CBS Republican Debate Transcript – part 4

CBS News Republican Presidential Debate Transcript

Rushed Partial Transcript: Part Four

FEBRUARY 13, 2016

JOHN DICKERSON:
10:01:03:00 Welcome back. We’ll begin the second half of the debate with one of the hottest issues in the Republican campaign. Immigration. But before I turn it back to Major Garrett and Kim Strassel I have one question for Mr. Trump. Mr. Trump, in the Republican National Committee’s Spanish language response to the State of the Union, Congressman Díaz-Balart said, quote, “It’s essential that we find a legislative solution,” talking about immigration, “to offer a permanent and humane solution to those who live in the shadows.” What does that mean to you? A humane solution to those who live in the shadows?
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:01:36:00 I want everybody taken care of, but we have to take care of our people in this country. We’re not taking care of (APPLAUSE) our people. We have no border. We have no control. People are flooding across. We can’t have it. We either have a border– and I’m– very strongly– I am not opposing. I will build a wall. I will build a wall.

10:01:54:00 Remember this, the wall will be paid for by Mexico. We are not being treated right. (CHEERING) We are not being treated properly. If we don’t have borders, if we don’t have strength, we don’t have a country. People are flowing across. (TAPPING) We have to take care of our people, believe me. (APPLAUSE)
MAJOR GARRETT:
10:02:13:00 Senator Rubio. (CHEERING) For the purposes of the lines– lines you would draw legislatively as a president on immigration reform, define amnesty.
SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL):
10:02:22:00 Well, first of all, I think amnesty is the forgiveness of a wrongdoing without consequence. And that– I don’t– I’ve never supported that. I do not support that. I think there has to be consequences for violating our immigration (CHEERING) laws.

10:02:35:00 What I think is clear about this system to begin with is we’re not gonna be able to make progress on illegal immigration until first illegal immigration is brought under control. Now– you go back to 1986 when they legalized three million people and they promised to secure the border. It didn’t happen. And as a result, people have lost trust in the federal government.

10:02:52:00 It is now clear that the only way to make progress on immigration is not just to pass a law that enforces the law, but actually prove to people that it’s working. They wanna see the wall built. They wanna see the additional border agents. They wanna see e-verify. They wanna see an entry-exit tracking system.

10:03:06:00 40% of the people in this country illegally are entering legally and overstaying visas. And only after all of that is in place then we’ll see what the American people are willing to support on this issue. I think the American people will be very reasonable, but responsible about how you handle someone who’s been here a long time. Who can pass a background check. Who pays a fine and starts paying taxes, and all they want is a work permit. But you can’t do any of that until you prove to people that illegal immigration is under control once and for all. (BEEPING) (CHEERING)
KIMBERLY STRASSEL:
10:03:37:00 Senator Cruz. Senator Cruz. You have promised to deport illegal aliens. You’ve also promised to reverse President Obama’s executive action that gives temporary amnesty to illegals that were brought here by their parents as children. As president, you would have the names and addresses of those– some 800,000 of those that have registered under that action. Now, you have said that in this country we shouldn’t go door to door looking for illegals, but in this case you would have a list. Would you use it?
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX):
10:04:08:00 Well, you know, your question highlights– a sharp difference on immigration on this stage. You know, in a Republican primary everyone talks tough on immigration. Everyone is against illegal immigration in a Republican primary. But as voters, we’ve been burned over and over again by people that give us a great campaign speech and they don’t walk the walk.

10:04:29:00 There are sharp differences on amnesty. If you look at the folks on this stage, when Harry Reid and Chuck Schumer and establishment Republicans were leading the fight to pass a massive amnesty plan, I stood with Jeff Sessions and Steve King and the American people and led the fight to defeat that amnesty plan. (APPLAUSE) (BOOS)
KIMBERLY STRASSEL:
10:04:55:00 So would you– would you use these lists?
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX):
10:04:58:00 Now, that moment–
KIMBERLY STRASSEL:
10:04:59:00 Would you pick them up? (SHOUTING)
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX):
10:04:59:00 –that moment was what Reagan would call a time for choosing. (BOOS) When it comes to deciding which side of the line you’re on, the Rubio-Schumer amnesty plan, (CHEERING) (BOOS) apparently supported by the donor class, which is why Washington supported (SHOUTING) it.

10:05:18:00 The Rubio-Schumer amnesty plan passed the Senate and it was on the verge of passing the House. House leadership intended to take it up and pass it with the Democrats overruling most of the Republicans. And the question for anyone on illegal immigration is where were you in that fight? Where did you stand? You are right. There is a difference between Senator Rubio and me–
KIMBERLY STRASSEL:
10:05:38:00 Senator Rubio–
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX):
10:05:38:00 –on this question. (BEEPING) v
KIMBERLY STRASSEL:
10:05:39:00 Your reply–
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX):
10:05:40:00 We’re gonna have to do–
KIMBERLY STRASSEL:
10:05:40:00 Your reply. (CHEERING) (BOOS)
SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL):
10:05:42:00 Let’s– we’re gonna have to do this again. Okay? When that issue was being debated Ted Cruz, at a committee hearing, very passionately said, “I want immigration reform to pass. I want people to be able to come out of the shadows.” And he proposed an amendment that would have legalized people here. Not only that, he proposed doubling the number of green cards. He proposed a 500% increase on guest (CHEERING) workers.

10:06:02:00 Now his position is different. Now– now he is a passionate opponent of all those things. So he either wasn’t telling the truth then or he isn’t telling the truth now. But to argue he’s a purist on immigration (CHEERING) is just (UNINTEL).
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX):
10:06:16:00 Just– hey, do I– I get a reply?
KIMBERLY STRASSEL:
10:06:18:00 All right. Senator Cruz. Your response Senator Cruz.
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX):
10:06:21:00 You know, the lines are very clear. Marco right now supports citizenship for 12 million people here illegally. (CROWD REACTS) I oppose (BEEPING) citizenship. Marco stood (BOOS) on the debate stage and said that. But I would note, not only that.

10:06:35:00 Marco has a long record when it comes to amnesty. In the state of Florida as speaker of the House he supported in state tuition for illegal immigrants. In addition to that, Marco went on Univision in Spanish and said he would not rescind President Obama’s illegal executive amnesty on his first day in office. I have promised to rescind every single illegal executive action, including that one. (CHEERING) (BOOS)
10:07:02:00 (OVERTALK)

MAJOR GARRETT:
10:07:03:00 We’ve gone too long
MAJOR GARRETT:
10:07:04:00 –but very quickly.

SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL):
10:07:04:00 First of all–
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX):
10:07:03:00 –they were–
10:07:04:00 (OVERTALK)
SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL):
10:07:05:00 –I don’t know how you know he knows what I said on Univision ’cause he doesn’t speak Spanish. And second of all, (LAUGHTER) the other point that I was–
10:07:11:00 (FOREIGN LANGUAGE NOT TRANSCRIBED)
SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL):
10:07:16:00 This is– look, this is a disturbing pattern now, ’cause for a number of weeks now Ted Cruz has just been telling lies.
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX):

10:07:19:00 Right.
SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL):
10:07:20:00 He lied about Ben Carson in Iowa. (CHEERING) He lied about planned parenthood–
10:07:24:00 (OVERTALK)
SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL):
10:07:24:00 He lies about marriage. He’s lying about all sorts of things. But now he makes things up. The bottom line is this is a campaign and people are watching it and they see the truth behind all these issues. And here’s the truth. Ted Cruz supported legalizing people that were in this country illegally–
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX):
10:07:37:00 That is simply–
SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL):
10:07:37:00 And only now does he–
10:07:39:00 (OVERTALK)
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX):
10:07:38:00 –that is absolutely–
KIMBERLY STRASSEL:
10:07:39:00 Major–
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX):
10:07:40:00 –false. (CHEERING)
10:07:41:00 (OVERTALK)
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX):
10:07:42:00 It is knowingly false. And I would note if–
SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL):
10:07:44:00 Well, we’ll put it on–
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX):
10:07:45:00 –you want to (UNINTEL)–
SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL):
10:07:44:00 –our website.
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX):
10:07:45:00 If you wanna–
SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL):
10:07:44:00 MarcoRubio.com.
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX):
10:07:47:00 –accept who’s– who’s telling the truth–
MAJOR GARRETT:
10:07:47:00 Okay.
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX):
10:07:48:00 If you want to assess who’s telling– (CHEERING) then you have to look to Jeff Sessions, who said, “Without Ted Cruz the Rubio-Schumer amnesty bill would have passed and Ted was responsible.” You should look to Rush Limbaugh and Mark Levin that said–
MAJOR GARRETT:
10:08:02:00 Senator– Senator Cruz–
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX):
10:08:03:00 –Marco–
10:08:03:00 (OVERTALK)
MAJOR GARRETT:
10:08:04:00 That’ll be– that’ll be the last point.
MAJOR GARRETT:
10:08:05:00 Governor Bush.
SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL):
10:08:06:00 I’ll put the video online–
MAJOR GARRETT:
10:08:06:00 Governor Bush–
SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL):
10:08:06:00 –and you can make up–
MAJOR GARRETT:
10:08:07:00 Governor Bush. I wanna–
GOV. JEB BUSH (R-FL):
10:08:08:00 Yes. Yeah.
MAJOR GARRETT:
10:08:09:00 –bring this up to a little wider philosophical aperture —
GOV. JEB BUSH (R-FL):
10:08:12:00 Okay.
MAJOR GARRETT:
10:08:12:00 –if you will.
GOV. JEB BUSH (R-FL):
10:08:12:00 Thank you.
MAJOR GARRETT:
10:08:13:00 You have said leg– illegal immigrants broke– broke the law, but it’s not a felony. Still (UNINTEL) to you. It’s an act of love. It’s an act of commitment to your family. Mr. Trump has, as you are well aware, denounced that statement over and over. Do you still believe it? What does that mean to you? And how does that inform–
GOV. JEB BUSH (R-FL):
10:08:29:00 First, I–
MAJOR GARRETT:
10:08:29:00 –your approach–
GOV. JEB BUSH (R-FL):
10:08:29:00 –feel like I–
MAJOR GARRETT:
10:08:30:00 –to immigration reform?
GOV. JEB BUSH (R-FL):
10:08:31:00 Great question. I feel like I have to– get into my inner Chris Christie and point out that the reason why I should be president is listening to two senators talk about arcane amendments to bills that didn’t pass. (CHEERING) This is– this is the problem.

10:08:47:00 We need– we need a leader to fix this problem. And I have a detailed plan to do just that– including controlling the border. Dealing with the visa over stayers. Making sure that we have a path to legal status, not to citizenship, for those the come out from the shadows and pay a fine, learn English, don’t commit crimes, work and pay taxes.
MAJOR GARRETT:
10:09:05:00 Fundamentally, do you believe this rhetoric is insufficiently compassionate–
10:09:09:00 (KIMBERLY STRASSEL: UNINTEL)
MAJOR GARRETT:
10:09:09:00 –to this issue?
GOV. JEB BUSH (R-FL):
10:09:09:00 The– the great majority of people that come to this country come because they have no other choice. They wanna come to provide their families. That doesn’t mean it’s right. (CHEERING) That doesn’t mean it’s right. We should pick who comes to our country. We should control our border. Coming here legally should be a lot easier than coming here illegally.

10:09:25:00 But the motivation, they’re not all rapists as you know who said. They’re not that. (LAUGHTER) These are people that are coming to provide for their families. And we should show a little more respect for the fact that they’re struggling. (APPLAUSE) It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be controlling the border. That’s exactly what we should be doing.
MAJOR GARRETT:
10:09:41:00 Mr. Trump?
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:09:43:00 Look, (CHEERING) when I announced that I was running for president on June 16th, illegal immigration wasn’t even a subject. If I didn’t bring it up, (CHEERING) you wouldn’t be–
10:09:57:00 (OVERTALK)
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:09:58:00 Let me talk. Now (BOOS) I don’t often agree with Marco, and I don’t often agree with Ted, but I can in this case. The weakest person on this stage by far on illegal immigration is Jeb Bush. They come out (CROWD REACTS) out a tax–
GOV. JEB BUSH (R-FL):
10:10:14:00 What–
10:10:15:00 (OVERTALK)
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:10:16:00 –whether you like it or not. He is so weak on illegal immigration it’s laughable. And everybody knows it.
GOV. JEB BUSH (R-FL):
10:10:23:00 So, you know, this– (BEEPING) this– this– this is the standard operating procedure, to disparage me. That’s fine–
10:10:28:00 (OVERTALK)
GOV. JEB BUSH (R-FL):
10:10:29:00 –I’ll–
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:10:28:00 Spend a little more money on the commercials.
10:10:29:00 (OVERTALK)
GOV. JEB BUSH (R-FL):
10:10:31:00 But if you wanna (CROWD REACTS) talk about weakness, (CHEERING) you wanna talk about weakness, it’s weak to disparage women. It’s weak–
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:10:36:00 I don’t do that.
GOV. JEB BUSH (R-FL):
10:10:38:00 –to disparage Hispanics. (CHEERING)
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:10:39:00 I don’t disparage–
10:10:40:00 (OVERTALK)
GOV. JEB BUSH (R-FL):
10:10:40:00 It’s weak– it’s weak to denigrate the disabled. And it’s really weak to call John McCain a loser ’cause he was a POW–
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:10:47:00 I never called him– now, don’t put that–
10:10:49:00 (OVERTALK)
GOV. JEB BUSH (R-FL):
10:10:48:00 That is outrageous. That’s an American hero. (CHEERING) He also said–
10:10:52:00 (OVERTALK)
GOV. JEB BUSH (R-FL):
10:10:54:00 I’ve laid out my plans–
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:10:55:00 –said about language–
GOV. JEB BUSH (R-FL):
10:10:56:00 –(UNINTEL) the nation great–
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:10:55:00 –language– two days ago he said he would take his pants off (BOO) and moon everybody. And that’s fine. Nobody reports that. He gets up and says that and then (CROWD REACTS) tells me, “Oh, my language is a little bit rough.”
KIMBERLY STRASSEL:
10:11:08:00 Okay.
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:11:08:00 My language.
10:11:09:00 (OVERTALK)
MAJOR GARRETT:
10:11:09:00 Governor Kasich.
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:11:11:00 Give me a break.
MAJOR GARRETT:
10:11:11:00 Governor Kasich. Governor Kasich. Here in South Carolina earlier this week you said the idea, the concept of supporting 11–
10:11:19:00 (OVERTALK)
MAJOR GARRETT:
10:11:20:00 –undocumented workers here.
GOV. JEB BUSH (R-FL):
10:11:21:00 Make sure my mother is listening and she is watching the debate —
10:11:22:00 (OVERTALK)
GOV. JEB BUSH (R-FL):
10:11:21:00 –go out to the (UNINTEL PHRASE)–
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:11:23:00 I did say it–
10:11:24:00 (GOV. JEB BUSH (R-FL): UNINTEL)
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:11:25:00 We did say it. (LAUGHTER)
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:11:26:00 It’s reported–
10:11:26:00 (OVERTALK)
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:11:26:00 –up for (UNINTEL).
MAJOR GARRETT:
10:11:28:00 We will leave the moon metaphors to be adjudicated later, I assure you. (LAUGHTER) Governor Kasich. You said earlier this week in South Carolina, the concept, the idea of deporting 11 million undocumented workers in this country is nuts. Why is it you are so opposed to that idea? Senator Cruz has said it’s a simple application of existing law. The application of that is not inhumane. It is just. Why do you disagree?
GOV. JOHN KASICH:
10:11:52:00 Yeah, before I get to that, this is the 9th or the 10th debate. And what I’ve been watching here, this back and forth, and these attacks, some of them are personal. I think we’re fixin’ to lose the election to Hillary qui– Clinton if we don’t stop this. (CHEERING)

