Politics & Government

5 Things to Talk About the Morning After the GOP Debate

Here's what people will be talking about at the water cooler; read up, so you're in the know, too.

In case you slept through our coverage of the GOP national debate at on Wednesday night, we're happy to help you catch up.

Check out our complete coverage of the debate here. Or read this quick rundown of the five talkers to come out of the event.

Gingrich gets feisty 

When asked whether corporations can be profitable and create jobs at the same time, candidate Newt Gingrich turned to history. "It's sad that the news media doesn't report accurately how the economy works," he said.

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Moderator Mario Bartiromo of CNBC took him to task. "What is the media reporting inaccurately about the economy?" she asked.

"I love humor disguised as a question," he replied. "That's terrific."

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They changed the subject.

L. Brooks = laughter

Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson spoke to the debate audience before the presidential hopefuls went on stage. He invited the national media to explore Oakland County and then rallied the candidates.

"I hope the eight Republican candidates will take Obama to task on the sentiment that we were better off today than we were three years ago," said Patterson, who spoke while glancing at notes from a few creased sheets of paper.

"Three years ago, I was eight pounds lighter, so you know I'm not better off."

Princess Nancy? Cain calls names

The candidates were asked whether they would repeal President Obama's health care legislation.

"The legislation has already been written" in the previous Congress, candidate Herman Cain responded. "We didn't hear about it in the previous Congress because 'Princess Nancy' sent to it committee and it stayed there. It never came out."

The 'oops' heard round the O'rena

Texas Gov. Rick Perry touted his flat tax plan that he claims would balance the budget in 2020. It hinges on the elimination of three agencies of government, he said.

"Commerce, Education, and the — what's the third one there? Let's see," he said.

After being prodded, he offered up the EPA, then retracted.

"Commerce and, let's see. I can't," he said. "The third one, I can't. Sorry.

"Oops."

Perry later revisited the question and said he meant to call for the elimination of the Energy Department. 

Riding the caboose

Cain received the first question of the debate, and it was one about ensuring the recent financial problems happening in Europe are not mirrored in our country.

"First, we must grow this economy. We have the biggest economy in the world. And as long as we are stagnant in terms of growth in GDP, we impact the rest of the world. We must do that.

"But we're not going to be able to do that until we put some fuel in the engine that drives economic growth, which is the business sector. This administration has done nothing but put stuff in the caboose and it's not moving this economy."

> Complete coverage of the GOP Debate at Oakland University


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