Former ambassador Nikki Haley faced intense criticism from her Republican opponents during the final GOP primary debate of 2023 on Wednesday night. Haley’s surging campaign was attacked for not being conservative enough and weak on social issues such as ESG, transgender policies, and free speech.
The debate heated up as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis accused Haley of caving to the left and the media whenever they came after her. The argument focused on transgender bathroom bills and each candidate’s approach to the issue as a governor. DeSantis claimed that he stood up for little girls and signed bills, while Haley was accused of not doing enough.
Haley’s opponents also criticized her for not being conservative enough on ESG issues and meeting with supporters of ESG, including Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock. Vivek Ramaswamy accused Haley of playing “identity politics” and labeled her campaign launch video as sounding like a “woke Dylan Mulvaney Bud Light ad.” DeSantis countered by claiming that he took action against BlackRock and criticized the use of economic power to impose a left-wing agenda on the country.
During the debate, Haley was also questioned about her stance on stakeholder capitalism and her acceptance of money from liberal donors. DeSantis and Ramaswamy argued that this would make her beholden to those donors in the future. DeSantis further highlighted the importance of free speech, pointing out that conservatives have been attacked and canceled, and Haley’s previous crackdown on anonymous accounts online.
The debate also saw social media criticisms directed at Haley for her perceived coziness with liberal donors. Political strategist David Polyansky accused her of selling out parents, conservative principles, and the Republican party.
In response to the criticisms, Haley dismissed them as jealousy from her opponents who wished they had her support. She defended her acceptance of corporate support, asserting that she tells them her policies and they decide whether to support her.
Haley’s spokesperson, Ken Farnaso, labeled the attacks on her as desperate and a sign of a losing candidate. Farnaso emphasized Haley’s conservative record as governor of South Carolina, where she took on the establishment, opposed illegal immigration, implemented E-Verify, protected life, cut taxes, expanded Second Amendment rights, and signed the first anti-BDS bill in the country.
In summary, the final GOP primary debate of 2023 saw Nikki Haley facing criticism from her Republican opponents over her conservative record. The debate focused on issues such as transgender bathroom bills, ESG, stakeholder capitalism, and free speech. Haley defended herself against accusations of being beholden to liberal donors and emphasized her conservative accomplishments as governor. The attacks were dismissed as desperate by her campaign spokesperson.