10:12:07:00 I mean the fact is– you know what I would suggest? Why don’t we just take all the negative ads and all the negative comments down from television and let us just talk about what we’re for and let’s sell that. And the Republican party will be (CHEERING) stronger as a result. Now, back–
MAJOR GARRETT:
10:12:21:00 What are you for on immigration?
10:12:23:00 GOV. JOHN KASICH (R-OH):
(UNINTEL)Major, you know this
GOV. JOHN KASICH (R-OH):
10:12:25:00 Now, this– look, first of all, I’m for sealin’ the border. Okay? And then I’m for a guest worker program. People can come in, work and go back home. We haven’t closed the border because special interests, I believe, blocked it. Then we have 11.5 million people here. If they have not committed a crime since they’ve been here, make ’em pay a fine and some back taxes and give ’em a pass to legalization, never to citizenship.

10:12:46:00 It is not– (BOOS) it is not gonna happen that we’re gonna (CROWD REACTS) run around and– and– and try to drag 11.5 million people out of their homes. I’ll tell you this. Within the first 100 days I will send a plan like this to the Congress of the United States and if I’m president I’ll bet ya dollars to doughnuts (BEEPING) right now, it will pass. That is a reasonable proposal that the people of this country, in my judgment, will support. And so will the bulk of the Congress of the United States. (CHEERING)
KIMBERLY STRASSEL:
10:13:14:00 Moving subjects. Dr. Carson. This week Morgan Stanley agreed to pay a $3.2 billion fine to state and federal authorities for contributing to the mortgage crisis. You have a lot of Democrats out saying that we should be jailing more executives. So two questions. Should financial executives be held legally responsible for financial crashes? And do you think fines like these are an effective way to deter companies from future behavior like that?
DR. BEN CARSON:
10:13:43:00 Well, first of all, please go to my website, BenCarson.com, and read my immigration policy. (LAUGHTER) Okay? Because it actually makes sense. Now, the– as– as far as these– fines are concerned, (CLAPPING) you know, here’s the big problem. We’ve got all these government regulators and all they’re doing is running around looking for people to fine. And we’ve got 645 different federal agencies and sub-agencies. Way, way too many. And they don’t have anything else to do.

10:14:14:00 I think what we really need to do is start trimming the regulatory agencies rather than going after the people who are trying to in– (CLAPPING) increase the viability, economic viability, of our society. Now, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t some people out there who are doing bad things.

10:14:33:00 But I’m not sure that the way to solve that problem is by increasing all the regulatory burden. You know, when you consider how much regulations cost us each year, you know, $2 trillion per family. $24,000 for a family. That happens to be the same level as the poverty level (BEEPING) for a family of four. You wanna get rid of poverty? Get rid of all the regulations. (APPLAUSE)
(UNIDENTIABLE) MALE VOICE:
10:14:56:00 Well–
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:14:57:00 Senator– Senator Cruz, I have a question for you. Speaker Paul Ryan has made a big commitment to tryin’ to lift the 50 million poor out of poverty. And– Arthur Brooks, who is the president of the American enterprise institute, says, quote, “If you’re not warriors for the poor every day, free enterprise has no matter.” How have you been in your campaign a warrior for the poor?
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX):
10:15:19:00 I think it is a very important question because the people who have been hurt the most in the Obama economy have been the most vulnerable. It’s been young people. It’s been Hispanics. It’s been African Americans. It’s been single moms. We have the lowest percentage of Americans working today in any year since 1977.

10:15:37:00 And the sad reality is big government, massive taxes, massive regulation doesn’t work. What we need to do instead is bring back booming economic growth. Let– small businesses are the heart of the economy. 2/3 of all new jobs come from small businesses.

10:15:51:00 If we wanna lift people out of poverty– (CLAPPING) you know, I think of these issues from the perspective of my dad. My dad fled Cuba in 1957. He was just 18. He couldn’t speak English. He had nothing and $100 in his underwear. And he washed (BEEPING) dishes makin’ 50 cents an hour and paid his way through school. Today, my dad is a pastor. He travels the country preachin’ the gospel.

10:16:12:00 Now, I think about all of these issues, how would it impact my dad when he was washing dishes. If we had Obamacare in place right now the odds are very high my father would have been laid off because it’s teenage kids like my dad (BEEPING) who have gotten laid off. If he didn’t get laid off, the odds are high he would have had his hours forcibly reduced to 28, 29 hours in– a week. We need to lift the burdens on small–

SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX):
10:16:35:00 –businesses so you you have jobs. And we need welfare reform to get people off of (BEEPING) welfare and back to work.
MAJOR GARRETT:
10:16:40:00 Mr. Trump. Mr. Trump. (CHEERING) I was with you in Pendleton, South Carolina earlier this week as the rodeo arena. It was a bit chilly there. You promised the crowd, and their rose to their feet, that if Ford or a company like it were to move a factory to Mexico, you would try to stop it or threaten them with a 35% tax or tariff on every car sold.
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:17:01:00 Or a tax. Yes.
MAJOR GARRETT:
10:17:03:00 Right. So my question is based on your understanding of the presidency, were do you derive that power? Would you need the consent of Congress to go along? (LAUGHTER) And do you see the presidency as a perch from which you can cajole and/or threaten private industry to do something you think is better for the U.S. economy?
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:17:20:00 I would build consensus with Congress and Congress would agree with me. I’ll give you an example, (APPLAUSE) because I don’t like the idea of using executive orders like our president. It is a disaster, what he’s doing. I would build consensus. But consensus means you have to work hard. You have to cajole. You have to get them into the Oval Office and get them all together and you have to make deals.

10:17:42:00 Let me just tell you, I mentioned before, China, big Chinese company bought the Chicago Exchange. Carrier’s moving. And if you saw the people– because they have a video of the announcement that Carrier is moving to Mexico. Okay? Well, I’ll tell you what.

10:17:55:00 I would go right now to Carrier and I would say, “I am gonna work awfully hard. You’re gonna make air conditioners now in Mexico. You’re gonna get all of these 1,400 people that are being laid off–” they’re laid off. They were crying. They were– it’s a very sad situation.

