Free Trade and Low Taxes Star in Republican Debate

Answering a question about taking military action against Iran without consulting Congress, most of the candidates took a hard line, with Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) saying that while getting the approval of Congress is always best, "if the situation is that it requires immediate action to ensure the security of the United States of America, that's what you take your oath to do."

Romney offered a legalistic answer likely to invite criticism, saying that "you sit down with your attorneys" first, "but obviously the president of the United States has to do what's in the best interest of the United States to protect us against a potential threat."

The debate was sponsored by MSNBC, CNBC and the Wall Street Journal and moderated by "Hardball" host Chris Matthews and CNBC host Maria Bartiromo. The candidates included Thompson, Giuliani, Romney, McCain, Sen. Sam Brownback (Kan.), former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, and Reps. Ron Paul (Tex.), Tom Tancredo (Colo.) and Duncan Hunter (Calif.).

Its purpose, according to the sponsors, was to focus the candidates' attention on economic issues. Dearborn, home to Big Three automaker Ford, was "the perfect backdrop to address the concerns of a rapidly changing workforce," said Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saulius "Saul" Anuzis.

But the candidates frequently addressed the questions more globally, vigorously defending free-trade agreements that they said provide American companies expanded opportunities to sell their goods and services abroad.

"We can't say, 'Because these agreements weren't perfect, because they have problems, because they have issues, we're going to turn our back on free trade,' " Giuliani said.

Many of the candidates even found kind words for organized labor, praising the work of unions. Brownback fondly recalled his mother's membership in the postal workers union.

"She called herself a postal packin' grandma for a good period of time," he said. "And it helped her on health care."

Asked to name a good union, Romney quickly offered the carpenters union and then prompted chuckles when he added: "I'm probably not going to name specific bad unions."

Huckabee urged his party to pay more attention to issues of economic insecurity and to confront the reality that many Americans do not believe international trade agreements have been good for the country.

"This party is going to have to start addressing it or we're going to get our britches beat next year," he said.

Thompson's participation in the debate did not substantially change the dynamic from that of past events. But questioners targeted him with the most questions and even quizzed him on the name of the Canadian prime minister. (He answered correctly, quickly giving Stephen Harper's last name.) He was the subject of some gibes, however. Romney said the series of six debates reminded him of Thompson's "Law & Order" television series: "A huge cast, the series seems to go on forever, and Fred Thompson shows up at the end."

Thompson joked: "And to think I thought I was going to be the best actor on the stage."

Paul and Tancredo were the lone dissenters on most issues. Paul decried the war in Iraq and proclaimed talk of attacking Iran as "war propaganda" that "is a road to disaster for us as a nation." Tancredo turned almost every question he was asked into an argument against illegal immigration.

And neither would promise to support the GOP's eventual presidential nominee.

"Not right now, I don't," Paul said. "Not unless they're willing to end the war and bring our troops home."

McCain quickly seized on the comment, responding, "You don't want me then, pal."