Debate Interrupted

Tuesday's Republican presidential debate in Las Vegas produced some of the feistiest exchanges yet, including this one, where candidates had a hard time letting each other complete a sentence. Transcript courtesty of CNN:

Former Sen. Rick SANTORUM: The final point I would make to Governor Romney, you just don't have credibility, Mitt, when it comes to repealing Obamacare.  You are -- you are -- your plan was the basis for Obamacare.  Your consultants helped Obama craft Obamacare.  And to say that you're going to repeal it, you just -- you have no track record on that that -- that we can trust you that you're going to do that.  
 
CNN moderator Anderson COOPER:  Governor Romney, 30 seconds.  
 
(APPLAUSE)
 
SANTORUM:  You don't.  
 
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt ROMNEY:  You know, this I think is either our eighth or ninth debate.  And each chance I've -- I've had to talk about Obamacare, I've made it very clear, and also in my book.  And at the time, by the way, I crafted the plan, in the last campaign, I was asked, is this something that you would have the whole nation do?  And I said, no, this is something that was crafted for Massachusetts.  It would be wrong to adopt this as a nation.  
 
SANTORUM:  That's not what you said.  
 
ROMNEY:  You're -- you're shaking -- you're shaking your head.
 
SANTORUM:  Governor, no, that's not what you said.
 
ROMNEY:  That happens -- to happens to be...
 
(CROSSTALK)
 
SANTORUM:  It was in your book that it should be for everybody.
 
ROMNEY:  Guys...
 
Texas Gov. Rick PERRY:  You took it out of your book.  
 
SANTORUM:  You took it out of your book.
 
ROMNEY:  Hey, his turn.  His turn, OK, and mine.
 
(CROSSTALK)
 
ROMNEY:  I'll tell you what?  Why don't you let me speak?  
 
(CROSSTALK)
 
SANTORUM:  You're allowed -- you're allowed to change -- you're allowed to change...
 
ROMNEY:  Rick, you had your chance.  Let me speak.  
 
SANTORUM:  You can't change the facts.
 
ROMNEY:  Rick, you had your chance.  Let me speak.
 
SANTORUM:  You're out of time.  You're out of time.  
 
COOPER:  He ate into your time.  
 
(BOOING)
 
Rick...
 
(CROSSTALK)
 
ROMNEY:  I haven't had a chance to respond yet, because you were interrupting the entire time I was trying to speak.  
 
(CROSSTALK)
 
ROMNEY:  Let me make it very clear.  
 
COOPER:  I'll give another 20 seconds.  
 
ROMNEY:  And -- look -- look, we'll let everybody take a look at the fact checks.  I was interviewed by Dan Balz.  I was in interviews in this debate stage with you four years ago.  I was asked about the Massachusetts plan, was it something I'd impose on the nation?  And the answer is absolutely not.  
 
It was something crafted for a state.  And I've said time and again, Obamacare is bad news. It's unconstitutional.  It costs way too much money, a trillion dollars.  And if I'm president of the United States, I will repeal it for the American people.  
 

Get the latest news and analysis delivered to your inbox. Sign up for National Journal's morning alert, Wake-Up Call, and afternoon newsletter, The Edge. Subscribe here.