10:18:11:00 “You’re gonna go to Mexico. You’re gonna make air conditioners in Mexico. You’re gonna put them across our border with no tax?” I’m gonna tell them right now I am gonna get consensus from Congress and we’re gonna tax you when those air conditioners come. So stay where you are or build in the United States.” Because we are killing ourselves (BEEPING) with trade pacts that are no good for us and no good for our workers. (APPLAUSE)
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:18:31:00 All right, Mr. Trump. Thank you so much. We’re gonna take a break for a moment. We’ll be back in a moment with your CBS News Republican Debate. (MUSIC)

JOHN DICKERSON:
10:22:47:00 We’re back now from Greenville, South Carolina with the candidates for the Republican presidential nomination. Mr. Trump, I have a question for you. Presidents have to, on the one hand, be firm, but also be flexible. You’ve been flexible and changed your opinion on a number of things from abortion to Hillary Clinton. But you said, rightly, that it’s just like Ronald Reagan, who changed his mind on things.

10:23:07:00 But at the same time, you’re criticizing Senator Cruz for what you say is a change on immigrant. He disputes that, of course. So why does your change of opinion make you like Reagan, and when he changes his (LAUGHTER) opinion it’s a huge character flaw?
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:23:22:00 John, in life, you have flexibility. You do have flexibility. When you’re fighting wars, you’re going one way, you have a plan. It’s a beautiful plan. It can’t lose. The enemy makes a change, and all of a sudden, you have to change. You have to have flexibility.

