Dec. 12 Republican debate transcript

Washburn: So, are there things you could have done in this situation that would have been more open and not raised these concerns about obscuring public...

Giuliani: No, the reality is that this was a bookkeeping practice. The way it was done actually made it more available to Freedom of Information Act requests. Had it been done just in the police department, nobody would have ever found it.

And everything that was laid out a few weeks ago had been laid out six years ago -- very well-known.

Some of the things that I wish if I had led a perfect life would have happened differently. But it was all very well-known.

And on the issue of transparency, I can't think of a public figure that's had a more transparent life than I've had.

Washburn: Mr. Keyes, how would you guarantee an open White House?

Keyes: I think the most important thing is to be absolutely authentic about who you are. Not to say things today that contradict what you were two years ago, like, sadly, Governor Romney.

Not to take a stand on the most important issue of principle that faces our nation today, the question of whether we are all created equal and endowed by our creator, not the Constitution, but our God with our unalienable rights, from the womb to the tomb, and not to abandon the heritage of the Republican Party, as Rudy Giuliani would do and as I could not follow him in doing. So I would not support him if he were nominated.

And finally, I think it would be important to do what I'm doing in my campaign. We have three phone calls every week, people from all over the country gather online to talk to me, to interact...

Washburn: Thank you.

Keyes: ... to state their views.

We have technologies now that allow people directly to communicate to their leadership...

Washburn: Thank you.

Keyes: ... and I would make creative use of those technologies.

Washburn: Governor Romney, would you like to respond?

Romney: I'm not sure.

(Laughter)

Washburn: It's entirely up to you.

(Applause)

Romney: This audience and the whole nation has heard time and time again the fact that I was effectively pro-choice when I ran for office. When I became governor of Massachusetts, the first time a bill came to my desk that dealt with life, I simply could not side with taking life, and I came on the side of life. Every bill that came to my desk, every issue that related to protecting the sanctity of life, I came down on the side of life.

I'm pro-life. I'm not going to apologize for becoming pro-life. Ronald Reagan followed that same course, as did Henry Hyde and George Herbert Walker Bush. And I'm proud to be pro-life.

Thank you.

Washburn: Mayor Giuliani, would you like to respond?

Giuliani: I think I've explained my position on abortion, which is that I oppose it. But I believe that ultimately the government should leave that decision to a woman and her conscience.

I would like to see limitations on abortion. I've brought those about in New York City. We reduced abortion. We increased adoptions by 135 percent.

But ultimately it's a position that I thought out a long time ago. For me it's a position of conscience, and it's a position that in spite of the fact that Alan wouldn't vote for me, I'm not going to change.

(Laughter)

(Applause)

Washburn: Senator Thompson, you've expressed doubts that the recent report on Iran's nuclear capabilities is accurate. As president, how would you decide when to disagree with available intelligence and then what would you do?

Thompson: Now, that's probably the most important question that's been asked today.

We have a real problem with our intelligence community. It, along with certain parts of our military, were neglected for a long, long time in this country and we're paying the price for it now.

The fact is that nobody has any real confidence in the results that they're getting. And the result you're talking about was directly contradicted by their strong beliefs just two years ago.

So you've got to rebuild from the bottom up. I think that, in the mean time, we have to rely on other people. The British are helpful to us, the Israelis sometimes are helpful to us.

Washburn: Thank you.

Thompson: In many respects, they have advancements that we don't have in terms of our intelligence capabilities. But the president cannot let a...

Washburn: Thank you.

Thompson: ... piece of paper by a bureaucrat determine -- solely determine what his actions must be.