SALT LAKE CITY, January 9, 2012 — It was the best debate so far.
"Best" if you prefer substance to artificial drama created by debate moderators who have no interest in seeing any Republican attain the job that the six on stage in New Hampshire last night all seek.
In a previous column, Six Rules were laid out that were 100% money-back guaranteed to put the GOP in a winning position come November. Here is how the candidates measured up to those rules.
Rule #1: Put Obama and his failures into every conversation, answer, rebuttal, and talking point.
On direct questioning (the method used in this analysis) Gov. Romney made Obama's deficiencies the centerpiece of his answers four times, or 50%. Sen. Santorum met the standard three times, Gingrich and Perry twice, and Huntsman once. Ron Paul not only never aimed fire at Obama, he missed several opportunities to do so.
In fact, one of Paul's biggest mistakes throughout the campaign is that he seems more interested in running against other Republicans than the president. He didn't endear himself last night to a single Republican that he didn't already have.
Rule #2 Stay positive.
None of the candidates were particularly negative, except for the good doctor. Paul's future in the Republican primary race is in serious jeopardy, especially given that most Iowa voters expressed a commitment in their desire to defeat Obama. But again, Paul seems more intent on disparaging the political party whose nomination he craves more than pointing the common ground that he and many other Republicans share.
Perry, Gingrich, Santorum, Romney, and Huntsman didn't do much better either, though. It was a serious night, with serious discussion, but only a few times was it inspirational and hopeful. Perhaps that reflects the overall political tone set by President Hopey Changey, but the Republican who can most effectively inspire the base with optimism will have a huge advantage heading into the rest of the primaries.
Rule #3: Answer the question and move on. Or don't.
Here the candidates shone. Except for Ron Paul, every single one of them was brief and cogent most of the time. Whatever understanding Paul has of economics, civil liberties, and foreign policy is obscured by an utter inability to express his views in a rational way that connects with people who live real lives in the modern world.
Rule #4 (corollary to #3): Don't be afraid to point out when the question is stupid.
Newt supporters were glad to see their candidate back in from when he pointed out bias in the media vis a vis gay marriage and religious liberties.
"I just want to raise a point about the news media bias," he noted calmly but directly. "You don’t hear the opposite question asked. Should the Catholic Church be forced to close its adoption services in Massachusetts because it won’t accept gay couples, which is exactly what the state has done? Should the Catholic Church be driven out of providing charitable services in the District of Columbia because it won’t give in to secular bigotry?"
Romney scored big points by landing a combination on George Stephanopoulos that left him dazed, regarding the inanity of a question about states' right to ban contraception.
Rep. Paul piled on by pointing out that the question over whether he would rule out a third-party run had already been answered many times.
All in all, it was a bad night for George, which usually benefits conservatives.
Rule #5: Smile.
Paul was the winner on this count, and that might account for his low negatives. Ron Paul will never be the Republican nominee. He has a ceiling lower and firmer than Romney's on his worst day, yet the Texas Congressman's propensity to show his pearly whites probably accounts for much of his success. The others need to learn, especially Jon Huntsman.
Rule #6: Invoke Reagan, JFK, and others.
It was an hour and a half before Ronald Reagan's name was uttered, not surprisingly by Gingrich. Before that, only Kennedy and Adams were mentioned.
Independents swung the election of 2008 to Obama because he promised unity. It's the same reason that Kennedy, Reagan, and Clinton enjoy the fondness of a respectful American public. Republicans need to remind them why Obama is no Jack Kennedy.
When the score card is tallied, Romney came out the clear winner, Paul and Huntsman the losers.
With only a few more debates before the race is effectively settled, there is little time for the hopefuls to study up on the rules.
Learn more about the author at Rich-Stowell.com
Rich is a teacher and a soldier. He is the author of Nine Weeks: A Teacher’s Education in Army Basic Training; Tunnel Club; and Not Another Boring Textbook: A High School Students’ Guide to their Inner Conservative, which you can follow on Facebook.
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