someone lecturing me about what it means to be a christian that i should invite a potential terrorist into my backyard. on one hand the left says separation of church and state. let's not have any discussion of religion and then the left wants to tell me what it means to be a christian. they need to figure out if they know more about being a christian than i do, than tell me that they are no longer going to say separation of church and state. but we have the most fundamental right above everything else is not to protect the reputation of islam. it is to protect americans first and foremost. that is our job. >> senator graham. senator graham. in 2013 you were part of the leadership to push through immigration reform, comprehensive immigration reform in the senate and the united states. it died in the house. many accused you of amnesty and undermined your ability to get your message out on the war. would you sign that bill again today? would you sponsor that bill again today? >> well, the first thing i would

do is make adjustments to reality. i want to look and see if this was a terrorist arranged marriage between the couple in california. the fact that they met online accidentally is almost zero. so, no. i would have a time-out on syrian refugees because you'd be crazy if you didn't after paris. but i've been to the refugee camps in turkey and jordan. trust me, whether you're christian and i'm a lousy christian saved by grace. and this is important. we've got to stop this war. do you realize that there are more syrian refugees in lebanon going to school than lebanese children? do you realize if this wargos for another year, the king of jordan could fall. let's have a no-fly zone. >> senator, i'm misunderstand g misunderstanding -- >> i would make changes to that bill in light of what i know today. >> senator santorum, is that sufficient for you? >> lindsey says this is a real

war until it comes to immigration and then all of a sudden it's not such a real war. the reality is that we've seen since the events of 9/11, the president talks about how he's worried about discrimination and acts against muslims. four times as many acts of violence against jews than there are against muslims and i never hear the president talk about that. the reality is under this president, since 9/11, this anti-muslim united states of america has doubled the rate of muslim immigration. since 9/11. that's what we've done. so, the idea that we have an immigration system that is working is not. >> thank you, senator. >> i'm out of time. >> yeah. governor huckabee, you have said that the children of immigrants who came here illegally should not be pupsh punished by their parents' actions. would you consider president obama's policy? >> no, because he did it unconstitutionally. 23 times he said he couldn't do

it and one day he woke up and found a pen in one hand and a phone in the other and the constitution didn't mean much any more. presidents just can't do what they want to do. that's the purpose of getting elected and when working with other people who got elected is that our system was designed to function with the power of persuasion. it's really what you elect a president to do. you elect them to lead. let me finish, hugh. if you think it's a good idea to not punish the children for something their parents did, then you go to the members of congress and you persway them and you persuade the american people and shove and you think you have a superior theology than everybody else. our system is not a system of tyranny. we don't elect kings. we elect servants. if i'm elected president, i don't consider myself to be elected to be the king of the country. but the servant of the country to work with other people who are elected to get things done that need to be done.

>> senator santorum, your position on that policy assuming that it was passed constitutionally, would you allow this? would you support such an effort? >> here's the problem. one of my guest here today is the sheriff from down on the border on arizona. he talked to me about last night about all the children coming across. all of the children. why? because we've created a magnet. these children are not coming over and in great shape. not coming over and not in harm's way. and going through difficult times. we're attracting people. he's also the sheriff that caught syrians at the border. we have through the policies supported by almost everybody in this field, a policy that says amnesty. the world hears it. and knows that they can come across this border, by and large, they're going it be able to stay. that has to change. >> gentlemen, stand byp we'. we're going to take another quick break. coming up, with america on

edge, who has what it takes to be the next commander in chief. these candidates will make their case.

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welcome back. we're live here at the venetian las vegas. gentlemen, time for your closing statements. each candidate will have 30 seconds. senator graham, you're first. >> the next president is going to be a war-time president. whether they like it or not. i'm ready for that job. two years ago isolationism led by senator paul and cruz was hot

in our party. now it is in retreat because events have proven me more right than wrong and has proven them to be wrong. and the first debate i called for american troops on the ground to protect our homeland. nobody came forward. now, most have. we've spent a lot of carnage to get them to where i have always been. make me president, i will keep you and your family safe. >> thank you, senator. governor pataki. >> thank you. this debate has been about terrorism and appropriately so. i'm proud to have been governor of new york on september 11th and have led our state through and during the aftermath of that horrible attack. i vowed then that if i ever had the chance to lead this country, i would do everything in my power to make sure that americans were safe. but i also saw a positive from that. new yorkers and the american people came together and vowed that we weren't just going to

defend ourselves. we were not going to live in fear. we were going to rise to new heights and celebrate our freedom. come to lower manhattan today. you will see a magnificent tribute to those who died. the memorial and the museum and you will also see a new tower soaring 1,776 feet tall. the freedom tower. a symbol of our freedom. a symbol of our belief that as a free people we can soar to new heights. give thus chance to unite americans. not just republicans. and this country's future is unlimited. >> thank you, governor. senator santorum. >> barack obama has not kept this country safe. hillary clinton will not keep this country safe. we need to nominate someone who america knows will keep this country safe. ten years ago i put the sanctions on iran's nuclear program. before that, i gave speech after speech including to president bush to identify the enemy and

