TRUMP MAKES FINAL DECREE ON RUN AS INDEPENDENT
Republicans debate in Vegas as America's attention turns to national security
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GOP front-runner Donald Trump (Photo: Twitter)
By Chelsea Schilling and Garth Kant
In the fifth and final GOP debate of 2015, Republican front-runner Donald Trump pledged he would remain loyal to the party and not run as an independent.
With America less than 50 days away from the first votes of the 2016 election season, the Republican candidates converged on Las Vegas Tuesday for a high-stakes debate that could make or break their chances of winning the White House.
CNN hosted the debate at the Venetian hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. CNN’s Wolf Blitzer moderated the main event. CNN’s Dana Bash and Salem Radio Network’s Hugh Hewitt served as panelists. The following nine candidates appeared at the prime-time debate: Trump, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Dr. Ben Carson, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul.
Trump ended speculation that he might run as a third-party candidate when Hewitt asked, “Are you ready to reassure Republicans tonight that you will run as a Republican and abide by the decision of the Republicans?”
“I really am. I’ll be honest, I really am,” was Trump decisive response.
Hewitt joined the audience in applauding. Then Trump explained, “I’ve gained great respect for the Republican leadership. I’ve gained great respect for many, I’m even going to say all, in different forms, for the people on the dais. In different forms. I have great respect for the people I’ve met through this process. I’ve never done this process before. I’ve never been a politician. I mean, for the last six months, I’ve been a politician.
“But, I will tell you. I am totally committed to the Republican Party. I feel very honored to be the front-runner. And I think I’ll do very well if I’m chosen. If I’m so fortunate to be chosen, I think I’ll do very well.
“I’ve gained great respect for the Republican leadership,” Trump said. “If I’m so fortunate to be chosen, I think I’ll do very well.”
Trump reasserted his promise after the debate, insisting he’d run as a Republican “no matter what.”
Watch Trump’s pledge to not run as a third-party candidate:
Cruz and Trump are locked in a two-man race in Iowa, with Cruz leading in those polls. Nationally, Cruz is still lagging far behind Trump, who hit a new high of 41 percent in a Monmouth University poll conducted Dec. 10-13.
Trump's surge came after the GOP front-runner proposed a temporary ban on Muslims entering the U.S. until Congress can get a handle on the issue of terror.
Trump's ban on non-American Muslims entering the U.S.
The very first question was about Trump's call for the ban on Muslims entering the U.S.
Blitzer somewhat incongruously asked the front-runner, "Is the best way to make America great again to isolate it from much of the rest of the world?"
Watch Trump's response:
Trump took issue with the implication and responded, "We are not talking about isolation. We're talking about security. We're not talking about religion. We're talking about security.
"Our country is out of control. People are pouring across the southern border. I will build a wall. It will be a great wall. People will not come in unless they come in legally. Drugs will not pour through that wall.
"As far as other people, like, in the migration, where they're going – tens of thousand of people having cell phones with ISIS flags on them? I don't think so, Wolf. They're not coming to this country. And if I'm president and if Obama has brought some to this country, they are leaving. They're going. They're gone."
Then Bush ripped into the front-runner and his plan: "Donald is great at the one-liners, but he's a chaos candidate. He'd be a chaos president." Bush said Trump wouldn't keep America safe.
That attack caused Trump to fire back at Jeb, saying the former Florida governor has failed in his campaign for president: "I don't want our country taken away from us, and that's what's happening. … We want to make America great again. And Jeb, he doesn't want to do that."
In the month since the Republican contenders last squared off at a debate, America has seen a heightened focus on national security following the Nov. 13 Paris terror attacks and the Dec. 2 San Bernardino, California, massacre by terrorists in which 14 people were killed and 22 injured.
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Paul shreds Rubio on privacy vs. security in fighting terror
After an exchange between Cruz and Rubio on balancing privacy versus security when it comes to domestic spying, Rand Paul delivered a powerful blow to the Florida senator, eliciting some of the biggest cheers of the night.
Asked why it was "hogwash" to say the U.S. needs increased surveillance by law enforcement, Paul responded: "You know, I think Marco gets it completely wrong. We aren't any safer through the bulk collection of all Americans' records. In fact, I think we are less safe.
"We get so distracted by all of the information, we're not spending enough time getting specific information on terrorists. The other thing is, the one thing that might have stopped San Bernardino and might have stopped 9/11, would've been stricter controls on those who came here."
Watch Paul's smack-down of Rubio:
Paul continued: "And Marco has opposed, at every point, increased border security for those who come to our country. On his 'Gang of Eight' bill, he would have liberalized immigration, but he steadfastly opposed any new border security requirements for refugees or students.
"Last week, I introduced another bill saying we need more security; we need more scrutiny. Once again, Marco opposed this. So Marco can't have it both ways. He thinks he wants to be this, 'Oh I'm great and strong and national defense.'
"But he's the weakest of all the candidates on immigration. He is the one for an open border that is leaving us defenseless. If we want to defend the country, we have to defend against who's coming in. And Marco has more of an allegiance to Chuck Schumer and to the liberals than he does to conservative policy."
Rubio simply smirked as the crowd erupted in a roar of applause.
Kill ISIS' family members?
As WND reported earlier this month, Trump declared his plan for deterring Islamic terrorists: Target their families.
Asked if his suggestion to kill ISIS family members violated international law prohibitions against killing non-combatants, and whether that would make the U.S. any better than the terrorists, Trump responded: "We have to be much tougher. We have to be much stronger than we've been.
"We have people that know what's going on. You take a look at just the attack in California the other day. There were numerous people, including the mother, that knew what was going on. They saw pipe bombs sitting all over the floor. They saw ammunition all over the place. They knew exactly what was going on.'
"When you had the World Trade Center go, people were put into planes that had friends, family, girlfriends, and they were put into planes and they were sent back, for the most part, to Saudi Arabia. They knew what was going on. They went home, and they wanted to watch their boyfriends on television.
"I would be very, very firm with families. And, frankly, that will make people think. Because they may not care much about their lives, but they do care, believe it or not, about their families' lives."
Bush then disagreed, calling Trump's idea "just crazy" and "another example of the lack of seriousness."
Watch the heated exchange between Trump and Bush:
Trump countered, "Look, the problem is we need toughness. Honestly, I think Jeb is a very nice person. He's a very nice person. But we need tough people. We need toughness. We need intelligence, and we need tough."
"Jeb said when [illegal immigrants] come across the southern border, they come as an act of love."
That comment apparently touched a nerve because what followed was a heated exchange.
After the two went back and forth a bit, Trump continued, "We need a toughness. We need strength. We're not respected as a nation anymore. We don't have that level of respect we need. And if we don't get it back fast, we're just going to get weaker and weaker and just disintegrate. We can't allow that to happen. We need strength. We don't have it."
Kill innocent civilians in war on ISIS?
Hugh Hewitt noted Carson's great accomplishments as a brain surgeon and his pleasant personality, but said, "People wonder, could you order airstrikes that would kill innocent children?" He continued, "Could you wage war as commander in chief?"
Carson's initial response was muted, so Hewitt followed up by asking if he could be as "ruthless" as former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and order airstrikes that could kill thousands of innocent civilians.
"'Ruthless' is not necessarily the word I would use," replied the neurosurgeon.
"But tough, resolute, understanding what the problems are, and understanding that the job of the president of the United States is to protect the people of this country and to do what is necessary in order to get it done."
'Closing the Internet' on ISIS
Trump heard some boos from the audience, but he turned it around and rebuked the crowd.
The moment came while Trump was discussing how he would track terrorists over the Internet.
"I'm not talking about closing the Internet," the real-estate mogul said. "I'm talking about parts of Syria, parts of Iraq, where ISIS is, spotting it. Now you could close it. What I like even better is getting our smartest and getting our best to infiltrate their Internet so that we know exactly where they’re going to be. I like that better."
