The Fourth GOP Debate: From 'blowhard' to 'fascist,' insults fly as Republican candidates clash
Fourth Republican presidential debate becomes the nastiest one
The GOP candidates had a fiery face-off in the fourth Republican presidential debate in the Moody Music Hall at the University of Alabama on December 6. Florida Gov Ron DeSantis, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and former New Jersey Gov Chris Christie engaged in a fierce debate, vying for the chance to challenge former President Donald Trump for the Republican nomination next year. Let us look at the sharpest barbs each candidate employed during the debate.
Vivek Ramaswamy accuses Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, and Chris Christie of 'licking Trump's boots'
In the absence of Donald Trump, who still tops the opinion polls for the candidacy, entrepreneur Ramaswamy called out his three other fellow candidates as "bootlickers" of the former president. Accusing DeSantis, Haley, and Christie of being subservient to Trump, he said, "Here's my issue with all three of my other colleagues on this debate stage - all three of them have been licking Donald Trump's boots for years for money and for endorsements."
Chris Christie calls Vivek Ramaswamy 'most obnoxious blowhard in America'
Former New Jersey Governor Christie took a jab at Ramaswamy after the latter insulted Nikki Haley, saying she lacked basic knowledge about the Ukraine war. Ramaswamy tried to interfere as Christie spoke about the businessman's takes on the Russia-Ukraine war. An infuriated Christie said, "This the fourth debate that you would be voted in the first 20 mins as the most obnoxious blowhard in America. So shut up for a little while."
Chris Christie compares Donald Trump to Voldemort
Trump's absence did not stop the candidates from dragging his name into the debate. Slamming his fellow candidates for not bringing up the former president's name in the first seventeen minutes of the debate and behaving like the race is only between the four, Christie said, "You just put it, he is way ahead in the polls and yet we have got these three guys who are all seemingly to compete with Voldemort, 'He-Who-Should-Not-Be-Named,' they don't wanna talk about it." The former governor's comparison of Trump and the Harry Potter villain evoked laughter from the crowd.
Vivek Ramaswamy calls Nikki Haley 'fascist'
Ramaswamy scathingly attacked the former UN ambassador, labeling her a 'fascist' over her proposal for mandatory identification of social media users. "The only person more fascist than the Biden regime now is Nikki Haley, who thinks the government should identify every one of those individuals with an ID," he said. Condemning the idea, he added, "That is not freedom, that is fascism, and she should come nowhere near the levers of power, let alone the White House."
Vivek Ramaswamy labels Nikki Haley as 'corrupt'
Accusing his competitor of "corrupt foreign dealings as a military contractor," Ramaswamy said, "Nikki I don't have a women problem, you have a corruption problem and I think that that's what people need to know. Nikki is corrupt!" He even held up a paper pad with words "NIKKI = CORRUPT."
Ron DeSantis accuses Nikki Haley of caving to the left's demands
The Florida Governor also launched his fair share of attacks against Haley. Criticizing her for opposing a bill he signed banning certain instructions on sexual orientation in classrooms in Florida, he said, "She caves anytime the left comes after her, anytime the media comes after her."
Chris Christie calls Donald Trump 'an angry bitter man'
Christie had some choice words for Trump, who is facing felony charges for his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. "This is an angry, bitter man who now wants to be back as president because he wants to exact retribution on anyone who has disagreed with him, anyone who has tried to hold him to account for his own conduct, and everyone of these policies he is talking about are about pursuing a plan of retribution," the former governor claimed.
