The Republican debate continued to touch on issues sparking arguments between candidates, leading to heated conversation regarding healthcare. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar

GOOGLE SPIN ROOM — Conservative values were placed front and center at the Republican debate when Trump was questioned on his trustworthiness to appoint a new Supreme Court justice.

“I have a doubt that if Donald Trump  becomes president that he will replace Justice Scalia with someone like Justice Scalia,” Florida Sen. Marco Rubio said.

This brought forth Planned Parenthood and healthcare, both topics that are affected by decisions in the Supreme Court.

“I think it is more complicated than what is being said here tonight,” Ohio Gov. John Kasich said.

Candidates took on healthcare heatedly with different plans on how to address it.

Businessman Donald Trump said he wants privatized healthcare, but will not “let people die on the streets.”

Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, who hadn’t gotten much speaking time until healthcare came up, proposed a system with health-empowered accounts that can be passed on upon death.

“We give people the ability to shift money (within families)…make each family have their own insurance plan,” Carson said.

All candidates said that they would repeal the Affordable Care Act upon reaching office, but Kasich went further, saying he would take federal resources and cover people who are currently the working poor.

“We’re driving toward total transparency,” Kasich said. “What we need is transparency with hospitals and the providers. We’re going to make payments to physicians and doctors that are proving quality at lower prices.”

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“Healthcare fuels conflict at Republican debate” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar

Immigration started out as one of the debate’s hottest topics, mirrored by protestors around UH. | Justin Cross/The Cougar

GOOGLE SPIN ROOM — The debate took off quickly with the topic of immigration. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz took turns debating Donald Trump over hiring undocumented and foreign workers over U.S. citizens.

“My mom was a maid at a hotel, and instead of hiring an American like her, you’ve hired people around the world instead,” Rubio said.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich took a different route and talked about his plan for a legal pathway, without a way for citizenship.

“I don’t think we’re going to tear families apart… it doesn’t reflect America,” Kasich said.

Border talks came into play next with Donald Trump saying the wall with Mexico “just got 10 feet taller,” as a result of former Mexican president Vicente Fox’s interview published early Thursday.

“And he’ll probably hire illegal workers,” Rubio said.

Telemundo’s Maria Celeste asked Cruz and Rubio why they appeal to the average Republican instead of opening themselves up to Hispanic votes.

“When I ran for Senate, I earned 40 percent of the Hispanic vote,” Cruz said. “If you look at values in the Hispanic community — faith, family, patriotism…I campaigned on the same conservative principles.”

When directly asked about immigration, Kasich said he wants economic growth before taking on immigration.

“The promise of America is that our system, when we follow the right formula, will be the rising tide of everyone,” Kasich said.

A Telemundo poll found that three of four Hispanic voters have negative perceptions of Trump.

“I don’t believe anything Telemundo says,” Trump said. “I’ve won many of the polls with Hispanics. I’m bringing a lot of people who are Democrats (or) Independents… and building a much bigger, much stronger Republican party.”

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“Immigration takes center stage in GOP debate” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar