New Questioners, But Few New Answers

Vaughn Ververs Takes A Hard Look At The YouTube Debate

(CBS)  This analysis was written by CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs.

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It may have been just one more in a growing number of debates and joint appearances for the Democratic presidential candidates, but Monday night's gathering in Charleston, S.C., provided solid evidence of the growing influence of interactive politics — and demonstrated the still-large gap between what voters say they want and what their candidates are prepared to deliver.

The eight candidates who took the stage at The Citadel fielded videotaped questions submitted to YouTube and selected by CNN, which televised the debate.

By turns entertaining, creative, straightforward and direct, the questions themselves were in many instances more compelling than some of the canned answers and political slogans provided by the candidates.

Some of the YouTube submissions were laced with doubt and cynicism as to the kind of responses expected, a theme introduced at the top of the debate by Chris, from Portland, Ore., who opened the event by challenging the candidates to "actually answer the questions that are posed to you tonight." Chris reminded them that "this is a format for you to actually speak to a majority of the voting public, as if you were sitting in our living rooms." It was a challenge not taken up often.

The first question, from Zach in Utah, was about how the candidates could assure voters they would accomplish more than politicians usually do outside of "all the platitudes and the stuff we're used to hearing?" The question went to Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut, who offered more of the stuff we're used to hearing, like his 26-year record of championing "bold" legislative ideas like the Family Medical Leave Act and explaining why "experience matters a great deal."

Will, from Boston, sounded greatly skeptical that his question would even be chosen and downright certain he wouldn't get much in the way of an answer, even if it was. Will wanted to know whether the candidates favored reparations for African Americans for the blight of slavery. "I know you all are going to run around this question, dipping and dodging," he predicted, "so let's see how far you all can get."

As it turned out, Will's was one question that got a direct response from two of the three candidates given a chance to address it.

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, who said he was not for reparations, went on to expound on instances of continued inequality between blacks and whites. Rep. Dennis Kucinich was the only candidate to raise his hand when the would-be chief executives were asked who would support reparations for slavery.

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, the only African American in the race, more or less skirted the issue, saying instead: "I think the reparations we need right here in South Carolina is investment — for example, in our schools."

[SIDNEYWILLIAMSMD]

NEWSFLASH QUESTION FORBIDDEN: Debate organizers prescreeened and did not permit any questions about the newly released 62 year old color film of George Patton's speech concerning 2007 War in Iraq was accidentally released by the Defense Department under Freedom of Information Act. The general rants about the War, and specifically talks about the ground conditions in Iraq and Senator Reid by name. Incredibly Pattons 3rd Army captured a Nazi TIme Machine that worked and he peeked into the future (now). DNC very upset seeking emergency federal injunction to remove it from YouTube to prevent the dissemination of information about the time machine in the interests of national security. Likely to cause upsetting changes in the democratic primaries. Must see to believe.

[adian1-2009]

I watched the so called debate. It was better than the previous ones we have had. However, I do not know the criteria or processes used to choose the questions and can't make an assessment of the level of objectivity. I am aware of the fact that complete objectivity is not possible, especially in political matters. Some candidates were addressed more questions than others, which inherently goes against equality in opportunity for all candidates to express their views on a matter of importance in particular and limits the capacity of the public to measure fairly each candidate. I am aware of the fact that there are unavoidable constraints in TV. That said, I AM FOR HILLARY!!!

[oakishpines]

why did no network ever offer more market share to more folk than all the rest combined?

[oakishpines]

if kids age five and less put up with 99 plus percent of all punishments,

and 99 plus percent of those punishments are incurred at a private residence,

then how does that make punishing kids age five and less for entering private residences anything but anti-productive?

and, seeing as how each punishment applied to an adult age six or more results, statistically, in a hundred or a thousand or more punishments applied to children age five and less: how does that make punishing adults age six and more for entering private residences anything but anti-productive?

[baghdadshere]

I have justone question to democrats hopeful:
WHY ARE YOU SO DESPERATE TO GET OUR TROOPS OUT OF IRAQ?.........
Is because dems dont have the stomach for war?
Is because dems are so afraid of terrorists that they wanna run away?
Is because dems like to protect terrorists?
If we get out of Iraq and Iran take control of middle east i have one more question for the democrats:
WHERE YOURE GONNA GET THE OIL YOU NEED TO FUEL YOUR LIMOUSINES AND TO MAINTAIN THE ROADS? FROM HUGO CHAVES?

