--- title: Republican Debate: Read the Transcript of the CNBC Debate description: Ten Republican presidential candidates met for a primetime debate in Boulder on CNBC Wednesday night. canonical: https://time.com/4091301/republican-debate-transcript-cnbc-boulder/ author: TIME Staff article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-10-29T00:27:41.000Z article:modified_time: 2024-01-24T13:21:35.000Z article:section: Politics og:title: Read the Full Text of the CNBC Republican Debate in Boulder og:description: Here's a complete transcript. og:url: https://time.com/4091301/republican-debate-transcript-cnbc-boulder/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7976c0d1d3b39c47/69886ea0428a9eb763ccfd52/debate-gop3.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 4689 og:image:height: 2638 og:image:alt: GOP 2016 Debate og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Read the Full Text of the CNBC Republican Debate in Boulder twitter:description: Here's a complete transcript. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7976c0d1d3b39c47/69886ea0428a9eb763ccfd52/debate-gop3.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Transcript: Read the Full Text of the CNBC Republican Debate in Boulder > Sponsored content. 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Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=49cc8a2e-264b-48e8-8776-7e038b2231a3&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Watch The CNBC GOP Debate in Less Than 4 Minutes [Watch (HLS stream): Watch The CNBC GOP Debate in Less Than 4 Minutes](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/8UytvMpk.m3u8) (3:46)  _Published 2015-10-29. Watch The CNBC GOP Debate in Less Than 4 Minutes_ by [TIME Staff](https://time.com/author/time-staff/) ## TIME Staff Updated: Jan 24, 2024 1:21 PM UTCPublished: Oct 29, 2015 12:27 AM UTC Watch The CNBC GOP Debate in Less Than 4 Minutes by [TIME Staff](https://time.com/author/time-staff/) ## TIME Staff Updated: Jan 24, 2024 1:21 PM UTCPublished: Oct 29, 2015 12:27 AM UTC Ten presidential candidates met for the third Republican debate in Boulder, Colorado, on Wednesday. On the main stage debate hosted by CNBC were real estate mogul Donald Trump, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, former HP CEO Carly Fiorina, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Ohio Gov. John Kasich. The moderators were CNBC hosts Becky Quick and Carl Quintanilla and Washington Bureau Chief and New York _Times_ columnist John Harwood. Here is a full transcript of what they said. --- > “” --- **Read More:** [_Republicans Rivals Eye Trump Warily Ahead of Third Debate_](http://time.com/4091222/republican-debate-cnbc/) ### See the 2016 Candidates' Campaign Launches  Sen. Ted Cruz kicked off his campaign for 2016 Republican presidential nomination at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. on March 23. Tom Williams—CQ-Roll Call/Getty Images  Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul launched his bid for the Republican nomination at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville on April 7\. Supporters held signs with the slogan "Defeat the Washington Machine / Unleash the American Dream." Amy Harris—Corbis  Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced her campaign in a YouTube video posted April 12 that has been seen nearly 4.5 million times. One boy featured in the video boasted about playing a fish in a school play. Hillary For America  Florida Sen. Marco Rubio announced his campaign for the Republican nomination during a rally at the Freedom Tower in Miami on April 13\. He took a drink of water during the speech, a callback to his State of the Union response in 2013. Wilfredo Lee—AP  Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders announced his bid for the Democratic nomination across the street from the U.S. Capitol on April 30, 2015\. The backdrop was unusual, since most candidates rail against Washington. Jonathan Ernst—Reuters  Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson announced his bid for the Republican nomination at the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts May 4, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan. The launch featured a gospel choir covering Eminem's "Lose Yourself." Bill Pugliano—Getty Images  Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina announced her campaign for the Republican nomination in a conference call on May 4, then went on "Good Morning America" to talk to George Stephanopoulos. Lou Rocco—Getty Images  Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee announced his campaign at a community college in his hometown of Hope, Ark., on May 5\. Singer Tony Orlando (right) performed. Left: Danny Johnston; Right: Matt Sullivan—Getty Images  Republican presidential candidate and former New York Governor George Pataki (C) greets supporters after formally announcing his candidacy for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination in Exeter, N.H. on May 28, 2015. Dominick Reuter—Reuters  Former Rhode Island Sen. Lincoln Chafee announces his candidacy for the democratic presidential nomination at George Mason University in Arlington, Va. on June 3, 2015. Win McNamee—Getty Images  Republican Senator Lindsey Graham announces his 2016 presidential candidacy in Central, S.C. on June 1, 2015. Erik S. Lesser—EPA  Former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley is joined by his wife Katie O'Malley (R) as he announces his intention to seek the Democratic presidential nomination during a speech at Federal Hill Park in Baltimore on May 30, 2015. Jim Bourg—Reuters  Former Texas governor Rick Perry announces his candidacy for Republican presidential nominee at an event held at Addison Airport in Addison, Texas on Thursday, June 4, 2015. Louis DeLuca—Dallas Morning News/Corbis  Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush waves on stage as he announces his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination during an event at Miami-Dade College - Kendall Campus in Miami on June 15 , 2015. Joe Raedle—Getty Images  Donald Trump holds up his financial statement showing his net worth as he formally announces his campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination during an event at Trump Tower in New York City on June 16, 2015. Brendan McDermid—Reuters  Republican presidential candidate and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal formally announces his campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination in Kenner, La. on June 24, 2015. Jonathan Bachman—Reuters  Republican presidential candidate and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie formally announces his campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination during a kickoff rally at Livingston High School in Livingston, N.J. on June 30, 2015. Brendan McDermid—Reuters  Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker greets supporters after announcing that he will seek the Republican nomination for president in Waukesha, Wis. on July 13, 2015 . Scott Olson—Getty Images  Ohio Governor John Kasich arrives on stage to formally announce his campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination during a kickoff rally in Columbus, Ohio on July 21, 2015. Aaron P. Bernstein—Reuters ## Transcript [00:00] Live from the University of Colorado in Boulder, the [00:04] Republican Presidential Debate. [ APPLAUSE ] My great [00:08] concern is that we are on the verge, perhaps, of [00:11] picking someone who cannot do this job. What is your [00:14] biggest weakness and what are you doing to address [00:17] it? Well, John, I don't really have any weaknesses that I [00:19] can think of. [ LAUGH ] I trust people too much. Not [00:23] really seeing myself in that position until hundreds [00:27] of thousands of people began to tell me that I needed [00:29] to do it. Well gee, after the last debate I was told that I [00:33] didn't smile enough. [ LAUGH ] [ APPLAUSE ] But I'm [00:40] not worried about my finances, I'm worried about the [00:41] finances of everyday Americans. [ INAUDIBLE ] who [00:43] today are struggling in an economy that is producing [00:46] good paying jobs, while everything else costs more. [00:49] Whose fault is it that Medicare's broke and out of [00:51] money, that Social Security broke and out of money, [00:53] and I say look, it's not Republicans' fault, it's not [00:56] Democrats' fault, it's your grandparents' fault for [00:59] having too many damn kids. Tell me what's different [01:02] between the government and Bernie [ INAUDIBLE ] who [01:05] sits in prison today for doing less than what the [01:07] government has done to the people on social security [01:10] and medicare in this country. Let's tell people the [01:12] truth. For once let's do that and stop trying to give [01:16] them some kind of fantasy that's never going to come [01:17] true. When you signed up for this, this was a six year [01:20] term. And you should be showing up to work. I mean [01:22] literally, the Senate, what is it, like a French work [01:24] week? You get like three days where you have to show [01:27] up? I don't remember you ever complaining about John [01:29] McCain's vote record. The only reason why you're [01:31] doing it now is because we're running for the same [01:32] position, and someone has convinced you that [01:34] attacking me is gonna help you. Here's the bottom line. [01:37] [ APPLAUSE ] My campaign- Would you feel more [01:40] comfortable if your employees brought guns to work? [01:43] Yes, I might feel more comfortable. I would say that I [01:48] would, and I have a permit which is very unusual in [01:51] New York, a permit to carry. And I do carry on [01:55] occasion, sometimes a lot. But I like to be [01:58] unpredictable, so people don't know exactly what you [02:00] carry. [ LAUGH ] I love Donald Trump. [02:04] Is a good man I'm wearing a Trump tie tonight. Get [02:07] over that one. Okay? Wait a sec. Al. We're clearly not [02:11] having that beer you mentioned. [ LAUGH ] But I'll give [02:15] you thirty more seconds. But I'll buy you a tequila. [02:16] Okay, alright. Or even some famous Colorado [02:19] brownies. I'll give you thirty seconds to respond. Whoa. [02:24] If somebody put me on their homepage, they did it [02:26] without my permission. Does that not speak to your [02:28] vetting process or judgment in any way? It speaks to [02:31] the fact that I don't know that it's going on. We have 19 [02:35] trillion dollars in debt, we have people out of work, we [02:39] have ISIS and Al Qaeda attacking us, and we're talking [02:42] about fantasy football? Can we stop? [ APPLAUSE ] [02:46] I'm the only one on this stage that has a plan that [02:49] would create jobs, cut taxes, balance the budget, and [02:53] could get it done because I'm realistic. You just don't [02:56] make promises like this. Why don't we just give a [02:58] chicken in every pot? You find a Democrat that's for [03:00] cutting taxes, cutting spending $ 10? I'll give him a [03:03] warm kiss. I do not want to walk my five [03:08] grandkids through the charred remains of the once [03:11] great country called America and say here you go, [03:14] $ 20 trillion worth of debt, good luck making [03:17] something out of this mess. I want a government so [03:20] small I can barely see it. I want a government so small [03:23] that the individual has a chance to drive and prosper. I [03:27] may not be your dream candidate just yet but I can [03:30] assure you I am Hillary Clinton's worst nightmare and [03:33] in your heart of hearts you cannot wait to see a debate [03:36] between Hillary Clinton and Carly Fiorina. I will tell you [03:39] this. I will beat Hillary Clinton ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4091301/republican-debate-transcript-cnbc-boulder/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4091301/republican-debate-transcript-cnbc-boulder/"},"headline":"Transcript: Read the Full Text of the CNBC Republican Debate in Boulder","datePublished":"2015-10-29T00:27:41.000Z","dateModified":"2024-01-24T13:21:35.000Z","description":"Check back for continuous updates","url":"https://time.com/4091301/republican-debate-transcript-cnbc-boulder/","keywords":["Debates","Chris Christie","Sen. 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