At that point, there was a smattering of light cheers mixed with boos from the crowd. Trump noted the booing and was incredulous.
"Who would be – I just can’t imagine somebody booing," he said. "These are people that want to kill us, folks, and you’re objecting to us infiltrating their conversations? I don't think so. I don't think so."
Trump's response drew louder cheers that drowned out any boos.
The whole exchange began when Paul attempted to paint Trump as unserious because of Trump’s position on the Internet.
"If you’re going to shut down the Internet, realize America what that entails: That entails getting rid of the First Amendment," Paul pleaded. "It's no small feat. If you are going to kill the families of terrorists, realize that there's something called the Geneva Convention we’re going to have to pull out of." (In fact, many experts argue the Geneva Conventions do not apply to terrorists.)
Paul continued: "It would defy every norm that is America, so if you ask yourself, whoever you are, if you support Donald Trump, think, do you believe in the Constitution? Are you going to change the Constitution?"
Trump responded, "So they can kill us, but we can’t kill them? That’s what you’re saying?"
Cruz vs. Rubio on immigration policy
Bash asked Cruz his immigration plan is similar to that of Rubio, whose plan has often been described as "amnesty."
Cruz said it's not similar at all and that he opposed amnesty.
He also promised to build a wall on the border and quipped, "And I'll get Donald Trump to pay for it."
Rubio accused Cruz of supporting "legalizing people who are in this country illegally."
Cruz responded, "It is not accurate," and, "Indeed, I led the fight against his legalization and amnesty bill.
"He was fighting to grant amnesty and not to secure the border. I was fighting to secure the border.
"And this also goes to trust," added Cruz. "Listen, on campaign trails, candidates all the time make promises. Marco said he learned the American people didn't trust the federal government."
The two then testily spoke over each other, contradicting each other on who said what.
"Does Ted Cruz rule out ever legalizing people who are in this country illegally?" asked Rubio.
"I have never supported legalization ..." began Cruz.
"Do you rule it out?" interjected Rubio, like a lawyer grilling a witness.
"I have never supported legalization," reiterated Cruz, adding, "And I do not intend to support legalization."
"What you do is you enforce the law. I've laid out a very, very detailed immigration plan on my website."
'Happy hour': Islamic terror and a love song for G.W.
CNN also hosted an undercard or "happy hour" debate at 6 p.m. EST featuring the following GOP candidates who failed to qualify for the main event due to low performance in the polls: former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham and New York Gov. George Pataki.
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Dec. 15 undercard GOP debate (Photo: screenshot)
In that event, the candidates were asked about their views of Trump's temporary ban on Muslims entering the U.S.
"You may think this makes us safe, but it doesn't," Graham said. "This is a religious war between radical Islam and the rest of the world. … Help people in Islam who reject radical Islam to fight over there and destroy the ideology."
Graham told the world's Muslims, "I am sorry. [Trump] doesn't represent us. … Declaring war on the religion only helps ISIL. ... What he said about banning Muslims has made us less safe."
Pataki said Trump's plan is "un-American, unconstitutional and it's wrong. ... Donald Trump is the know-nothing candidate of the 21st century and cannot be our nominee."
Referring to Trump's call, CNN moderator Blitzer asked Santorum, "You've made religious liberty a hallmark of your career. Do you believe in religious liberty for Muslims as well as Christians?"
"Of course I do," responded the former senator. "What Donald Trump was saying was nothing against Muslims. His comment was against this administration, who doesn't have a policy to properly vet people coming into this country. Let's just be honest about what's being talked about here."
Watch Santorum's comments:
As the crowd broke into applause, Santorum continued, "I know people will pile on because it makes sense to pile on, maybe from the polls. But he brings up a legitimate issue. The fact of the matter is, not all Muslims are jihadists, and no one, including Donald Trump, I suspect, would say that. But the reality is, all jihadists are Muslims. That's a reality."
After pausing a beat for more applause, he added, "And we have to stop worry about offending some people and start defending all Americans, because we're not right now."