[oakishpines]

god washington had a dilema:

as they passed their rewards around, the rewards were diminished to more than 10,000 times less by the time they reached the kids age five and less,

and, as they passed their punishments around, the punishments were more than 10,000 time more numerous and severe by the time they reached the kids age five and less,

so they stopped feeding a few maximum wage soldiers to tax the world,

and began instead feeding many minimum wage kids age five and less to feed the world,

and everyone died torturous deaths after many countless years and decades of torturous lives

[gslinger3]

Hilary is afraid to say what she actually is, A LIBERAL!!!

Hey all you left wing radical, tidyed wearing, abortion loving, unborn child hating, mother earth loving, GOD hating, lost athiest, Terrorist loving, Iraqi Freedom hating, Barbera Streisand loving, Bush hating, pot smoking, 1960's relic hippies! Give Jesus an chance!

[jegibbons]

It would be fair entertainment, if we were not in such a conundrum!
So much hooplah, so little substance.
I notice that few of the president's harshest critics are willing to post here on this story. Wonder why?

Could it be they get a self-righteous satisfaction out of condemnation? Or is it that the reality the other party offers in the way of real solutions is so vacant?

Not one of these Democrats has a viable solution to the War in Iraq!

Debating implies a difference of ideas.
These folks are so busy skirting issues they don't have time for debating.
Cast your vote for any one of these bozos and you will have regrets that will make you forever forget all your hatred for the Bush Administration. And that's the TRUTH!

[perception5]

Looked like a Liberal "pep rally" on a KNOWN Liberal news outlet CNN (Clinton News Network).

I'm sorry but I didn't see anyone who is even qualified to be President of the USA in that crowd.

These candidates really belong in Hollywood where it's more "make believe" like their stances.

[gunnerv1]

Just shows that it's all about them and screw the little man

[jegibbons]

Why do more LIBERALS drive big gas guzzling SUV'S than neo-cons?

ANSWER: Denial!

[samael2014]

I guess I'm a little confused as to what Vaughn Ververs means in regard to the following observation:

'Obama turned in a mostly steady performance but did appear to trip up at one point when asked about whether, as president, he would be willing to meet with the leaders of nations such as Iran, North Korea and Cuba. "I would," replied Obama, adding that "the notion that somehow not talking to countries as punishment is "ridiculous."

Given her chance to answer that same question, Clinton displayed a firmer grasp of the issue, saying that she would be willing to talk but would not agree to meet with leaders who might seek to use her for "propaganda purposes."'

Apparently, having a firmer grasp of the issue means favoring and believing in American propoganda and understanding that the fascist American Press will tell you all you need to know and who to believe.

God Bless America and the "Free" American Press

[cathaleen]

I think our country's politics has now hit a new low. Who chose those morons on YouTube? It's very embarrassing to think that the rest of the world was watching. Our new motto should be , "No moron left behind".

[rplat]

That "debate" was disgusting. If that debacle represents what this country has become, then run for the hills because we're finished.

[gslinger3]

Liberals! No clue's just rhetoric! I WANT POWER NOW!!!! I will say or do ANYTHING to get that power!!! I will pull us out of Iraq and let AlQueda take over if thats what it takes to get me elected!!!! Just give me your vote! If I screw up then I will just blame Bush!!!! That works with the media everytime, the media is my friend! And we will silence Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity once and for all with our blatent misuse of the fairness docterine, freedom of speech is intended soley for the democrats!!!!

Vote fo ME in 08!!!!

[pepperp1]

.I enjoyed the format and the humor. Hillary won hands down. But enough already they have their stump speeches and their not moving from them. The fringe candidates are tiresome and fanciful. Cnn coverage afterwards was pitiful is it possible they have gotten worse? I ll watch the RNC debate just to see how the candidates interact on the format but otherwise nothing more to hear.

[formrusmcsgt]

" It was a challenge not taken up often."

After seeing this charade of a "debate", I am convinced more than ever that America needs a serious third-party candidate.

None of these candidates had the gonads (especially Hillary) to confront issues with anything but campaign rhetoric.

I don't know why campaign ads were shown intermittently during the debate as the debate itself was nothing but a continuous demonstration of peacocks taking turns fluffing their feathers and observing that their own feathers were the grandest of the field - an unmitigated farce.

