{"id":20299,"date":"2015-11-12T11:24:34","date_gmt":"2015-11-12T17:24:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/?p=20299"},"modified":"2015-11-12T12:10:29","modified_gmt":"2015-11-12T18:10:29","slug":"gop-debate-candidates-bicker-over-true-conservative-policies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/gop-debate-candidates-bicker-over-true-conservative-policies\/","title":{"rendered":"GOP Debate: Candidates bicker over true conservative policies"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Misha Euceph, Jane Hao<\/strong> and Jasmine M. Ellis<\/strong><\/p>\n

MILWAUKEE \u2014 After four debates, Republicans found themselves back at square one. This was the case at the Nov. 11 debate hosted by Fox Business Network and the Wall Street Journal not because of the lack of a clear front-runner, but because the most heated discussion at the Milwaukee Theatre centered around what it means to to be a Conservative and what policies characterize a Conservative politician. <\/p>\n

Although Sen. Rand Paul and Sen. Marco Rubio started the conversation around the meaning of conservatism, Gov. Jeb Bush, Gov. John Kasich, Sen. Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina, Donald Trump and Dr. Ben Carson brought up the question when talking about immigration and defense spending, illustrating the change in the Republican stance on the two issues since President Ronald Reagan\u2019s time. <\/p>\n

Sen. Paul brought up defense spending in response to Sen. Rubio\u2019s tax plan, stating, \u201cWe have to decide what is Conservative.\u201d
\n<\/p>\n

Paul separated himself from the other main-stage candidates by asking, \u201cIs it fiscally Conservative to have a trillion-dollar expenditure?\u201d Referring to military spending, Paul told Rubio, \u201cYou cannot be a Conservative if you\u2019re going to keep promoting new programs that you\u2019re not going to pay for.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rubio responded, \u201cI believe the world is a stronger and safer place when the United States is the strongest military power in the world.\u201d He appeared to suggest that Paul wanted to decrease the strength of the military. <\/p>\n

\"Rand<\/a>
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul stoked contention over the meaning of Conservatism during the Republican debate Tuesday night. He’s seen here begin interviewed after the debate. (Raquel Zaldivar\/MEDILL)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Surprisingly, Paul and Rubio actually seem to agree on maintaining the strength of the military. <\/p>\n

According to Paul\u2019s website, he \u201cbelieves in Ronald Reagan\u2019s \u2018Peace through Strength.\u2019\u201d The peace through strength doctrine states that strong arms are necessary to maintaining peace. Paul does, however, support cutting spending in all areas, including the military. At the debate, he said, \u201cI want a strong national defense, but I don\u2019t want us to be bankrupt.\u201d<\/p>\n

The notion of cutting military spending differs significantly from Reagan\u2019s policies, as Reagan increased military spending dramatically, reaching \u201ca peak of $465.5 billion in 1987 (in projected 2005 dollars), compared with $325.1 billion in 1980,\u201d according to the Washington Post and the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments.<\/p>\n

Cruz attempted to bridge the gap between the two candidates, but ended up echoing Rubio\u2019s position, saying, \u201cThere\u2019s a middle ground that brings both of these things together. You think that defending this nation is expensive. Try not defending them.\u201d <\/p>\n