10:23:35:00 In Ronald Reagan, though, in terms of what we’re talking about, was the great example. He was a somewhat liberal Democrat who became a somewhat pretty strong conservative. He became– most important, he became a great president. He made many of the changes that I’ve met. I mean I’ve seen– as I grew up, I’ve seen, and as I get older and wiser, and I feel that I am a conservative. Now, I also feel I’m a common sense conservative. Because some of the views I don’t agree with. And I think a lot of people agree with me, obviously, based on what’s happening.
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:24:05:00 Which conservative– idea don’t you agree with?
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:24:08:00 Well, I think– these people always hit me with eminent domain. And frankly, I’m not in love with eminent domain, but eminent domain is something that you need very strongly. When Jeb had said, “You used eminent domain privately for a parking lot,” it wasn’t for a parking lot. The state of New Jersey, too bad Chris Christie is not here, he could tell you, the state of New Jersey went to build a very little tower that was going to employ thousands of people. I mean it was going to really do a big job in terms of economic development. Now, just so you understand, I got hit very hard. But it’s private. It’s private eminent domain. You understand that they took over a (BELL) stadium in Texas, and they used private eminent domain.
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:24:45:00 Okay.
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:24:45:00 But he just found that out after he made the charge.
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:24:47:00 All right. Governor Bush, think by “they” he’s referring to your brother.
GOV. JEB BUSH:
10:24:50:00 Yeah.
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:24:50:00 You’re on the hook for your brother.
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:24:52:00 Well, Jeb wouldn’t have known about it.
GOV. JEB BUSH:
10:24:52:00 So there– so there’s a– there’s– there’s all sorts of– intrigue about where I disagree with my brother. There’d be one right there. You should not use eminent domain for private purposes, a– baseball stadium, or a parking (LAUGHTER) lot for limos–
10:25:04:00 (OVERTALK)
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:25:05:00 You shouldn’t have used it, then, Jeb.
10:25:06:00 (OVERTALK)
GOV. JEB BUSH:
10:25:07:00 –transmission lines, pipelines, bridges, highways, all of that is proper use of eminent domain, not to take an elderly woman’s home to build a parking lot so that high rollers can come from New York City to failed casinos in Atlantic City. That is not the (CHEERING) appropriate thing to do.
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:25:25:00 Senator, hold on. Senator Cruz, you were mentioned the next year. Your response?
SEN. TED CRUZ:
10:25:31:00 You know, flexibility– is a good thing. But it shouldn’t– you shouldn’t be flexible on core principles. I like Donald. (APPLAUSE) He is an amazing entertainer. But his policies for most of his life–
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:25:43:00 Thank– thank you very much, I appreciate it.
SEN. TED CRUZ:
10:25:45:00 For most of his life, his policies have been very, very liberal. For most of his life, he has described himself as very pro-choice, and– as a supporter of partial-birth abortion. Right now today as a candidate, he supports federal taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood. I disagree with him on that. That’s a matter of principle. And I’ll– and I’ll be–
10:26:03:00 (OVERTALK)
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:26:05:00 –liar, you probably are worse than Jeb Bush. (CROWD NOISE) You are the single biggest liar. (CHEERING)
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:26:11:00 All right.
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:26:12:00 This guy lies. Lemme just tell you, this guy lied about Ben Carson, when he took votes away from Ben Carson (CHEERING) in Iowa. And he just continued. And today, we had robo calls saying, “Donald Trump is not going to run in South Carolina,” where I’m leading by a lot. I’m not gonna run. “Vote– vote for Ted Cruz.” This is the same thing he did to Ben Carson. This guy will say anything. Nasty guy. Now I know why he doesn’t have one endorsement from–
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:26:38:00 All right.
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:26:39:00 –any of his colleagues–
10:26:40:00 (OVERTALK)
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:26:40:00 All right, Jo– John,–
10:26:40:00 (OVERTALK)
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:26:41:00 –respond.
SEN. TED CRUZ:
10:26:42:00 –pick from the buffet there.
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:26:42:00 He’s a nasty guy.
10:26:43:00 (OVERTALK)
SEN. TED CRUZ:
10:26:44:00 Well, I– I– I will say–
10:26:44:00 (OVERTALK) (CHEERING)
SEN. TED CRUZ:
10:26:47:00 I– I will say it is fairly remarkable to see Donald defending Ben– after he called him “pathological” and compared him to a child molester, both of which were offensive and wrong. But– but lemme say–
10:26:58:00 (OVERTALK)
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:26:58:00 I just quoted his book.
SEN. TED CRUZ:
10:26:58:00 –you noticed Donald didn’t– disagree with the substance that he stereotypes taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood. And Donald has this weird pattern. When you point to his own record, he screams, “Liar, liar, liar.” If you want to go and one–
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:27:11:00 Where did I support it? Where did I support it?
SEN. TED CRUZ:
10:27:13:00 If you want to go and–
10:27:13:00 (OVERTALK)
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:27:13:00 He can’t. Where did I support it?
SEN. TED CRUZ:
10:27:15:00 If you wanna go and watch the video, go to our website–
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:27:16:00 Hey, Ted!
SEN. TED CRUZ:
10:27:17:00 –TedCruz.org.
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:27:18:00 Where did I support it?
SEN. TED CRUZ:
10:27:19:00 You can see it out of Donald’s–
10:27:20:00 (OVERTALK)
SEN. TED CRUZ:
10:27:20:00 –own mouth. When we–
10:27:22:00 (OVERTALK)
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:27:23:00 Where did I support it?
SEN. TED CRUZ:
10:27:23:00 You supported it when we were battling over de-funding Planned Parenthood, you went on television–
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:27:26:00 That’s a lot of–
10:27:27:00 (OVERTALK)
SEN. TED CRUZ:
10:27:27:00 –said, “Planned Parenthood does wonderful things, and we should not de-fund–
10:27:30:00 (OVERTALK)
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:27:31:00 Well, it does do wonderful things.
SEN. TED CRUZ:
10:27:31:00 And– and– and–
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:27:32:00 –but not as it relates to abortion.
SEN. TED CRUZ:
10:27:33:00 So tell me, what are the wonderful things–
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:27:34:00 They do– excuse me.
SEN. TED CRUZ:
10:27:35:00 What are the wonderful things it does?
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:27:36:00 Excuse me. There are wonderful things having to do with women’s health.
SEN. TED CRUZ:
10:27:39:00 You see, you and I disagree on that.
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:27:41:00 But not when it comes to abortion.
SEN. TED CRUZ:
10:27:41:00 That’s– and– and–
10:27:42:00 (OVERTALK)
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:27:42:00 Not when it comes to abortion.
10:27:43:00 (OVERTALK)
SEN. TED CRUZ:
10:27:44:00 –John– John, the reason principle matters– (CHEERING) the reason principle matters, sadly, was illustrated by the first questions today. The next president is gonna appoint one, two, three, four Supreme Court justices.
10:27:56:00 (OVERTALK)
SEN. TED CRUZ:
10:27:56:00 If Donald Trump is president, he will appoint liberals.
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:28:00:00 Excuse me.
SEN. TED CRUZ:
10:27:59:00 If Donald Trump is president–
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:28:01:00 Excuse me.
10:28:01:00 (OVERTALK)
SEN. TED CRUZ:
10:28:01:00 –your Second Amendment will–
10:28:03:00 (OVERTALK) (CHEERING)
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:28:06:00 Hold on, gentlemen. I’m gonna turn this car around.
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:28:07:00 –John Roberts, Ted Cruz, with your brother, wanted John Roberts to be in the United States Supreme Court. They both pushed him. He twice approved Obamacare.
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:28:18:00 All right, gentleman.
10:28:19:00 (OVERTALK)
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:28:19:00 Hold on, hold on.
DR. BEN CARSON:
10:28:20:00 –where his name was mentioned twice.
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:28:22:00 Well hold on, we’re gonna–
10:28:23:00 (OVERTALK)
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:28:24:00 Gentlemen, we’re in– we’re in danger of driving this into the dirt.
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:28:25:00 You gave us–
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:28:27:00 Senator Rubio, I’d like you to– do you wanna jump in here?
GOV. JEB BUSH:
10:28:29:00 Just called me– a liar.
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:28:30:00 I understand. You’ll– you’re on deck, governor.
10:28:36:00 (OVERTALK)
GOV. JEB BUSH:
10:28:37:00 Ronald Reagan was a liberal maybe in the 1950s. He was a conservative reform governor for eight years before he became president. And no one would suggest he made an evolution for political purposes. (CHEERING) He was a conservative, and he didn’t tear down people like Donald Trump does.
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:28:51:00 All right.
GOV. JEB BUSH:
10:28:51:00 He tore down the Berlin Wall.
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:28:52:00 Okay, governor–
10:28:53:00 (OVERTALK)
GOV. JEB BUSH:
10:28:54:00 –great guy. (CHEERING)
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:28:55:00 Governor– (CHEERING) Senator Cruz, 30– 30 seconds on this one.
SEN. TED CRUZ:
10:29:01:00 I did not nominate John Roberts. I would not have nominated John Roberts.
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:29:03:00 You pushed him. You pushed him.
SEN. TED CRUZ:
10:29:05:00 I– I supported him–
10:29:06:00 (OVERTALK)
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:29:05:00 You worked with him and you pushed him.
10:29:07:00 (OVERTALK)
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:29:07:00 Why do you lie?
SEN. TED CRUZ:
10:29:08:00 Donald–
10:29:10:00 (OVERTALK)
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:29:09:00 Why do you lie?
10:29:09:00 (OVERTALK)
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:29:10:00 Why do you lie?
SEN. TED CRUZ:
10:29:11:00 Donald learned–
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:29:11:00 You pushed him.
SEN. TED CRUZ:
10:29:12:00 Donald, adults learn not to interrupt each other.
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:29:14:00 Yeah, yeah I know, you’re an adult. (LAUGHTER) You’re an adult.
SEN. TED CRUZ:
10:29:17:00 I did not nominated him. I would not have nominated him. I would have nominated my former boss, Mike Luttig, who was Justice Scalia’s first law clerk. And you know how I know that Donald’s Supreme Court justices will be liberals? Because–
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:29:29:00 You don’t know.
SEN. TED CRUZ:
10:29:29:00 –his entire life, he supported liberals, from Jimmy Carter to Hillary Clinton to John Kerry. In 2004 (BELL)–
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:29:35:00 All right, all right.
SEN. TED CRUZ:
10:29:37:00 –he contributed to John Kerry.
10:29:38:00 (OVERTALK)
SEN. TED CRUZ:
10:29:38:00 Nobody who cares about judges would contribute–
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:29:39:00 All right.
SEN. TED CRUZ:
10:29:40:00 –to John Kerry, Hillary Clinton, Chuck Schumer and Harry Reid.
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:29:42:00 We’re gonna switch–
SEN. TED CRUZ:
10:29:43:00 That’s what Donald–
10:29:45:00 (OVERTALK)(CHEERING)
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:29:45:00 Governor, we’re gonna switch gears here. Marc– Senator Marco Rubio–
SEN. MARCO RUBIO:
10:29:48:00 Yes, sir.
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:29:49:00 Senator Marco Rubio, please–
10:29:51:00 (OVERTALK)
SEN. MARCO RUBIO:
10:29:51:00 On anything I want?
10:29:52:00 (OVERTALK)
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:29:53:00 Oh, I thought you had–
10:29:54:00 (OVERTALK)
SEN. MARCO RUBIO:
10:29:54:00 Lemme talk about poverty.
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:29:55:00 I thought you had a point you wanted to make, too.
SEN. MARCO RUBIO:
10:29:56:00 No, you make–
10:29:56:00 (OVERTALK)
DR. BEN CARSON:
10:29:57:00 That’s– that was me.
10:29:58:00 (OVERTALK)
SEN. MARCO RUBIO:
10:29:58:00 And that’s sumthin’ that’s important.
10:29:58:00 (OVERTALK)
DR. BEN CARSON:
10:29:59:00 I think– I think that was me that had a–
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:30:00:00 You’re on the on deck circle, sir.
DR. BEN CARSON:
10:30:01:00 (CHUCKLE) Okay.
SEN. MARCO RUBIO:
10:30:02:00 You know, this– the issue of poverty’s critical. Because for me, poverty is the– is– is free enterprise not reaching people. Today we have anti-poverty programs that don’t cure poverty. We don’t cure poverty in America. Our anti-poverty programs have become, in some instances, a way of life, a lifestyle.

10:30:17:00 Now, we do need anti-poverty programs. You can’t have free enterprise without ’em. But not as a way of life. And so I have a very specific proposal on this. And I don’t– in 60 seconds, I can’t describe it all. But it basically turns the program over to states. It allows states to design innovative programs that cure poverty. (APPLAUSE) Because I think Nikki Haley will do a better job curing poverty than Barack Obama.
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:30:37:00 Senator, I wanted to ask you– going back to immigrant– in the last debate, you listed your series of accomplishments in the Senate. One thing you left off was– was immigration reform. Is it– the case that, in your list of accomplishments, you can’t mention that?
SEN. MARCO RUBIO:
10:30:50:00 Well, no. It’s not the case. It didn’t pass. And we haven’t solved immigration in this country. It’s still a program. It is worse today than it was three years ago, which is worse than it was five years ago. And it has to be confronted and solved.

