After watching the circus that was the Democrats’ YouTube debate earlier this week, some Republican candidate who actually are taking the presidential race seriously are re-thinking the decision to participate in a similar GOP YouTube debate this September. That’s completely understandable.
However, columnist Michelle Malkin thinks this would be a political mistake which would give the Democrats an opportunity to claim Republicans are just afraid to take questions from ordinary Americans, no matter how stupid the questions from those ordinary Americans are.
Michelle makes valid political arguments here; however, as Newt Gingrich used to teach years ago in his Campaign Management College, it’s the message, not the medium. I don’t know how Republicans get out of this, but if they could assure the questions chosen from YouTube submissions didn’t include the absolutely stupid crap that the Democrats responded to, it’d be OK.
But I have to say I think it demeans the process and makes the entire country look stupid to have candidates for the most powerful office in the most powerful nation in the world answering questions from a freaking snowman about global warming. CNN, YouTube and the Democrats might have thought that was “cute” and “groundbreaking,” but it was embarrassing. Republicans shouldn’t play that game any more than they should answer questions about whether they wear boxers or briefs.
Posted on July 27th, 2007 by Chuck Muth
Filed under: National
While I agree it is ridiculously demeaning to the process, I tend to agree with Malkin in that the Dems along with their media allies will spin it as being afraid to face “real” Americans. Unlike the Dems who are getting a media pass for backing out of debating on Fox after the threats from MoveOn and the Kos kiddos, the Repubs will be drilled and drilled until they submit to the debate by the MSM.
I note that however “ridiculously demeaning” it may be, the questions and questionaires speak to two issues;
1. These are fellow American’s and they get one vote, too; so it’s fair to hear what is the most pressing item in their head in determining THEIR choice for our Country’s President;
2. ….THAT was the most important question they could ask of someone who is running for the presidency of the United States of America?!??!?!