21st Century Debate: Grilled By Web Video

Democratic Hopefuls Field Ordinary American's Questions, From The Serious To The Strange

(CBS/AP)  Young, Internet-savvy voters challenged Democratic presidential hopefuls on Iraq, the military draft and the candidates' own place in a broken political system, playing starring roles in a provocative, video-driven debate Monday night.

"Wassup?" came the first question, from a voter named Zach, after another, named Chris, opened the CNN-YouTube debate with a barb aimed at the entire eight-candidate field: "Can you as politicians ... actually answer questions rather than beat around the bush?"

The answer was a qualified yes. The candidates faced a slew of blunt questions — from earnest to the ridiculous — and, in many cases, responded in kind.

To Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois: Are you black enough? "You know, when I'm catching a cab in Manhattan ... I'm giving my credentials," he replied.

To Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York: Are you feminine enough? "I couldn't run as anything other than a woman," she said.

Her answer drew a challenge from former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, who said he was the best advocate for women on the debate stage. "I have the strongest, boldest ideas," he said.

Posing a question that few, if any, of the candidates had fielded before, one voter asked whether young women should register for the draft as do young men. Clinton, Obama and Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut said yes.

The debate featured questions submitted to the online video community YouTube and screened by the all-news cable TV network. A talking snowman, two rednecks and a woman speaking from her bathroom were among the odd, 21st-century twists to the oldest forum in politics: a debate.

"This debate is an acknowledgement of the power of YouTube and the entire Internet as a force in American politics in 2007," CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs said. "Campaigns and political operatives have found ways to tap into that power for fundraising and communications purposes. The bigger question now is whether they can find a way to harness it in a way that translates into actual votes at the ballot box."

A Clio, Mich., man asked about gun control while brandishing an automatic weapon.

"He needs help," Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware snapped.

When was the last time a presidential candidate was forced to promise to work at minimum wage? That is effectively what seemed to happen when a voter asked whether the candidates would serve four years at $5.85 an hour rather than the president's annual $400,000 salary.

"Sure," replied Clinton.

Obama said they group could afford to do so. When Dodd started to protest, Obama cut him off with a joke, "You're doing OK, Chris."

The gathering was held at the military college of The Citadel in South Carolina, site of one of the earliest primaries — Jan. 29. Fittingly, the Democrats skirmished over the Iraq war, as they have before.

Asked if Democrats are playing politics with the war, Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio said yes. "The Democrats have failed the people," he said.

Former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel said U.S. soldiers are dying in vain. No other candidate would go that far.

[lars008-2009]

please support our troops

demonic-rats won't fight the fascist nazi terrorislamic war...

Incredible! George S Patton's New Speech-Iraq & modern world
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyUX6wV1lBQ

[lars008-2009]

IT IS TIME TO DEFEAT FASCIST NAZI TERRORISLAM ONCE AND FOR ALL%u2026

In 1786, Thomas Jefferson, then U.S. ambassador to France, and John Adams, then American Ambassador to Britain, met in London with Sidi Haji Abdul Rahman Adja, the Dey%u2019s ambassador to Britain, in an attempt to negotiate a peace treaty based on Congress%u2019 vote of funding. To Congress, these two future presidents later reported the reasons for the Muslims%u2019 hostility towards America, a nation with which they had no previous contacts.

%u2026that it was founded on the Laws of their Prophet, that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have acknowledged their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as Prisoners, and that every Musselman (Muslim) who should be slain in Battle was sure to go to Paradise.

Sound familiar?

Thomas Jefferson and James Madison defeated the fascist nazi muslims 200 years ago
And again 100 years ago with Theodore Roosevelt
Tunisia in 1881 by France and Libya in 1911 by Italy. By then most of the Islamic world was under Christian domination. With the Ottoman Empire defeated in WW1, secularist Turkish rebels in 1923 overthrew the last Islamic Caliphate,
http://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?6bdec278-6a71-4436-bc4d-29d1c54b0ad7

[twylacrat]

baghdadshere: Your question was "Why are Democrats so desperate to get our troops out of Baghdad?" You mean you really don't know. Oh, c'mon, really? WE LOVE THEM. THEY ARE OUR SONS, HUSBANDS, DAUGHTERS, MOTHERS, BROTHERS, and we don't want them to die for nothing. GOT IT?

[infidel_us]

"21st Century Debate: Grilled By Web Video"

The only thing "grilled" in that debate was the burgers. I had to quit watching after about 15 min b/c I could take the softball questions being posed.

[realpatriot1]

richdog57,

Bush already pulled the troops out of Philly when he cut the fed funds for community policing.

When it comes to America, he's a real cut n' runner.

[pepperwood2]

Sen. Joe Biden went on record to say he would send 2500 U.S. troops to Dafur to try to end the civil war there. "They think we can save them" he said "Guess what? We can"

It took THREE (3) tries, to get Clinton to answer the same question. Her husband used the same page in 1998, Until they could come up with the rightful name, which was obvious to everyone else, - GENOCIDE. Sounds like the same game plan! Liberal, uh no thank you, Progressive today!

