Asa Hutchinson in First GOP presidential debate
On Crime:
I will stop smash-and-grab in our inner cities
Whenever you look at the underlying challenge of America, no one likes to see an America with smash-and-grab in our inner cities. As president, that will stop. It starts at the top with respect for our justice system, that a former president who's under
indictment has undermined by attacking judges, by attacking prosecutors, by attacking the system and saying he's aggrieved. And so, we have to have respect for our justice system and the rule of law. And it starts at the top with the president.
Source: Fox News 2023 Republican primary debate in Milwaukee
Aug 23, 2023
On Drugs:
Expand tools for addiction counseling
As former head of the DEA, I understand the drug crisis in America. And right now, whenever you look at the challenges in our inner-cities, there's three simple words that would be helpful. One, enforce the law when it comes to crime. Secondly, let's
deal with the challenge of fentanyl. And it's both about stopping the fentanyl coming from Mexico, but it's also about education of our young people, making sure that we have the tools that are needed for addiction counseling.
Source: Fox News 2023 Republican primary debate in Milwaukee
Aug 23, 2023
On Government Reform:
Reduce federal non-defense workforce by 10% like I did in AR
Vivek RAMASWAMY: The only war that I will declare as US President will be the war on the federal administrative state that is the source of toxic regulations acting like a wet blanket on the economy. V.P. Mike PENCE: Let me explain it to you. I was a
House conservative leader before it was cool. I actually pushed the Deficit Reduction Act. That was the last time we actually reduced the national debt.
Gov. Asa HUTCHINSON: We have 14 percent fewer state employees in Arkansas after
I left the government than when I took over as governor eight years ago. I tell that because that's what we need in Washington, D.C. We need somebody who can actually constrain the growth of federal government, that can actually reduce the size.
I pledge to reduce it by 10 percent our federal nondefense workforce. That's a specific pledge to make that attacks the administrative state. And let me applaud some of the business partners that are here that have had success in business.
Source: Fox News 2023 Republican primary debate in Milwaukee
Aug 23, 2023
On Immigration:
Lethal force on border as needed; bring in Mexico as partner
Q: Suspected cartel members crossing into Texas with rifles--do you consider this an invasion? Would you authorize lethal force along that border?HUTCHINSON: There would be lethal force used by the Border Patrol, law enforcement as needed to protect
the border, absolutely. The military has to be used for intelligence-gathering purposes. When I was in the Bush administration, we went down there and met with President Vicente Fox of Mexico and asked his help on going after the cartels. And he looked
at me and said, "they're a problem to us as well." And so we joined together, and we took down the Arellano-Felix brothers leading the Tijuana Cartel. Cooperation makes a difference. We cannot be successful going against the cartel unless we bring in
Mexico as a partner. We have to use economic pressure to accomplish that. President Obrador has not been helpful, and we have to use economic pressure that this administration is not using. The rule of law has to matter on both sides of it.
Source: Fox News 2023 Republican primary debate in Milwaukee
Aug 23, 2023
On Families & Children:
Enhance adoption services and maternal care
Arkansas has the record of being the most pro-life state in the nation. I've signed 30 pro-life pieces of legislation while I was governor. And every state can determine a different outcome here. Let's talk about it in terms of compassion, in terms of
protecting the life and also understanding how we have to enhance adoption services. How we have to enhance maternal care. Those things we've done in Arkansas and are important for our nation's future.
Source: Fox News 2023 Republican primary debate in Milwaukee
Aug 23, 2023
On Principles & Values:
A president should bring out the best of our people
A president's number one responsibility is to bring out the best of our people. That's what Ronald Reagan did. And he did it with optimism and hope for our country with consistent conservatism. That's exactly what I bring. I'll bring out the best of
America in terms of individual responsibility, building our economy, in terms of securing our border, enforcing the rule of law. I will bring out the best of America in terms of our national character, our faith, and our hope for the future.
Source: Fox News 2023 Republican primary debate in Milwaukee
Aug 23, 2023
On Principles & Values:
Trump morally disqualified, and based on 14th Amendment
Q: If former President Trump is convicted in a court of law, would you still support him as your party's choice? Please raise your hand if you would.HUTCHINSON: I did not raise my hand because there's an important issue we as a party have to face.
Well over a year ago, I said that Donald Trump was morally disqualified from being President, again, as a result of what happened on January 6th. More people are understanding the importance of that, including conservative legal scholars, who says he
may be disqualified under the 14th Amendment from being President, again, as a result of the insurrection. This is something that could disqualify him, under our rules, and under the Constitution.
And so obviously, I'm not going to support somebody who's been convicted of a serious felony, or who has this is disqualified under our Constitution. And that's consistent with RNC rules. And I hope everybody would agree with that.
Source: Fox News 2023 Republican primary debate in Milwaukee
Aug 23, 2023
On Technology:
Get computer science in every school to compete with China
We have to compete with China. I built computer science education. We led the nation in computer science education, going from 1,100 students to 23,000 students taking it. This is how you compete with China. As president of the United States,
I will make sure we go from 51 percent of our schools offering computer science to every school in rural areas and urban areas offering computer science for the benefit of our kids, and we can compete with China in terms of technology.
Source: Fox News 2023 Republican primary debate in Milwaukee
Aug 23, 2023
Page last updated: Sep 17, 2023