As the remaining Democratic candidates for president prepare for tonight’s debate in Iowa, several GOP candidates took their turn to speak at the #SunshineSummit in Orlando, Fla., this morning and afternoon. What might be called the “first stringers” in the Republican race spoke yesterday, before Friday’s terrorist attacks on the people of Paris refocused the world’s attention on Islamic terror.
Gov. Chris Christie reportedly trashed his prepared speech and wrote a new one from scratch.
Chris Christie planned off the cuff light hearted talk at #SunshineSummit – instead wrote national security speech last night #Fox35
— Mike Synan (@msynan) November 14, 2015
Chris Christie is so far the only candidate to go off script and directly address the situation in Paris. #SunshineSummit
— Bart Leahy (@WritingGopher) November 14, 2015
@ChrisChristie strikes most somber tone of all candidates at #SunshineSummit
— Nicole Linsalata (@nlinsalataon7) November 14, 2015
@ChrisChristie, in emotional first words of #SunshineSummit remarks, remembers 9/11. Says he rewrote speech last night because of Paris.
— Hallie Jackson (@HallieJackson) November 14, 2015
Christie: I want to share with you what's in my heart…our outrage must turn to action and resolve. #SunshineSummit
— Bart Leahy (@WritingGopher) November 14, 2015
Chris Christie on France, "Our outrage must turn into action and resolve" #SunshineSummit @WUFTNews pic.twitter.com/mNCWMI4gRm
— Marie Edinger KMPH (@MarieEdinger) November 14, 2015
Christie using entire #SunshineSummit speech to talk Paris/terror. "The times are too dire" to cast a protest vote (i.e. for Trump)
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) November 14, 2015
"The world is desperate" for a strong leader, @GovChristie says in closing #SunshineSummit speech that got crowd on feet.
— Alex Leary (@learyreports) November 14, 2015
Christie obviously wasn’t the only candidate to address the horrific attack on Paris; however, Gov. John Kasich kicked things off with a remark that rung a little too closely to President Obama’s declaration that the United States would defeat ISIS with “better ideas.”
Kasich: US and allies should develop plans to destroy ISIS. #SunshineSummit
— Bart Leahy (@WritingGopher) November 14, 2015
Kasich: We must win the war of ideas. #SunshineSummit
— Bart Leahy (@WritingGopher) November 14, 2015
.@JohnKasich says #ParisAttacks should be considered act of war against a NATO ally. #SunshineSummit
— George Bennett (@gbennettpost) November 14, 2015
.@JohnKasich talking now: "It's a somber day, it's really not a day of politics or promoting a candidacy. #SunshineSummit
— Lindsey Sablan (@LindseySablan) November 14, 2015
Kasich ends speech early. "I don't think today is the day for long-winded remarks." #SunshineSummit
— Alex Leary (@learyreports) November 14, 2015
Gov. Bobby Jindal spoke not only about Paris but about the recent rash of college protests and the ongoing controversy over immigration.
Jindal: "This politically correct nonsense has to stop." #SunshineSummit
— Bart Leahy (@WritingGopher) November 14, 2015
https://twitter.com/ConsultJon/status/665593910241177601
Bobby Jindal is speaking boldly against political correctness and for religious freedom. #SunshineSummit pic.twitter.com/EcxPe0qp7a
— Pam Olsen (@pamolsen) November 14, 2015
Jindal: A smart immigration policy makes our country stronger. #SunshineSummit
— Bart Leahy (@WritingGopher) November 14, 2015
Bobby Jindal: "If someone doesn't want to be an American, don't come to America." #SunshineSummit
— Beth Reinhard (@bethreinhard) November 14, 2015
.@BobbyJindal on #ParisAttacks "This is an attack on freedom & free people everywhere" #SunshineSummit
— George Bennett (@gbennettpost) November 14, 2015
.@BobbyJindal: "Islam has a problem. That problem is radical Islam." #SunshineSummit
— George Bennett (@gbennettpost) November 14, 2015
.@BobbyJindal says America should close its borders, just like France has done. #SunshineSummit
— John Kennedy (@JKennedyReport) November 14, 2015
Bobby Jindal :"“You’ve got to kill evil terrorists before they come over here and kill us first." #SunshineSummit
— Beth Reinhard (@bethreinhard) November 14, 2015
Rand Paul targeted Washington as well as terrorism, citing the national debt and calling for term limits.
