The Meet the press, facebook debate.

Having watched the debate on Saturday, I was curious to see what another debate so soon afterword would bring. What it brought was candidates challenging Mitt Romney. This made me very happy. It is good to see the other candidates stand up for themselves, rather than let the richer man beat up on them. Since I waited so long to write about it, I cannot pretend that the events of Monday morning have not in some small part effected how I am reacting. Mitt is sliding in the polls, just a little bit. This is due to a great comment made by John Huntsman.  Early in the debate Huntsman had a very strong moment when he said that he would put his country first. He then mentioned the fact that he has two sons in the Navy, who serve their country and do not care whether the president is a Republican or a Democrat.  
I found that even though Romney dodged (poorly I might add) tough questions, the candidates did give answers that had some substance in them. 
So what did they say? To those who have been following the candidates there are no real surprises. 
HUNTSMAN: Still endorses the Paul Ryan budget.
SANTORUM: Wants means tested Social Security, this means that wealthy seniors would get less benefits. Believes that food stamps and Medicaid should be given to the states as a block grant. This means that no federal guidelines would be given to the states. Right now states are required to cover all health and dental benefits to children who qualify for the program. Some states do more for adults, some states do less. States like Utah could very well decide that the program will not cover all health needs for children. He also wants to put a limit on how long a person can receive benefits. This breaks his own rule of letting states decide, and also opens up the very real possibility that families who are out of work for long periods would go without. 
GINGRICH: Believes that major cuts to social programs can be avoided if the government would enforce welfare fraud laws.


The candidates were asked whether it was un-American to ask for government assistance, none of them said that it was not. Rick Perry came close when he said that people want jobs they don't "clamor" for benefits. 


Santorum sounded a bit hypocritical when he talked about Iran being a theocracy that we could not tolerate that kind of government, when days before he had said that the U.S needs a "Jesus candidate". 
Romney looked like an out  of touch elitist when he said that it made him happy that Ted Kennedy had to mortgage his house in order to beat him. He followed this up by saying that he "liked" firing people who worked for him. 


Well, the real race begins soon, so we will have to wait and see if another candidate can unseat Romney.