The University of Alabama will welcome the fourth Republican Primary Presidential Debate of 2023 on Dec. 6 at the Frank M. Moody Music Building.
Republican presidential candidates slated to debate include Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s is still up in the air as of Monday morning, as Christie has met the donor threshold to make it onto the debate stage but questions remain as to whether or not he’s hit the 6% support threshold. An official list of debate attendees will be released Monday evening by the Republican National Convention.
Although all candidates represent the same party, their thoughts on major issues obviously vary. We won’t know what questions are being asked in the debate until they’re asked, but here are five major issues and where the candidates currently stand.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR
All four candidates side with Israel’s military strategy and campaign against the Hamas leadership in Gaza.
At the third debate in Miami, each candidate had a message of support to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling for the destruction of Hamas.
“I would tell Bibi (Netanyahu), finish the job once and for all with these butchers,” DeSantis said during the debate.
If Christie is elected, he vowed to give full support and assistance to Israel. Haley echoed that sentiment and encouraged the eradication of Hamas.
“America is here, no matter what it is you need,” Christie said.
“Finish them. Finish them,” Haley said. “Support Israel with whatever they need, whenever they need it.”
Ramaswamy took the issue to another extreme in his analysis.
“I would go one step further. I would tell Bibi that Israel has the right and responsibility to protect itself,” Ramaswamy said.
Funding for Ukraine
Candidates are divided on this issue, with DeSantis and Ramaswamy against funding with Haley and Christie supporting funding.
“To frame this battle as the likes between good and evil, don’t buy it,” Ramaswamy said. “Ukraine isn’t a paragon of democracy.”
DeSantis agreed with Ramaswamy’s stance and was quick to shoot down the possibility American soldiers fighting in Ukraine.
“I can tell the American people that when I’m president, that’s not gonna happen,” DeSantis said. “I will not send your sons and daughters to Ukraine.”
Haley was quick to condemn the actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling him a “thug,” and said she’s eager to provide supplies for the Ukrainian government.
“I don’t think we should give them cash, I think we should give them the equipment and ammunition to win,” Haley said.
Christie said he plans to uphold the pledge the United States made to Ukraine over 30 years ago and stand with them.
“This is not a choice, this is the price we pay being the leader of the free world,” Christie said. “We must stand with democracy all over the world. In 1992, this country made a promise to Ukraine… if they (Russia) invade you, we will protect you. An American promise that is 31 years old is no different than a promise made tonight.”
TIKTOK
All Republican candidates are for the banning or restricting of the popular video-
sharing app TikTok in America.
“TikTok is not only spyware, it is polluting the minds of American young people all across this country,” Christie said. “In my first week as president, I will ban TikTok.”
TikTok is owned by Chinese company ByteDance, and GOP candidates say they want it banned from the U.S. for personal security reasons.
“I’m concerned about the data they (China) get from our young people and what they’re doing to pollute the minds of our young people,” DeSantis said.
Although common ground is shared on the issue by the candidates, Ramaswamy attacked Haley for her own family’s use of TikTok.
“Her own daughter was actually using the app for a long time so you might want to take care of your own family first,”Ramaswamy said to Haley. “We have to go further, we must ban any U.S. company handing over data to the Chinese.”
Haley struck back against the dig, telling Ramaswamy that he’s “scum.”
U.S.-MEXICAN BORDER SECURITY
Extensive border control is the consensus opinion held by the Republican candidates as well as the prevention of drugs from getting across the border.
U.S. military is a priority on the border to all candidates.
“We will use our own military to seal the border,” Ramaswamy said.
“I would invest in law enforcement technology at the border,” Christie said. “On my first day, I would send the National Guard to partner with border control and help them at open areas of the border.”
“On day one, I’m declaring this (border invasion) a national emergency,” DeSantis said. “I’m sending the U.S. military to the border to stop the invasion cold.”
“I will send special operations to take out the cartels,” Haley said. “We’ll put 25,000 more Border Patrol and ICE agents on the ground and let them do their job.
Deportation of individuals crossing the border illegally and building a better border wall are also high priorities for some of the candidates.
“I’m gonna deport people who came in illegally, and I’m even going to build the border wall and have Mexico pay for it like Donald Trump promised,” DeSantis said.
We will defund sanctuary cities, we will go back to the ‘remain in Mexico’ policies so that everyone stays in Mexico and will never get here in the first place, and instead of catch and release, we’ll go to catch and deport,” Haley said.
ABORTION
Each candidate supports limited abortion rights, but to different degrees. DeSantis and Ramaswamy believe abortion should be abolished for good.
“I stand for a culture of life and think its important everyone gets a chance at life,” DeSantis said. “We’re better off when we can promote a culture of life.”
“Let’s walk the walk with respect to being pro-life as the U.S. president,” Ramaswamy said.
“I do support ending federal funding for Planned Parenthood on a number of grounds … The federal government should not be spending money on funding its favorite pet causes.”
Haley and Christie, meanwhile, say it’s a states’ rights issues.
“I am unapologetically pro-life,” Haley said. “As much as I am pro-life, I don’t judge anyone for being pro-choice and I don’t want them to judge me for being pro-life.”
“The people of this country, state by state, should make the call themselves,” Christie said.
Expect to hear more comments on these issues alongside plenty of others Wednesday.
The debate will be broadcast on NewsNation, the CW, SiriusXM radio and will be available for streaming on Rumble. Moderators for the event include Megyn Kelly, Elizabeth Vargas, and Eliana Johnson.