The ninth Republican presidential primary debate is in the books. Here’s a few brief thoughts:
Trump’s Social Security gibberish
See if you can make any sense of the following Trump quote: “If you listen to the Democrats, they want to do many things to Social Security and I want to do them on its own merit. You listen to them, what they want to do to Social Security, none of these folks are getting elected, OK, whether they can do it or not. I’m going to save Social Security. I’m going to bring jobs back from China.” After the rest of his unrelated response, the moderator wisely followed up and asked how he would actually save Social Security. Trump talked about cutting “tremendous waste, fraud and abuse” in the system.
There is fraud in Social Security, but ending that fraud isn’t nearly enough to save the system. The deficit in the retirement trust fund will exceed $60 billion by 2021, with no improvement in sight. Most of that deficit isn’t abuse — it’s structural. There are too many retired beneficiaries depending on too few workers. Trump wants to stick with Social Security’s status quo, but the system needs reforms like a gradual increase in the retirement age or the option to put benefits in a personalized account.
Furthermore, Trump claimed that “thousands and thousands of people” over the age of 106 receive Social Security benefits. Not true, according to a CBS News fact check. Although there are 6.5 million deceased Americans who are supposedly over the age of 111 with Social Security numbers, almost none of them are collecting Social Security payments.
Scalia, Rest in Peace
Trump criticized President George W. Bush during the debate. Interestingly, in his first response of the debate, Trump suggested two judges Obama should nominate to replace Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court: Diane Sykes and Bill Pryor. Both were appointed to their current roles by Bush. Trump does deserve credit for being the only candidate to name people he would consider nominating to the bench. That’s something regular politicians don’t do.
Organizers wisely started the debate questioning each candidate about the Supreme Court. But few of the candidates used that question to discuss the traits they would look for in their Supreme Court nominees. Justices get lifetime appointments, so the legacy of the next president will last for decades through their Supreme Court nominations. Only the answers from Jeb Bush and, sort of, Ted Cruz mentioned what they look for in those they would nominate.
What’s in a name?
If Jeb Bush weren’t on the stage tonight, there wouldn’t have been much debate over his brother’s record as president. Trump attacked that record, while Jeb and others, including Marco Rubio, defended it. So what do the voters think? Who will lose most from that exchange?
Trump, it looks like. Three-in-four Republicans nationwide view George W. Bush favorably, according to Public Policy Polling, which is a liberal polling firm. Trump specifically criticized George W. Bush over the Iraq War. Republicans still support that decision, with 62 percent in favor, according to Quinnipiac. It might not be enough to sway someone’s vote, but it’s still worth looking at.
Jason Russell is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
