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GOP debaters slam pullout but critical of war

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SIMI VALLEY, California (CNN) -- The field of candidates in the first Republican debate was largely dismissive of Democratic calls for pulling troops out of Iraq, but there was criticism of the war's execution.

"Clearly, there was a real error in judgment, and that primarily had to do with listening to a lot of folks who were civilians in suits and silk ties and not listing enough to the generals with mud and blood on their boots and medals on their chest," former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said.

"But rather than simply walking away and leaving the Middle East in a complete disastrous chaos ... it's important that we finish the job, that we do it right, rather than have to go back and some day do it over."

Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the strongest supporter of the war among the field of 10 candidates in Thursday night's debate, reiterated his optimism that President Bush's latest initiative in Iraq -- increasing troop strength to try to rein in sectarian violence -- was working.

"We have a new general. We have a new strategy. That strategy can succeed," McCain said. "[The war] was badly mismanaged for four years, but we have a new strategy that I think and pray every night will succeed."

But Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, who voted in Congress against the war, called his party to return to a "noninterventionist" foreign policy, which he said was "the traditional American foreign policy and the Republican foreign policy."

"Think of how Eisenhower came in to stop the Korean War. Think of how Nixon was elected to stop the mess in Vietnam," Paul said. (Watch where candidates stood apart on key issues )

Invoking the legacy of Reagan

While the candidates are vying to follow a fellow Republican into the Oval Office, another Republican loomed much larger during the debate: President Reagan, at whose library the event was held and whose widow, Nancy, attended.

The GOP hopefuls were not shy about hitching themselves to the Reagan mantle, invoking his name 19 times.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani: "What we can borrow from Ronald Reagan ... is that great sense of optimism. He led by building on the strengths of America, not running America down."

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney: "Ronald Reagan was a president of strength. His philosophy was a philosophy of strength -- a strong military, a strong economy and strong families."

In contrast, the current commander in chief was mentioned only four times, but near the end of the debate, Giuliani offered the night's most effusive praise of Bush.

"On September 11, 2001, we thought we were going to be attacked many, many times between then and now. We haven't been," Giuliani said. "I believe we had a president who made the right decision at the right time ... to put us on offense against terrorists.

"I think history will remember him for that, and I think we as Republicans should remind people of that."

While there were few fireworks in the first side-by-side comparison of the Republican candidates, Giuliani set himself apart from the nine others when he answered if it would be a good day if Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling legalizing abortion, was overturned.

"It would be OK to repeal," he said, then added, "It would be OK also if a strict constructionist judge viewed it as a precedent."

It's a decision for the Supreme Court to decide, he explained. "Then the country can deal with it. We're a federalist system of government, and states can make their own decisions."

When asked to clarify his position later in the debate, Giuliani said, "I hate abortion" and encourage adoption, but "I would respect a women's right to make a different choice."

Thompson apologizes for answer

Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson found himself apologizing Friday morning for one of his answers at the debate -- that private employers should be allowed to fire gay employees because of their sexual preference.

Thompson was asked: "If a private employer finds homosexuality immoral, should he be allowed to fire a gay worker?"

Thompson answered: "I think that is left up to the individual business. I really sincerely believe that that is an issue that businesspeople have got to make their own determination as to whether or not they should be." The moderator appeared a bit startled: "OK, so the answer is yes?" Thompson replied, "Yes."

In a telephone interview from O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, Thompson told CNN's "American Morning" that he "misinterpreted" the question and should have asked to have it repeated.

"That's never been my position," Thompson said, also former health and human services secretary under Bush, adding that discrimination isn't acceptable.

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