5 Things the Candidates Aren't Talking About

BOSTON (MainStreet) -- In recent days, Mitt Romney's campaign has touted testimonials from scientists and astronauts saying he's the candidate best suited to benefit NASA and space exploration. Not to be outdone, Newt Gingrich defended his support for commercial space flights and colonizing the moon by 2020.

So now, in case voters were wondering, we know what the two GOP front-runners for president think about outer space. What we don't know as much about is more down-to-earth issues such as housing, budget cuts and the financial future of military families.

Housing, poverty and specific budget cuts are among the topics the GOP hopefuls have yet to fully expound on.

Candidates, voters and media all share some of the blame for the rhetoric thus far often being little more than invective and sound bites. Pithy attacks on President Barack Obama and primary challengers are easier and probably more effective than a detailed and academic discussion of complex issues. And for many issues, there is also no magic bullet -- no quotable utterance that corrals the deep reach of this nation's woes and dilemmas.

But still, there are crucial topics to American voters that are being obscured amid persistent buzzwords such as "class warfare" and "wealth distribution" and attacks on the personal and professional characteristics of the men hoping to unseat the incumbent.

We looked at five topics where the GOP candidates have done little to clarify their views and likely actions if elected.

Our goal isn't to suggest that the candidates are ignoring these issues, or that they don't have ideas that might be suited to discussion in he general election. But for now they have left more questions and speculation on various topics than an analyzable plan of attack.