The YouTube Debates - Democrat Edition
Published July 24th, 2007I’ll put a sort-of transcript behind the cut.
Just got done watching the Youtube/CNN debates. Well, most of it anyway. My tivo cut off the last couple minutes. But I got through most of it. First off, there’s too many candidates to give fair time share to, and not enough time for candidates to say anything super-meaningful. Hopefully that will change soon, as some of the smaller candidates drop out. But I do understand why they run - they can say things that no one else can, and get a message out there that no one else will. And so I respect some of the things that Kucinich, Gravel and Biden say. I don’t necessarily agree with everyone everyone says though - but that’s OK too. That’s kinda the point - it’s good to have options.
The youtube gimmick wasn’t all bad, I don’t think. Yes, CNN chose the questions - so that’s nothing new - but I do think that having regular people on screen to ask them really personalized some of the issues, in a good way. They weren’t used as props, it really did come across as real questions from real people. But I’d rather questions come from voting (of some sort, there’s ways to combat ballot stuffing and trolling) instead of from the media choosing them. The traditional media is part of the problem in this country right now.
So how did the big 3 do? I have to say, Hilary is really running away with the debates. She’s strong or stronger in each one. Edwards, for all the money he spent on the haircut, didn’t look all that great but he really came across strong - but on a couple key questions (to me at least) he sorta flaked. Obama finally stepped it up some in this debate. I’d rank it Hilary, Obama, Edwards. That’s not to say any of those three did bad - but you have to rank them somehow.
Something interesting that I think was overlooked was probably the sneakiest “question” of all. Each candidate was given 30 seconds to make a “youtube style” video which CNN played. Some candidates got it. Some of them didn’t. By that I mean - “youtube style” - something sorta kitschy and grass-roots. Something funny. Something different. Many candidates basically put up 30 second commercials, the kind you’d see on TV. BZZT, wrong guys. This was a chance to show that you understood just what the hell this “youtube” thing was all about. Hilary got it - her video was a bunch of cards with words and a joke at the end - much like many of the questions actually sent in to the candidates. Edwards got it, his video made fun of the hubbub about his haircut, but posed a serious question. Richardson sorta got it - it was a commercial, but it was funny, casual and kinda cute - not something you’d see on TV. I’m not sure if Kucinich got it…his resembled the infamous Head-On video, but I’m not entirely convinced that was intentional. Kucinich is just kindofa low budget guy…
Nobody really pissed me off in the debate, which is how I can often eliminate candidates. Edwards was clearly squeamish talking about gay marriage and religious influence on himself and policy. No candidate even came close to properly addressing the question from an athiest - but I’m looking for something really outstanding on that issue, and I doubt I’ll get it. Everyone hemmed and hawed on the war - no one wanted to address the question of “what happens when we leave” - though there was some good discussion on diplomacy in the region. Obama and Hilary are currently having a little snit in the press about that.
Overall it wasn’t bad - but there were just too many candidates trying to get some airtime. That’s what happens. Once the field narrows, I’ll be able to judge better. Right now, I’m leaning Edwards. I think he’s smart and can do a good job in both foreign and domestic policies. While he’s a little squeamish on some of the civil issues I care about, his heart is in the right place and he wouldn’t bungle up things. Obama did better this time, but not enough to impress me - he relied on his special interests tack a little too much. And while I’m not crazy about the policies of Hilary (many of which aren’t addressed in these debates) I’d have no problem with her as president. She is clearly taking notes from Bill, because her stage presence is impeccable. She’s serious when she needs to be, jovial when necessary and isn’t afraid to laugh or make a joke or two. In all - she’s as cool as the other side of the pillow on stage.
I wonder how the Republican YouTube debates will go? That’s in September, and I do plan to watch - even though I’m sure I’ll wish I hadn’t.
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