Over at Time's "Swampland" blog yesterday, journalist Joe Klein all but suggested the GOP candidates might be hoping to chicken out of the upcoming YouTube debate on September 17, given the leftward slant of the YouTube questions.
Given the generally irreverent and, well, liberal tone of the questions last night--and the general skew of the YouTube audience leeward, do you think it's possible that some of the Republican candidates are having second thoughts about participating in their version of the CNN/YouTube debate on September 17?
And might there be an Ailes gremlin whispering to the candidates: The Dems stiffed us at Fox. You can stiff CNN.
I'm glad Klein agrees with us that the agenda of questions on Monday skewed heavily left-of-center, but where he's off-base is suggesting that Republicans should also be pushed from the left in the debate format.
These debates, after all, are geared towards having Democratic and Republican candidates appealing for votes from their liberal and conservative bases respectively. Critics might say that the debates are an opportunity for the candidates to toss out "red meat" to loyal partisan audiences or (heavens no) pander to the ideological prejudices thereof, but the fact of the matter is Democratic primary voters by and large are liberal and want to push the Democratic field to the left on Iraq, the war on terrorism, taxes, business regulation, and social issues.
Likewise conservatives want Republican candidates for 2008 to be talking about border enforcement, enforcing immigration laws, extending and protecting the Bush tax cuts, winning the war in Iraq, and maintaining a strong global war on terror.
Given that there were conservative questions (on taxes and guns) in the Democratic debate, it's wholly legitimate to toss in some liberal ones in the Republican one.
But given the heavy skew to the left in deference to the liberal Democratic audience watching at home, if there's any skew to the GOP debate on September 17, it should appeal to the concerns right-leaning GOP primary voters.
We at NewsBusters will be watching and we'll compare the agenda of questions after the Republican debate airs in September.
—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Leftward Ho
July 25, 2007 - 11:39 ET by allanfIt is given that CNN will choose leftward leaning questions for the September Republican joint press conference. I cannot bring myself call these things debates.
So what!! The candidates should be able to handle it.
We don't need a Republican versions of Barack Obama. He will talk to Syria, Iraq and North Korea. He just wont talk to Fox News.
My search yesterday for the
July 25, 2007 - 11:43 ET by sarcasmoMy search yesterday for the gun-baby guy's response was a failure (searching's not my strong suit sometimes -- I prefer doing the news media's job for them off the top of my head!). Maybe he hasn't responded at all, but I kinda doubt it. I want to see what he says, because as I said yesterday, he has far-better reasons to fear Joe Biden than Joe has to fear him.
JMR
YouTube/CNN Republican Debate
July 25, 2007 - 11:46 ET by SamThe Republicans should boycott the CNN/YouTube debate. They are obvious liberal media tools and if the FoxNews debate could be boycotted by the Dems then the Republicans should follow and do the same. After all you know CNN/YouTube will not be 1/2 as fair and balanced as FoxNews would have been to the Dems.
What?
July 25, 2007 - 12:09 ET by tnculpWhat? No they shouldn't. I apologize if you were being sarcastic, but they should go do the debate. Prove to the American people that they aren't afraid of some criticism (b/c we know the majority of questions are going to be accusatory and critical in nature).
Don't follow the Democrat example, do the debate.
An Embarassing Clown Show
July 25, 2007 - 12:00 ET by OldSailor88I had the unfortunate experience of watching this so called debate. It was truly unbelievable. When you have to rely on a talking snowman to make a point, I think it's time you pack it in. If they weren't such a group of misguided idiots, I'd feel sorry for them. But, since they and their handlers decided that this forum was a good idea, well then, I feel not for their embarassment. I totally lost it when one person asked them to say something they didn't like about the person to their left. Total high school antics. Besides, anyone with any brains knows that there is nobody to the left of any of these dolts.
Until the primaries get
July 25, 2007 - 12:15 ET by Dan The Man 2Until the primaries get close say about a month before these debates are just stupid.
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark.
CNN sifted through the
July 25, 2007 - 12:20 ET by Roger the ShrubberCNN sifted through the crapload of videos they received and selected the ones they wanted the Dem candidates to see.
If CNN wants to be seen as unbiased, serious news organization, they will do the same with the Repubs. There will be plenty of conservative videos made. CNN has the responsiblity to make sure dumbass questions like the ones Chris Matthews would ask do not make the cut.
Wishful thinking, Joe.
July 25, 2007 - 12:22 ET by FishFace222Wishful thinking, Joe. Republicans do not back down from left leaning outlets. They are not afraid to show up on Mahar's show--even though it will usually be 3 or 4 against one. Granted, the people that show up on Mahar's show are not usually candidates but it speaks for the party as a whole.
Besides, why not show up and speak to the other side. One may be able to clear up the misinformation that the media puts out there about them and maybe change some minds. Preaching to the choir can only get you so far.
Ken Sheppard's Inspired Thoughts
July 25, 2007 - 12:30 ET by Lame CherryMr. Sheppard, I realize Newsbusters is not an editorial page, but exposing liberal bias. Your posting today though brings out a point which Newt Gingrich let loose on yesterday in stating the "debates" are not debates, but auditions.
Gingrich swatted the Republicans for exposing themselves to a nobody like Chris Matthews. Gingrich's point was what good are these auditions in they accomplish nothing in being liberal and a few minutes on display.
In respecting your thoughts on subjects, I believe bloggers would appreciate your in depth thoughts on how this might be fixed as Newt was saying he wouldn't bother with them.
It will be a little hard for Republicans on YouTube to answer questions starting out with, "You are a marriage failure", the question in the middle and ending with, "George Bush hates black people". The forum will just like the AP and Peter Jennings former smirk always have the candidate starting 20 points down.
The internet mob is not going to be convinced of anything. They have already made up their minds and votes so it is a waste of time unless one wants to fail or if one can by God's grace find oneself in a George Bush moment of, "I hear you and soon they will be hearning us over there".
I believe if Conservatives put their heads together a new format could be created that would cause a sensation and be a whole lot more informative than 12 suits all trying not to say something to loose an election.
Sure like Dick Morris said, Hillary is no longer a talking dog, Edwards is now a snake oil candidated exposed and Obama is getting his feet under him......(I disagree on Obama as his statements in negotiating with terror states directly shows a JFK and Clinton naive nature.......he should have stated, "Nations always have channels whether diplomatic or allied with all other nations. Dialogue, policy measurse and trade always occur so understanding and advancement will come to fruition with those states who will to advance peaceful relations with America. There are always talks and there does not have to be red line from Moscow with rogue states", but people are already burned out on the candidates and tuning them out.
If the NFL can turn as low game on the field into a faced paced interesting venue, then the Republicans certainly can toss the YouTube and YouBubes like Matthews aside for a platform which is a debate.
God bless and thanks for your time.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
You Tube Debates
July 25, 2007 - 12:41 ET by merlin61Newt Gingrich is right-----these are not debates
they are statements by each candidate and
questions are not answered. When is Pres.Bush
and the Republican Heads going to get together
and state over and over again what Pres.Bush
said yesterday in answer to why we are in
Iraq and why we can't just pull out.