New Questioners, But Few New Answers

Vaughn Ververs Takes A Hard Look At The YouTube Debate

(CBS)  Despite the unique format, traditional campaign instincts kicked in more often than not — as candidates took potentially uncomfortable questions and turned them around into safe answers. The phrase "on message" has been drilled into candidates to the point that it is a reflex, not a thought process.

One of the more jarring questions was about race and gender. When asked whether some may not find him "authentically black enough," Obama repeated a line he's used in the past about problems he has hailing a cab in New York City, before transitioning to a broader discussion of race.

New York Sen. Hillary Clinton was asked about the focus by some on her gender and joked that she has no choice but to run as a woman. Before retreating to safer ground, she added: "I'm not running because I'm a woman. I'm running because I think I'm the most qualified and experienced person to hit the ground running in January 2009."

Stylistically, it's how most of the evening unfolded, with candidates looking for their opportunities to reinforce the messages they are running on. Moderator Anderson Cooper several times called on candidates to answer the question they had been asked and some of those whose queries were chosen ended up in the audience.

In one video, the Rev. Reggie Longcrier, a pastor from North Carolina, asked John Edwards about his faith and the role it played in his opposition to gay marriage. Longcrier wasn't just on tape — he was in the live audience — and he wasn't satisfied with Edwards' answer. Complaining that the question hadn't been answered "like I would like," he then got another 30 or so from Edwards on the topic.

Politically, there was little to change the underlying dynamics of the race. Clinton, as in previous debates, largely sailed through the event error-free and took advantage of the opportunities presented.

After a week of discussion about her toughness, she was asked a question by a soldier stationed in Japan about the potential willingness of Arab leaders to deal with a woman president. Clinton received a burst of applause when she replied, "I believe that there isn't much doubt in anyone's mind that I can be taken seriously," and added, "It would be quite appropriate to have a woman president deal with the Arab and Muslim countries on behalf of the United States of America."

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."

As has been the case in the candidate debates thus far, Edwards did not do much to break through the grip Obama and Clinton appear to have on the top spots in the campaign. Fresh off a "poverty tour" through some of the poorest parts of the country, though, he did give one of the most impassioned answers of the evening, on the subject of health care. "We have talked about it too long," he said. "When are we going to stand up and do something about this?"

Bill Richardson, who has been making inroads in fundraising and in some early state polling, also failed to do much to close the gap further. The New Mexico governor, who parts ways with his fellow Democrats on several issues, seemed flummoxed that he couldn't get that message across, saying at one point in a discussion about Iraq, "I'm trying to provoke a debate here, because there's a difference between the senators and me on when we get our troops out."

This was supposed to be a different kind of debate, giving ordinary Americans a chance to ask tough questions to those aspiring to lead them. As a practical matter, however, there was not much left to the imagination by the time things got started.

There were nearly 3,000 video submissions that had to be sorted through by editors at CNN and a limited time to cycle through all eight candidates. The questions were available for anyone to see over the past several weeks on YouTube — which meant there was plenty of opportunity for at least the bigger campaign organizations to see them and prepare for any major surprises.

The Republican candidates get their YouTube debate in September; they now have the added advantage of having seen the format in action. But anyone hoping for them to do a better job of actually answering the questions are likely to be as disappointed as they surely were in Charleston.

[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