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Republican debate descends into acrimony as red-faced Trump lashes out
Trump booed for 9/11 Bush insult at Republican debate
(about 1 hour later)
Donald Trump, his face red with emotion, lashed out at rivals Jeb Bush and Ted Cruz on Saturday at the most acrimonious debate to date between Republican presidential candidates, shouting insults and casting aside a pledge to be more measured.
Trump booed for 9/11 Bush insult at Republican debate
The New York billionaire went into the CBS debate with a head of steam, having won New Hampshire last Tuesday and holding a big lead in polls in South Carolina a week before Republicans vote on 20 February
Donald Trump was booed by the crowd at the Republican presidential debate after blaming George Bush for the destruction of the twin towers on 11 September 2001.
Rather than play it safe, Trump responded to every comment leveled his way, interrupted his opponents at will and called them liars repeatedly in an emotional outburst that could raise more questions about whether he has the temperament to serve in the White House.
The party front-runner’s attack on the former Republican president was the most controversial moment in the CBS broadcast, which was laced with more aggression and venom than any of the previous debates.
He made his most blistering attacks against Bush and his brother, former President George W. Bush, who has many admirers in the Republican establishment.
Despite his comfortable lead in the polls and a pledge to conduct himself in a more statesmanlike manner, the billionaire tycoon launched volleys of insults at rivals Jeb Bush and Ted Cruz. Meanwhile, Cruz scuffled with Marco Rubio over immigration.
And Trump was roundly heckled when he said that the World Trade Center "came down" during the reign of George W Bush.
But as ever, it was Trump who provoked the biggest reaction from the Greenville, South Carolina audience. “How did he keep us safe when the World Trade Center went down?” he asked, his comments quickly drowned by a rising chorus of catcalls.
It was hard to declare a winner in the debate amid the constant volley of insults, not all of them from Trump. Cruz and fellow Senator Marco Rubio also took pointed jabs at each other over illegal immigration.
I lost hundreds of friends,” Trump continued, raising a hand and pausing to ask the crowd to let him continue speaking. “The World Trade Center went down during the reign of George Bush. He kept us safe? That is not safe."
But Trump dominated the debate conservation on Twitter with 40 percent of the mentions, according to data from the micro-blogging platform.
Despite the crowd’s hostility, Trump looks set to triumph in the South Carolina Republican Primary on Saturday 20 February. He is currently polling at around 35%, 20 points clear of his nearest rivals Cruz and Rubio.
Trump's combative style has set the tone for much of the campaign but in recent days he had pledged to pursue a more measured, positive approach. At the debate, that strategy lasted only through his comments about Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who was found dead on Saturday.
The former Apprentice star managed to keep his composure as the Presidential candidates paid their tributes to Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who was found dead at his Texan ranch on Saturday.
Trump was quickly goaded when Bush criticized Trump's past statements that Russia has a role to play in Syria. Russia, Bush said, is not attacking Islamic State militants but instead helping Syrian President Bashir Assad, who Washington wants to leave power.
The candidates bowed their heads for a moment’s silence in memory of the Republican grandee, before discussing whether Barack Obama would be able to appoint a Democratic judge before he left office.
Trump blasted Bush's brother for launching the Iraq war in 2003 over claims, later proven false, that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction.
If he is successful, the move could significantly alter the political tenor of the highest American court, which currently leans to the right. Trump called on Republican senators to “delay, delay, delay” the appointment proceedings until he or another Republican could make the appointment.
"A big, fat mistake," said Trump, noting that the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks had also occurred on Bush's watch.
But after George Bush’s younger brother Jeb took a potshot at Trump for his support of Russian intervention in Syria, Trump fired back with typical bombast, describing the launch of the Iraq war as "a big, fat mistake."
"George Bush made a mistake," Trump thundered. "We all make mistakes. But that one was a beauty ... They lied! They said there were weapons of mass destruction. And there were none."
"George Bush made a mistake," he continued, his face red with exertion. "We all make mistakes. But that one was a beauty ... They lied. They said there were weapons of mass destruction. And there were none."
Many in the crowd booed Trump and the Republican front-runner dismissed them as "lobbyists and special interests" supporting the former Florida governor.
When the crowd booed him for his comments about 9/11, Trump dismissed them as “lobbyists and special interests.”
Bush, who has wilted in the past under assault from Trump, stood firm this time. He will campaign with his brother George on Monday in North Charleston, South Carolina.
He has previously been criticised for claiming to have seen “thousands” of people celebrating in the streets following the terrorist attacks in which 4000 Americans lost their lives.
"I'm sick and tired of him going after my family," Bush said. "My dad is the greatest man alive in my mind. While Donald Trump was building a reality TV show, my brother was building a security apparatus to keep us safe. And I'm proud of what he did.
When Bush bought up Trump’s previous criticism of his 90-year-old mother, Trump joked: “she should be running.”
"He had the gall to go after my mother," Bush said, reminding the audience that Trump had criticized his 90-year-old mother, Barbara Bush, wife of former President George H.W. Bush. "My mother is the strongest woman I know."
Cruz was dubbed “the biggest liar” and “a nasty guy” after questioning Trump’s conservative credentials. Cruz also shut down Marco Rubio’s accusation that he couldn’t speak Spanish by replying to Rubio in Spanish.
"She should be running," Trump responded.
Calls for unity and harmony by Ben Carson and John Kasich were ignored throughout the acrimonious two-hour debate, for which Trump once more set the tone.
Bush provoked another outburst from Trump by saying the Republican nominee should be someone "who doesn't brag, for example, that he has been bankrupt four times."
And Trump’s headline-grabbing style continues to pay dividends. He cornered 40% of Twitter mentions during the debate, far more than any of the other candidates.
"That's another lie," Trump said. "I never went bankrupt."
Trump also was drawn into a fight with Cruz over whether the real estate developer is sufficiently conservative. Trump called himself a "common-sense conservative," which Cruz dismissed.
"If Donald Trump is president he will appoint liberals to the Supreme Court," Cruz said.
"You are the biggest liar," Trump said sharply.
As they tried to talk over each other, Cruz chided Trump by saying, "Donald, adults do not interrupt each other."
Ohio Governor John Kasich, who finished second in the New Hampshire primary last Tuesday and who pushes an optimistic message, called for calm.
"These attacks, some of them are personal. I think we're fixing to lose the election to (Democratic front-runner) Hillary Clinton," he said.
Cruz and Rubio renewed their battle over who is the toughest on illegal immigration with Cruz insisting that the Florida senator, as part of a Gang of Eight sen