.@RandPaul: "Politicians are almost universally dishonest" #SunshineSummit
— George Bennett (@gbennettpost) November 14, 2015
At #SunshineSummit @RandPaul : "We have a congress that rolls over, plays dead and has become inconsequential!" pic.twitter.com/vtFw9Yg7dv
— Sergio Gor (@SergioGor) November 14, 2015
Term limits are the solution to Washington dysfunction –@RandPaul #GOP #SunshineSummit @WUFTNews
— Ariella Phillips (@ariellaphillips) November 14, 2015
.@RandPaul gets applause w call for "#termlimits for everybody" #SunshineSummit
— George Bennett (@gbennettpost) November 14, 2015
Appreciate @RandPaul talking about the national debt, spending and our economic future. #SunshineSummit
— Rosie Foster (@Hope2Bn) November 14, 2015
Even the day after Paris attacks, Rand Paul resistant to increasing military spending, says natl debt makes U.S. weak. #SunshineSummit
— Beth Reinhard (@bethreinhard) November 14, 2015
.@RandPaul notes @HillaryClinton neglected Libya but gave money to embassies in Vienna, India and on Facebook. @ndn #SunshineSummit
— Arek Sarkissian (@ArekSarkissian) November 14, 2015
.@RandPaul "I say not one penny for countries that are persecuting Christians." @ndn #SunshineSummit
— Arek Sarkissian (@ArekSarkissian) November 14, 2015
Rand Paul on HRC and Benghazi: "By her dereliction of duty, she should forever be precluded from being commander in chief." #SunshineSummit
— Beth Reinhard (@bethreinhard) November 14, 2015
Rick Santorum was particularly hawkish in his presentation.
Santorum: "President of the United States is not an entry-level position." #SunshineSummit
— Bart Leahy (@WritingGopher) November 14, 2015
Santorum: Bomb ISIS back to the 7th century. #SunshineSummit
— Bart Leahy (@WritingGopher) November 14, 2015
Rick Santorum- we should have boots on the ground in Iraq #SunshineSummit #Fox35
— Mike Synan (@msynan) November 14, 2015
Senator Santorum "I would not accept any refugees into this country" #SunshineSummit @WUFTNews pic.twitter.com/uSkn0EJO4z
— Marie Edinger KMPH (@MarieEdinger) November 14, 2015
Up last was Carly Fiornia, who angrily noted that President Obama had just declared ISIS “contained.”
I am angry that just yesterday morning…our president declared ISIS contained. – Carly Fiorina at #SunshineSummit
— Veronica Stracqualursi (@VeronicaStrac) November 14, 2015
Fiorina #SunshineSummit speech goes after Democrats hard on #ParisAttacks pic.twitter.com/mPEZRad1tl
— Anthony Zurcher (@awzurcher) November 14, 2015
Fiorina: We cannot be the world's policeman, but we can be the world's leader. #SunshineSummit
— Bart Leahy (@WritingGopher) November 14, 2015
"You cannot lead from behind" Carly Fiorina #SunshineSummit
— Hillsborough GOP (@HillsboroughGOP) November 14, 2015
Huge standing O for Carly Fiorina. #SunshineSummit pic.twitter.com/M2sZSvGPld
— Bart Leahy (@WritingGopher) November 14, 2015
"No, Climate Change is not our most pressing National Security issue." Fiorina #SunshineSummit
— Emma Rachel Gray (@emmabelle01) November 14, 2015
Just three months ago, President Obama fired up Air Force One for a cross-country trip to Las Vegas for the National Clean Energy Summit, where he declared to the audience that “no challenge poses a greater threat to our future than climate change.” In light of last night’s terrorist attacks, will the Democratic candidates at tonight’s debate finally call him out the president his global warming obsession?
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