Dec. 12 Republican debate transcript

Washburn: Do you think it's more important for the next president to be a fiscal conservative or a social conservative?

Hunter: I think they both go to the core of this country, because you have to keep the economy running. You've got to keep the wheels turning. And, of course, the heart of our country is this idea that human beings have value, that they are given these inalienable rights that have been described by my friends.

So those are two very important things.

But one thing that's extremely important that Governor Romney didn't touch on is this. We also, in being a conservative, having a conservative leader, part of that means not sending technology to our adversaries, and that's going to be the big threat of this next 15, 20 years.

Governor Romney's corporation that he founded, the Bain Capital corporation...

Washburn: Thank you.

Hunter: ... has joined up with a Chinese corporation to buy an American defense contractor.

Washburn: Thank you.

Hunter: I think that is a mistake, and that's a defense contractor that did business with Saddam Hussein...

Washburn: Thank you, Congressman.

Hunter: ... and with the Taliban.

So that, I think, is a very important part of conservative leadership.

Washburn: Thank you, Congressman.

Hunter: And thank you.

Washburn: We're going to look at the last video.

(Video)

Romney: I think we're better off by strictly following the Constitution as it existed and as it was brought forward. And if we think there's a need for a new right, then going to the people or their elected representatives to establish that right, rather than having judges from their own heart or their own mind establishing new rights and new laws.

Romney: It's not for judges to legislate or to create a new Constitution. That's something that only the people and their elected representatives should be able to do.

(End video)

(Video)

Tancredo: There are two sides to your human component. One is on the God-filled side, and one is the human side. And there are things that feed either side, you know?

And whichever you feed the most becomes the dominant side. And so, you have to kind of concentrate on feeding the good side, or else you will lose control over it.

(End video)

(Video)

Thompson: We at least weakened it. And look at our social causes -- not just being concerned about the consuming about what's before us in the short view, but what's best for the overall country, what's best for the future generations of this nation and are we going to leave this place a better place than when we came into it.

To me, that's real patriotism.

(End video)

Washburn: Congressman Tancredo, your foreign policy positions on your campaign web site consist of five sentences on Iraq.

What assures Americans you're ready to lead our foreign policy?

Tancredo: Because the issue, of course, as I mentioned earlier, is just a battle going on in Iraq. The major battle is, of course, this clash of civilizations.

I believe that the whole idea and the whole debate can be narrowed to a relatively small area on a Web site or any place else, and that is this: We cannot leave Iraq. We are committed there and will be for a long time. And I don't care who's elected president, that's the reality of the situation.

We can, however, stop, in fact, being the police force in Iraq. And we are doing it. We are moving in exactly the direction that my Web site, the statement anticipates.

Washburn: Thank you.

Tancredo: What more do I have to say? We're getting it done.

Washburn: Thank you.

Congressman Paul, you call your campaign a revolution. And I think it's safe to say that your brand of change is one of the most sweeping proposed by any candidate of either party. But getting your agenda through Congress would likely require a revolution of an entirely different sort.

Washburn: So how would you adjust your plan in light of political reality in Washington?

Paul: The secret is is the term "revolution" wasn't my word, and it didn't come up on our Web page. It was coined by the supporters.

But in a way, it is revolutionary to go back to the Constitution. And we'd like to continue the old revolution. And, believe me, freedom is unifying. We bring a lot of people together, people that are free to choose what they would like to do with their lives, free to choose how they would spend their money.

And, all of a sudden, we would be telling other countries how to live. Just bring people together.

And I think it's appealing to both left and right and middle. And our campaign really has that appeal, so, therefore, we would bring the Congress together.