This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2016/feb/25/republican-debate-trump-cruz-rubio-live-houston-super-tuesday

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Republican debate: Candidates address supreme court vacancy – live Republican debate: Trump under fire as Rubio and Cruz attack – live
(35 minutes later)
3.06am GMT
03:06
OK folks, commercial break after only one hour.
Who’s winning? Tell us in the comments?
3.05am GMT
03:05
Trump is comparing his poll numbers with Cruz: “A poll just came out in Bloomberg where I’m beating him so badly, I’m embarrassed.”
“Hillary Clinton, take a look at USA Today... I beat her and I beat her badly... and I haven’t even started with her...”
Trump said he mixed it up with her a few weeks ago when her camp accused him of being sexist, “and believe me, they had a rough weekend that weekend, between Bill and Hillary, they had a rough weekend.”
Cruz then jumps in and accuses Trump of being a past Clinton admirer.
“On substance, how do we nominate a candidate who said Hillary Clinton was the best secretary of state of modern times?” Cruz asks.
Cruz says Trump “can’t take it to [Clinton] and beat her on the debate stage and the polls.”
Trump’s reply is sharp and is cheered loudly:
“If I can’t beat her you’re really going to get killed won’t you,” he says.
Then Trump pats Rubio and Cruz on the head:
I know you’re embarrassed, I know you’re embarrassed. Keep fighting keep swinging. Swing for the fences. Swing for the fences.
3.00am GMT
03:00
Trump: I can't release tax returns because I'm being audited
Trump is asked about Mitt Romney’s assertion that there is a “bombshell” in Trump’s taxes, pertaining perhaps to his wealth or charitable giving being smaller than he makes out.
“I was the first one to file a financial disclosure form... You don’t learn anything about someone’s wealth from a tax return.... people were shocked,” Trump says.
“I will say this. Mitt Romney looked like a fool when he delayed and delayed and delayed, and Harry Reid baited him so beautifully” on releasing his tax returns.
“As far as my return, I want to file them. Except for...I will absolutely give my returns but I’m being audited now for two or three years. So I can’t” turn over the returns until the audit is through.
Trump is pressed by a moderator.
“I want to release my tax returns, but I can’t release them if I’m under an audit,” Trump says. “We’re under a routine audit. As soon as the audit is done” I’ll release them.
Question goes to Rubio. When will you release your returns?
He answers simply: “Tomorrow or Saturday... and luckily I’m not being audited this year, or last year.”
Cruz then hits Trump over his admission that he’s being audited.
“Donald says he’s being audited. Well I would think that would underscore the need to see those returns.”
Updated
at 3.08am GMT
2.53am GMT
02:53
Twitter metrics, via Twitter. Looks like the polls in Florida. Wow that image renders tinily. Here’s what it says. The share of the Twitter conversation thus far is split like so:
Trump 51%
Rubio 23%
Cruz 14%
Carson 7%
Kasich 5%
Updated
at 2.54am GMT
2.50am GMT
02:50
Cruz insists on answering the Obamacare question and uses it to bludgeon Trump.
He says that Trump likes Planned Parenthood, while he would investigate it and prosecute any infractions.
Cruz then accuses Trump of “advocating socialized medicine:”
Donald wants to end it because he says that it doesn’t nearly go far enough. ... For decades Donald has been advocating socialized medicine... If you’re a small business owners, Donald Trump’s socialized health care will kill more jobs than Obamacare.
Cruz to Trump: “True or false: you said the government should pay for everyone’s health care.”
Trump says “false”.
Then Cruz brings up a line from a couple debates ago, in which Trump said he would not let people “die on the sidewalk.”
Trump stands by his position: “I will not let people die on the streets if I’m president.”
Then Trump manages a moment of humanity, which strangely under the force of Cruz’s cross-examination feels like some kind of moment of grace:
Let me talk. We’re going to have private health care. I am not going to let people die on the streets or the sidewalks of this country, if I am president. You might be fine with it. I’m not fine with it.
