came early, when Bush, Rubio’s onetime mentor, tried to go after Rubio for his Senate attendance record, telling him that if he wanted to continue skipping votes he should ‘just resign and let someone else take the job.’ ‘Marco, when you signed up for this, this was a six-year term,’ Bush lectured. ‘And you should be showing up to work.’ Rubio was ready, dismissing Bush as a political opportunist turning on an old friend. ‘Someone has convinced you that attacking me is going to help you,’ he said. It was the end of discussion.” (Trump? Carson? Rubio steals the debate show, Politico, 10/28/15)

 

REUTERS: “Rubio turns the tables on Bush for his missed votes.” “Under fire for missing more votes than any other senator, presidential candidate and Florida senator Marco Rubio blamed liberal media for hyping the issue. CNBC debate moderator Carl Quintanilla presented a Florida newspaper’s position this morning that called for Rubio to resign his Senate seat while seeking the presidency. Rubio called the editorial by the Sun Sentinel, ‘evidence of the bias that exists in the American media today.’ He noted that former Florida Senator Bob Graham and Secretary of State John Kerry missed Senate votes when they were seeking the presidency during the 2004 election, but the media did not call for their resignations. And yet, Rubio’s chief rival for establishment support, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, glommed on.” (Rubio turns the tables on Bush for his missed votes, Reuters, 10/29/15)

 

WASHINGTON EXAMINER: “Rubio: Mainstream media Dems' 'ultimate super PAC.'” “Sen. Marco Rubio ripped into the mainstream media during the third GOP debate, calling them the ‘ultimate super PAC.’ ‘The Democrats have the ultimate super PAC. they're called the mainstream media,’ Rubio said before ripping them for praising Clinton's performance in front of the House Select Committee on Benghazi last Thursday. ‘Last week, Hillary Clinton went before a committee. She admitted that she sent emails to her family saying, ‘Hey, this attack in Benghazi was caused by al Qaida-like elements,’’ Rubio said. ‘She spent over a week telling the family of those victims and the American people that it was because of a video.’ ‘And yet, the mainstream media is going around saying it was the greatest week in Hillary Clinton's campaign. It was the week she got exposed as a liar,’ Rubio said. ‘But she has her super PAC helping her out — the American mainstream media.’” (Rubio: Mainstream media Dems' 'ultimate super PAC,' The Washington Examiner, 10/28/15)

Rand Paul 2016 Chief Strategist Doug Stafford Statement on Tonight's CNBC GOP Debate

Sen. Rand Paul: The Only Fiscal Conservative in the Room

 

BOULDER, CO-  Sen. Rand Paul tonight proved that he is the only fiscal conservative on the CNBC Republican Primary debate stage. Since taking office, Sen. Paul has implemented common-sense solutions that will solve our nation's fiscal crisis-- solutions like a Balanced Budget Amendment, an Audit the Fed bill, spending cuts, and was named the 'most frugal' legislator by the National Taxpayers Union. Sen. Paul has also introduced a Fair and Flat Tax Plan that would repeal the entire IRS tax code-more than 70,000 pages-and replace it with a low, broad-based tax of 14.5 percent on individuals and businesses.

 

"Tonight we saw nine politicians and one statesman discussing the critical economic issues faced by our great nation. Sen. Paul's message of economic freedom, a fair and flat tax rate of 14.5 percent for all Americans, and fighting Washington corruption stands in stark contrast with big spending Republicans who shared the stage.  Republicans have to answer one question in this primary: what kind of message will most likely defeat Hillary Clinton in 2016.  Sen. Paul's message of liberty continues to resonate across the country because he is the best candidate to take on the Washington Machine," said Doug Stafford, Chief Strategist.

Iowa GOP Statement on Tonight's CNBC Debate

Iowa GOP Statement on Tonight's Debate

 

“Tonight our Republican candidates showed their best, having a serious discussion about how to promote growth and increase opportunity for all Americans. We look forward to many on stage tonight coming to Iowa this weekend to kick off the final sprint toward our Iowa caucuses on February 1st.” -Communications Director Charlie Szold

Jim Gilmore will Comment on CNBC Debate as Real Outsider (@gov_gilmore)

Jim Gilmore will comment on CNBC debate as real outsider (@gov_gilmore)

 

Alexandria, VA -- Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore, a candidate for the Republican nomination for President who is being excluded from
tonight's CNBC debate in Colorado, will be tweeting during the eventat the Coors Events Center in Boulder. 

 

You can follow @gov_gilmore on twitter.

 

"The Republican National Committee and CNBC may keep me off the stage this evening, but I will not be silenced," Gilmore said.  "Actually, by
their actions they are making it plain that I am the real outsider in this race."

 

Gilmore, in addition to being former Governor, is a former Attorney General of Virginia, the former chairman of a national commission that
warned about a domestic terror attack before 9/11, and a former U.S. Army intelligence officer.

 

Gilmore did not enter the presidential campaign until four months ago and has been a casualty of the RNC's arbitrary efforts to winnow the
field, despite the fact that his campaign has been gaining ground in several early primary states.

