This is kinda interesting for me, as I've heard so much about the presence of republicans online; appears to be another myth.

This could be quite the thorn in the sides of the candidates, as I'm sure it will be a question they will be asked over and over again: Are you going to participate in the YouTube debate???

I see an opeing for Thompson, if others refuse to participate; though I'm sure it would be sooner than he'd like.

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"An honest man can feel no pleasure in the exercise of power over his fellow citizens."

-Thomas Jefferson

I'm trying to figure out if this style of debate would actually have ANY impact on anyone's campaign, not to mention it is still pretty early in the race. The majority of YouTube visitors are male, ages 12-17. I guess I just don't understand what the big deal is for a candidate to accept or refuse the invitation. I didn't see the Democratic one. I saw the thread here on it, but just because the name YouTube is attached to it, doesn't make me want to watch it. In fact, it does the opposite.

http://www.nielsen-netratings.com/pr/pr_060721_2.pdf

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For the dems i think it had a very good impact Crystal. They generally do appeal more to younger voters than the GOP and even though a lot of people who check out youtube are not of the age to vote the general idea would be that the people who are actually old enough to vote who watch youtube would be Dems.

I don't think it affects any Dems' campaign specifically but i think in general it helps them as a party as it brought humor and fun in a genre (politics) that is usually seen to be very boring so it may well help to rally young voters; who will more than likely vote blue in 08.

In theory I think the idea is good, however whoever vetted the videos did a lousy job IMO.
A number of the Demo questions were pretty stupid, there were good ones, but on average they were not very in-depth.

Having said this, I like the idea - and would like to see it expand to a larger audience and on a site where it doesn't sit side-by-side with videos of people setting there farts on fire.

I would think after seeing the first debate, candidates would have learned. I have yet to see a substantial debate. We need a single topic free flow debate.

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Wow I'm shocked. After the success of the first debate and how it seems to modernize the whole presidential race by using YouTube (a virtual household name nowadays) I would have thought the Republicans would have been all over it.

I think it would almost be the nail in the coffin for Rebublicans to shun their Youtube Debate. It seems to me that they don't to want to particiapte in a debate that is hard to script for. What does that say about their stances on issues? Ron Paul and John McCain don't seem to have anything to hide and being registered this early should say ALOT about how they'd be president. I don't think any candidate that misses the debate has a chance in hell in winning the presidency. You might say I'm putting too much emphasis on a silly debate but it was really a ground breaker in terms of the people having their say. Every article I've read on it has hailed the format.

Romney doesn't like the Snowman question? If you can't add a little humor to the equation then what the heck?

I agree iam that the idea is good but the person vetting the questions a to be totally impartial.

The thing is Dems took it well in stride imo, a few of them made fun of themselves (Gravel especially) but i think the GOP aren't gonna be so easy going and relaxed, we take this a lot more seriously and i think we would have an inbuilt annoyance that the questions wouldn't be very useful.

I agree 110%.
The "youtube" debate was "dumbed down" questions that were easy to answer, and were not specific and with no challenge to answers.

I would think that the candidates would love this format, although unscripted - the questions were softball in nature, and very generalized.

I think the big draw was supposed to make the 'average' American the star. They submit their questions via YouTube and then the candidates debate on CNN. Like I said, I didn't watch it. I did view on YouTube some of questions way before I ever knew what they were for and I wasn't impressed then. Now what I hear about is the snowman asking about global warming. Is this the average American? You know what, it probably is. The average American is totally ignorant of politics so it wouldn't surprise me to see snowmen asking questions, hillbilly dudes with their shotgun "babies", or folks singing as the star questioners (is that a word?). I'm all for fun and games and silliness, but everything has a time and place and OMG how much stupider (is that a word?) do Americans insist on looking?

Townhall.com:umb and Dumber Debates::By Kathleen Parker

and it looks funny with that big ass grin in there, but that's what the code did

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But what about those who cannot participate in the YouTube program? Those who cannot access the equipment needed for that format?

It was a very useful publicity campaign for YouTube (aka Google), but did it really provide any real improvement in access to the candidates?

Or was it merely a different way to present hand-picked questions for the candidates to field exactly the way they wanted?

The gun owner clip in particular seemed to be selected to portray the questioner in the worst possible light, so the candidate could make disparaging personal remarks rather than substantively addressing the issue.

Matt

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Wow - I didn't see that one before, just looked at it...OMG I think Crystal is right - how stupid can we look?
I picture some Europeans sitting around laughing their ass off at how stupid Americans look.
Did you see the one with the 19 yo kid..umm..I umm would, like you know...

Damn, it was as if the vetters who picked the videos were the same people who pick videos for "America's Funniest Videos"

Sorry - but this format needs a major over-haul before done again - I agree with those who are not signing up - it was a joke.

You really think the American people are gonna vote for someone based on a youtube debate??

Okay let me ask you a question, do you have any idea of what the GOP base is made of? Do you know what will get someone elected? Do you know that McCain and Paul are the lowest of the major candidates in relation to getting the GOP nod? You do realise that they need the publicity more than anyone right?

Like i said that's why it plays very well to their base, the more they look like comical jesters the more their base will be energised, for their base are usually a bunch of clowns.

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

I think the idea is a good one. The way it played out though, I find it to be more of a source of entertainment than information. I'm all for average americans getting to ask the questions, but come on.

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I disagree. I think it's the clowns who get the attention and the jesters are the ones who make generalizations that the clowns represent the entire group. For example, if you watch the snowman question...how many people will now think, "Wow, those global warming people are a bunch of weirdos"? It didn't portray average americans in the most positive light. It sent out the message "Americans aren't taking this next election seriously". But that's just my opinion. I would love for some members from other countries chime in here. I think we, as Americans, have a lot to make up for with this next election and poking fun at our politics just wasn't a good way to start.

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