2.49am GMT
02:49
Jeb Lund
Who is doing best so far? Jeb Lund thinks Marco Rubio is putting on a good performance – but should stop laughing at his own jokes
Marco Rubio is doing very well. He hit Trump smartly on apt points, and he even had a good punchline. Cruz isn’t doing as well as Rubio, which should probably be alarming for Cruz supporters, because he’s the one who should be tap-dancing around everyone on stage. Kasich seems pleased to talk when people remember him and just as pleased to watch when no one does. Ben Carson was let out by the roadside to run free through a meadow as mom and dad peeled off in the car.
That said, it’s a fool’s game to think that the normal rules of debates apply here. Rubio’s shots on Trump and his one-liner would have been body blows to any candidate who was running as a candidate. But Trump is still Trump, a personality rather than a candidacy, fame rather than a campaign. And ultimately everything Rubio just said probably isn’t going to matter to anyone leaning toward Trump.
Yeah, sure, Trump employed immigrants. But I’m a Trump supporter, and I like Trump, that’s just a canny move. He saved money! He knew the game was rigged, and he played it. He got sued — so what? He’s a famous rich guy, they get sued all the time.
Trump’s playing a different game, which is scored differently among the fanbase. When he owns someone, it rules. When people bite back, it’s annoying. If they bite back too much, they’re desperate. (Also, for as many good lines as Rubio’s getting in on him tonight, Rubio is clearly enjoying them the most of all, which is just bad form. Don’t enjoy your joke more than I can, man. That’s amateur hour. Act like you’re not stunned that this is the first time your brain thought of something clever.)
On top of that, these guys are trying to work Trump, and he’s working the room. There’s something kind of final about the way that he can turn to them and engage, then turn to the moderators and the room and act as if they’ve vanished. At some point, he remembers that the other two don’t actually matter, and it shows.
2.43am GMT
02:43
Under attack from Rubio, Trump struggles to describe health plan
Next up: the Affordable Care Act. Rubio accuses Trump of liking the individual mandate in the law, which requires people to carry health insurance.
Rubio reels into his own castle-in-the-clouds plan for repealing and replacing Obamacare. He says the law is not only bad for health care, it’s a “job-killing law.”
Trump says he would throw out Obamacare... but keep requirements that insurers cover pre-existing conditions.
“I agree with that 100% except pre-existing conditions,” Trump says. “I want to keep pre-existing condition. I think we need it I think it’s the modern age and I think we have to have it.”
Then he says “the insurance companies are making a fortune with every thing they do.” He doesn’t mention medical products manufacturers and drug companies, who are making the bigger fortunes.
“I know the insurance companies, they’re friends of mine. One of them is in the audience, he was just waving to me, he was just laughing – he’s not laughing so much anymore. Hi.”
Trump says he would erase the lines between states, meaning set up national interstate competition in the insurance market.
Then Rubio mounts the most effective attack of the night so far at Trump.
“You may not be aware of this Donald, because you don’t follow this stuff very closely, but here’s what happened,” Rubio says. He says Obamacare included a bailout for insurance companies who couldn’t sustain the initial costs of the new law.
“What is your plan?” Rubio challenges Trump. Erase the lines?
Trump accuses Rubio of not knowing about state markets: “The biggest problem he’s got is he really doesn’t know about the lines. I watched him melt down two weeks ago with Chris Christie.”
Rubio persists: “Your only thing is to get rid of the lines around the states. What else is your plan?”
Trump: “you’ll get rid of the lines...”
Rubio: So that’s the only part of the plan? Just the lines?
Trump: You’ll have many different plans. You’ll have competition. It’ll be beautiful.
Rubio: Now he’s repeating himself!
Trump: I watched him repeat himself five time two weeks ago!
Rubio: I watched him repeat himself five times five second ago!