[cfin5]

Heh Heh, ......who'd a thunkted a selected question would not have a loaded "STEERING COMMITTEE" answer? I have rarely witnessed an appropriate answer to a question by an office seeking politician.......It's still Ron Paul in '08 for me!

[gkc99]

"And we will silence Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity once and for all "

An appealing prospect, to be sure, but there are no corks big enough.

Neocons are whiners. One of their own neocons, Rupert Murdoch, gives them all the free access to the world press through his empire (soon to include the WSJ, no doubt), but that's not enough for the fascists!

The fairness doctrine was intended to keep the rich and powerful from shouting down the voiceless. People like O'Reilly, Limbaugh and Hannity never shut up. They are hardly voiceless. And they do their master's bidding.

[perception5]

Looked like a Liberal "pep rally" on a KNOWN Liberal news outlet CNN (Clinton News Network).

I'm sorry but I didn't see anyone who is even qualified to be President of the USA in that crowd.

These candidates really belong in Hollywood where it's more "make believe" like their stances.

[mudrose-2009]

The fairness doctrine was intended to keep the rich and powerful from shouting down the voiceless. People like O'Reilly, Limbaugh and Hannity never shut up. They are hardly voiceless. And they do their master's bidding.
Posted by gkc99

Yuk, yuk. That' why Air America went bankrupt. People don't enjoy listening to left-wing looney propoganda. This is the Chavez approach to looney left wing prooganda - you don't like uw, we'll shut you up.

[realpatriot1]

perception5,

Make believe? Hollywood?

Think Reagan. Think Fred Thompson. Think Mission Accomplished. Think Rudi the 911 hero.

[tuckerndfw]

These "debates" are pointless.

This is a politician's version of "debate":

"I'm glad you asked that question."

(attack your oppenents)

(30 second canned speech); or, in the alternate, if the candidate has no canned speech for that question, offer a canned speech on a totally different topic.

Total waste of time.

[formrusmcsgt]

She's the most qualified and experienced person running in January 2009...she can be taken seriously.

Posted by jh6379 at 08:41 AM : Jul 24, 2007

Not that I'm a Biden or Dodd fan, but how you can say that she's the most experienced candidate considering their decades in the Senate, opposed to her 6 years, is beyond reason.

[omega39-2009]

One of the more jarring questions was about race and gender...

Oh good god, someone could have asked them what they plan to do about the loss of millions of well paying jobs to outsourcing and what is their position on expanding the H1B1 visa program. Instead we get "are you black enough" and "are you feminine enough", what a joke.

[realpatriot1]

guyfrompa,

I wouldn't disagree with your observations of Hillary or your disgust with Slick Willies unguided missle.

I do take issue with the OBL comment. Bin Laden was tied to the USS Cole attack and others, but not WTC1. That was the blind sheik and cohorts and they were apprehended and prosecuted.

When Clinton did try to go after Bin Laden the Republicans accused him of wagging the dog and whined that attention was being taken away from important matters of state, like Monica's blue dress.

[tuckerndfw]

jh6379 - qualified? She only got to be senator of NY because of the name and because that state is as liberal as they come. Give me a break.

Posted by guyfrompa45 at 08:52 AM : Jul 24, 2007

Ditto to that.

Hillary's only political experience is as a junior Senator from New York.

A position she would have never attained had she not been Bill Clinton's spouse.

She is as unqualified as George Bush.

George Bush was more qualified than Hillary, based on the ridiculous assertion being married to a president is "political experience."

[perception5]

Besides...I love the Clintons. I truly wish Bill could come back for another term or three. They are good people who care about America...not just themselves like fanatic Bush.
Posted by jh6379 at 08:41 AM : Jul 24, 2007


......Wow! someone is extremely "contaminated".
jh6379 put down your NYTimes and go splash so cold water in your face.

America, this is what liberal "propaganda" does to people.............. really sad

In 2008 America will "turn the page" on the Clinton's and Bush's.

It time for NEW leadership. It's time for Mitt Romney.

