John King, USA
Submit your questions for the next #CNNDebate in South Carolina
(CNN) – Here’s your chance to literally shape the debate in the race for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.
Use the form below to submit your brief question to the Southern Republican Presidential Debate. Or tweet your questions to #CNNDebate.
The debate will be held Thursday, January 19, 2012, in Charleston, South Carolina from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET.
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About this Show:
Your daily destination for political news. Join John each night as he pulls back the curtain on Washington, cuts through the partisan noise, and gets to the bottom of stories that affect you.
John King, USA aired weekdays at 6pm ET. The final show aired June 29, 2012.
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Mr. Paul,
Your Senior Campaign Advisor, Mr. Doug Wead, recently stated that you won't send our young people "to war for some Pentagon contractor." Would you tell America for which Pentagon contractors we sending Americans to war? Please name the companies.
I have a question i wish someone would ask these candidates, How much is a pound of chicken, a gallon of milk
a box of cereal, a pound of hamburger, a pound of tomatoes, or a bag of rice, or any other staple every one of us need to buy every single day. I will almost guarantee that not one of the republican or democrat candidates can answer. because they all are so out of touch with the every day american person
I think that is a great QUICK question Roy. They could ask each candidate to give an average grocery price on 1 different diet staple. 5 second question and a 2 second answer. It could take 30 seconds for all 4 candidates in a speed round.
Gingrich seems to be Fox News Golden Boy. They never question his baggage as speaker. Why did his party turn on him? Why did he lie to the ethics committee (Washington Post, January 1997)? These are things that he should be brought to voters attention. Hopefully the moderators at CNN will be brave enough to ask the questions.
All candidates in one form or another have argued for both lower taxes and a balanced budget. Like many marginal income families this is a bread and butter issue–Do we eat or do we get the kids some shoes? What government programs are bread and what are the ones that are shoes?
Could you ask the candidates tonight to clarify their views on the Keystone pipeline debate and explain why the Republican leaders seem to be ignoring the Nebraska Republican governor and other concerned residents of the states that this pipeline would be going through? Headlines responding to Pres. Obama not approving the current Keystone pipeline are very misleading. He has not completely rejected the plan at all. He is doing what he does best and that is looking at all sides, waiting for proper environmental assessments and listening to both sides. Interestingly one of most important voices against the current plan is a Republican governor who doesn't want it going through his state. If TransCanada comes back with an altered route and can prove they have met all safety and environmental standards, then it will probably be approved. That will take some time to do it properly though. It should be noted that not all Canadians disagree with the President. A big Canadian oil company wants to build another pipeline in western Canada to go to the ocean ports and be able to ship it to Asia and it is being met with huge opposition by local Canadians. There is a lot more environmental baggage with this deal than meets the eye. For years huge oil and gas companies like BP, Haliburton, TransCanada, Enbridge and others have ignored safety concerns and focussed only on profits and it is now showing the results. Have you all forgotten the BP Gulf oil spill? These huge companies have the money to do more research on safety practices and environmental concerns and they need to show that they are prepared to do it. The Republican leaders whining yesterday about how this would result in high gas prices and job losses are blowing smoke again. Did they not listen to the Republican governor of Nebraska's concerns at all? No, they have to grasp on sound bites and cherry pick the information and bash the President anyway. Figures.
I just think its funny that one thing the left bagged on Bush for was high gas prices. well I think i read today that gas prices have doubled under Obama, but where is the outrage? this is the part of politics that makes me sick. I applaud Obama for his decision on the pipleline, for the time being. however, lets not sit there and pretend the guy has done a good job as POTUS.
How do you stand on foreign imports? Stop them or change the policy?
jobs,jobs,jobs,. jobs are good, but u must have good paying jobs for a long term turn around.of the jobs that are beening creating are they a living wage, do they allow the worker to spend a little money on the necessites in life maybe save a little money to put the children throught collage, buy a house, a car, or are they jobs so the rich get richer?
Many so-called "sanctuary cities" refuse to follow immigration law and report illegal aliens they have arrested to federal authorities. As President, what would your message be to those jurisdictions regarding the following of federal immigration law?