Rubio: He says five things. Everyon’es dumb. He’s gonna make America great again, wer’e gonna win win win, and the lines around the states.
Moderator Dana Bash: Mr Trump, anything to add?
Trump: No! There’s nothing to add. What is to add? What is to add?
Trump just appeared not to have a health care reform plan any deeper than “we’ll create competition and it’ll be beautiful.”
Updated
at 2.46am GMT
2.39am GMT
02:39
James Pethokoukis
Ding. Ding. Ding. Republicans, at least Marco Rubio, finally figured out how to go after Donald Trump. Rather than tagging him as a New York City liberal, you go after his supposed strengths.
You say he is phoney on issues, not much of a businessman and hardly a friend of the common man. And you press the issue machine-gun style, over and over and get under his skin.
Rubio did that when he accused him of hiring undocumented immigrants for his Trump University. Even Cruz jumped, forming a brief alliance with Rubio.
Perhaps for the first time during these debates, Trump looked rattled, even petulant.
We’ll see if Rubio and Cruz can keep it up during the rest of this debate and coming weeks.
2.36am GMT
02:36
Hari Ziyad
Rubio’s claim that the GOP is “the party of diversity” only proves the hollowness of “diversity”.
Yes, there are two candidates of Latino descent in the race, and Ben Carson. But painting the face of a racist system a different color does not stop its racist operations.
This is, after all, the party whose front-runner paints an entire country as rapists and who whipped-up racialized fears during the Central Park 5 case.
For voters who care about diversity, more representation will do nothing to undo the damage wreaked by Donald Trump’s harmful comments.
2.32am GMT2.32am GMT
02:3202:32
Kasich answers a question and Carson answers a question. They feel like a sideshow to this:Kasich answers a question and Carson answers a question. They feel like a sideshow to this:
pic.twitter.com/vnNN2YFqbhpic.twitter.com/vnNN2YFqbh
Anybody remember the movie? Who wins this fight?Anybody remember the movie? Who wins this fight?
2.31am GMT2.31am GMT
02:3102:31
Trump: 'millions of women are helped by Planned Parenthood'Trump: 'millions of women are helped by Planned Parenthood'
Rubio says he doubts that Trump would appoint a real conservative to the Supreme Court.Rubio says he doubts that Trump would appoint a real conservative to the Supreme Court.
Trump invokes Reagan to say that it’s OK to evolve. Trump doesn’t admit that he personally has evolved on issues such as abortion. But then he rather daringly slides into a measured defense of Planned Parenthood:Trump invokes Reagan to say that it’s OK to evolve. Trump doesn’t admit that he personally has evolved on issues such as abortion. But then he rather daringly slides into a measured defense of Planned Parenthood:
Millions of millions of women, cervical cancer, breast cancer, are helped by Planned Parenthood... I would defund it because I’m pro-life. But millions of women are helped by Planned Parenthood.Millions of millions of women, cervical cancer, breast cancer, are helped by Planned Parenthood... I would defund it because I’m pro-life. But millions of women are helped by Planned Parenthood.
2.28am GMT
02:28
Cruz, Rubio tag-team Trump
Trump is asked whether “religious liberty” would be a litmus test for “all court employees.”
He opts to hit Cruz over a vote in favor of the nomination of John Roberts.
“Justice Roberts was strongly recommended and pushed by Ted. Justice Roberts gave us Obamacare. It might as well be called Robertscare,” says Cruz.
“That is a rough thing, and I know Ted probably feels badly about it... but that judge has been a disaster in terms of everything we stand for... Ted very very strongly pushed Justice Roberts.”
Cruz replies:
“Yes it’s true, I supported the Republican nominee once it was made.”
Then he opts to list all the Democrats that Trump has given money to over the year. He accuses Trump of being willing to “cut a deal” on the Supreme Court instead of taking a stand.
“Let me tell you Donald, I will not apologize for a minute over... defending the Bill of Rights,” Cruz says.
