Dec. 12 Republican debate transcript

Washburn: OK. Thank you.

Senator McCain, your reputation as a maverick has put you at odds with your own party leadership from time to time. Give us an example of a time you wished you had compromised to get something done, instead of holding firm on your ideals.

McCain: I cannot think of a time. And I hope that I could never think of a time. Because I came to Washington because I had a set of principles and ideals. But, at the same time, I have more legislative achievements than anybody on this stage, by far.

I have joined together across the aisle on a number of pieces of legislation, many of them very important. I'm proud of my legislative record of conserving my ideals and my conservative principles and getting things done in Washington.

And I'm proud of that, and I will continue to hold to those ideals, but I will reach across the aisle...

Washburn: Thank you.

McCain: ... to the Democrats, who I have worked with, who know me, and we know we can work together for the good of this country.

Washburn: Thank you.

We're going to talk about New Year's resolutions. You have 15 seconds. We're going to start with Mr. Keyes and go this way.

Please suggest a New Years resolution for one of your opponents here today.

(Laughter)

Keyes: I think the most important New Years resolution is the one I've suggested to the American people: resolve to return to your respect for the principle that makes us free, that we are all created equal and avowed by God with our unalienable rights.

Washburn: 15 seconds please.

Senator McCain?

McCain: Let's raise the level of dialogue and discussion and debate in this campaign. let's not accuse each other of a lack of patriotism or a lack of character.

There are different views on different issues; there are difference in qualification; there are difference in experience.

Washburn: Governor Huckabee?

McCain: But I think we should be -- all be respectful of one another, and the American people, I think, will benefit from...

Washburn: Governor Huckabee?

Huckabee: I'm going to be a lot more careful about everything I say, because I find that it gets amplified to a new level, so that's my resolution.

Washburn: This is a resolution for an opponent.

Huckabee: Well, I would make it of them, too.

(Laughter)

Washburn: Governor Romney?

Romney: Let's have a resolution amongst all of us that we'll have a spirited campaign, as we have, but we'll come together, come together real soon when this is resolved and we will fight to make sure that one of the people on this stage is the next president of the United States, not one of the people on that Democratic stage you've had more than once.

Washburn: Senator Thompson?

Thompson: It would be for myself -- try to be a better man, be strong, have faith. Try to be a better husband and father.

Washburn: Congressman?

Tancredo: All sounds good, but you asked what we would do -- what somebody else we think should do in terms of a resolution.

I have to say -- because you're leading the pack now, and congratulations to you, Governor -- but I have to ask you -- no, no, no, pointing right over there.

(Laughter)

Right over there.

Washburn: OK. OK.

Tancredo: No, just a minute. Laughter does not count. I have to ask you a question.

Washburn: I have to keep moving. I have to keep moving.

Tancredo: And the question is how are you going to convince America that you have in fact changed your mind on...

Washburn: Congressman Paul?

Tancredo: ... immigration from when you were a governor? That's all I want to know.

Washburn: Congressman Paul?

Paul: My advice would be to re-read the oath of office, take it seriously, obey the Constitution. We are well-defended against all enemies foreign. We should be much more careful about defending against the enemies domestic.

Washburn: Congressman Hunter?

Hunter: Yes, just to all my colleagues, and I think to the American people, we've got lots of folks coming back from the Afghan and Iraqi theaters, lots of young people who need jobs.

One thing we could do here, just a couple of weeks before Christmas, is buy American goods. And if we buy American goods, we may save the job of our neighbor or provide a job for that young serviceperson.

Washburn: Mayor?

Giuliani: I would resolve to, all of us, to take a better look at America and realize how lucky we are, how fortunate we are, not to have this kind of pessimistic feeling that some have abroad in this land.

America has accomplished great things. We've faced crises like this before. We've always overcome them.

Washburn: Thank you.

Giuliani: And a sense of optimism is the thing I would wish for.

Washburn: Thank you. And we're out of time.