The Obama Administration has been reducing federal immigration law enforcement through prosecutorial discretion and other procedures. Do you agree with President Obama or will you reverse these practices if you become President?
It is estimated that there are at least 7.5 million illegal aliens working in America right now. With unemployment still near historic highs, what will you do as President to ensure that jobs in America are held by authorized workers and not illegal aliens?
Rick ,the problem is the millions of Americans who are unemployed do not want the jobs the illegals are taking. This is not intended as a knock on illegals. The majority of illegals are hardworking, good people. I live in AZ so I think I know a little about this. The problem is our society has become lazy and always looking for the "easy path". The unemployed would not want a majority of those jobs because they feel it is beneath them.
Do you thing if the laws were inforced throughout the United States for illegal immigration that our economy would improve, education system would improve, and job availability for Americans would increase?
Do you think if the laws were inforced throughout the United States for illegal immigration that our economy would improve, education system would improve, and job availability for Americans would increase?
See if you can get these two questions answered tonight:
1) With the removal of Obama Care it means taking away health care benefits from 2.5 million individuals, do all of you support that?
2) It is estimated that health care fraud is costing the Medicare/Medicaid program $100 billion and the private industry four times that amount, how would you stop the fraud and are you willing to prosecute everyone involved?
If Israel decided to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities, what would you as president do? Does the US risk all-out war with Teheran to support its ally?
Mr Gingrich, you are obviously for open borders and some form of path to citizenship which is an euphamism for amnesty. How do you allow all these illegal aliens to remain and square that with the GAO reports that indicate that, according to Rep Steve King(Iowa), up to 9000 Americans lose their lives annually to illegals and that 27% of federal in mates are illegals? Follow up: How do you stand for both illegal aliens coming here and the fact that they have taken up to 8 miillion jobs that Americans are already doing?
How, how soon, and by what degree do you believe you can positively change the United States economy?
Governor Romney,
As governor of Massachusetts, you implemented a program giving welfare recipients free cars funded by taxpayers. Could you please expound a little on this program and how it makes you a true conservative?
All children born to Mexican parents in the U.S. are Mexican Citizens, according to the Mex. Constituition.. Should Amnesty
be given to any dual-citizen?
Here are a few questions that I, and many Republicans, would like answers to that nobody has every asked..
1) For Santorum and Paul, when the Republican House, of which you were both members, voted to remove Gingrich as Speaker, what was your vote – for or against removal?
2) To Gingrich, as a Catholic and 4th Degree Knight of Columbus, I want to know how did you ever get the Catholic Church to approve your marriage or did somebody allow you to annul your two divorces?
3) To Speaker Gingrich, do you consider it "Good Christian and Conservative Values" to have divorced two wives when they were very ill and needed you the most? John Edwards only cheated on one ill wife.
To Speaker Gingrich, do you consider it "Good Christian and Conservative Values" to have divorced two wives when they were very ill and needed you the most? John Edwards only cheated on one ill wife.
I would like to know how Newt and Santorum plan on reaching the millions of Americans that consider themselves "neutral". I am a registered Republican, but can not truly identify with either party. I feel this is the way the country is moving. It really is quite silly to think only 1 side has all the right answers. I have heard Newt and Rick blast Mitt for being moderate, but that is exactly the type of candidate that could have a chance beating Obama. Newt and Rick are so far right they will alienate the swing voters and give Obama the vicotry. I assume the far right would still vote for Mitt over Obama and Mitt actually would have a good chance at capturing the independent vote, at least more so than Rick or Newt. Just curious how they plan on attracting these key voters.
Here in Iowa my Mom was killed by an illegal alien (already a convicted felon) driving with no driver's license. My husband and Dad were critically injured. What would you do so that another family does not have to go through the tragedy we have lived through?
Any person could perpetrate this crime. My condolences to your family... but the criminal's status as an immigrant has nothing to do with the accident, and I hope that your personal grief will not translate into anti-immigrant sentiment.
The Obama administration has filed lawsuits against several states including South Carolina in an effort to block their ability to protect their citizens from illegal immigration. If elected, will you drop these lawsuits?
