One question regarding gay rights was played in its entirety for 22 seconds while another question about investigating the origin of false information that was used to justify the Iraq invasion was played in its entirety for 14 seconds.
Below is a transcript of the relevant portion of CNN Newsroom from Saturday June 23, followed by a transcript of the entire question on gun control that can be seen on the Youtube.com site:
T.J. HOLMES: The American political process is undergoing a revolutionary change, and it's happening even as we speak, or as I speak, right now. Every day, more and more of you are submitting questions on Youtube for the presidential candidates, and Veronica de la Cruz is here to explain how the process works. So everybody can be a part of these debates?
VERONICA DE LA CRUZ: Everyone can, yeah. CNN really raising the bar this time on the next round of presidential debates by allowing anyone to ask the candidates questions. And so far, about 200 video questions have been posted on Youtube. Now, to participate, just log on to Youtube.com/debates. You want to scroll down the page, and you can upload your video here by clicking on the "submit your question" button. It's that big red button there at the bottom of the screen. But you have to keep your questions short -- no longer than 30 seconds -- and you have to speak loud and clear. Here are a couple of the submissions that we just received.
ANONYMOUS GAY MAN: Hello. I'd like to keep my name and home town anonymous because I'm in the military, and I am gay. The military's "don't ask don't tell" policy puts unnecessary stress and worry on many of America's gay service members, myself included. If you become President, how will you help gay military members like myself who are currently burdened by the "don't ask don't tell" policy.
RACHEL, from Durham, NC: An armed society is a polite society. And indeed, Kennesaw, Georgia got a whole lot more polite after passing a law that every household had to have a gun.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Why did Hillary and John Edwards vote against holding an investigation into who's responsible for providing the false information used to go to war in Iraq? Why?
Entire gun control question from Youtube.com:
Rachel: To all candidates: An armed society is a polite society. And indeed, Kennesaw, Georgia got a whole lot more polite after passing a law that every household had to have a gun. They went from about twice the national average of violent crime to half the national average. Every home in Switzerland also has a gun, which is a major reason it's been able to enjoy its armed neutrality status in the world, and why it was untouchable by Hitler's armies. The gun-free-zone policy at Virginia Tech was followed by all but one person earlier this year. Police were two hours too late to protect and defend 32 people. Gun control just seems to provide safety for those who would terrorize unarmed sitting duck citizens. I am concerned about my right to protect myself in a violent world where police tend to arrive on crime scenes not with protection, but with plastic bags for evidence and bodies. In light of all that, can you explain how you interpret the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution? Thank you.