call these radical islamists who they are. ladies and gentlemen, this week isis put out on disabled children and killed dozens of them because of their disability. now, i am the father of a disabled child. i know and have known the face of evil. and i, if you give me the opportunity, will defeat it. thank you. >> thank you, senator. governor huckabee. >> the terrorists don't win just because they kill us. the terrorists win when they make us change everything we do in our daily lives and alter our routines. they're doing that. from getting on a plane to going in a building. and it is high time that we recognize that we have to take them out, not a little bit, but totally. because i want my grandkids to grow up not in fear, but in

faith and in freedom. and if you give me the opportunity to be president of the united states, i will fight for your grandkids as much as i will for mine. thank you and god bless you. >> thank you. thanks to all of the candidates for a very important discussion on critically important issues. this debate night is just getting started here at the venetian las vegas. the top nine candidates are standing by for their turn on this stage in just a little while. i'll be back as the moderator. right now, let's go to my colleague, anderson cooper. >> good evening, everyone. from las vegas, the opening act of tonight's cnn debate now in the books. the main event just minutes away. four candidates done for the night, nine more about to face off. the focus tonight nation alsecurity. it could not be more timely with paris, san bernardino and just

today a threat prompted officials to shut down the entire los angeles public school system. it appears it was a hoax. but it is also a powerful backdrop for the questioning this evening. with me to talk about the debate that just happened and about the one that is just about to take place. gloria borger and jake tapper and also cnn political commentators amanda carpenter, s.e. cupp. jeffrey was a political director in the reagan white house. s.e. a conservative columnist. appreciate you all being with us. gloria, let's start with you. did you hear anything tonight that changes anything for the four men that were just on stage? >> i don't think it changes anything. but what i heard tonight was an emotional lindsey graham. somebody who said i've been talking about these issues this entire campaign and now the campaign is kind of caught up with me. and here i am at this undercard debate, right? >> and it was a gloomy debate. it was reflected the fear and

anxiety in this country. post-paris and san bernardino. and the most memorable line to me was lindsey graham saying i blame obama for isil, not bush. i miss george w. bush. >> lindsey graham also having some very tough words for donald trump on his pledge to ban muslims, at least temporarily from entering the united states. >> he apologized to the muslim world on behalf of america for donald trump. something that i've never heard republican presidential candidate do during a debate. but i have to say, it is a rather unusual debate and a rather unusual time. i don't think we've ever had a debate, i don't know if gloomy is the right word. but it certainly captures it. but also just worried. anxious. fearful. i don't think that we've had a debate quite like this in terms of what was expressed on the stage. even in 2004, which was the next presidential election after

9/11. it really was remarkable that way. we heard a lot of people advocating for a national security state. we heard not a lot of pushback on the idea of what a lot of people consider to be conservative values. i believe amanda and s.e. do in terms of fearing too much government intrusion, surveillance. we heard a lot of arguments in favor of sending troops. sending u.s. troops abroad. which is, again, something that after the iraq war you wouldn't necessarily expect. >> i don't think we can oversee the influence of lindsay gram in this debate. he is leading, he has dominated the foreign policy discussion among republican circles for a long time. and, really, i think the big question going forward in this debate and for the party is that are we going to learn the lessons from the bush administration. are we going to double down on their mistakes? we're seeing a lot of false

choices being presented. either we're going to send thousands of ground troops into numerous countries or you're an isolationist. a surveillance state or risk another domestic terror attack. i think that there is a third way that stands up for the constitution that stands up for the bill of rights and our right to privacy, freedom of speech and we don't have to start surveying mosques and churches and give up who we are in order to be safe. i hope we flush this out more in the main debate. >> but to that point, you know, you gloomy, jake, you say fearful. i would say honest. we had a very honest conversation tonight. >> i agree. >> and where democrats debate on foreign policy. they argue over just how great the current strategy is and how they would continue it . we heard a lot of difference between four different republicans on how to keep this country safe. and some real honest acknowledgme acknowledgments. one from lindsay gram, he wishes bush was still president. others about our surveillance

and our privacy and what, you know, we might need to reconcile with. on this debate and the debate coming up, i'm hoping that americans watching this, millions of them are getting some real honest kind of conversation about the very difficult situation we're in right now. which is why a majority want ground troops in syria and iraq right now. >> say how long they would be. aside from lindsay gram. >> as long as it takes, right. >> everybody else was -- >> jeffrey, your candidate donald trump came in for heavy criticism for a number of people, particularly lindsey graham on that stage and also, amanda, ted cruz, your former boss, also came in under criticism as an isolationist. >> when you talk about strength, which is basically what they're talking about here and you're looking at these polling numbers where you get in the internals and they say who do you think in essence can keep us safe. donald trump is running away with the field. that really speaks to both the anxiety and that in the public mind, he, for their own reasons,