In June, the Obama administration announced a new policy of "prosecutorial discretion," resulting in the dismissal tens of thousands of deportation cases against illegal aliens...at a time when 1 in 6 Americans is out of work.
If elected, would you drop this new policy and begin enforcing immigration laws again?
Mexico just announced that since December 2006, more than 47,000 people have been killed in that country's ongoing war between the drug cartels. With the recent incidences of violence towards U.S. law enforcement and even beheadings in this country...Would you use the military to combat this growing threat?
I think you are referring to a statement by Arizona governor Jan Brewer that there were headless bodies in the stte. This was not true. During the past week, a body with no head, hands, or feet was found in the Tucson area, but there is no evidence of Mexican cartel involvement.
Only one candidate, Newt Gingrich, has signed the pledge to finish the double-layered fence along the U.S./Mexican border as authorized in the Secure Fence Act of 2006. The Obama administration has halted construction on it and we currently have only 35 miles of such fencing along the nearly 2,000 mille-long border.
Would the rest of you do the same as Gingrich and vow to finish the fence?
Several cities around the country have enacted "Sanctuary" policies for illegal aliens. As such, they do not turn over illegal aliens who have been arrested by local police and refuse to participate in the federal identification program known as Secure Communities. These often violent criminals and drunk drivers make bail and head right back onto our streets.
Would you withhold federal funds from these cities until they comply with the law?
Mr. Romney,
In one of the previous debates, you said that you would "staple a green card to every diploma."
At a time when actual unemployment in this country is close to 17 percent and a record number of Americans are on food stamps...Don't you think it's time to focus on finding ways to get Americans back to work rather than further displacing them with foreign workers?
Our national security should be a very high priority for anyone running for office. We have hundreds of illegal aliens crossing our border every day; we know nothing about their backgrounds or their intentions. Our own government is actually thwarting our laws and putting weapons in the hands of our enemies (Fast and Furious).
What do you propose to do to stop illegal entry, enforce our laws, and punish those government officials who shred our constitution?
IF THE ILEGALS are allowed to stay and collect all health section 8 and medical and work as well and send all funds home (reported billions) with 20 million americans of all race and color are out of work and near poverty . why would they be rewarded green cards and work visas does not make sense ( we know its for votes ) but would they get in trouble for welfare fraud or continue there free ride while americans suffer after they receive green cards..
John, Please ask the candidates this question tonight? Thanks!
If South Carolina is supposed to be such a conservative CHRISTIAN state, why are they so against Ron Paul's pro-peace stance on foreign policy? Maybe the real question about dealing with Iran and the Middle East should be...WWJD?
My question is to former Governor Romney. Gov. Romney, I owned and operated a small business and while I take credit for the work I did while running that company, I never considered what happened afterwards to be credited to me. How can you justify the 120,000 jobs that you claim were created as a result of your work at Bain, and more importantly can you give an actual number of jobs that you personally created or were created while you were actually at Bain?
Mr. Gingrich,
There have been several issues (marital affair, received 1.6 million as a consultant to Freddie and Fannie and fined 300,000 dollars as Speaker of The House) that are legitimate concerns to voters concerning your integrity. What can you say to voters to address those concerns?
How much more does amnesty for illegals cost than enforcement?
Amnesty Costs 70 Times More Than Enforcement http://bit.ly/adMGiz
Is our current level of legal immigration beyond what America can absorb?
Immigration, World Poverty and Gumballs (5 min) http://bit.ly/bQxRRZ
Is the rumor true that immigrants pay more into the IRS than is paid out to them?
http://cis.org/child-tax-credits-2011
Gangs are now a serious problem in nearly every city in America. Which ones commit the most crime?
http://bit.ly/d1O5ce
Where did the Dept of Transportation get the authority to hand out $1.6 Million to pay La Raza for Communist murals in Tucson, Arizona?
http://dlvr.it/1667kV
Given that 1 out of every 3 Construction jobs in the USA is currently taken by an Illegal Alien, what are you, in a concrete manner, prepared to do to re-capture that 33% of Construction jobs for American citizens, given real world unemployment is 11%-12%?
Why is it not a Felony to enter a sovereign nation without permission, but other countries do–including Mexico?
Please ask the presidential contenders why is it taking so long for Republican House lawmakers, to co-sponsor the Sen. Lamar Smith's " Legal Workforce Act"( H.R. 2885) known as Mandatory E-Verify Bill to cut off illegal aliens stealing jobs in the workplace. In addition where are the Congressional sponsors for Steve King’s (R-IA) Birthright Citizenship Act of 2011 (H.R.140) that would sever the immediate citizenship of babies smuggled into America, to take advantage of our lax welfare programs?
Will any of you actually place in your cabinet NO Council on Foreign Relations member
Newt Gingrich: you said everything is open for debate, how can you pass any judgment upon Mitt for anything, when you have lived a very twisted life, when it comes to relationships you can not compare to Mitt and i am not a Mormon.
Can you explain ?
According to Pew Hispanic, 7-8 million illegal aliens hold US jobs, yet the government has not implemented universal E-Verify to check the legality of workers.
If those jobs (mostly non-agricultural) were freed up, half of American joblessness could be ended.
Will the candidates pledge to liberate jobs held by illegals so the positions can be taken by citizens and legal immigrants?
Why are the benefits from obama for economic recovery rewarding the irresponsible people, while we who are trying to be responsible and pay our debts dont qualify and are being left out. We are sufferring.
I recieved a call from a computer that asked me if I am taking advantage of Obamas plan to reduce home loan interests rates as low as 2%. I called back to talk to someone real and they said because I am not late on my house payments I do not qualify. I do not qualify for a reduction in my interest rate on my mortagage although I am barely making the mtg payment and I have to sacrifice in other areas. If i was a deadbeat i can get lower interest rates and free up my money because Obama gave the major banks millions that I need and all I have to do is ruin my credit and get behind on my house payments. What are you going to do about this system?
Since my husband died I have to work two jobs to feed child while big families are rewarded especially mexicans and illegals. I need to know what candidate will pass tough illegal immigration laws so we can get our jobs back and we can stop waiting behind illegals to get welfare and new cars, and houses, and all the benefits we deserve. We are starving and the immigrants are treated better than we are. My child is barely over the poverty level by virtue of my husbands death which gives me social security. However, I am not living beyound my means and I am barely making ends meet. But I see these kids and families getting benifits that I need and I am so furious.
WHAT SACRIFICES HAS MITT ROMNEY MADE?
Mitt Romney wanted the troops to stay in Iraq, yet none of his five sons are in the military.
Mitt Romney says the American people need to make sacrifices.
What sacrifices has he or his family made? Why does he want to leave other peoples’ children in Iraq while his are safe and wealthy at home?
Mr. Romney: you repeatedly state that you know how to create jobs. Please give us 3 examples of methods you would use to create jobs that are different from what is being done by the present administration.
We hear a lot of bashing of Obamacare in these debates and of the importance of repealing Obamacare. Do you have a specific plan to replace Obamacare and could you give us some of the key points of your plan?
I am concerned about the President appointing government leaders without the required approval of the Senate. Could you give us your view on this issue and would you follow the law in your appointment of government officials?
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is a human rights treaty setting out the civil, political, economic, social, health and cultural rights of children.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention and opened it for signature on 20 November 1989. As of November 2009, 194 countries have ratified it, including every member of the United Nations except Somalia and the United States of America. Somalia's cabinet ministers had announced plans to ratify the treaty.
As pro-life candidates, do you support this treaty and would you be a eader to urge Senate approval.
If noticed that Mr Romney starts every answer with the name Obama. i would like to see if its possible for him to give an answer with out naming President Obama
Do you support the Common Core State Standards Initiative? Why or Why Not?
To all candidates when you become "President " how will you bring the two parties together? Also would you use any of the other candidates to be in your adminstration because they all have great ideas to get this country back on track.
Governor Romney, we're not stupid. We know that by the time your 2011 return is prepared and released that it can be managed to give the best possible impressions. Please put on your big boy pants and release NOW 12 years of returns like your father did. Don't act so superior about this. (You could also stop reducing as many questions as possible to comments designed to get applause.)
