In the fourth Republican debate of the 2016 election cycle, candidates began to differentiate themselves on specifics of their policies.
The night contained markedly more substantive exchanges between candidates than previous debates, exposing viewers to rifts in the party on issues including the minimum wage, immigration and bailouts for big banks.
[We’re finally seeing the deep fault lines at the heart of the GOP nomination battle]
Would you increase the minimum wage?
RUBIO
KASICH
“If I thought that raising the minimum wage was the best way to help people increase their pay, I would be all for it, but it isn't. In the 20th century, it's a disaster.”
“First of all, let me just say that, in the state of Ohio -- and I'm the only acting executive on this stage today -- we do have a moderate increase in the minimum wage.”
TRUMP
“I hate to say it, but we have to leave it the way it is. People have to go out, they have to work really hard and have to get into that upper stratum.”
“An economic theory is fine, but you know what? People need help.”
“I would not do it.”
CARSON
“I would not raise it. I would not raise it, specifically because I'm interested in making sure that people are able to enter the job market and take advantage of opportunities.”
RUBIO
KASICH
“First of all, let me just say that, in the state of Ohio -- and I'm the only acting executive on this stage today -- we do have a moderate increase in the minimum wage.”
“If I thought that raising the
minimum wage was the best way
to help people increase their pay,
I would be all for it, but it isn't.
In the 20th century, it's a disaster.”
“An economic theory
is fine, but you know what? People need help.”
TRUMP
“I hate to say it, but we have to leave it the way it is. People have to go out, they have to work really hard and have to get into that upper stratum.”
“I would not do it.”
CARSON
“I would not raise it. I would not raise it, specifically because I'm interested in making sure that people are able to enter the job market and take advantage of opportunities.”
Would you deport the undocumented immigrants living in this country?
KASICH
TRUMP
“If they have been law- abiding, they pay a penalty. They get to stay. We protect the wall. Anybody else comes over, they
go back.”
“[They're] going to have to go out and they will come back, but they are going to have to go out and hopefully they get back.”
BUSH
“Twelve million illegal immigrants, to send them back, 500,000 a month, is just not possible. And it's not embracing
American values.
And it would tear
communities apart.”
KASICH
TRUMP
“If they have been law- abiding, they pay a penalty. They get to stay. We protect the wall. Anybody else comes over, they go back.”
“[They're] going to have to go out and they will come back, but they are going to have to go out and hopefully they get back.”
BUSH
“Twelve million illegal immigrants, to send them back, 500,000 a month, is just not possible. And it's not embracing American values. And it would tear communities apart.”
Would you bail out the big banks again?
KASICH
CRUZ
“I would not let the people who put their money in there
all go down.”
“I would not bail them out, but instead of adjusting monetary policy according to whims and getting it wrong over and over again and causing booms and busts, what the Fed should be doing is, number one, keeping our money tied to a stable level of gold, and, number two, serving as a lender of last resort.”
“I would figure out how to separate those people who can afford it versus those people, or the hard-working folks who put those money in those institutions.”
KASICH
CRUZ
“I would not bail them out, but instead of adjusting monetary policy according to whims and
getting it wrong over and over again and causing booms and busts, what the Fed should be doing is, number one, keeping our money tied to a stable level of gold, and, number two, serving as a lender of last resort.”
“I would not let the people who put their money in there all go down.”
“I would figure out how
to separate those people who can afford it versus those people, or the hard-working folks who put those money
in those institutions ...”
An actual debate
Over the course of several debates, candidates have individually answered moderators' questions and the topic was dropped. But with three topics, many candidates jumped in, exchanging their opinions:
Circle represents if the candidates were given
the chance to talk. Dark red was the first one to answer.
Foreign policy
/security
Bank
regulation
Tax plan
TRUMP
CARSON
RUBIO
CRUZ
BUSH
FIORINA
KASICH
*Kasich talked in the tax-plan turn, but just to complain
that he wasn’t given the chance to talk.
PAUL
TRUMP
CARSON
RUBIO
CRUZ
BUSH
FIORINA
KASICH
PAUL
Tax plan
The circle represents if the candidates were given the chance to talk. Dark red was the first one to answer.
*Kasich talked in the tax-plan turn, but just to complain that he wasn’t given the chance to talk.
Foreign policy
/security
Bank
regulation
Kasich’s loud strategy
Kasich stole the show by repeatedly injecting himself into the conversation. The Fix marked him a “loser” of the debate because of his temperament.
[Winners and losers from the fourth Republican presidential debate]
Marco Rubio
2,371 words
Start of debate
End
Words spoken
John Kasich
2,329 words
Start of debate
End
1
2
3
4
Kasich: “Yeah, I would like to make
1
a comment.”
Bush: “You've already made two
comments, John. It's my turn.”
Trump on immigration: “You don't get
2
nicer. You don't get friendlier.”
“Mr. Baker, everybody got to
3
talk about taxes. ... Look, I hate to
crash the party to you.”
[Booing] “... let me
—
no, no.
4
Let me say another thing.”
Donald Trump
2,115 words
Start of debate
End
Jeb Bush
1,953 words
Start of debate
End
Ted Cruz
1,941 words
Start of debate
End
Rand Paul
1,937 words
Start of debate
End
Ben Carson
1,557 words
Start of debate
End
Carly Fiorina
1,410 words
Start of debate
End
End
Start of debate
Marco Rubio
2,371 words
Words spoken
“Mr. Baker, everybody got to talk about taxes. ... Look, I hate to crash the party to you.”
[Booing] “... let me — no, no.
Let me say another thing.”
John Kasich
2,329 words
“Yeah, I would like to make a comment.”
Donald Trump
2,115 words
On immigration: “You don't get nicer.
You don't get friendlier.”
Jeb Bush
1,953 words
“You've already made two comments, John.”
Ted Cruz
1,941 words
Rand Paul
1,937 words
Ben Carson
1,557 words
Carly Fiorina
1,410 words
We’re online
Cruz and Kasich encouraged viewers to inspect the details of their policy plans on their Web sites. Cruz and Rubio asked supporters to “join us” in their campaigns online. But Trump, in trademark fashion, turned these modest pleas into weaknesses.
KASICH
“Yes, lower taxes, lower spending. My Web site, JohnKasich.com, will show you exactly how we
balance the budget.”
CRUZ
“We're building a grass-roots army. I ask you to join us at TedCruz.org. And we, the people, can turn this nation around.”
RUBIO
“So tonight, I ask you for your vote and I ask you to join us at my Web site, MarcoRubio.com.”
TRUMP
“I don’t have to give you a Web site because I’m self-funding my campaign. I’m putting up my own money.”
KASICH
“Yes, lower taxes, lower spending. My Web site, JohnKasich.com, will show you exactly how we balance the budget.”
CRUZ
“We're building a grass-roots army.
I ask you to join us at TedCruz.org. And we, the people, can turn this nation around.”
RUBIO
“So tonight, I ask you for your vote and I ask you to join us at my Web site, MarcoRubio.com.”
TRUMP
“I don’t have to give you a Web site
because I’m self-funding my campaign.
I’m putting up my own money.”
The next Democratic debate is Nov. 14 in Des Moines. The Republicans won’t debate again until Dec. 15, in Nevada.
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