represents that, represents that strength. and the rest of the folks -- i understand the importance of having this kind of conversation. this really was important. you know, the last time i said i didn't think there was a president of the united states on this stage. i still don't think there is one. but i do think that what they had to say tonight is being listened to in a way that was not the case before paris and before san bernardino. >> certainly the polls reflect that. now people saying this is the number one issue where previously it wasn't. >> i'm frankly very worried watching this debate. we need to have a discussion about how to balance security concerns and our individual freedoms. we don't have to give up one to have the other. everyone we saw on that stage was willing to give up freedom for security. that is a very slippery slope where we go. >> can i say something? i also never heard on a presidential debate stage a religion, a religion be as criticized as i heard tonight. it was not -- both senator santorum and governor huckabee

described islam as different -- >> not just a religion -- >> it's not just, so, therefore, constitutional protections do not apply, i believe, senator santorum said. i never heard that. now, that will likely be popular with the republican party. with republican voters. not all of them. but perhaps a majority of them or plurality. that is a tough message for the general. >> but it was interesting just as you said lindsay gram apologizing or explaining to sort of the rest of the world a pleading tone to him to the gop itself saying do not go down this road. >> he was angry and passionate. and i think, you know, i get his frustration. i share it. when you hear people talking about banning an entire religion. and then you see lindsey graham saying your faith is not the enemy. i got his emotion. i'm with him. i don't like this, this new trend coming out of donald trump and ben carson and some others. it doesn't represent

conservative values. >> we have to take a quick break. when we come back, donald trump's growing national lead in the polls and how the other candidates tonight may try to cut into that. perhaps cut him down to size, if that's possible. if any of them can do that. a quick break first as we countdown to the main event here in las vegas. style lets you stand out from the herd. what's inside sets you apart. the 2016 cadillac escalade.

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and welcome back. getting close to the debate here in las vegas. just a few moments, republican party chairman will make a few remarks welcoming people to the debate hall. the same audience that was here earlier for the undercard debate. many are still milling around and being asked to get back into their seats as the clock is ticking. among them the two recent poll leaders, donald trump and ted cruz. senator cruz leading in a recent iowa poll. mr. trump widening his lead significantly nationwide clearly painting himself as the one to beat tonight. >> they're all coming after he. i heard today, i'm watching, man, this is like crazy. who is going to attack trump first? yeah, i would say bring them on. who cares. but i would say it won't be --

this will not be like an evening in paradise for me. do we agree? >> we shall see about that. donald trump about to arrive, we're told here at the venetian. most of the, if not all of the other candidates are already here. that is donald trump's, his vehicles coming there. obviously, he has secret service protection, as does dr. ben carson. we're also here with our panel. we continue to watch the arrival of trump. as we watched donald trump come in, let's talk a little bit about what he faces tonight. what he plans to do and how the other candidates, i mean, clearly, we heard a lot of questions from wolf blitzer and there is the competent himself. we heard a lot of questions from wolf blitzer about trump's plan. let's listen in. >> i just feel excellent and i think it's going to be a good debate. i've done. every one of them i've enjoyed and this should be no different. a lot of problems in our country

and we'll get them solved. thank you. >> as i said, all the other candidates set to be there. donald trump. there's his wife, as well, accompanying him. a lot of questions from wolf blitzer about donald trump's policy on muslims on not allowing them at least temporarily into the united states. we heard a lot of disagreement on the stage tonight, especially from lindsey graham. do you expect the candidates to confront him about this on the stage? >> absolutely. >> sure. >> one thing i found interesting is there were some words from eric posner, university of chicago law professor and a very well known one. decidingly not a trump fan. what he says donald trump is proposing is not constitutional and he supplies all the legal precedence and says the security doesn't like to get between the president and the congress on these issues. there's been a history, the chinese exclusion act and the

supreme court let it stand. there are plenty of grounds, he says, for this to be constitutional. >> but i think it's what i was talking about earlier. a lot of false choices being presented on national security. donald trump on one hand saying we have to ban all muslims from coming into the country or risk a national security attack. there is a third wave, ted cruz has talked about it. maybe we should look at just refugees coming from countries that have a lot of terrorist population. that is a practical response to the terroria terror we face. a smart-target approach that allows refugees from other countries to be welcomed. >> we'll talk more about this ahead. i want taget tho get this break quickly before the event begins. we'll be right back.

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relates to ted cruz. ted cruz is sort of the man of the moment. polls in iowa show that he's leading. donald trump is now got some fears about ted cruz encroaching on his lead overall. and marco rubio is looking at ted cruz and saying how can i take him down on this national security debate? so, i'm watching how ted cruz handles all of this because i do believe he is going to come under some attack this evening and i've been told by the cruz people that he's not going to attack trump first. that if trump goes after him, he'll go after him back. but as we saw earlier this week when trump went after cruz, cruz kind of deflected it with humor, et cetera. we'll have to see how he behaves tonight. >> the bear hug maneuver. >> the bear hug mu maneuver. >> we don't know. a lot at stake for