10:31:00:00 But the only way forward on this issue, you asked a question about flexibility. Lemme tell you about that. One of the things that you need in leadership is the ability to understand that, to get things done, you must figure out the way to get it done. You will not pass comprehensive immigration reform. People do not trust the federal government.

10:31:16:00 They want to see the law being enforced. They want to see illegal immigration come under control. They wanna see that wall. They wanna see eVerify. They want to see all of these things working. And then they will have a convicted with you about what do you do with people that have been here– a long time that are otherwise, you know, not criminals. But they’re not going to do it until you first enforce the law.
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:31:35:00 Dr. Carson, I have a– (CHEERING) (APPLAUSE) Dr. Carson, I have a question for you.
10:31:43:00 (OVERTALK)
DR. BEN CARSON:
10:31:42:00 Be– before you ask the question, can I respond to the– you know, they mentioned my name a couple of times.
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:31:46:00 All right. You have 30 seconds, Doctor.
DR. BEN CARSON:
10:31:49:00 All right. Well, first of all, you know, so many people have said to me, “You need to scream and jump and down– jump up and down like everybody else.” Is that really what you want, what we just saw? I don’t think so. And, you know, I– (APPLAUSE) when I got into this race, I decided to look under the hood of the engine of what runs Washington D.C. And my first inclination was to run away.

10:32:10:00 But I didn’t do it because I’m thinking about our children and the fact that we are the United States of America. And anybody up here’s gonna be much better than what’s gonna come on the other side. And– and what happened tonight with– with– Justice Scalia tells you that we cannot afford to lose this election, and we cannot be tearing each other down. (APPLAUSE)
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:32:29:00 Dr. Carson, I– (CHEERING) lemme ask you– a different question. When you were– you were the first one, really, to talk about political correctness. Everybody now talks about it. But that was really what sparked your– your rise. Politicians are often accused of glossing over any hard choices people have to make, just always selling happy, nice things. So in the– in the spirit of saying something that might be politically incorrect, tell the voters something that they need to hear but that might be political incorrect.
DR. BEN CARSON:
10:33:01:00 Well first of all, I’m not a politician. So I’m never gonna become a politician. But here’s what– here’s what people need to know. People need to know that free college is not– is a non-starter. You know, you have to look at our economic situation.

10:33:17:00 We’re on the verge of economic collapse. And, you know, we’re– it’s not just the $19 trillion. But it’s also the $200 trillion in un-funded liability. But what we need to think about is what does that do to the average person. When we have a debt of that nature it causes the Fed to change their policy. It causes the Central Bank to keep the– the– the rates low. And who does that affect? Mr. Average, who used to go to the bank every Friday and put part of his check in the bank and watch it grow over three decades and be able to retire with a nice nest egg. That’s gone. That part of the American dream is gone.

10:33:58:00 All of these things are disappearing. And Bernie Sanders and people like Hillary Clinton– and blame it on the rich. They say, “Those evil rich people, if we take their money, we can solve the problem.” It’s not the evil rich people, it’s the (BEEP) irresponsible evil government.
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:34:11:00 All right. (CHEERING) (APPLAUSE) Governor Kasich– Governor Kasich, you’ve been described as the Democrat’s favorite Republican. You talked about in New Hampshire, Democrats would come up to– you and say, “I hope you win.” Why will that help you win a Republican nomination?
GOV. JOHN KASICH:
10:34:28:00 You know, John, I think all people are the same. Look, I did 106 town halls. And I’ve been doin’ ’em left and right here in South Carolina. But the first thing we have to do is grow the economy. And– and I know the formula because I was chairman in Washington when we balanced the budget and created so many jobs. And the same– we’ve been able to do in Ohio. You need common sense regulations so small business can flourish. You need lower taxes, both on businesses and individuals. And you need a fiscal plan to be able to get ourselves in the situation where people can predict a little bit about the future when it comes to the fiscal issues.

10:35:02:00 And when you have that formula, combined with workforce that’s trained, you can explode the economy and create many jobs. I’ve done it twice. And I wanna go back to Washington and do it again. John, the thing is– is that I think that– there are people now, these blue collar Democrats– my dad was a blue collar Democrat– the Democratic Party’s left them.

10:35:21:00 When they’re arguing about being socialists, they’ve left– they’ve lost those– those blue collar Democrats. And you know what I think they get outta me is my sense of what they get outta me. And it’s the– embarrassment about campaigns. You brag about yourself. (BELL) But I think I’m a uniter. I think people sense it. I think they know I have the experience and that I’m a man that can give people hope and the sense that they have an opportunity to rise. And I tell you, I love (BELL) these blue collar Democrats ’cause they’re gonna vote for us come next fall, promise you that. (CHEERING) (APPLAUSE)
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:35:53:00 Mr. Trump, lemme ask you a question. Presidents in both parties say that the one thing you need in– in your administration is somebody who can tell you you’re wrong. You don’t necessarily seem like somebody who has somebody who tells you you’re wrong a lot. (LAUGHTER) Can you tell us of an instance where somebody said, “Donald Trump, you’re wrong,” and you listened to them? (CLEARS THROAT)
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:36:10:00 Well, I would say my wife tells me I’m wrong all the time, and I listen. (LAUGHTER)
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:36:16:00 About what?
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:36:18:00 Oh, lemme just say– look. I am very open. I hire top people. I’ve had great success. I’ve built a great, great company. I don’t need to do this. I’m self funding. I’m spending a lot of money. I’ve spent– like in New Hampshire, I spent $3 million. Jeb Bush spent $44 million. He came in five and I came in number one. That’s what the country needs, folks.

10:36:39:00 I spent three, he spends 42 of their money, of special interest money. And it’s just– this is not gonna make– excuse me. This is not gonna make our country great again. This is not what we need in our country. We need people that know what the hell they’re doing. And politicians, they’re all talk, they’re no action. And that’s why people are supporting me.

10:37:01:00 I do listen to people. I hire experts. I hire top, top people. And I do listen. And you know what? Sometimes they’re wrong. You have to know what to do, when to do it.
10:37:11:00 (OVERTALK)
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:37:11:00 But sometimes they’re wrong.
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:37:13:00 Something, in talking to voters that they wish somebody would tell you to cut it out is the profanity. What’s your reaction to that?
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:37:21:00 Well– (CHEERING) I tell you– (APPLAUSE) over the years, I’ve made many speeches. People have asked me, big companies have asked me to make speeches, and friends of mine that run big companies, on success. And on occasion, in order to sort of– really highlight something, I use a profanity.

10:37:39:00 One of the profanities that I got– credited with using that I didn’t use was a very bad word, two weeks ago, that I never used. I said, “You.” And everybody said, “Oh, he didn’t say anything wrong.” But you bleeped it. So everyone thinks I said the w– I didn’t say anything. I never said the word.

