Despite the biased and downright rude questions from the moderators, this was a great debate. The topic of “Your money, your vote,” was roundly discussed in the areas of social security and Medicare, the budget, the national debt, corporate welfare, tax policy and government bureaucracy.
Most candidates referenced their proposals for new tax policy and their records as far as improving the bottom line, whether they are experienced in business or government. On the downside, it was sometimes hard to follow, with facts and figures beings volleyed back and forth. The CNBC moderators often argued with the candidates about the workability of their tax and budget plans. At one point, Donald Trump responded that one of CNBC’s own financial analysts thought his plan was great.
An important issue most candidates addressed was the passage in the House of the controversial budget deal earlier in the day. Senator Paul mentioned twice in his segments that it was a bad deal, and he would be filibustering it on the floor of the Senate.
Best performances in the debate came from Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz andCarly Fiorina. Other standouts were John Kasich, Chris Christie and Mike Huckabee.
Ted Cruz hit back at the moderators’ biased questions, saying, “The questions asked in this debate illustrate why the American people don’t trust the media… Everyone home tonight knows that the moderators have no intention of voting in a Republican primary.”
Marco Rubio received solid applause for his line about preserving Medicare and Social Security, saying his mother is on both, and he would always do what is best for his mother.
Carly Fiorina educated the audience as she explained her ideas about the tax code: “Three pages is about the maximum that a single business owner or a farmer or a couple can understand without hiring someone.”
Ben Carson sits on the board of directors for Costco. He was asked to square Costco’s policies that favor gays with his position as a Christian. Carson answered: “I believe that our Constitution protects everybody, regardless of their sexual orientation or any other aspect. I also believe that marriage is between one man and one woman, and there is no reason that you can’t be perfectly fair to the gay community. They shouldn’t automatically assume that because you believe that marriage is between one man and one woman, you are a homophobe. This is one of the myths that the Left perpetrates on our society.”
Why this Matters: A candidate’s performance may obscure his or her reliability as a solid conservative. John Kasich, Chris Christie and Jeb Bush have fairly moderate platforms. Ted Cruz is the most reliably conservative candidate. As we draw closer to the primaries, Praying Citizen will be summarizing individual platforms of the leading candidates.
How to Pray: Father, let Your choice surface. Educate that person through the Holy Spirit in the way You want him/her to go.
John 14:26 But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost,
whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things,
and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Praying Citizen 
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