CNN/YouTube Team Up For Debate

If you watched CNN at all in the days leading up to Monday, you'd know the network was quite proud of its upcoming democratic presidential candidate debate in which the candidates would be facing questions posed via YouTube videos. Despite egregious back-patting on the part of the network, we still tuned in last night. I guess it's worth noting this as an example of just how important a role the internet will play in the upcoming election. The Howard Dean campaign was the only one to really utilize the internet back in 2004 and it's clear that no candidate plans on missing the boat this time. Most candidates (republican and democrat) have taken to rallying the youth vote via both YouTube and MySpace. As for YouTube, the sometimes controversial video hosting site continues to flex its power in the cultural market. Its still driven by home videos and still home to many a copyright infringement, but never ceases to remain influential in the fields of entertainment and public opinion.

And now on to the debate ... Not all questions were articulate, but thankfully genuine issues that need to be talked about were raised. It's easy to be cynical when each answer can descend into general statements, metaphors, and catch phrases that have grown tiring. I'd say John Edwards is more guilty of this than anybody. He also danced around a question about gay marriage, stressing his support for "civil unions," while making it clear he did not believe gays should be allowed to marry. He added - embarrassingly heartfelt - that the issue had taken him on a "personal journey." Remember back in '04, when they said Edwards was "more charismatic than Clinton" - well, they must have been talking about George. Still, cynicism aside, it is refreshing to hear a room full of democrats agreeing upon civil unions and universal healthcare. Seems to me like we are getting somewhere.

The man of the hour seemed to be Barack Obama. Maybe his youth made him less stiff around internet video, and he articulated his points better than anybody. Obama's strength lies in his ability to maintain a balance between old school blanket political statements and direct, bold honesty.