10:37:57:00 It is very unfair, that criticism. Now, I will say this– with all of that being said, (BEEP) I have said I will not do it at all. Because if I say a word that’s a little bit of color, a little bit, it ends up being a headline. I will not do it again. I was a very good student at a great school, not using– by the way, not using profanity (BEEP) is very easy.
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:38:17:00 All right. Okay, Governor– Bush, I’d like to–
GOV. JEB BUSH:
10:38:19:00 Yeah, I gotta respond to this.
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:38:21:00 Well, can I– how ’bout you respond, and then you can answer the– question I’m about to ask you.
GOV. JEB BUSH:
10:38:24:00 Sounds like a good plan.
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:38:24:00 It’ll be–
10:38:25:00 (OVERTALK)
GOV. JEB BUSH:
10:38:25:00 Or you could ask me two questions so I could get two minutes instead of one.
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:38:29:00 If we adjudicate this, the night’ll be over. Governor, in 2012, you said that your father and Ronald Reagan would have a hard time in today’s Republican Party, based on their records of trying to find accommodation and finding some degree of common ground. Do you still feel that way?
GOV. JEB BUSH:
10:38:41:00 I think that the dysfunction in Washington is really dangerous. That’s what I think. And we need a proven leader that has a record of solving problems, someone who doesn’t cut and run. Someone who could be a commander in chief to unite– our country around common purpose, someone who doesn’t disparage people, someone that doesn’t brag, for example, that he’s been bankrupt four times and it was great because he could–
10:39:00:00 (OVERTALK)
GOV. JEB BUSH:
10:39:01:00 –use the legal system.
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:39:03:00 Let– let me respond.
GOV. JEB BUSH:
10:39:03:00 Someone who–
10:39:03:00 (OVERTALK)
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:39:04:00 That’s another lie.
10:39:04:00 (OVERTALK)
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:39:05:00 I never went bankrupt.
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:39:05:00 Hold on, Mr. Trump.
10:39:06:00 (OVERTALK)
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:39:07:00 It’s another lie.
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:39:07:00 But, hold on.
10:39:08:00 (OVERTALK)
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:39:08:00 But it’s a lie.
10:39:08:00 (OVERTALK)
GOV. JEB BUSH:
10:39:10:00 We need someone with a proven record–
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:39:11:00 This is a lie.
GOV. JEB BUSH:
10:39:11:00 –to be able to (UNINTEL) consensus to solve problems. And right now, both Republicans and Democrats in Washington don’t get it. People are struggling. 63% of Americans can’t make a $500 car payment. Most Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. And we need someone who has a proven record of growing the economy, reforming the things that are broken, and I’m that person.
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:39:32:00 Okay, Mr. Trump, your response. (CHEERING)
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:39:35:00 Let– let me just say– Jeb goes around (UNINTEL)– just like the biggest business leaders in this country, I’ve used the laws of the land to chapter– I bought a company, I threw it immediately into a chapter, I made a great deal. I used the laws to my benefit, because I run a company.
10:39:50:00 (OVERTALK)
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:39:50:00 I never went bankrupt. Excuse me, Jeb.
GOV. JEB BUSH:
10:39:51:00 Yeah.
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:39:52:00 I never went bankrupt, never. Now– but you don’t wanna say that. Now lemme just say, I’ve used it just like the biggest leaders in the country. Lemme just tell you something, Florida. Florida, he put so much debt on Florida. You know, we keep saying he’s a wonderful governor, a wonderful gov– he put so much debt on Florida. And he increased spending so much that, as soon as he got out of office, Florida crashed. I happened to be there. It’s my second home. (CROWD NOISE) Florida crashed. (CHEERING)
GOV. JEB BUSH:
10:40:18:00 Yeah, here we go.
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:40:18:00 He didn’t do a good job as governor.
10:40:20:00 (OVERTALK)
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:40:20:00 And you haven’t– excuse me. You haven’t heard that. You listened to the good record in Florida. You take a look at what happened. As soon as that year ended, he got out– (BEEP) Florida crashed. Too much debt, he– he loaded it up with debt. And his spending went through the roof.
10:40:34:00 (OVERTALK)
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:40:35:00 Bells are ringing, sir.
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:40:35:00 By the way, he was not a good governor.
GOV. JEB BUSH:
10:40:37:00 Here’s–
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:40:38:00 Jeb.
GOV. JEB BUSH:
10:40:38:00 –here’s– here’s the record. (CHEERING) Here’s the record. We led the nation in job growth seven out of eight years. When I left, there was $9 billion of reserves, 35% of general revenue. No state had–
10:40:47:00 (OVERTALK)
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:40:48:00 Take a look at these numbers.
GOV. JEB BUSH:
10:40:49:00 When I– during my time, we were one of two states to go to triple A bond rating. We didn’t go bankrupt like Trump did and call it success when people are laid off when vendors don’t get paid. That’s not success. (CHEERING) What we did was create an environment where people had a chance to have income. Personal income during my time went up by 4.4%.
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:41:07:00 Florida went–
10:41:07:00 (OVERTALK)
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:41:07:00 All right.
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:41:08:00 –down the tubes right after he got out of office.
GOV. JEB BUSH:
10:41:09:00 –government group–
10:41:10:00 (OVERTALK)
GOV. JEB BUSH:
10:41:10:00 The government group I have with that.
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:41:11:00 –what he did do.
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:41:12:00 All right. Thank you, Mi– Senator Rubio, I wanna ask you a– 30 second question. No president–
SEN. MARCO RUBIO:
10:41:16:00 30 seconds. (CHUCKLE)
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:41:17:00 –no, well– I’ll ask the question, you do what you want.
SEN. MARCO RUBIO:
10:41:20:00 Think fast. (LAUGHTER)
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:41:21:00 No president can know– no president can know everything, right? So a smart leader knows how to ask questions. So if you could talk to any previous president, what’s the smart question you would ask about that job that you’d wanna know?
SEN. MARCO RUBIO:
10:41:33:00 Well, I think– one of the presidents– well the– president I grew up under was Ronald Reagan. And Reagan had a vision for America’s future. And if you think about what Ronald Reagan inherited is not unlike what the next president is going to inherit. This is the worst president we’ve had in 35 years. 35 years back would have made it Jimmy carter. That’s what Ronald Reagan inherited. (APPLAUSE) And I think the question you would ask is, “How did you inspire again the American people to believe in the future? How would you– how did you– what– did it take to insure that the American people, despite all of the difficulties of the time?”

10:42:01:00 You know, you look back at that time, the American military was in decline. Our standing in the world was in decline. We had hostages being held in Iran. Our economy was in bad shape. The American people were scared about the future. They were scared about what kind of country their children were going to live in and inherit.

10:42:17:00 And yet, somehow, Ronald Reagan was able the instill in our nation and in our people a sense of optimism. And he turned America around because of that vision and ultimately because of that leadership. I wish– Ronald Reagan was still around. This country needs someone just like that. And any– if– if our next president is even half the president Ronald Reagan was, America is going to be greater than it’s ever been
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:42:36:00 All right. (UNINTEL PHRASE) (CHEERING) Senator Rubio, we’ve gotta go to a break. We’ll be right back with the CBS News Republican Debate in Greenville, South Carolina. (MUSIC) (LONG PAUSE)
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:47:02:00 Time now for closing statements. You will each have one minute. And we’ll begin with Governor Kasich.
GOV. JOHN KASICH:
10:47:08:00 Well, I wanna thank the people of South Carolina. You’ve been fantastic. And– look, what I want you to know is I’m gonna send a lot of power, money and influence back to where we all live. But as I’ve traveled around South Carolina, I– I’ve noticed something. You know, it’s that people have a sense that you’re not gonna wait on a president.

