Romney: U.S. Energy Policy “Makes No Sense”

January 17, 2012 Leave a comment

Mitt Romney at a FOX News Interview after the Debate

Mitt Romney at a FOX News interview after the debate

By Lauren Appelbaum, Political Director

Myrtle Beach, S.C., Jan. 17 – During the FOX News / Wall Street Journal debate last night, Gov. Mitt Romney called for using more of the U.S.’s own resources when it comes to an energy policy.

“We have an energy policy that doesn’t take advantage of our natural resources. That makes no sense. We need our oil, our coal, our gas, our nuclear.”

Eric Fehrnstrom, an advisor for Romney’s campaign, elaborated on the issue a little more.

“He believes in an all-of-the-above energy policy that we should be pursuing not only more aggressive exploration of our domestic oil resources but alternative energy resources and that we ought to drill more,” Fehrnstrom said in the spin room after the debate. “In Anwar, there’s an area that he thinks should be opened up to exploration. He believes we should do this, of course, not only to reduce our independence on foreign oil but also to make us more energy secure as a nation.”

Filed under GOP Primary, Mitt Romney Tagged with , , , , ,

Last Night’s Debate: Candidates speak out on the Middle East

January 17, 2012 Leave a comment

Republican Presidential Candidates at the FOX News / Wall Street Journal Debate

Republican Presidential Candidates at the FOX News / Wall Street Journal Debate

By Lauren Appelbaum, Political Director

Myrtle Beach, S.C., Jan. 17 – Several of the remaining Republican presidential candidates spoke about foreign policy issues concerning the Middle East at the FOX News / Wall Street Journal debate last night.

Asked about Turkey, Gov. Rick Perry said it is “time for us to have a conversation about whether or not they belong to be in NATO.” In addition, Perry called for zeroing out aid to Turkey, a statement he has said several times during the campaign season regarding foreign aid to all countries. “We need to send a powerful message to countries like Iran, and Syria and Turkey that the United States is serious and that we’re going to have to be dealt with.”

Sen. Rick Santorum called Syria and President Bashar al-Assad a threat to Israel. He called for working with the international community and the Arab League to remove Assad from power. But he stopped short of calling for military action. “As far as a military mission on our own, no, I do not support a military mission into Syria, but we should be much more aggressive in following through with policies that effectuate the removal of Assad for the benefit of the Syrian people and for our neighbor — and for their neighbor, Israel.”

Perry also spoke about Israel, receiving applause for stating “there should be no space between the United States and Israel, period.”

Rep. Ron Paul discussed “a difference between military spending and defense spending.”  For reference on Paul’s assertion of two sorts of defense expenditures, read the Department of Defense budget for the 2012 fiscal year. Paul’s campaign later sent out an email with the subject line: “Paul’s Plan DOES NOT Freeze Pentagon Budget.” What the plan does do, however, is end foreign wars, foreign aid and welfare.

Filed under Arab Spring, GOP Primary, Israel, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul, Syria Tagged with , , , , , , , , ,

In Frank Luntz’s shoes

January 17, 2012 Leave a comment

By Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, Publisher

Myrtle Beach, S.C., Jan. 17 – If Frank Luntz’s shoes could talk, they’d have a lot to say.

Luntz, political consultant and pollster, is ubiquitous in the 2012 campaign cycle. From dial testing on FOX News to hosting campaign forums that make Newt Gingrich cry (and other candidates spill their guts out on national television) Luntz is everywhere.

Frank Luntz' Shoes During Republican Primary Presidential Debate

Before the cameras start rolling on Frank Luntz’s events, he gets the live audience rolling in the aisles, largely by making fun of the fact that he is, well…how to put it nicely? Large. Several of the events Luntz moderated (which were shown live on CSPAN and other outlets) were for CafeMom – including two yesterday with Gov. Rick Perry and Sen. Rick Santorum. Of course, an event hosted in a food place where Frank Luntz makes joke about all the food he eats. How more perfect can it get?