[mudrose-2009]

Besides...I love the Clintons. I truly wish Bill could come back for another term or three. They are good people who care about America...not just themselves like fanatic Bush.
Posted by jh6379

Yeah, they really care about America. He just loves to uncork his effervesce on blue dresses, drop his pants in mixed company, and point his fingers right into that t.v. tube and say I didn't have s/ex with that woman. It's called perjury and obstruction of justice and then claim executive privilege to cover his tracks and tries to parse the word "is". Didn't work. Is is just that, is. There is no what to it. Made a complete mockery of the office of the President. She loves to steal furniture, accuse everyone of right wing conspiracies and what about Vince Foster? Well he said, before he shot himself in the back of the head (how'd he do that, by the way?) In Washington, D.C., "ruining people is considered sport" then lights out for Vince. Ah the Clintoids, true Americans, selfish, self-centered, greedy, gutless, spineless, monkeys. Isn't is wonderful that we still have snakeoil people out there that can screw the hell outta ya and make you still love 'em?

[drummer94]

That spectacle was one sorry excuse for a debate. Canned questions and canned answers. It was really America laughing at the candidates. That experiment like George's one in Iraq, failed miserably.

[rafterman1]

===Made a complete mockery of the office of the President.===

As has Bush.

[sjc_1]

I only watched a bit of this, but I liked the idea of people asking questions. Sure they were screened and the candidates were prepped, but so what. All the candidates have a long hard schedule this time around. I am not sure that Bush could have run this kind of schedule in 2000 and made it at all. Let's cut them some slack and give them the benefit of the doubt on this one.

[rafterman1]

Politics will never change because the only people who can change things are the ones in control now. And if you're rich and have a system set up to make you richer and you control that system, why would you change it?

[irish4obama]

Clinton's approach to meeting with leaders of so-called 'rogue nations' highlights her affiliation to the old-ways of Washington. They've been testing the waters for years and apparently the waters are never safe enough to venture in.

Obama on the other hand presented an approach that reflects the general will of the American people- The way of the future. And former Clinton adviser *** Morris seem to agree with Obama in this video: http://www.foxnews.com/video2/player06.html?072307/072307_hc_morris&Hannity_Colmes&***%20Morris&acc&Politics&-1&News&292&&&new

Fear of being used for propaganda is an arrogant excuse to prevent dialogue that may bring great breakthroughs.

[lochlan-2009]

"submitted to YouTube and selected by CNN" don't they mean, censored by YouTube. Let's make the peasants think we're listening and reaching out to them. I have a question, "with the internet, now, and the ability for every American to vote on any bill, what do we need representatives for?"

[irish4obama]

And by the way, Obama's stance on meeting with Foreign leaders is consistent with those of Henry Kissinger, Madeline Albright (a Hillary Clinton supporter), Colin Powell, Nancy Pelosi, numerous generals and editorial pages, like the NY Times, who have been calling for direct talks with Syria, Iran and N. Korea.

[marcodele]

Someone posted:
"It time for NEW leadership. It's time for Mitt Romney."

The only thing new about Mitt Romney is his opinion on issues that are brand new every day after he reads opinion polls.

[omega39-2009]

That spectacle was one sorry excuse for a debate. Canned questions and canned answers. It was really America laughing at the candidates. That experiment like George's one in Iraq, failed miserably.
Posted by drummer94

Drummer94, I'm with you. I can hardly wait for what CBS calls the "jarring" questions of religion and race such as "are you Mormon enough" and "are you Italian enough"to be asked of the Republicans in the next debate.

[asor1-2009]

I wonder if any of them wore a "wire" for prompting, as Bush did back then.

[perimogi]

This is what is wrong with our politics. Not one candidate will take a decisive stand on anything, for fear of losing one lone voter somewhere. So far this campaign is all fluff and no stuff. Sad, and to think one of these might be our new president.

[pepperp1]

Besides...I love the Clintons. I truly wish Bill could come back for another term or three. They are good people who care about America...not just themselves like fanatic Bush.
Posted by jh6379 at 08:41 AM : Jul 24, 2007

You are really going to drive the paid for righties whacko nutty, they are still suffering from PTSD from the Clinton years, all that prosperity for many, during that time Clinton did not provide them any a particular group to hate or fear and with much of the tax revenue being reinvested in our country instead of their pockets they of course became unbalanced foaming at the mouth. They also as poodles can not judge degree of criminality, and harm to our countries interest, *** versus invading a country on made up lies where tens of thousands of human beings have been killed to the righties it is all the same no value for life if that life is not a wedge issue..

[klingon69]

pot smoking, 1960's relic hippies! Give Jesus an chance!
Posted by gslinger3 at 07:24 AM : Jul 24, 2007
I smoke, and am NOT a 60's hippy.

