The Republican presidential hopefuls took the debate stage for the fourth time Tuesday night. This time, only eight candidates battled in the prime-time debate, hosted by Fox Business Network and The Wall Street Journal in Milwaukee. Donald Trump, Ben Carson, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Jeb Bush, Carly Fiorina, John Kasich and Rand Paul faced off for the main debate. Chris Christie and Mike Huckabee were bumped to the undercard debate, joining Rick Santorum and Bobby Jindal. Because of low polling numbers, Lindsey Graham and George Pataki were not at the debate. Here are some of the most quotable moments from the night.
TED CRUZ
- Five major agencies that I would eliminate: IRS, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Energy, the Department of Commerce and HUD.
- There are more words in the IRS code than there are in the Bible. And none of them is as good.
- If a bunch of people with journalism degrees were coming over and driving down wages in the press … then we would see stories about the economic calamity that is befalling our nation.
- Well, my mom is here. So I don't think we should be pushing grannies off cliffs.
RAND PAUL
- Response to Donald Trump on China and the Trans-Pacific Partnership:
- Gerard, You might want to point out China is not part of this deal.
- Marco, Marco, Marco! … How is it conservative to add a trillion dollars in military expenditure … You cannot be a conservative if you're going to keep promoting programs that you're not going to pay for."
- I want a government really, really small. So small you can barely see it.
DONALD TRUMP
- About Carly Fiorina, to boos from the audience: Why does she keep interrupting everybody?
- Each one of us has a tax plan … some of them I don't agree with. Each one of the tax plans is better than the mess that we have right now.
- To John Kasich: I've built an unbelievable company worth billions and billions of dollars. I don't have to hear from this man.
CARLY FIORINA
- We should not speak to people from a position of weakness. I would not be talking to Putin right now, whom I have met as well — not in a green room for a show, but in a private meeting.
- The secret sauce of America is innovation and entrepreneurship.
- It's not just about replacing a Democrat with a Republican, it's about changing the status quo.
BEN CARSON
- To debate moderator: First of all, thank you for not asking me what I said in the 10th grade, I appreciate that.
JOHN KASICH
- For the 11 million people — come on, folks. We all know you can't pick them up and ship them back across the border. It's a silly argument. It's not an adult argument.
JEB BUSH
- On Donald Trump's deportations: They're doing high fives in the Clinton campaign right now when they hear this.
- On Hillary Clinton's proposed policies: It may be the best that Hillary Clinton can do, but it's not the best that America can do.
MARCO RUBIO
- I know that the world is a safer and a better place when the United States is the strongest country in the world.
- Welders make more money than philosophers. We need more welders and less philosophers.
MIKE HUCKABEE
- Do you know an American who will just stop spending? I don't.
- The government has no business knowing how much money we make and how we made it. It's none of their business.
CHRIS CHRISTIE
- If you go to New Jersey, they'll call me lots of things — a liberal isn't one of them.
- Hillary Clinton is coming for your wallet, everybody. Don't worry about Huckabee or Jindal, worry about her.
- If you listen to Hillary Clinton, she's made it very clear. She believes she can make decisions for you better than you can make them for yourself.
BOBBY JINDAL
- In response to a question about Democrats the candidates admire:
- I want to fire everybody in D.C. — both parties.
- To Chris Christie: I'll give you a ribbon for participation. And a juice box.
- Referring to the filibuster to mock senators running for president:
- When they go to relieve themselves, their cause and the toilets get flushed at the same time.
RICK SANTORUM
- Commander in chief is not an entry-level position — experience matters.
- In response to a question about Democrats the candidates admire: You know why I respect the Democratic Party? You know why I respect them? They fight!
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