Jason Linkins

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Jason Linkins

The Huffington Post

GOP Field Finally Agrees To YouTube Debate

October 29, 2007 02:45 PM


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CNN has announced that the GOP version of the Paradigm Shifting User Generated YouTube Debates That Will Forever Change the Face of Electoral Politics As We Know It (TM) is on, as all eight "major Republican candidates" have agreed to participate, having cleared up their schedules and put aside their hang-ups about being interrogated by snowmen and struggling performance artists.

From the release:

Like the Democratic CNN/YouTube/South Carolina Democratic Party debate, this innovative, live forum will feature video questions submitted to YouTube that will be broadcast and answered by the candidates on CNN. Over 2,225 questions have been submitted thus far; online users are able to submit their video queries through Sunday, Nov. 25 at www.youtube.com/debates or www.rpof.org or www.cnn.com/youtubedebates.

In the wake of the Democratic version of the debate, the top Republican candidates seemed cool to the idea of participating in their own version, offering snide remarks and furtive scheduling excuses. Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney offered the official pull-quote of GOP dissatisfaction: "I think the presidency ought to be held at a higher level than having to answer questions from a snowman." Blogger Hugh Hewitt took things a step further in his commentary, warning that the YouTube debate was a trap:

They covered for the Dems with a series of overwhelmingly left-biased questions at the first YouTube debate, with a very few tough, serious questions thrown in. That dynamic would change completely in a GOP YouTube debate -- they or their counterparts at a different network will be gunning for the Republicans, and the question set will be designed to embarrass or ridicule.

His colleague at Townhall.com, Patrick Ruffini, differed: "This is a big mistake. The Democrats are afraid to answer questions from Big Bad Fox News Anchors, and the Republicans are afraid to answer questions from regular people. Which is worse?"

Earlier this month, the top GOP candidates bailed on the Christian Values Debate webcast, which created many bizarre sequences in which participants hurled their questions at empty podia, the camera lingering upon the furniture for several seconds afterwards as if it might start speaking by magic. I guess after that spectacle, just about any debate format has gravitas.

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Question #1
When will you award Hans Bix and Scott Ritter "PEACE MEDALS" for being ABSOLUTELY correct when in March 2003 they stated that Saddam did not possess WMD or the means to produce it.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:10 AM on 10/30/2007
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i'm shocked, just shocked.... okay, just round up the usual u-tubers.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:33 AM on 10/30/2007

How many more irrelevant debates do we need? You tube isnt exactly a great venue for a debate with substance and if you want the DEMs on Fox do they get the same line of questions or are they going to get the usual loaded, fishing for something negative, make 'em look bad kind of questioning you could expect from Foxy friends?

How about in the DEM debate on FOX they do the same thing as the GOP debate and have a 10 minute bashing of Hillary? It would be much more interesting with Hillary on the stage.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:07 PM on 10/29/2007

I would guess that FOX would be on their best behavior just to prove their critics wrong.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:41 PM on 10/29/2007

On the recent Fox debate with the republicans, Chris Wallace asked them if Hillary was fit to be president. No wonder the Democrats don't want anything to do with that channel.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:06 AM on 10/30/2007
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Hugh Hewitt writes:

'The YouTube debate was a silly, and at times absurd exercise in giving air time to many idiots separated by an occasional responsible speaker, and the questions selection by CNN demonstrated a huge left-wing bias which will inevitably appear in any subsequent YouTube debate organized by the MSM which is overwhelmingly staffed by the left.'
http://hughhewitt.townhall.com/blog/g/6e4d34e6-d229-4f38-819d-1da28c299665

Since even before his days as a pundit on "far left and Liberal" KCET's Life and Times (the PBS affiliate in Los Angeles) from 1992 through 2001, Hugh Hewitt has made it a habit of being wrong on just about every issue--and this particular issue is certainly no exception.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Hewitt

However, given that Mr. Hewitt is firmly ensconced in the Corporate Media himself, he probably already knows that CNN, an entity with its own Corporate Media ratings-driven agenda, tailored its question vetting to the Democratic presidential candidates--just as they will (most assuredly) likewise tailor their vetting to the Republican candidates.

Hugh Hewitt's bemoaning CNN as the epitome of the "Liberal Media" is simply a time-worn device he uses in order to drum up rage from his Red State base, which in turn keeps those Corporate Media checks rolling in.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:15 PM on 10/29/2007

A small step in their long march to overcoming their fear. Don't give up guys.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:08 PM on 10/29/2007

Now will the Dems have the guts to debate on FOX?

Silly question...of course not.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:15 PM on 10/29/2007
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It's also a "loaded question." The issue with Fox "News" is that it is recognized as the propaganda wing of the GOP and the Bush Administration. Therefore, it is not a legitimate news channel; it is an "opinion channel."

Roger Ailes and those at Fox "News" would like nothing better than to be seen, finally, as a legitimate news outlet. However, since Fox's inception, they have made no attempt to be one, they cannot be granted a "pass" under any circumstances. In this instance, at least, there really is no such thing as a free lunch.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:27 PM on 10/29/2007
- RS I'm a Fan of RS permalink

Hey jeter2--by any chance, are you a News Corporation stockholder?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:16 PM on 10/29/2007

What will they the Rep Canidate speak on at this debate?For me i would ask them what will you do to stop G. Warming!And how would they keep us safe from having a N Winter on their watch!You all Rep's talk tough!And you all take money from big business!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 05:59 PM on 10/29/2007
- xham I'm a Fan of xham permalink

Do you happen to know the difference between G warming and Man-made G warming or in your ming is that a given?
Safe from a N-Winter? You mean a false flag nuclear attack from our own government right/ Cos I don't see any serious other threat out there.
"All reps take money from Big Business." I think sleepy sheeple Clintonites need to see the Ron Paul storm thats coming their way and wake up. Oh and BTW, I was a democrat supporter until most democrats became Neocons, Kucinich and Gravel excepted.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:48 AM on 10/30/2007
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