GOP Contenders Face YouTube Debate

AP:

Republican presidential candidates faced a crowd of unusual debate questioners Wednesday night -- everyday people who sent in video clips.

CNN and YouTube sponsored the debate, the Republicans' eighth major confrontation of the 2008 campaign

People from across the country submitted more than 3,500 videos posing questions; about 40 were to be broadcast in the unusual gathering six weeks before voting begins.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani leads in national polls but trails former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in early-voting Iowa and New Hampshire. Romney faces challenges from former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in Iowa, and from Giuliani and Arizona Sen. John McCain in New Hampshire. Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, Texas Rep. Ron Paul and other lesser-knowns also are participating in the debate.

Read the whole story: AP

Comments

[truthyguy]

Would everyone who is a loser please put on a dark suit, get on stage and try to smile. Perfect.

[Qbear]

My favorite was the Black kid's question to Mittler...even though it had nothing to do with the subject, he made it an anti-gay marriage rant...what a tool.
I hope every Black American hears that stupid answer....maybe this election 99% of Blacks will vote Democrat instead of a mere 90%.

[MsLiz]

My favorite was Ron Paul, speaking up against bases in the Middle East. The crowd treated him like the anti-Christ. Too bad they are hard wired not to listen and think about what the man was saying.

[srvblooze]

CNN airs a question from "average American" Grover Norquist. C'MON CNN! Grover Fucking Norquist???? The guy's a right wing nutjob in bed with everyone and everything bad about Washington (including Abramoff) and you have the BALLS to put him on television at the expense of a question from a regular American?!?!?!?

[rastignac]

On the issue of guns, it is incredible that the Republicans hold the second amendment to the Constitution so dear and yet so willingly shit all over the rest of that document.

[swift goat pet for truth]

AS a group, I thought they were only moderately skilled at answering while avoiding the question.

[TooLooze]

The debate was pathetic. Not one question on the environment or energy. Not very important issues for republicans apparently. Huckabee did well, McCain sounded almost sane, but Hillary and John Edwards were clearly the winners. Hillary was mentioned more than any other non-candidate, living or dead. Edwards was mentioned once, but after the debate, an undecided republican voter said that she leaned toward him.

It was also notable that the debate spectators booed as often and as loudly as they cheered. Not a very cohesive group.

The highlight of the evening was the Tancredo ad that suggests that he should be President of the United Staes of America because he could "take on" Geraldo. Scary.

[OhPlease2007]

I don't profess to be up on all the Republican candidates' platforms, but from what I saw tonight, Ron Paul & Fred Thompson were the only two stand-outs in the lineup.

Rudy & Mitt: flip-floppers

Huckabee: TOO religious in his political views for America's own good.

McCain & Tancredo: itchy trigger-fingers

Hunter: too inflexible

[UncleDave]

What A Bunch Of F ing Losers.

[HumeSkeptic]

Republicans have a choice among a Mafioso, a Mormon bigot, a Christian bigot, a once almost sane but now a lunatic warmonger, a senile actor, a Libertarian nut, and a hater of all non-white immigrants.

Democrats have a choice among some extremely bright men and a woman, all full of ideas and all excited about the future. All the Democrats have to do is pick the best among the best.

[Qbear]

It's mind boggling to think Republicans are sitting home watching these candidates, and getting all goose bumps and moist....and the same answers make me vomit.

[coonce]

What amazes me is the national polls showing that most of these men are running neck and neck with the three highest running Democrats running for president.

If the national polls are correct that say Bush's approval rating is only in the low 30's and that 70% of Americans aren't happy with the way the country is going (Iraq, Economy, energy, educ, etc..) -- why then, are these Republicans that COPY CATS of the CURRENT administration -- doing so well in the polls?

The amount of disgust and hate for this administration should put almost ANY Democrat above and -way beyond- ANY Republican during the presidential election.

Explain please?

Coonsey's View
Political Blog
http://www.freewebs.com/coonsey/

[Ramirez]

The retired general that asked the gays in the military question is listed as one of the "LGBT Americans For Hillary Steering Committee Members."

His name is midway down on the Hillary list.
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=2196

I think CNN should install a google to help them vet their questioners.

[only1Demvoter]

While many good points denigrating the Rethugs and their ' lock step rhetoric ' will be made here tonight, I wished to point out that Sen. McCain ( MANY times I have called senile ), categorically stated that waterboarding was immoral, unconscionable, and below American Standards / Legality ( AND torture by it's very nature ), and unacceptable as ' standard practice ' as recognized by the Geneva Conventions... Therefore illegal.

I thought that this instance bore further scrutiny... Considering Sen. McCain's Military Service Record.

Femi weigh in ?? This Nation's credibility, and it's moral high ground are at stake due to the current administration's policies.

( I personally took his resentment of this form of torture as a glimmer of hope for a profaned political party, thanks to the likes of GW, DC, KR, DR, etc. ... )

More to follow ?? -ralph

[Rescisco]

Not since Lincoln has a Republican said anything worth hearing.