Rubio is taking a break for a moment while Cruz beats up on Trump. They are tag-teaming.
2.23am GMT
02:23
Supreme Court question for Cruz. Pitching to his sweet spot.
Cruz basically says that if a Democrat is elected president Americans will lose all their guns and their god and cats and dogs etc.
“For voters who care about life, or marriage, or religious liberty or the second amendment... I give you my word, every justice I nominate will vigorously defend the Bill of Rights for my children and for yours.”
Applause.
Updated
at 2.24am GMT
2.22am GMT
02:22
Trump: Hispanics are incredible people.
Carson – who is indeed sporting a nontraditional elegant striped tie – takes a question about whether he thinks GOP rhetoric alienates Latino voters.
Carson calls for “liberty and justice” for all. He said that before too. He says that ending dependence and creating opportunity will help everybody.
Arrarás goes back to Trump. “A brand new Telemundo poll says that 3 of 4 Hispanics nationwide have a negative opinion of you.”
Trump: “First of all, I don’t believe a thing Telemundo says.” Funny and gets laughs.
Then Trump:
I currently employ thousands of Hispanics, and over the years I have employed tens of thousands of Hispanics. They’re incredible people.
Then he starts talking about his crushing Nevada win, including among Hispanics.
Arrarás persists. A Washington Post poll showed 80% of voters have a negative opinion of you.
Trump tries to interrupt her.
“Let me finish,” she says. She insists that Hispanic voters are leery of Trump.
He denies it.
“I’m just telling you, I’m doing very well with Hispanics. And as you know, I settled my suit with Univision... we’re good friends now... I will do really well Hispanics.”
He fought with Univision over airing a beauty pageant.
2.17am GMT
02:17
Kasich on Hispanic voters: 'I think they like me'
Arrarás asks Kasich about whether the Republican party does not need to widen its aperture on immigration.
“Well, I’m not gonna talk about that,” he says, uncharmingly.
Then he makes the same argument Cruz did. If you create economic growth, everything follows.
Kasich has an addendum: “We have to create the sense that everyone can rise.” Cruz did not mention that part.
Kasich concludes:
“With me and the Hispanic community, I think they like me, and I appreciate that.”
2.15am GMT
02:15
Rubio: 'We are the party of diversity, not the Democratic party'
Arrarás says there’s a perception that Cruz and Rubio are “missing a huge opportunity to expand the Republican base” by taking a hard line on immigration instead of talking to Latino constituencies.
Cruz says it is amazing that two of the five onstage are the children of Cuban immigrants. Then he trashes the media which he says has constructed a myth that if you’re Hispanic you have to be liberal.
Cruz argues that “the Obama economy” has hurt “the Hispanic community” the most and that he would help, in short, by creating economic growth.
Rubio points out that in addition to the immigrant sons onstage there is an African American.
“We are the party of diversity, not the Democratic party,” Rubio says. Applause.
Trump is silent. Rubio is winning applause.
2.12am GMT
02:12
Telemundo’ María Celeste Arrarás goes into the weeds with Rubio on his policy for DREAmers, undocumented migrants who arrived as children to the United States.
Rubio unspools a fluent answer claiming absolute consistency. Trump jumps in rather lamely:
He lied. He lied. 100%
Rubio smiles and returns fire:
You lied to the Polish workers. You lied to the students of Trump University.
Trump mumbles something about that being the past.
“You lied to them eight years ago,” says Rubio. “I guess there’s a statute of limitations on lies?”
The crowd likes that line.
2.08am GMT
02:08
Trump on Fox 'fucking wall' quote: The wall just got 10 feet taller
To Trump: You want to build a wall. But Mexican leaders say that will never happen. In fact Vicente Fox said, Quote: “I’m not going to pay for that quote, effing wall.”
How will Trump get Mexico to pay?
Trump: “I will. And that wall just got 10 feet taller.”