But beyond the foodjokes are Frank Luntz’s shoes. They’ve seen a lot, and they are a lot to see. He’s mastered a shtick about his horrible colored track shoes which go from one odious color combination to the next. During Perry’s CafeMom event yesterday, which aired live on CSPAN, Luntz tried to have a contest with the Texas governor about who had more interesting footwear. Perry won the contest.

Filed under GOP Primary Tagged with , ,

Gingrich: Obama committed “biggest act of weakness”

January 16, 2012 3 Comments

By Lauren Appelbaum, Political Director

Newt Gingrich

Newt Gingrich at a Townhall in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Myrtle Beach, S.C., Jan. 16 – Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich attacked President Obama for postponing a joint military exercise with Israel amid growing tensions with Iran. Iran has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz if sanctions are imposed against its oil sales.

“In the face of this deliberate aggressive provocation, the Obama administration this morning announced that they were canceling an exercise with the Israelis to avoid irritating the Iranians,” Gingrich said to loud cheers and applause from the crowd at his town hall held at the Rioz Brazilian Steakhouse in Myrtle Beach, S.C. “I believe this is the biggest act of weakness by any American president in my lifetime.”

“When you have a bully like the Iranian dictatorship and you back down, you increase the likelihood that they are going to take bigger and bigger risks. I mean, this is exactly the wrong thing for us to be doing. We would have been much better off to have sent U.S. naval ships through the Straits (of Hormuz) to remind the Iranians that we will keep the Straits open and to have deliberately done the exercise.”

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Filed under Barack Obama, GOP Primary, Iran, Newt Gingrich Tagged with , , , , ,

Perry: Bring Iran to their knees

January 16, 2012 1 Comment

By Lauren Appelbaum, Political Director

Rick Perry at the Cafe Mom Townhall

Myrtle Beach, S.C., Jan. 16 – Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry stressed he would use military force against Iran if needed. “Let me share with you this – having worn that uniform and having right knowledge about our power and our ability, we will go strike, we will go strike hard, we will use everything. Forget about political correctness. From my standpoint, it’s about winning.”

Perry also expressed his displeasure about how the Obama administration is handling Iran.

“I’m really concerned about this administration and their lukewarm approach to what’s going on in the Middle East,” Perry said to a group of mothers during a CafeMom Townhall. He said he would use every tool – civic, overt, covert, sanctions.

Perry said the U.S. should have been sanctioning the Iran Central Bank for years and should have stronger sanctions now. “Bring them to their knees if that’s what’s required.”

The townhall was co-hosted by Lindsay Ferrier, CafeMom’s election correspondent, and Frank Luntz, political consultant and pollster.

Filed under GOP Primary, Iran, Rick Perry Tagged with , , , , , , , , ,

Paul: “We need to get tougher for America”

January 16, 2012 Leave a comment

TIP on the Trail's Publisher Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi Asks Ron Paul About Iran

Myrtle Beach, S.C., Jan. 16 – TIP on the Trails’ Publisher Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi had an opportunity to ask Rep. Ron Paul about Iran, saying “I’d love to see you get tougher on Iran.”

Ron Paul’s response: “We need to get tougher for America.”

Filed under GOP Primary, Iran, Ron Paul Tagged with , , , , ,

Santorum: Iran is World’s Greatest Threat

January 16, 2012 1 Comment

By Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, Publisher

Rick Santorum taking a phone call before CafeMom Town Hall in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Myrtle Beach, S.C., Jan. 16 – Addressing a group of mothers, Sen. Rick Santorum and his wife spoke again about the threat of Iran. The former Pennsylvania senator said he does not want to “take down Iran,” but rather to “take out their nuclear capacities.” He expanded to talk about Iran’s radical theocracy and the dangers of Iran having a nuclear weapon act as a “nuclear shield.” Calling Iran the world’s greatest threat, Santorum detailed some of Iran’s work in Latin America, especially with countries that want to harm America. When asked if they would want their sons to serve in the military, Mrs. Karen Santorum told pollster Frank Luntz and the audience that she would be very proud if one of their sons dropped a bomb that ended Iran’s nuclear program.

The townhall was co-hosted by Lindsay Ferrier, CafeMom’s election correspondent, and Frank Luntz, political consultant and pollster.

