Brooks: GOP Debate in Detroit Was ‘Demoralizing’ and ‘Embarrassing’

‘I’m used to seeing moderate Republicans say they don’t recognize their party’

WOODRUFF: "And that brings us to the analysis of Shields and Brooks. That’s syndicated columnist Mark Shields, and New York Times columnist David Brooks, who’s joining us today from Santa Barbara, California. And we welcome you both, gentlemen. So, the CPAC conference, that was going on today. It will continue through the weekend, but let’s start with last night. David, what do we make of what happened in Detroit?"
BROOKS: "Embarrassing, demoralizing. I have been in Waco, Texas, and out here this week, and I have seen so many Republicans depressed. I’m used to seeing moderate Republicans say they don’t recognize their party. But now I have heard a lot of conservative Republicans say they don’t recognize their party., first the tone and temper of the debate, the things Donald Trump chose to speak about, and then just the nasty back and forth and the shallow name-calling. It was, I think, a demoralizing debate, and for a lot of Republicans, possibly the worst outcome you could get, with Trump marching, but everybody else sort of hanging around, and a lot of internecine warfare over the future of the party, if there is one."

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