Tommy Thompson in 2007 GOP primary debate at Ronald Reagan library

On Abortion: Good day for America when Roe v. Wade is repealed

ROMNEY: Absolutely.

BROWNBACK: It would be a glorious day of human liberty and freedom.

GILMORE: Yes, it was wrongly decided.

HUCKABEE: Most certainly.

HUNTER: Yes.

THOMPSON: Yes.

McCAIN: A repeal.

GIULIANI: It would be OK to repeal.

TANCREDO: After 40 million dead because we have aborted them in this country, that would be the greatest day in this country’s history when that, in fact, is overturned.

On Abortion: Right to abortion should be left to states

A: I believe it should be left up to the states. That was what was originally implied, and the Constitution was changed when the Supreme Court made the decision. I have made a record of pro-life for a long time, signing the partial-birth abortion, pre-notification for parents and so on. I think it’s an important imperative that states have the responsibility for making these laws.

On Abortion: Pluripotent adult stem cells instead of embryonic stem cells

A: There’s so much research going on, to allow for adult stem cells to become pluripotent, which will have the same characteristics of embryonic stem cells, so you do not have to kill an embryo.

On Civil Rights: Ok for private business to fire employees for being gay

A: I think that is left up to the individual business. I really sincerely believe that that is an issue that business people have got to make their own determination as to whether or not they should be.

Q: So the answer’s yes.

A: Yes.

On Civil Rights: Bringing people together abrogates racism

A: A president can do a lot of things. A president can set a vision that’s going to abrogate as much as possible racism in our society. A president has got to be abl to get out and speak and be able to unite. As Wisconsin governor, I tried to bring people together. And if you do that, you can reduce and abrogate racism to a very great degree, and the president has got to be the number one person in doing that.

On Civil Rights: Apologizes for ok’ing firing employees for being gay

The question: “If a private employer finds homosexuality immoral, should he be allowed to fire a gay worker?” His response: “I think that is left up to the individual business. I really sincerely believe that that is an issue that business people have got to make their own determination as to whether or not they should be.“

Asked if his answer was yes, Thompson said, ”Yes.“

On Immigration: Keep rule barring immigrants from running for president

ROMNEY: Never given that a lot of thought, but with Arnold sitting there, I’ll give it some thought, but probably not.

Gov. THOMPSON: No.

HUCKABEE: After I’ve served eight years as president, I’d be happy to change the Constitution for Governor Schwarzenegger.

On Tax Reform: Replace alternative minimum tax with flat tax

A: I was governor of Wisconsin and vetoed 1,900 items, and reduced taxes $16.4 billion. I think the biggest problem we’ve got in America is the alternative minimum tax that’s bringing more middle-income people in. Let’s put it in -- let’s have the people have a flat tax and have the option of paying whichever is least.

On War & Peace: Elect 18 Iraqi provincial governments, & share oil revenues

A: First, you have to support the troops. Beyond that, there are 3 things that I have laid out.

1. The al-Maliki government should be required to vote as to whether or not they want America in their country. If they vote yes, it gives us a legitimacy for being there. If they vote no, we should get out.
2. There are 18 territories in Iraq, just like we have 50 states in America. I would require those territories to elect governments, just like we do in our states. And if you do so, the Shiites will elect Shiites. Sunnis will elect Sunnis. Kurds will elect Kurds. And you won’t have this internecine civil war.
3. I would split the oil reserves: 1/3 to the federal government, 1/3 to state governments & 1/3 to every man, woman & child. If every person is getting part of the oil proceeds, they’re going to have a vested interest in their country. And they will be building the country on democratic grounds.