Apologies

In March 1998, President Clinton visited Kigali, where he apologized to the Rwandan people and the victims of the genocide. "The international community, together with nations in Africa, must bear its share of responsibility for this tragedy," Clinton said. "We did not act quickly enough after the killing began. We should not have allowed the refugee camps to become safe havens for the killers. We did not immediately call these crimes by their rightful name: GENOCIDE"

Those sentiments were echoed weeks later by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan. In an apology to the parliament of Rwanda, Annan said, "We will not deny that, in their greatest hour of need, the world failed the people of Rwanda...."

"When you are faced with the question [of] whether I think that we can avoid the Rwandas of tomorrow...my answer is I really don't know," Annan now says. "I wish I can say yes, but I am not convinced that we will see the kind of political will and the action required to stop it."

[mudrose-2009]

All of these democratic candidates are rabid anti-gun nuts.
They wouldn't think twice about banning guns and ignoring their oath of office.
Politicians and other dangerous criminals will always prefer unarmed victims.
a-human-right.com


Posted by GunOwnerDan

Working on the Amendments First, then Second and eventually the Constitution. It's just a matter of time. People don't pay attention.

[prinzowhales]

What a farce. Clearly it was no debate just a glorified question and answer fest with a cute little Youtube twist...the kind of thing acceptable for those with the kind of 'inquiring minds' who are too full of themselves to be slopped with the checkout line tabloids and require heads with elegant coiffures babbling News Speak tittle-tattle...ever so "progressive" to use the mot du jour of "Cattle Futures" Clinton..."strongest, boldest..." like a laundry detergent "...ideas"...Edwards. These people...God help us...

[ckcool192001]

It is unfortunate that Bush has another year and a half in office. During this time he will continue to pump our tax dollars into a war in which we should not be in. These die hard republican in congress that would jump off a cliff with their president will continue to prevent the democrates from accomplishing anything. Bush has asked that congress wait till september before taking on war legislaation again, and how many tax dollars will be spent by then? Does anyone think that the legislation that is placed before congress in september will meet with a diffrent fate that it did in May? I don't think so, the republicans will stand firm in their votes and continue to allow the president perhaps better described as Dictator Bush to continue his useless war in Iraq. If he wants to protect this country then spend the money that is going to Iraq on border security, immigration reform and the missle defense system. The only purpose the war is serving is to make the US outcast in the world, which makes the US more of a target to Terrorist. Wake up people and smell the coffee.

[klingon69]

The next person who compares WWII to George Bush's phony "war on terror" gets a lobotomy, well I guess a second lobotomy


Posted by SharnCedar at 01:13 PM : Jul 23, 2007
It's the same WW2 and the WOT. I'd rather have a bottle in front of me, that as frontal lobotomy.

[starleo146]

pepperp1--- That was a great comment and you are exactly right. Wonder if they are so free with classified documents why is it Cheney will not release his documents HMMMMMM. Must be some powerful document. Lets ask this on youtube

[richdog_57]

Someone should ask the Democrates if we should pull the people out of Philadelphia, since it a war over there.

[starleo146]

Baghdadshere---My goodness all those questions . I have one for you are you mad you-tube didn't pick you questions. Maybe there was a reason for it . Ask your questions for the next debate there are a few republicans that want to end the war as well at least till they try to get re- elected.HAAAAAA

[pepperp1]

Every time Bush is in trouble he releases a classified document wonder what he will let in and what is deleted.......
starleo146 at 08:43 AM : Jul 24, 2007

The concern should be not the document but any other slips, as one historian was waxing on a question of history would another event, save Bush and Cheney with all the patriotic stuff that comes naturally to Americans after a crisis. *** Cheney Bushs assistant he writes have nothing to lose, the American people believe them to be a failed, incompetent if not nefarious leaders with a small fringe exception, and neither is running for our vote obviously.

[starleo146]

Iceman---- Lisa is back I saw her the other night and she is up to her old tricks.Now that Hillary is taken the lead they are coming out of the woodwork.Smear, Smear, Smear so sick.

[adventurepa]

Posted by starleo146
"I wish they could go to this cbs comment page and get some of you guys questions that would pick it up I betcha."

What a great idea. CBS are you listening?

Funny that there was not one question about our "rights" or lack there of was ask!!!!!

I hope that CNN asks questions to the republican's about bush taking away our rights!!!!

[starleo146]

Omega39---I bet you believe the moon is made of green cheese as well don't you? That story on the clinton's stealing furniture is so old and so bogus

[zootallures2]

Oh yes I'm the great pretender
Making cell calls from 30,000 feet in the clouds(ooh ooh)
I seem to be what I'm not you see
I'm wearing my arse like a brain
Pretending that I'm not insane

America is sooooooo sick to watch...

[zootallures2]

Oh yes I'm the great pretender
Just laughing and gay like a clown (ooh ooh)
I seem to be what I'm not you see
I'm wearing 9/11 like a crown
Pretending that Osama's still around

[starleo146]

I wanted to add one thing out of all the problems in our country a lot of questions I felt were not asked out of 3000 you-tube question I cannot believe these were the top someone is sandbagging.