By Adrian Culea
Weeks after the Democratic candidates sparred in Nevada, the Republican candidates for the 2008 presidential election were in Florida participating in the CNN/Youtube debate.
Right off the bat, two of the frontrunners, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, got into a heated exchange regarding illegal immigration, reflecting the battle being waged by the candidates on the campaign trail.
Romney was quick to accuse the Giuliani-run New York as being a "sanctuary city" for illegal immigrants. Romney questioned Giuliani's motives when he allowed the children of illegal immigrants to attend public school.
Giuliani defended his actions, claiming it was more important to keep those children off the streets during the mass crime waves the city experienced in the beginning of Giuliani's term.
"We're a better country than to punish children for what their parents did," said former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
Giuliani denied New York City's status as a "sanctuary city," but did mention it was important to allow illegal immigrants to report crimes and receive emergency care without being forwarded to immigration services. Giuliani fought back, calling Romney's governor's mansion as a "sanctuary mansion" after he employed illegal immigrants.
The discussion on immigration did not stop there. When asked if they would veto all bills which involved amnesty, former Senator Fred Thompson said yes. Thompson went on to describe the United States as a house and how, like all homes, people must be invited to enter.
Other candidates spoke of immigration as well. Rep. Tom Tancredo, from Colorado, said he would not aid guest workers because it would cause a loss of jobs for Americans. Rep. Duncan Hunter, from California, pledged to have a 854 mile fence built along the US-Mexico border within the first six months of his presidency.
The candidates were asked a question involving gays in the military by retired Brigadier General Keith Kerr, an open homosexual. "[Of those] who go out to serve in the military and break that corporate decision with the family, most are conservative and have conservative values and Judeo-Christian values. And to force those people to have a small, tight unit with somebody who is openly homosexual, who goes against what they believe to be their principles, and it is their principles, is I think a disservice to them," said Hunter.
After hearing Hunter's response, Kerr said he was unsatisfied with Hunter's stance, "We are talking about doctors, nurses, pilots and surgeons who sew somebody up when they are taken from the battlefield."
A little controversy unearthed itself following the close of the debate. CNN learned Kerr is a part of a gay/lesbian committee supporting Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential bid. David Bohrman, an executive producer, apologized to all the Republican candidates, adding "We never would have used the general's question had we known that he was connected to any presidential candidate."
Little was spoken of healthcare or potential military action in Iran, but time was allotted to speak of the rivalry between Giuliani's New York Yankees and Mitt Romney's Boston Red Sox after Chris Krul, a Floridian, asked the former New York City mayor to justify his endorsement of the Sox to win it all this past year after the Yankees were eliminated.
Another topic brought up was sending someone to Mars. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas disapproved of the idea, arguing "We can't afford some things, and going to Mars is one of them." Mike Huckabee likened the idea of further funding NASA's programs and even suggested who to send to Mars, "Maybe Hillary can be on the first rocket to Mars." The offbeat comment produced cheers from the St. Petersburg audience.