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."

[amanda3of3]

forthepeople1 said it all for me. If we don't do something soon, we will have our own Saddam to deal with.

[forthepeopl1]

someone needs to ask them this...............

this is the only way!!!!!!!!! to stop this adminastration. period..the only way bush has no way of vetoing. so why haven't they done this?

both party are dragging this on to far. its time to end this for god sake

so call on congress to do this NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Article 1 of the US Constitution gives the Congress, not the President, the right to declare war. And the War Powers Act specifies that the President may not continue a war without Congressional authorization. Saddam is dead. There never were any WMDs or ties to Al Qaeda. The basis for the 2002 war authorization is gone.
If Congress passes a resolution de-authorizing the war, the President has no legal authority to continue. De-authorization cannot be vetoed, and it would legally require Bush to begin bringing the troops home.
The time for waiting is over. People are dying every day. We cannot wait until this fall to start bringing our troops home. If Congress doesn't act before they leave for the summer, the only thing that will change between now and the end of the year is the body count.
Congress has a public mandate and the Constitutional authority to end this war.

LETS GO AMERICA WE OWE THIS TO OUR TROOPS DIEING FOR NOTHING BUT THE PRESIDENTS AND MR VP'S PLEASURE, AND PROFITS.....

[realpatriot1]

Condumism,

You've had some really good posts and I know you're a thoughtful person, but you're rapidly slipping into 7 pesos territory with the southern fascist nazi regimen of bile.

In the words of the great sage Rodney King, "can't we all just get along?".

[klingon69]

No wonder you dopes beleive in Fascism over democracy. It's obvious you nazi lovers haven't had an origianl thought in any of your Southern Neocon Bigoted lives. Just let those Fascist Corporate Traitors think for you. But, since none of you have ever gotten a job based uon merit, but instead on cronyism, no surprise by your bigotry at all............
Posted by ConDumism at 02:47 PM : Jul 24, 2007
Hey Prophylactic;
Not everyone from the south is a neo-con. I was denied a govt job, after my discharge from the Navy, because of nepotism (cronyism). Seems the job lined up for me went to a nephew of one of the ladies in the personnel office. I got my job/career on my own (well maybe a call from the vet rep at our local unemployment office.)
Nobody thinks for me, unlike people who follow the party line, hmmm, like a democrat/republican

[infidel_us]

I believe it was President Clinton who said to Ms. Lewinsky " The south will rise again!"
Posted by realpatriot1 at 02:30 PM : Jul 24, 2007

LOL....and when it does, it ALWAYS points north - with a slight tilt to the left! :) As long as Jefferson Davis' pic is on your monopoly money, we'll probably take it! :)

[realpatriot1]

mudrose,

Good one! LOL!

[ioweign]

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.
Posted by perception5 at 07:24 AM : Jul 24, 2007

Since when did that matter, there isn't one qualified in office now.

[mudrose-2009]

Guess I proved who's the idiot, eh white trash?
Posted by ConDumism

You sure did.

[gunownerdan]

Find a presidential candidate who would actually obey the presidential oath of office and we might get on the right track.

[condumism]

Jedi08 beltched:

Oh no, New York Times says the Troop Surge is working, whatever will the Cut and Run party do when the Surge starts to produce results.

Haven't you heard? The Iraqi's have put down their guns until the US Fascists leave. Amazing how you ConDums believe every lie spewed from FOX News. EVen Rush Limpball admitted to lying to you morons DAILY after you self-centered fools lost Congress. No wonder you dopes beleive in Fascism over democracy. It's obvious you nazi lovers haven't had an origianl thought in any of your Southern Neocon Bigoted lives. Just let those Fascist Corporate Traitors think for you. But, since none of you have ever gotten a job based uon merit, but instead on cronyism, no surprise by your bigotry at all............

[realpatriot1]

infidel_US,

I have monopoly money, will that work?

I believe it was President Clinton who said to Ms. Lewinsky " The south will rise again!"

[misssuzq]

I wish that those who really do not stand a chance would get out now so that it looks like an election campaign, not a freaking party.

[infidel_us]

They can't secede. We southern Democrats have control of the state houses and legislatures.
Posted by realpatriot1 at 01:37 PM : Jul 24, 2007

Not in GA. Hope you saved your Confederate money.....we're gonna RISE AGAIN! :)

[realpatriot1]

Condumism,

They can't secede. We southern Democrats have control of the state houses and legislatures.

By the way, we don't have cowboys in the south. The Bush's are fake westerners from Kennebunkport and Reagan was a fake cowboy from Illinois. Take your complaints to the range.

[jedi08]

What a joke. Those are the worst canadates Ive ever seen. Why don't they grow some balls, (and whatever Billary might grow) and go on Fox and get some real questions.

Oh no, New York Times says the Troop Surge is working, whatever will the Cut and Run party do when the Surge starts to produce results. There whole platform for 08 is the US's defeat. So sad

[condumism]

mudrose blurped:

Democracy, Facism, Southern. Haven't a clue have you?

How much is the Southern GOP Nazi Party paying you to post here? Obviously you were educated in the US public education system after Ronald REagan destroyed public education in the USA. Here's a clue as to how to define the above:

Democracy: government by the people through elected reresentatives. Your corporate lobbyists were never elected by the people!

Fascism: A system of government that exercises a dictatorship of the extreme right, typically through the merging of the state and business leadership, together with belligerent nationalism. Sound familiar, bubba?

Southern Conservatives: A cult of white elitist hypocrits and racists that prefer a fascist form of government so that they never have to think for themselves.

When are you Southern Fascist's gonna secede? Again, you're not welcome in the USA.

Guess I proved who's the idiot, eh white trash?

[realpatriot1]

hopetrumps,

The grip that these DC "insiders" talk about is the one they have around one another's johnsons at Washington cocktail parties, what's called conventional wisdom. It's the same conventioanl wisdom used to coronate Ed Muskie, Howard Dean, Paul Tsongas, and others in the past.

These correspondents get paid to talk about something but are so far removed from what concerns folks like us that anything is likely to come out of their mouths. When I watch Chris Mathews and he asks the other reporters to tell him something he doesn't know I think to myself that they could say anything to that and be right.

All they know is that Obama and Clinton have more money for consultants and ads. They pathetically think that's all that matters.

[one_american]

I wouldn't trust any of the Democrat Party candidates to walk my dog, much less run our country.

The "debate" was a complete bust.

[realpatriot1]

mudrose,

The subpoena is not from Leaky Laehy,it's from the whole committee, so your deflection doesn't cjhange the issue.

There are no limits on compliance with legal subpoenas and as many times as you raise the phony executive privilege claim I will continue to remind you that the Supreme Court ruled in The aptly-named United States versus Nixon case that executive privilege only is applicable to cases involving national security.

The White House is in contempt of Congress and is acting illegally. Since the President is sworn to uphold the Constitution, he's establishing further grounds for impeachment.

[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