Just a day after the Nov. 7, 2023 referenda elections, which saw abortion rights becoming a key issue on the ballots, including in several red-leaning states, like Ohio which enshrined the right to abortion in its state constitution with the passing of Issue 1, and the flipping of Virginia’s House of Representatives granting full control of the state legislature to Virginia Democrats; the Republican presidential primary debate was held in Miami, Florida.
Not in attendance was former President Donal J. Trump, who instead held his own rally in Hialeah, Florida, just 30 minutes away. Currently, Trump is the Republican front runner.
The debate was filled with numerous tense exchanges, and personal attacks between candidates, particularly between former United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
Candidates spent nearly 2 hours debating topics such as abortion rights, changes to the Social Security program, as well as the recent eruption of conflict between Israel and Hamas, the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war and the possibility of a future conflict between China and Taiwan.
The Israel-Hamas conflict held the center of attention with all five candidates offered their unwavering support for Israel and the international Jewish community as well as condemning the attacks and kidnappings conducted by Hamas, yet made little to no mention of the civilians in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis that continues to exacerbate itself there.
Haley particularly stood out in the discussion as she highlighted her time as an ambassador, stating “It is not that Israel needs America. America needs Israel. They are the tip of the spear when it comes to this Islamic terrorism and we need to make sure that we have their backs in that process.”
Following this, candidates were asked by Matthew Brooks, the CEO of the Republican Jewish Coalition, what they would say to Jewish students who’ve felt unsafe or threatened on U.S. campuses in recent weeks, and to university presidents who have not forcibly condemned Hamas’s acts of terrorism which drew a variety of responses from the candidates.
Most notably was South Carolina senator Tim Scott’s answer, calling for the cancellation of visas and deportation of foreign students who have participated in Palestinian solidarity or anti-Israel protests, and the removal of federal Pell grants from universities that “fail to address antisemitism on campus in relation to protests.”
“Let me just say this to every university president in America. Federal funding is a privilege, not a right, number one. Number two, to every student who’s come to our country on a visa to a college campus, your visa is a privilege, not a right. Number three, any campus that allows for anti-semitism and hate, to allow students to encourage terrorism, mass murder and genocide, you should lose your federal funding today, period. To all the students on visas who are encouraging Jewish genocide, I would deport you from those campuses.” said Scott.
While this proposition seems to be popular among the current presidential candidates and various Republican lawmakers, First Amendment experts like Andrew Geronimo, the director of the First Amendment clinic at Case Western Reserve University warn that a proposal like this is likely to fail as it would more than likely violate the fundamental rights of freedom of expression that all people, regardless of immigration status possess in the United States.
Experts warn that even if it does pass, it is sure to result in some form of serious litigation levied against the federal government that would see the proposal overturned.
Ramaswamy similarly condemned anti-semitism on college campuses, but similarly warned that he perceived this proposal as censorship, and a slippery slope.
“I think it’s really important we do this through leadership, not censorship … these kids have no idea what the heck they’re even talking about when they’re siding with Hamas over Israel, they are fools. But I also want to caution here. If we go the direction of Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley, with whom I respectfully disagree on this issue, pro-censorship, telling student groups to disband. Mark my words, soon they will say if you question a vaccine and its side effects, you’re a bioterrorist.” said Ramaswamy.
With only two months until the Jan. 15, 2024 Iowa Caucuses and former President Trump reportedly leading in polls at 41% as potential caucus goers first choice for president, and Haley and DeSantis tied for second place at 16%, it seems the remaining GOP candidates will have their work cut out for them in terms of leveraging more support for their presidential bids.
As the election moves forward, the Branding Iron will continue to cover it to the best of its abilities.