10:47:24:00 You know, when I was a kid, we didn’t wait on presidents to come to that little blue collar town and fix things. You know, the Lord made all of us special. The Lord wants us to be connected. I believe we’re part of a very big mosaic.

10:47:37:00 And I’ll send the power back. And whoever gets elected president here hopefully will take care of the issue of jobs and wages and Social Security and the border. But the spirit of America rests in all of us. It’s in our guts. It’s– it’s taking care of our children. It’s taking care of the lady next door, who just lost her husband. It’s fixing the schools where we live and telling kids to say off of drugs.

10:48:00:00 You see, I think what the Lord wants us for us to engage. And in America, the spirit of America doesn’t come from the top, down, the spirit of America rests in us. And I wanna call on everyone in America to double down and realize that you were made special to heal this country and lift it for everyone. Thank you all very much, and I hope I can have your vote in South Carolina. (CHEERING) (APPLAUSE)
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:48:21:00 Doctor– Dr. Carson– Dr. Carson, you’re next.
DR. BEN CARSON:
10:48:27:00 This is the first generation not expected to do better than their parents. Some people say it’s the new normal. But there’s nothing normal about it in an exceptional American. I, like you– am a member of “we the people.” And we know that our country is heading off the cliff.

10:48:43:00 Joseph Stalin said, “If you wanna bring America down, you have to undermine three things: Our spiritual life, our patriotism and our morality.” We, the people can stop that decline, starting right here in South Carolina. If all the people who say, “I love Ben Carson and his policies but he can’t win,” vote for me, not only can we win, but we can turn this thing around.

10:49:08:00 You know, we have this manipulation by the political class and by the media, telling us who we’re supposed to pick and how we’re supposed to live. We, the people are the only people who determine that. And if you elect me as your next president, I promise you that you will get somebody who is accountable to everybody and beholden to no one. Thank you. (APPLAUSE) (CHEERING)
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:49:32:00 Governor– Governor Bush?
GOV. JEB BUSH:
10:49:36:00 Thank you all very much. The next President’s gonna be confronted with an unforeseen challenge. That’s almost certain. It could be a pandemic, a major natural disaster or an attack on our country. The question for South Carolinians and Americans is who do you wanna have sittin’ on the– behind the big desk in the Oval Office?

10:49:53:00 Because that’s the question. It’s not the things that we’re talking about today, it’s the big– the great challenge that may happen. I believe I will have a steady hand as commander in chief and president of the United States. I will unite this country around common purposes.

10:50:05:00 Because I did it as governor of the state of Florida. When I was governor, we had eight hurricanes and four tropical storms in 16 months. Our state was on its back. We recovered far faster than what people thought because we led. We ran to the challenge rather than cutting and running. That’s what we need in Washington D.C..

10:50:22:00 We need someone with a servant’s heart that has a backbone that isn’t gonna focus on polls and focus groups, it’s gonna focus on the American people to keep them safe and secure. I ask for your vote next Saturday. (CHEERING) (APPLAUSE)
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:50:36:00 Senator? Now– Senator– Marco Rubio.
SEN. MARCO RUBIO:
10:50:40:00 Thank you. Thank you for watching tonight. This is a difficult time in our country. Our economy’s flat. It’s not creating the jobs it once did. People struggle, living paycheck to paycheck. Our culture’s in trouble. Wrong is now considered right, and right is considered wrong. And all the things that once held our families together are now under constant assault.

10:50:57:00 And around the world, America’s reputation’s in decline. Our allies don’t trust us. Our adversaries don’t fear us. Iran captures our sailors and parades them before the world on video. These are difficult times. But 2016 can be a turning point. That’s why I’m running for president. That’s why I’m here today to ask you for your vote.

10:51:16:00 If you elect me president, we are going to– re-embrace free enterprise so that everyone can go as far as their talent and their work will take them. We are going to be a country that says that life begins at conception and life is worthy of the protection of our laws. We’re gonna be a country that says that marriage is between one man and one woman. And we are going to be a country that says the constitution and the rights that it– that it talks about do not come from our president, they come from our creator.

10:51:40:00 And we are going to be loyal to our allies like Israel, not enemies like Iran. And we will rebuild the U.S. military so no one will bear tested (?). Vote for me. I will unify (BEEP) this party, I will grow it. We will win this election, and we will make the 21st century a new American century. (CHEERING) (APPLAUSE)
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:52:03:00 Senator– Senator Cruz? (CHEERING) Senator– Senator Cruz, your closing statement?
SEN. TED CRUZ:
10:52:13:00 South Carolina, you have a critical choice to make. Our country literally hangs in the balance. Do you want another Washington deal maker who will do business as usually, cut deals with the Democrats, grow government, grow debt and give up our fundamental liberties? Or do you want a conservative, a proven conservative who will stand and fight with you each and every day?

10:52:36:00 Listen, repealing Obamacare is not gonna be easy. Passing a simple flat tax and abolishing the I.R.S. is not gonna be easy. But if we stand with the American people, we can do it. And today we saw just how grave the stakes are. Two branches of government hang in the balance, not just the presidency, but the Supreme Court.

10:52:54:00 If we get this wrong, if we nominate the wrong candidate, the Second Amendment, life, marriage, religious liberty, every one of those hangs in the balance. My little girls are here. I don’t wanna look my daughters in the eyes and say we lost their liberties. Who do you know will defend the constitution and Bill of Rights? And as the commander in chief, who do you know will stand up to our enemies as the calm, steady, deliberate strength to defeat our enemies, (BEEP) to secure the border and to keep America safe? (APPLAUSE) (CHEERING)
10:53:23:00 (OVERTALK)
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:53:27:00 All right, Mr. Trump, your closing statement.
MR. DONALD TRUMP:
10:53:29:00 Thank you. (APPLAUSE) Politicians are all talk, no action. You’ve seen where they’ve taken you to. We owe $19 trillion right now. It’s going to be increased with that horrible budget from a month ago that was just approved by politicians. We need a change. We need a very big change.

10:53:50:00 We’re going to make our country great again. I say this every night, every day, every afternoon. And it’s so true. We don’t win anymore. We don’t win with health care. We don’t win with ISIS and the military. We don’t take care of our vets, we don’t take care of our borders. We don’t win. We’re going to start winning again.

10:54:12:00 We are not going to be controlled by people that are special interests and lobbyists that everybody here has contributed to. And you know what? They do exactly what those folks want ’em to do. We’re gonna make our country great, and we’re gonna do the right thing. I’m working for you, I’m not working for anybody else. Thank you very much.
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:54:28:00 All right. (CHEERING) (APPLAUSE) We’ll be– we’ll be back with a few final thoughts in a moment. (MUSIC) (LONG PAUSE)
JOHN DICKERSON:
10:57:22:00 So that’s nine Republican debates– down and at least three to go. We’ll have more about the presidential race and the death of Justice Antonin Scalia tomorrow morning on Face the Nation. Our guests include Donald Trump, Marco Rubio and Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders. Debate coverage continues now on our digital network, CBSN. For Major Garrett and Kimberly Strassel, I’m John Dickerson. Goodnight.

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Transcript courtesy CBS News