Christian Examiner reports some of what went on during the first GOP debate:
Top tier GOP candidates. Photo courtesy
siegg.com
Having the largest Republican field in modern presidential history on one stage limited the scope and depth of Thursday’s first GOP debate, but social issues still played a major role.
Ten GOP candidates appeared in front of a FoxNews primetime audience for a 2-hour debate at Quicken Loans Arena, hours after seven lower-tier candidates took part in their own one-hour debate.
The 10-member field was chosen by a “poll of polls,” and – judging by a sampling of political observers – the debate was worth watching.
Of the 17 candidates, 16 are self-described as being pro-life, including Donald Trump, who came into the night leading the national Republican field by about 11 points, according to RealClearPolitics.com. (George Pataki, a lower-tier candidate, is the lone pro-choicer.)
Trump was asked to explain his pro-life position in light of labeling himself pro-choice 15 years ago. Moderator Megyn Kelly challenged him, saying he once even supported partial-birth abortion.
“I’ve evolved on many issues over the years. And you know who else has? Ronald Reagan evolved on many issues,” Trump said. “And I am pro-life. … What happened is [that] friends of mine years ago were going to have a child, and it was going to be aborted. And it wasn’t aborted. And that child today is a total superstar, a great, great child. And I saw that. And I saw other instances. And I am very, very proud to say that I am pro-life.”