Graham also appeared to have a bit of a meltdown near the end of the debate.
He took a swipe at Russian President Vladamir Putin quipping, "I'm not afraid of a guy riding around on a horse without his shirt. The guy's got a pair of twos and we've got a full house and he's walking all over Obama."
He then defended Obama's predecessor, insisting, "The surge worked. It worked. George W. Bush made mistakes but he did adjust. I blame Obama for ISIL, not Bush."
Working himself into a fever pitch, Graham exclaimed, "I am tired of beating on Bush. I miss George W. Bush! I wish you were president right now! We wouldn't be in this mess! I am tired of dictators walking all over us. I am tired of siding with the Iranians and the Russians."
Watch Graham:
America's attention turned to terror, national security
In recent weeks, America's attention has turned from a focus on the anemic economy to a deep concern for national security in the wake of terrorist attacks in San Bernardino, California, and Paris.
A recent Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll showed 42 percent of Republicans support Trump's plan to temporarily ban Muslim entry into the U.S., along with 11 percent of Democrats and 30 percent of independents.
image: http://www.wnd.com/files/2015/12/Malik-e1449275967118.png
Syed Farook (left) and wife, Tashfeen Malik (right)
As WND reported, Syed Farook and his jihadist wife, Tashfeen Malik, slaughtered 14 people and injured 21 at a Dec. 2 Christmas party in San Bernardino. Shortly after the massacre, the two used Facebook to declare their allegiance to ISIS.
Farook had managed to fly to Pakistan and Saudi Arabia under the radar of federal authorities in 2014. Farook's father said the jihadi had extremist views, hated Israel and had declared that "Islam will rule the world."
In 2012 and 2014, before Malik came to the U.S. on a K-1 fiancee visa in July 2014, she sent Facebook messages to her friends pledging her support for Islamic jihad.
On Monday came news that the Department of Homeland Security has been monitoring Americans' social media accounts, while banning agents from checking the accounts of visa applicants for signs of possible terrorist leanings.
In October, FBI Director James Comey warned that the federal government doesn't have the ability to thoroughly vet the 10,000 Syrian refugees President Obama has said he will bring into America.
"We can only query against that which we have collected," Comey said. "And, so if someone has never made a ripple in the pond in Syria in a way that would get their identity or their interest reflected in our database, we can query our database until the cows come home, but there will be nothing [to] show up because we have no record of them."
Comey also revealed that ISIS "has the capability to manufacture fraudulent passports."
House Homeland Security Chairman Mike McCaul added, "ISIS has said in its own words that they want to exploit the refugee process to infiltrate the West. And, they did exactly that to attack Paris. I can reveal today that the United States government has information to indicate that individuals tied to terrorist groups in Syria have already attempted to gain access to our country through the U.S. refugee program."
McCaul has been warning since January that he believes Obama's refugee program, which has been sending roughly between 40,000 and 150,000 foreign refugees to American cities per year over the past 35 years, could be exploited as a "back door for jihadists" into the U.S.
Obama wants to increase the number of refugees coming into the U.S. from 70,000 a year to 85,000 this year and 100,000 the following year. At least half of all the refugees come from Muslim-dominated countries such as Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sudan, Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo and other countries with jihadist movements.
As WND reported, Somali-American Mohammed Hassan – who was either a refugee or a son of a refugee living in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is a known terrorist recruiter for ISIS – had direct communication with San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook.
On Monday, federal authorities said Maryland man Mohamed Elshinawy is being charged with providing support to ISIS and accepting money to carry out a terror attack in the U.S. Elshinawy had pledged allegiance to ISIS in February.
By Tuesday, the Los Angeles Unified School District had closed all of its schools after reporting it received a "credible terror threat" involving "explosive devices," "assault rifles" and "machine pistols." New York City's school system said it received a nearly identical threat, but New York Police Commissioner William Bratton dismissed it as a "hoax." LAUSD said it planned to search all of its 900 schools.
Copyright 2015 WND
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