Filed under GOP Primary, Iran, Rick Santorum Tagged with , , , , , , , , , ,

Paul: “We don’t need to go into Iran at this point”

January 16, 2012 1 Comment

By Lauren Appelbaum, Political Director

North Myrtle Beach, S.C., Jan. 15 –Facing massive criticism from other candidates, Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul is reasserting his non-interventionist foreign policy and redoubling his opposition to military action to stop Iran’s nuclear weapons program.

Ron Paul in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Ron Paul in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

“We today now hear the saber rattling about why we need to go into Iran,” Paul said at an event in which he won the endorsement of South Carolina State Sen. Tom Davis. “I’ll tell you what, my strong opinion is, we don’t need to go into Iran at this point.”

“Does this mean I don’t care about it,” Paul continued. “I care a whole about them. I care if they get a nuclear weapon. I’d like to see a lot less nuclear weapons in the world, not more any place.”

“But Secretary Panetta just said this week that they’re not on the verge of getting a weapon. The Mossad, of Israel, said they’re not on the verge of getting a nuclear weapon. And if they did get a nuclear weapon, it would not be an existential threat to Israel. Now, that’s coming from Israel. I would think we should have at least as much debate here as they have in Israel.” Read more of this post

Filed under GOP Primary, Iran, Israel, Ron Paul Tagged with , , , , , , , , ,

Santorum, Perry Court Social Conservatives

January 15, 2012 Leave a comment

Sen. Rick Santorum at Faith and Freedom Coalition Prayer Breakfast

By Lauren Appelbaum, Political Director

Myrtle  Beach, S.C., Jan. 15 – The day after Sen. Rick Santorum won the backing of 150 evangelical leaders, which was a political blow for fellow Republican presidential candidate Gov. Rick Perry, both men addressed the Faith and Freedom Coalition Prayer Breakfast in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Gov. Rick Perry at Faith and Freedom Coalition Prayer Breakfast

“I was very blessed yesterday that a group of conservative leaders, about 150 or so, got together and in many ways miraculously were able to come together,” Santorum said to the nearly 300 attendees at the breakfast. “I don’t think that ever happens with a group of Christian leaders. They were able to miraculously come together and stand in support of my candidacy.”

Yesterday in Georgetown, S.C., Perry ignored a reporter when she asked how he felt about the group of prominent evangelical leaders endorsing Santorum.

UPDATE: Later on Sunday, Perry responded to the question on CNN’s State of the Union. “Obviously you’d like to get every endorsement of the groups that are in line with your beliefs,” Perry said to Candy Crowley. “But you’re not going to do that. So our focus is on the people of South Carolina.”
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Filed under GOP Primary, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Perry: I love Israel “with all my heart”

January 14, 2012 2 Comments

Rick Perry poses with Georgetown resident Linda Harper and her Jerusalem flag

Rick Perry poses with Georgetown resident Linda Harper and her Jerusalem flag

By Lauren Appelbaum, Political Director

Georgetown, S.C., Jan. 14 – During a main street walk in Georgetown, S.C., a woman approached Gov. Rick Perry with a question she considers very important to her: “Do you love Israel?”

Perry responded, “Yes, I do, with all my heart.”

And that was what it took for Georgetown, S.C., resident Linda Harper to put her support behind Rick Perry in South Carolina’s upcoming primary scheduled for Jan. 21.

“I feel that Rick Perry is the most pro-Israel,” Harper said after speaking with the former Texas governor at the Augustus Caroline Fine Furnishings and Antiques store. She said she was impressed that her question did not catch him off-guard and he immediately affirmed his support for Israel.

“Then later he took pictures of me with the Jerusalem flag, twice,” Harper continued. “I feel that if a candidate is willing to take a picture for the world to see with Jerusalem, that it’s not just words, that he’s really truly serious because he’s taking that stand.”

After the main street walk where he interacted one-on-one with many of the more than 40 voters who joined Perry for the walk through several of the stores on Front Street, Perry gave an interview to the Savage Report where he talked about his policy regarding Iran.

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Filed under GOP Primary, Iran, Israel, Rick Perry Tagged with , , , , , , , , ,

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