Round 2: Gingrich, Perry and Bachmann Address The Republican Jewish Coalition

By Scarlette Whyte

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said he plans to take a few pages out of the Reagan playbook to help the economy. If elected president he will cut taxes, repeal Obamacare and reward job creators.

As for unemployment benefits Gingrich said there needs to be job training conditions tied to compensation. “We rebuild human capital not by paying people to do nothing,” the former speaker stated.

The crowd laughed when Gingrich said he would challenge the president to 7 three hour debates and let him use a teleprompter.

Texas Governor Rick Perry criticized President Obama’s handle on foreign policy. “He’s engaged in failed outreach and intellectual conversation with Iran,” Perry said.

Perry also said that Obama has turned his back on Israel. He made a biblical reference  by comparing himself to Nehemiah building the wall in Jerusalem. “Prayerfully he urged the people to keep building with a brick in one hand and sword in the other.”

The Texas Governor said if elected, he would cut down working days in Congress. “Let them go home and work a regular job and live under their laws.”

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-MN) was last to speak at the RJC forum. Out the gate, she addressed the United States/Israel relationship. ” As president of the United States I will once again have Israel’s back.” She said that “Palestine must recognize Israel’s right to exist and condemn violence.”

As it relates to issues here at home, Bachmann referred to the Occupy Wall Street movement as the “Obama re-election team.” She went on to say that high tax rates are punishing job creators for politician’s greed.

Republican Jewish Coalition Hosts GOP Presidential Contenders

The Republican Jewish Coalition hosted six of the GOP Presidential candidates at the Ronald Reagan building in Washington D.C. Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum  kicked off the event by outlining his plan if elected.

When asked what a first week “Santourm Administration” would look like, the candidate said he would repeal Obamacare, get rid of regulations for businesses and “take a meat axe to the State Department”. 

Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman made light of his daughters’ infamous Youtube video when he took on stage.

He wasted no time taking jabs at the other GOP contenders, “I am not going to contort myself into a pretzel by signing pledges. I will not attend a Don Trump debate either,” Huntsman said.

There was a standing ovation as former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney walked up to podium. “We’ve had a lot of change and not a lot of hope,” Romney said about President Obama’s  leadership. Romney added that Obama wants to make America an entitlement society and not an opportunity society. “He does not understand America,” he said.

The former Massachusetts Governor said that a Romney presidency would repeal Obamacare, reduce the number of federal employees and put a halt on all regulations installed during the Obama administration.

Texas Governor Rick Perry, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich will speak at the RJC forum later this afternoon.

Poll: Gingrich Benefitting Most From Cain's Departure

Former House Speaker and GOP presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich is basking in the aftermath of pizza mogul Herman Cain’s campaign suspension announcement on Saturday. 

According to a Poll Position survey, Gingrich now holds a double digit lead over former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. Gingrich is likely reaping the benefits of Cain’s weekend announcement, raking in 37 percent support from likely voters. Romney, on the other hand, continues to rake in the 23 percent that he’s seen throughout the camapign. 

Reps. Ron Paul (R-Texas) and Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), along with Texas Governor Rick Perry, are only seeing single digits with 7, 6 and 3 percent, respectively. Jon Huntsman and Rick Santorum round up the GOP field, each earning 2 percent support.

Gingrich is now building a wider support base, specifically among conservatives who are searching for the best alternative to Romney. With Cain’s supporters now on the hunt for a new candidate to support, the remaining candidates are sure to see an influx, but the first post-Cain poll indicates that those voters are already signing on to the Gingrich campaign. 

With less than a month before the Iowa caucuses, the remaining candidates are making moves to shepherd the wandering Cain supporters. Perry is now calling himself “the only Washington outsider left,” and Bachmann said Sunday that a number of Cain supporters have been calling her campaign offices. 

With reports circling about a possible Cain endorsement of Gingrich, it’s clear the former Speaker will benefit most from the pizza mogul’s departure. 

Paul Takes California Straw Poll

Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) and long-shot GOP presidential candidate continues to prove that he is not just another pushover among conservatives like former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and Texas Governor Rick Perry.

The Texas Congressman won the California Straw Poll over the weekend and credits his growing status in the GOP field to a younger generation of Americans who want to see the Washington political atmosphere change.

“They’re young people, mostly, who realize our country’s in a mess… and they’re very open to the ideas of liberty, Paul told the San Francisco Chronicle. “They’d just as soon assume responsibility for themselves… be left alone, get the government off their back and get out of wars.”

The Texas congressman raked in 44.9 percent of the vote winning the California poll. Chants of “President Paul! President Paul!” and a number of signs that read “Paul Revolution” signaled Paul’s victory.

Paul said that the race for 2012 is different than previous races he’s run in the past because of the evolution and impact of social media. Paul praises the youth, who call themselves “Paulistas,” for supporting him and credits the social media mogul Facebook for the success of spreading his message.

“The only way we’ll find out is what happens in January, whether that translates into real votes,” he said. “We see the enthusiasm … and the volunteers. But under our system, the litmus test is: Do they come to the polls and vote? We’ll see.”

Perry Defends His Position On Social Security

Republican presidential candidate and Texas Gov. Rick Perry continues to be a vocal advocate of reforming Social Security, despite having drawn an increasing amount of criticism after calling the program a “Ponzi scheme.” 

In a USA Today Op-Ed, Perry defended his stance on the entitlement program Monday, saying Americans must know the truth about the potential for insolvency in the program. 

“The first step to fixing a problem is honestly admitting there is a problem,” Perry wrote. “But Americans deserve a frank and honest discussion of the dire financial challenges facing [Social Security].”

Perry argued that by 2037, retirees will only be receiving 76 cents for every dollar they put into the program. 

“Imagine how long a traditional retirement or investment plan could survive if it projected investors would lose 24 percent of their money?” he argued.

“For too long, politicians have been afraid to speak honestly about Social Security,” he wrote. “We must have the guts to talk about its financial condition if we are to fix Social Security and make it financially viable for generations to come.”

Perry has weathered much of the storm follwoing his “Ponzi scheme” remarks and continues to lead a narrowing GOP presidential field just ahead of Monday’s debate in Florida.