Then Trump objects to Fox’s profanity: “I tell you, if I would have used even half of that word,” it would’ve been a scandal.
“This guy used a filthy disgusting word on TV, and he should be ashamed of himself and he should apologize.”
Trump says the wall would be 1,000 miles long and cost $10bn-$12bn and “it’s a real wall.” “Mexico will pay for it because they are not doing us any favors.”
Then Rubio cuts loose with a highly prepped slam:
If he builds the wall the way he builds Mar-a-Lago he’ll be using illegal workers to do it. Your ties and clothes he made are made in Mexico and China.
Make them in America!
Trump: “You don’t know a think about business. You don’t know anything about it.”
Rubio back with a hit: “I don’t know anything about bankrupting companies either.” Then he hits Trump over lawsuits against a university that used to bear his name.
Rubio is unloading the oppo arsenal onstage.
Trump is wound up. “Here’s a guy that buys a house for $179,000, he sells it for $380,000 to a lobbyist, probably who’s here!”
Rubio is not letting up:
“Here’s a guy that inherited $200m!”
Update: inre Donald and the F word:
pic.twitter.com/cMRzxM6ZsR
Updated
at 2.09am GMT
2.01am GMT
02:01
Now to Kasich. He starts by pointing out the elder Bush’s presence in the audience. He holds up the Bush era as a time when the parties could work together, in tacit contrast with what we’re witnessing onstage. Then Kasich says he would take care of immigration reform first thing as president.
Carson is asked about his beliefs on immigration. He says “I believe in liberty and justice for all.” Then he warns terrorists are trying to cross the border. Then he calls for boosting the Mexican economy. He mentions China too.
Updated
at 2.01am GMT
1.59am GMT
01:59
Cruz joins attack on Trump
Cruz says he finds it funny that Trump pretends he invented the immigration issue. He says when he was fighting the Gang of 8 immigration reform proposal, “Where was Donald? He was firing Dennis Rodman on Celebrity Apprentice.”
Laugh line.
Then Trump hits Cruz for being unpopular. “Nobody likes you.” Trump:
“I get along with everybody. You get along with none of them... you don’t have one Republican senator backing you, and you work with these people... you should be ashamed of yourself.”
Cruz flips the attack. “Donald, if you want to be liked in Washington, that’s not a good attribute for president,” he says. He also hits Trump for hiring foreigners.
“Anyone who really cared about illegal immigration wouldn’t be hiring illegal immigrants,” Cruz says.
Trump hits back at Cruz, calling him duplicitous for leaving a 2012 loan from Goldman Sachs after financial disclosure forms.
1.56am GMT
01:56
Rubio hits Trump on immigration
Rubio says that he would secure the border “before we doing anything on immigration.” Then he turns to Trump: “a lot of these positions that he’s now taking are new to him.” He mentions a 2011 Trump position in favor of a path to citizenship and the fact that Trump criticized 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney for talking about “self-deportation.”
Rubio goes straight to the attack.
He then picks up on a New York Times report that Trump hired foreign workers on immigration visas instead of Americans at a Florida resort.
Trump defends himself:
“As far as the people that I’ve hired... during the absolute prime season... you could not get help, it’s the up season... everybody agrees with me on that. They were part-time jobs.. because you couldn’t get help in that hot, hot section of Florida.”
Then Trump defends his criticism of Mitt Romney:
“He should’ve won that election... he ran a terrible campaign, he was a terrible candidate, that’s an election that should’ve been won.”
Applause.
But Rubio will not let him go:
“You did criticize him for using the term “self-deportation.” Then Rubio says, “you’re the only one on this stage for hiring people to work illegally.”
Trump has a great comeback: “I’m the only one on this stage who’s hired people.”
Rubio keeps after Trump, accusing him of hiring workers from Poland. He tells the audience to Google it.
“I’ve hired tens of thousands of people,” Trump says.
“Many from other countries,” Rubio says.
Sizzling!