Lively GOP Iowa Debate Targets Forbes, DoleJanuary 13, 1996 CNN JOHNSTON, Iowa -- Nine Republican presidential hopefuls assailed millionaire publisher Steve Forbes and took jibes at front-runner Bob Dole as they engaged in a vigorous debate Saturday, eager to display their commitment to conservative principles one month before the critical Iowa caucuses.  Having won in Iowa when he ran for president in 1988, favorite Dole was expected to bear the brunt of the attack in the 90-minute televised debate. Instead, it was Forbes who was repeatedly blasted, possibly because at least four candidates are scrambling for his spot. Forbes has vaulted from nowhere to second place in several national surveys and in early-contest states such as Iowa and New Hampshire on the promise of a flat tax plan and a $10 million-plus advertisement campaign.  The normally soft-spoken former Tennessee Governor Lamar Alexander aggressively led the charge against Forbes, just moments after criticizing Dole. Alexander said Forbes' "flat tax" plan, under which all citizens would pay the same 17 percent in income tax without deductions, would be a "disaster," partly because it would raise taxes on many in the middle class and end the deduction for mortgage interest. 
Brown calles the plan "a truly nutty idea in the Jerry Brown tradition," recalling the Democratic presidential contender who proposed a similar measure in 1992. "Steve, the only thing you've ever run is a magazine you inherited, and you raised the price of your magazine." (394 AIFF sound or 394K WAV sound) Columnist Pat Buchanan didn't waste time jumping in. He said the Forbes plan was "worked up by the guys down at the yacht basin." Dole, who launched numerous advertisements attacking Forbes this weekend, also took several potshots at the publisher's inherited wealth. Forbes retaliated by calling the others on the dais "lifetime politicians" who had a stake in preserving the status quo in Washington. "The politicians are sniping at me," he said, and later, pointed out that Alexander had raised sales taxes as governor. After the debate, Forbes told reporters he would forego any possible financial benefit if his proposed flat tax were enacted. While Dole was able to sit back much of the time and watch his rivals try to destroy one another, he wasn't spared either. Again, it was Alexander who began the attack on the Kansas Republican. "We need to say with respect to Senator Dole, it may be your turn but it's not your revolution," Alexander said. "It's not your time. It's time to move on." Dole's GOP opponents attempted to paint a picture of a leader out of step with a resurgent Republican party and too eager to make compromises with President Clinton. The Senate majority leader responded that he had always stood by Republican values, but that doing business with Democrats was necessary for effective government. "Bob Dole is not a polarizer. Bob Dole provides leadership. Bob Dole delivers," he said.  Phil Gramm, R-Texas, accused Dole of tilting toward "big government compromise" during the 1994 health care debate and questioned Dole's commitment to the anti-abortion cause. Dole said he had a "strong, pro-life record," and recalled that Mother Teresa had recently called him to laud his leadership on legislation banning late-term abortions. 
Dole took a dig at Gramm having flunked three grades growing up, when Dole said he would rather answer a question from a high school student in the audience. "Hers is a lot better question. She's passed every grade she's been in," he said drawing laughter. (433K AIFF sound or 433K WAV sound) Gramm, who earned a Ph.D. in economics, often mentions his early school problems. The debate, sponsored by the Des Moines Register newspaper, began with each of the candidates pledging to balance the budget and cut taxes. During the debate they also vowed to shift power back to the states and use the presidency to build strong values and families. 
 While most of the aspirants said they would favor ending federal affirmative action programs, each said he was committed to healing America's racial divisions. Radio commentator Alan Keyes, who's considered a long shot and vehemently opposes abortion, said electing him as the nation's first black president would be the best way to improve race relations. Forbes sang a different tune from the others on the issue of Social Security, saying that those not nearing retirement age should be transferred to a system in which money collected from payroll deduction was put in private retirement accounts, not a government trust fund. Gramm pounced on Forbes quickly, recalling that Forbes had opposed a Constitutional amendment requiring a balanced budget. Forbes denied it, but Gramm aides distributed a press release which included three Forbes' quotes opposing a balanced budget amendment.  While the others trained their guns on one another, another GOP long shot, Rep. Robert Dornan, R-California, reserved his arsenal for "the guy who's posing for photo ops in Bosnia." Calling Clinton a "pathological liar," Dornan said, "I think we have a criminal in the White House." This was the fourth GOP debate, and the third attended by Dole. He has committed to just one more, days before the February 20 New Hampshire primary, causing his rivals to complain that the front-runner is ducking debates. Others who participated in the debate were Indiana Senator Dick Lugar and Michigan businessman Morry Taylor. Related Sites:
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