 

"I want my supporters across the country to know that we will keep fighting the efforts by the establishment to handpick their
candidate," Gilmore said.  "I am in the race to stay and I will be commenting on the issues and the actions of the other candidates on
 witter this evening."

Lindsey Graham 2016 Campaign Manager Christian Ferry Statement on Tonight's CNBC GOP Debate

Lindsey Graham Is The Clear Winner In Tonight's Debate 

 

Alexandria, VA – In response to Senator Lindsey Graham's performance in tonight's CNBC GOP debate, Lindsey Graham 2016 campaign manager Christian Ferry today released the following statement:

 

"Yet again, Lindsey Graham is the clear winner in tonight’s debate.  The first job of the President of the United States is to keep us safe.  Only Lindsey Graham showed he is ready to do that tonight.  Without national security, there is no economic security.

 

"The next President of the United States is going to inherit a nation with crushing debt and terrorism on the rise.  It is going to take Republicans and Democrats, working together with an experienced leader to fix these problems.  Lindsey Graham is ready for the job on day one and the only candidate with a record of bipartisanship to make Washington work.  He has the right plan and the experience to get it done.

 

"No one on either stage tonight has a real plan, like Lindsey Graham, to degrade and defeat the terrorists that threaten our homeland, the terrorists who threaten our families, and the terrorists who threaten our economy.  Lindsey Graham will not only defeat and degrade the terrorists, but also has the courage and strategy to degrade our national debt."

Hillary Clinton Statement on Endorsement of International Union of Operating Engineers

Hillary Clinton Statement on Endorsement of International Union of Operating Engineers

 

Hillary Clinton released the following statement after the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) endorsed her campaign for President.

 

“I am honored to have earned the endorsement of the International Union of Operating Engineers, which represents 400,000 hard-working men and women across the United States and Canada.

 

“Unions like the Operating Engineers helped build the greatest middle class in the world in the last century, and they will be central to building the good-paying jobs and careers of the 21st century. I have always and will always stand with organized labor in protecting workers’ rights and worker safety. In the Senate, I fought to pass the James L. Zadroga Act, signed into law by President Obama, which ensured the first and second responders who ran toward danger on that fateful day and worked on ‘the pile’ for months afterward, including many Operating Engineers, received the health care they needed and deserved. Congress must act to reauthorize the Zadroga bill and extend these critical benefits.

 

It’s time to put more Americans to work modernizing our infrastructure, from rebuilding roads and bridges to repairing leaky pipelines to upgrading our water systems. As President, I will fight to increase investment in our infrastructure and to protect the prevailing wage standards and project labor agreements that ensure construction careers open the door to a middle-class life. I'm proud to have the Operating Engineers as partners in this important work. Because when unions are strong, families are strong—and when families are strong, America is strong.”

Ted Cruz Visits Iowa on Saturday, October 31, 2015

Ted Cruz Visits Nevada on Thursday, October 29 and Iowa on Saturday, October 31, 2015Ted Cruz Visits Nevada on Thursday, October 29 and Iowa on Saturday, October 31, 2015

HOUSTON, Texas – This weekend Presidential candidate Ted Cruz will travel to Las Vegas and Iowa. Early next month Cruz will travel to Iowa and Texas. Event details listed below and are subject to updates.
 
Thursday, October 29, 2015 Canceled due to votes in the Senate
 
4:00 p.m. – Las Vegas, NV
Ted Cruz to hold Grand Opening of Las Vegas Campaign Office
9640 West Tropicana
Suite 119
Las Vegas, NV 89147
 
6:00 p.m. – Las Vegas, NV
Ted Cruz to hold Town Hall
Mountain Shadows Community Center
9107 Del Webb Boulevard
Las Vegas, NV 89134
*NOTE: Doors open at 5 p.m.
 
Saturday, October 31
 
10:45 a.m. – Des Moines, IA
Ted Cruz to give remarks at the Republican Party of Iowa Growth and Opportunity Party
Iowa State Fair
3000 East Grand Avenue
Varied Industries Building
Des Moines, IA 50317
 
2:30 p.m. – Akron, IA
Ted Cruz to participate in Congressman Steve King’s Annual Col. Bud Day Pheasant Hunt
Hole N’ the Wall Lodge
14396 Diamond Avenue
Akron, IA 51001

Jeb Bush to Visit New Hampshire on Thursday, October 29, 2015

JEB BUSH TO VISIT NEW HAMPSHIRE ON THURSDAY
 
Miami, FL – On Thursday, Governor Jeb Bush will visit New Hampshire.  His first stop will be an event at Geno’s Chowder and Sandwich Shop in Portsmouth, NH. That evening, Governor Bush will attend an event at the Whipple Memorial Town Hall in New London, NH.
 
Thursday, October 29, 2015
 
Event: Governor Bush to visit Geno’s Chowder and Sandwich Shop
 
Location:      

Geno’s Chowder and Sandwich Shop
177 Mechanic Street
Portsmouth, NH 03801
 
Start Time:   1:15 PM EDT
 
Event: Governor Bush to attend a town hall at the Whipple Memorial Town Hall
 
Location:      

Whipple Memorial Town Hall
429 Main Street
New London, NH 03257
 
Start Time:   7:00 PM EDT