My question is can newt Gingrich answer any question with being condescending to the questioner or the majority of the public.?
Why is it that this congress and presidents past and present refuse to follow the constitution regarding Illegal immigration.
American workers and families are suffering with the invasion of millions of illegal aliens. Americans want a better life for our families and since this is our country why are we being treated as the crimminals and denied jobs that are located in the USA. Both parties are guilty of destroying the soverignty of this country and the Citizens .
How will your leadership skills restore a "working and productive" representative government? Why have the recent debates not addressed education reform?
i live in ohio whitch everyone knows can go either way, id say 80% of the people i talk to say if ron paul ran as a third party they would vote for him.. Because they are tierd of both republicans and democrats.. So my question will you run RON
Ask Mitt Romney what the purpose is in keeping assets in The Cayman Islands instead of in the United States. Thank you.
Why is America not buying oil from Canada,Canada say's they will look to China to sell their oil why aren't the canidates talking about this.
Romeny: Do you accept the Ryan plan on Medicare? Do you agree with establishing a voucher system for Medicare?
With the continue amount of Illegal Aliens of 20 million plus and with more coming over the fence. This along should be a very important matter for condiates to figure how to stop....this along is causing serious revenue problems to the states. Why don't you committ to stop Illegal Aliens here, and pressure them to go home and come the correct way...
how do i post question for possible consideration on tonights debate?????? loosing time-ty
the gop were in 100% control for 8 yrs,you see what happen to our dept,why will gop change it 2012?
IM from Indiana and we are wondering the same thin,,at least alot of people are Ron Paul will you run as a third party?
All candidates: Will you promote the enactment of a federal 'right to work program'?
to all candidates: DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE USA RUNS THIS COUNTRY? IF SO , WHY?
with the economy still losing jobs, why not impose a one-year moratorium on plant closings until we can stabilize the economy. Richard Nixon imposed price controls to rein in inflation, why cant we take extraordinary measures for our economic emergency
You briefly discussed the manufacturing environment. There are currently institutions within the government that make it next to impossible to manufacture components criticly essential the the wellfare of our nation, i.e. electric power transformers and several others. Can and will you as President, effect change in these agencies that will allow and encourage companies to manufacture these critical components within the U.S. borders again.
If elected, would you support a constitutional amendment that says that congress is subject to all laws it passes and cannot exclude itself from these laws.
throughout past several debates all running republician canidateshave quoted declaration of indepedence-right to life libert y persuit happiness-also all prolife stance–as president of U.S what would each canidate position on death penalty???especially now with cost related to death penalty and controversy over availabilty of leathal injection medication???? help i want to know what the last 4 canidates position is/would be.--thank-you–sorry can not type that well.
To all candidates:
Where do you stand on U.S. sovereignty in light of Pres. Obamas executive order of U. N. Agenda 21? Would you stand against further slide into global control?
55 million Americans draw social security yet we only have 40 millions American 65 years or older. This tells me that 15 million Americans or 30% of the money is going to people who are not retired. Why is this never discussed?
The shortfall in the social security program is fixable if we will simply stop funding non retirees.
In addition, we have approxmately 10 million people working here illegally. If they are working illegally they must be paid contract labor. This means millions of illegals are not paying social security. This is fixable and will put billions into the social security program.
so....you are elected; the Senate and House remain unchanged.It's payback time from the Democrats regarding the Republican party of "no". Just how are you going to reverse the gridlock?
I was appalled to hear Santorum make a radical u-turn on his views about illegal immigrants tonight. In one of his very early debates he sounded more like Gingrich tonight and buttressed his call for a humane approach by saying his grandfather was an immigrant. I believe he sounded like Bachman tonight because he wanted to differ from Gingrich. His new stance is a regrettable ploy and doubly regrettable coming from a Catholic.
I wonder why non of his opponents remembered and called him out on this flip flop!
How will you reduce the deficit. What specific programs will you cut ? Do you see a need to raise taxes ? Entitlements make of a majority of our budget. Are you willing to spread the pain around to balance the budget ?
what is the one thing each candidate has done right. choose one candidate