Chris Christie in Fox News 2015 GOP primary debate

On Foreign Policy: Stop worrying about being loved; instead be respected

On Homeland Security: Balance privacy rights but more NSA tools to fight terrorism

CHRISTIE: Yes, I do. And I'll tell you why: because I'm the only person on this stage who's actually filed applications under the Patriot Act, who has gone before the Foreign Intelligence Service court. This is not theoretical to me. When you actually have to be responsible for doing this, you can do it, and we did it, for seven years in my office, respecting civil liberties and protecting the homeland. And I will make no apologies, ever, for protecting the lives and the safety of the American people. We have to give more tools to our folks to be able to do that, not fewer, and then trust those people and oversee them to do it the right way. As president, that is exactly what I'll do.

On Homeland Security: I spent 7 years putting terrorists in jail

I was appointed United States attorney on September 10, 2001. And I spent the next seven years of my career fighting terrorism and putting terrorists in jail.

On Homeland Security: Modernize to have 350 ships and 2,600 aircraft

On Jobs: New Jersey had 0% job growth; then I created 192,000 jobs

CHRISTIE: If you think it's bad now, you should've seen it when I got there. The fact is, in the 8 years before I became governor, taxes and fees were raised at the state level 115 times; spending was increased 56%; and there was zero net private sector job growth in New Jersey. Zero. For 8 years. So, what did we do? We came in, we balanced an $11 billion deficit on a $29 billion budget by cutting over 800 programs in the state budget. We brought the budget into balance with no tax increases. In fact, we vetoed 5 income tax increases during my time as governor. And, what's happened since? 192,000 private sector jobs in the 5 years I've been governor. We have a lot of work to do in New Jersey, but I am darn proud we've brought our state back.

On Social Security: Raise retirement age 2 years, phased in over 25 years

CHRISTIE: Yes, we'd raise the retirement age two years, and phase it in over 25 years, that means we'd raise it one month a year for 25 years when we're all living longer, and living better lives. Secondly, we would needs-test Social Security for those who are making over $200,000 dollars a year in retirement income, and have $4 to $5 million dollars in liquid assets saved. They don't need that Social Security check. Social Security is meant to be--to make sure that no one who's worked hard, and played by the rules, and paid into the system grows old in poverty in America. If we don't deal with this problem, it will bankrupt our country, or lead to massive tax increases, neither one that we want in this country.

On Social Security: The Trust Fund is filled with IOUs: we've been lied to

CHRISTIE: He's complaining about the lying and stealing. The lying and stealing has already occurred. The trust fund is filled with IOU's. We can't fix the problem just by ending Congress' retirement, that's worth about, "this" much [gesturing a small amount]. I don't disagree with ending Congress' retirement program, [but] we need to go at the fundamental problem, and the fundamental problem is that this system is broken. It has been stolen from. We have been lied to, and we need a strong leader to tell the truth and fix it.

On Welfare & Poverty: 12-point entitlement reform plan, including benefit cuts

CHRISTIE: No, he's not lying, he's just wrong. I'm the only guy on this stage who's put out a detailed, 12 point plan on entitlement reform and here's why--because 71% of federal spending right now is on entitlements, and debt service. If we don't deal with this problem, it will bankrupt our country, or lead to massive tax increases, neither one that we want in this country.

HUCKABEE: Whose fault is it that the system is screwed up? Is it the recipients, or is it the government? If Congress wants to mess with the retirement program, why don't we let them start by changing their retirement program, and not have one?

CHRISTIE: I don't disagree with ending Congress' retirement program. I'm a governor, I don't have a retirement pr