This gathering, which was televised nationally on C-SPAN, allowed Iowa republicans to evaluate candidates through a question-and-answer session moderated by pollster Frank Luntz.
He added, “The good people of Iowa, the good people of New Hampshire and the good people of South Carolina are going to figure this out. And here’s what I think they’re going to say: ‘Donald Trump, you’re fired!’”
The reference was welcomed with laughter and warm applause.
Looking past Trump, the candidates also delivered their remarks on social and political issues.
Marco Rubio took an aggressive stand on national security and said ISIS “should be humiliated.” He also blasted the Obama Administration for not playing a larger role in confronting the Islamist threat.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker brought up the controversy of Planned Parenthood, and promised to take action against the organization unlike other politicians who simply give “great speeches on how they are going to defund Planned Parenthood.”
All candidates condemned the Supreme Court’s recent ruling establishing same-sex marriage, which Texas Sen. Ted Cruz called “lawless and fundamentally illegitimate.”
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal received several standing ovations throughout the event including one that lasted several minutes after he bashed the media for having a liberal, pro-Obama bias.
He also slammed the Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage ruling and said, “America did not create religious liberty – religious liberty created the United States of America.”
