Democrats Targeted In GOP Debate – washingtonpost.com, By Michael D. Shear, Washington Post Staff Writer
DES MOINES, Aug. 5 — The Republican candidates for president used a nationally televised morning debate to mock Democrats on foreign policy, taxes and health care while sparring with each other over abortion and the administration’s anti-terrorism efforts.
From a stage in Iowa, the state where the nation’s first voting will begin in five months, the GOP candidates said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week” that their Democratic rivals support plans for “socialized” medicine and predicted that taxes would be raised if a Democrat returns to the White House. …
Former New York mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani sparked loud applause when he declared that “the knee-jerk liberal Democratic reaction — raise taxes to get money — very often is a very big mistake.” …
“We are winning. We must win. And we will not set a date for surrender, as the Democrats want us to do,” McCain said.
Echoing him, Giuliani said: “The reality is that you do not achieve peace through weakness and appeasement. . . . We should seek a victory in Iraq and in Baghdad, and we should define the victory.”
The lone voice in continued opposition to the war, Rep. Ron Paul (Tex.), was again outspoken about America’s involvement. …
A new Washington Post poll of voters in Iowa indicates that the Republican race remains muddled. Romney is leading the race here but his support remains soft. Only 19 percent of Republicans likely to vote in the state’s caucuses say they are very satisfied with their choices. …
Rep. Tom Tancredo (Colo.) defended his recent comments that he would deter terrorist attacks by threatening to bomb Mecca and Medina, two important holy cities in Islam.
“The State Department called that ‘reprehensible’ and ‘absolutely crazy,’ ” Stephanopoulos said.
“Yes,” Tancredo answered. “The State Department — boy, when they start complaining about things I say, I feel a lot better about the things I say, I’ll tell you right now.” [mjh: Yup, when competent professionals say I’m crazy, I feel validated.]