Comments on: Why the YouTube debates matter

By: Verdict on CNN-YouTube Debate After First 20 Minutes: Better than the Pros « John Bracken

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 23:28:03 +0000

[...] Cooper’s introduction, CNN realized Jeff Jarvis’ fears by going straight to a blooper reel, showing YouTube at its costumed goofiest, with a dig at the [...]

By: What you aren’t going to see tonight « Texas Forums

What you aren’t going to see tonight « Texas Forums — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 23:10:48 +0000

[...] since it was a closed process which has been a problem from some prominent bloggers, like Jeff Jarvis at Bloggermachine.com. How much more credibility would the process have if they had involved citizens in making the [...]

By: Mike NYC

Mike NYC — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 22:46:14 +0000

I’m curious if anyone actually feels this is any different than the previous debates where “normal people” submitted questions via email that were read by newsreaders?

What’s the difference, Jeff, besides actually getting to see someone’s face when they ask the question? It all seems like hype to me.

I suppose this is the first debate that’s completely devoted to questions from general voters — that’s different.

By: JonB

JonB — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 17:49:04 +0000

There is SO much that could have been done with these videos that wasn’t! Sure, this was a great first step, by why not make this platform more engaging by creating an ongoing DAILY debate on CNN.com and YouTube where candidates continued to post their own video responses to user submitted questions? Why not take the conversation and bring it back to the people? For these suggestions and more please feel free to check out my blog and comment!

By: robertdfeinman

robertdfeinman — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 15:43:33 +0000

One of the key tasks of candidates in modern elections is to avoid offending anyone. So no matter how insightful the questions, or what method is used to chose them, there is no chance that a candidate will take a meaningful position on any of the tough issues.

I don’t have a camera (in spite of JJ telling me how cheap they are) but here are some random questions with no answers:

1. What are you going to do when the oil runs out (or becomes so expensive that it is unaffordable)? “Energy independence” is not a satisfactory answer.

2. What are you going to do about the increasing violence in the world which is triggered by overpopulation and resource shortages. More international gab fests is also not an answer.

3. What are you going to do about the fact that all national politicians get the bulk of their funding from big business and thus will not consider any alternatives to our present capitalist/consumerist model?

4. What are you going to do about the $650 billion military budget? How do propose to reduce the distortion that militarism causes in our national priorities? Even if you have a plan, how do you expect to get it implemented given the power of this sector and the number of politicians beholding to it?

By: Ruth

Ruth — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 14:59:48 +0000

As you say, Jeff, too bad CNN made itself supreme arbiter and judge. There is no avoiding charges that the ‘hard’ questions weren’t asked of favorite candidates, depending on the viewpoint of the one making the charges. Anderson Cooper can’t express all the public’s many varying interests, and will be sure to miss many issues of the One Issue voting groups. E.g., will he be able to fully represent women’s viewpoints, and what they want to hear from the candidates? I very much doubt it. And the Deep South, with its fears of racial equality, will it be represented? That would offend just about everyone else. For these and other views, CNN can’t perform their job for them. A truly public forum would be nice, but it won’t happen today, on CNN/YouTube.

By: TroySchneider.com

TroySchneider.com — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 13:18:36 +0000

About Those YouTube Debates……

Jeff Jarvis, posting at both PresVid and his own BuzzMachine, has some interesting thoughts on the CNN-YouTube presidential debates. My favorite quote:
…the YouTube debates are a crack in the wall of control of elections, politics, and media. Bring …

By: Paw

Paw — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 13:13:47 +0000

None of these so-called “debates” actually matter, Jeff, as long as the MSM (in the form of CNN this time) acts as the filter and more importantly, as long as the candidates themselves are not compelled to answer all the relevant ones, truthfully and without bloviating.

Candidates’ interest in the public extends only as far as procuring the vote. Once that’s done, it’s business as usual.

By: Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 09:40:23 +0000

The most popular question at YouTube is whether Arnold Schwarzenegger is a time-traveling cyborg. It would be a disservice to the YouTube community if it’s not asked.

By: Texas Sparkle

Texas Sparkle — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 04:05:30 +0000

I have a lot of respect for Anderson Cooper. I think he will try to be fair with the questions submitted.

By: adsl

adsl — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 00:57:05 +0000

they got 24 hours of time on cnn. put it on all day if they wante.d

sure it would require 1000 people over at cnn to hit the play button on youtube but its well worth it .

By: The meta contest!

The meta contest! — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 23:47:49 +0000

The “debate” isn’t going to matter, it’s just going to be another way for the MSM and partisan hacks to avoid discussing difficult issues. My predictions are etched in stone at the link: 3 bemasked questioners, 1 animated character, and no questions that will actually force the candidates to defend their policies. And, that should be what it’s about: not pointless puffball questions that can simply be answered with more hot air.

If someone wants to be president, they should be able to defend their policies, and this site should perhaps be encouraging questions that ask them to do that.

By: Harlem Intellect

Harlem Intellect — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 23:46:31 +0000

YouTube is the new voice of the unheard. Speak Loud!!!!