[starleo146]

Shows she is a good planner guyfrompa45 8:52a.m. She got what she wanted and she did better on her plan than Bush did on his plan in Iraq.

[condumism]

the USA's failed democracy was in full view of anybody paying attention for the first YouTube debate.

WANT A DEMOCRACY in the USA? SUPPORT BARACK OBAMA! the only candidate who has said he would ban all corporate and foreign lobbyist's from the Halls of Congress. Until this is done, the USA will remain the Fascist Nation that it became under Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, HW Bush, the 1994-2006 GOP Congress, and the failed presidency of GW Bush and Neocons.

[klingon69]

jh6379 - qualified? She only got to be senator of NY because of the name and because that state is as liberal as they come. Give me a break.
Posted by guyfrompa45 at 08:52 AM : Jul 24, 2007
Remarkably it was the large cities in NY that got her elected. My wife woked for a telemarketing firm calling and polling people in NY state as to who they wanted. The rural peoples did NOT want Hillary. However since most of the population of NY is in the large cities, she got it.

[pepperp1]

This is what is wrong with our politics. Not one candidate will take a decisive stand on anything, for fear of losing one lone voter somewhere. So far this campaign is all fluff and no stuff. Sad, and to think one of these might be our new president.
Posted by perimogi at 10:02 AM : Jul 24, 2007

The problem is the TV 30 second sound bite and answer, how can you be decisive in 30 seconds when you have so many people on the stage. I for one hate the sound bite repeated time and time again like code but it appears to work, unfortunately. And look at that stupid CNN coverage afterwards that tells you why we have sound bites, and they even had to stretch in their negative commentary, Bush may have proposed AIDS funding for Africa but he did not fund 15 billion in his budget, and what about those goofy dial reactions represented like that was the publics result, what they failed to mention is that undecided are less than 30 percent of the party so if you were going to represent public reaction in general instead of a distortion, you would have some type of weighted representation but then you could not be as negative. CNN seems to be competing with Fox for their audience.

[fegner]

On July 19, the Washington Post revealed that the Bush administration was unafraid of contempt citations. Should Congress certify a contempt citation to U.S. attorney Jeffrey Taylor's office, it would be Taylor's duty under federal law to bring the matter before a grand jury -- but the White House will direct him not to.

...Karen Tumulty, Time magazine's national political correspondent, said that with the Post article "the phrase [contempt of Congress] takes on new meaning ... There's no way to challenge the President's assertion of executive privilege, because, well, the President has asserted executive privilege."

...Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Pat Leahy, D-Vt., called the decision "deeply disturbing" and said that "this President and Vice President seek to override the independence of law enforcement and manipulate our valued system of checks and balances. This is another demonstration of the lawless and unchecked path the President, the Vice President and their loyal aides have taken us down."

[Netterz]

Debates are a joke. Its who can tell the best lie about something there never going to do. The idea of which of few liars we get to choose from in the election, is based on who has the most money is ludicris. Being wealthy has NOTHING to do with ability to lead, do the right things for your country. If 'we the people' have learned ANYTHING, its that having horridly wealthy businessmen running the country, has been our ruin. It has resulted in wars,outsourcing,illegal alien border jumping being OK,$criminals$ allowed to go free from justice and prison, and sending BILLIONS we need to take care of our own people to every other country. Because they have more money than they can spend, they dont give a rats a$$ about 'we the (broke) people', who work hard, to end up supporting the rest of the world with OUR tax dollars. I paid into social security my entire life, over 30 years, busted my back and neck at work, and am NOT considered 'elegible' but an illegal never paid in a DIME can collect on the spot. Do you see any problems here?

[mudrose-2009]

And by the way, Obama's stance on meeting with Foreign leaders is consistent with those of Henry Kissinger, Madeline Albright (a Hillary Clinton supporter), Colin Powell, Nancy Pelosi, numerous generals and editorial pages, like the NY Times, who have been calling for direct talks with Syria, Iran and N. Korea.
Posted by Irish4Obama

Oh, I don't know. Did they ever find the Women Nancy was asking about.

[gslinger3]

Did you now that over 40% of Liberals favor the use of Marijuana! Now that even suprised me an unabashed NEOCON!!!!

How many of you *** liberals are in a altered state of mind at this moment?

Dang hippies!!!!