Bush Joins GOP Candidates for N.H. Debate

MANCHESTER, N.H.--With relatively little mention of the standard Republican rhetoric of social and cultural degradation, a diverse and feisty collection of candidates for the Republican presidential nomination instead focused on the proper role of government in America at last night's GOP debate in New Hampshire.

On issues ranging from the Internet to Social Security, candidates argued that the government served the public best when it governed them the least.

Forbes, trumpeting his own plan to privatize social security by giving Americans an option to invest their retirement accounts, criticized Bush for saying he would consider raising the age required to claim Social Security benefits.

"You know that's code for 'we're going to do it,'" Forbes said. When asked how he would respond to critics who wonder what would happen to these private investment accounts if the market were to go down, Forbes said, "'Risky' is Washington talk for 'You're going to take away our power.'"

The candidates, with the exception of Bauer, were hesitant to regulate obscene or offensive content on the Internet. "The Internet is the greatest thing that has happened since the printing press and the industrial revolution," McCain said. All of the candidates said they would not support taxing the sale of goods over the Internet.

Predictably, the candidates--with

the notable exception of McCain--attacked frontrunner Bush for his politics and policies. Bauer, comparing the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision to the Dred Scott decision a century earlier, challenged Bush to choose a pro-life running mate. Forbes took aim at Bush's freshly minted economic policy--unveiled last Wednesday in Iowa--charging that it provided too few tax cuts of too small a size.

"We should get rid of the capital gains tax but Bush refuses to do so," Forbes said.

Bush, noting recent criticism from his Democratic challengers, said, "Well, for some it's not enough, for some it's too much, which leads me to believe I'm doing something just right."

Last night's debate was the first to bring frontrunner Bush to the stage with his rivals for the Republican nomination. His absence at previous debates irked some.

"It's nice to have everyone here, including George Bush--no one is AWOL," said Forbes in his first remarks.

McCain, in contrast, refused to attack Bush at any point in the debate. When asked why he thought so many of his colleagues in the Senate endorsed his rival, McCain said, "It's a testimony to the attractiveness of Governor Bush."

Bush, clearly pleased with McCain's kid-glove treatment, said, "Senator McCain is a good man, a good friend."

Campaign officials for both Bush and McCain said they were generally pleased with how their candidates fared in the debate. Forbes' representatives were reluctant to talk about their candidate's performance, and instead emphasized today's endorsement by New Hampshire's most influential conservative newspaper, The Union Leader.

Orrin Hatch complained that the format of the debate was too rigid. Candidates were allotted one minute to answer an initial question posed by the moderators, Karen Brown, news director for New Hampshire's only network affiliate, WMUR; and Brit Hume, an anchor for the Fox News Channel. Another 45 seconds were allotted to respond to a follow-up question. Candidates were not allowed to respond to each other directly.

Hatch charged that "these debates have been stilted and boring. Next time let's leave the entourage behind. It would be like Lincoln and Douglas and we'd really have a debate here."

Still, moderators pressed each candidate on tough issues early in the debate. McCain was asked if his temper had cost him the endorsement of some of his colleagues in the Senate.

"You know, a comment like that really makes me mad," he said with a smile. "Do I feel impassioned about issues? Absolutely."

Bush was asked whether he thought his father George H. Bush could have put together the Gulf War coalition without the specific foreign policy experience he brought to the office of the president.

"I've [also] got a record of leadership. Texas is the second-largest state in the nation," Bush said.

Bush's foreign policy knowledge was called into question recently when he was unable to name the heads of state of four important nations for a television reporter.

Along similar lines, Bush was also asked what books he has read recently. He mentioned a book about Dean Acheson, Secretary of State under President Harry S. Truman, and said he likes mysteries.