Will the Real Conservative Please Step Forward?

Here is a summary of the first GOP debate for the 2008 presidential primary.

Abortion:

Mitt Romney said that the reason why he became pro-life was because of research that he did when the embryonic stem cell research issue came up in his state.

Sam Brownback said that he was against legalized abortion and embryonic stem cell research, but said that he could support a pro-choice Republican nominee for president. “Anyone who agrees with me 80% of the time is my friend,” he said.

Jim Gilmore said that he has consistently said that abortion should legal for the first 8-10 weeks of the pregnancy.

John McCain claimed to be pro-life, yet said he hasn’t changed his mind about supporting embryonic stem cell research funding.

Rudi Giulliani said that he hates abortion, but he believes that the government should not interfere with this choice of conscience.

The rest of the candidates made statements consistent with a 100% pro-life position.

War in Iraq:

Most candidates took a pro-war position, but Ron Paul took a position of non-interference. McCain favored the surge. Someone (Fred Thomson, I think) said that Iraq should be divided into ethnic zones which would belong to the Kurds, Sunnis, and Shiites, and that the oil revenues should be divided evenly to the (Iraqi) federal government, the regional governments and the Iraqi people. The rest of the candidates seemed to have no clear solution.

Evolution:

The candidates were asked to raise their hand if they did NOT believe in evolution. I saw Tom Tancredo and two others raise their hands but could not make them out. Later the commentators said they were Mike Huckabee, Sam Brownback, and Tancredo.

Immigration:

Most gave "get tough" rhetoric, but Brownback seems wishy-washy on this issue.