Blogging from the Citadel, CNN/YouTube Debate

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by Morra Aarons Mele

For now, links to campaign liveblogs/pages:

Watch each question as a separate video:

http://www.politicstv.com/blog/?p=3243

My "benchmate" at the debate: Jerome Armstrong http://mydd.com/

http://www.barackobama.com/index.php

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/blog/view/?id=10486

http://johnedwards.com/watch/debate-webcast/

Also, the debate streams live on http://www.cnn.com/

I will write thoughts and reactions, and post the transcript later, with better commentary and links.

The cadets are walking off stage, the candidates are at podiums, and Anderson Cooper just said, "We'll see what happens..."

And before everything went on air, after the audience warm up, there was a nervous silence...

Someone in the audience shouted: "Anderson, will you marry me?"

But the first video set the tone well. The submitter asked candidates if they would "actually answer the questions posed to you." Nice.

this set it off on an exciting foot. And then look how the suites of questions set out:

Suite 1: Change. It's about change. Reparations for slavery. Trust in Washington. Which Republican running mate would you pick if you had to...

Suite 2: Questions about race.
African Americans pay more for mortgages that whites (Edwards)
Obama: reparations start in our schools.
Kucinich is for reparations from slavery- not a lot of clapping for that...hmm
Morgan asked, if Katrina happened in a majority white city, would it have been as bad?

And this question, the one we've been waiting for: Senator Obama, how do you address questions that you're not authentically black?

Hillary next: is she woman enough?

Her campaign-submitted video answered that question: Sometimes the best man for the job IS a woman!

Iraq: Barry Mitchell's question "How do we pull out now?

And Obama ducked it: "we can be as careful getting out as were careless getting in." Lame talking point alert! I give Biden credit for answering in a less b.s fashion.

And now Hillary: we need to set a timeline now to start bringing our troops home. There is no military solution in Iraq. Aha, she brings up the Pentagon flack! She was a hero on that...but she attacks the Republicans.

Readers, do you find yourself agreeing with Kucinich when it comes to Iraq, or is it just me? And Gravel. Very moving.

Now Obama is giving Hillary a dig- he never would have even voted for the war.

Jeez, this discussion is evasive. Obama and Edwards especially.

Skip to debate's end: I'm in the "spin" room, watching spin. Elizabeth Edwards looks fantastic. Obama girl is somehow press-worthy.
And apparently, New Hampshire voters found Obama most favorable? Hmm.

More later. Laurie is watching the web's reaction here

Submitted by Morra Aarons Mele (view blog

) on Mon, 07/23/2007 - 2:45pm

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amused

amused by the video overview

~Denise
Fast Times @ Homeschool High & Flamingo House Happenings

Submitted by Denise on Mon, 07/23/2007 - 14:52

Anderson Cooper just called the governor of
California a cyborg.

Funny.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
also at Women 4 Hope and Informed Voters

Submitted by Catherine Morgan on Mon, 07/23/2007 - 14:57

I like Rob's question for Hillary

And I rather like her answer. Progressive vs liberal.

~Denise
Fast Times @ Homeschool High & Flamingo House Happenings

Submitted by Denise on Mon, 07/23/2007 - 15:01

Question...criticism not black enough or not
feminine enough.

Obama -- Says he's black enough when trying to catch a cab in NY.

Clinton -- Only able to run as a women, wants to break glass ceiling.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
also at Women 4 Hope and Informed Voters

Submitted by Catherine Morgan on Mon, 07/23/2007 - 15:13

Edwards' accent is super thick tonight!

But he won't address the issue of his wife's defending his record on women's rights as superior to Hillary. He needs to say yes or no: I am a better advocate for women than Senator Clinton. He kind of just did.

Submitted by Morra Aarons Mele on Mon, 07/23/2007 - 15:16

Edwards accent

Totally agree. It's just like mine when I go home to Charleston, if I'm there for 3 days - I'm a southern girl again. lol

~Denise
Fast Times @ Homeschool High & Flamingo House Happenings

Submitted by Denise on Mon, 07/23/2007 - 15:19

And Edwards trying to explain Mrs Edwards

I was annoyed by Mrs Edwards and her statement about Hillary not being a good advocate for women because she's too busy acting like the men.

I didn't find his answer made me feel any better about where Mrs Edwards went.

I am, however, happy with Hillary's response to Edwards.

"We're arguing about who would be better for women and isn't that a nice change..." HELL YEA it is. I would agree with that.

~Denise
Fast Times @ Homeschool High & Flamingo House Happenings

Submitted by Denise on Mon, 07/23/2007 - 15:17

Hell yea

I LOVED when Hillary said that. She was strong and true.

Submitted by Morra Aarons Mele on Mon, 07/23/2007 - 15:21

gay gay gay gay

sigh, this is not my issue and I rarely like the answers given by candidates when these questions are asked.

I do believe we need to move beyond don't ask don't tell, and make orientation a non-issue in the military.

I do not support gay marriage and this is the only issue that I can stand next to Edwards on. I think again his wife is doing a fab job of playing the political game by being pro gay marriage and letting her husband take the safe road and be NOT in support of gay marriage.

~Denise
Fast Times @ Homeschool High & Flamingo House Happenings

Submitted by Denise on Mon, 07/23/2007 - 15:22

Absolutely.

I do believe we need to move beyond don't ask don't tell, and make orientation a non-issue in the military.

I'm with you on this one!

Laurie
LaurieWrites

Submitted by lauriewrites on Mon, 07/23/2007 - 15:27

I agree.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
also at Women 4 Hope and Informed Voters

Submitted by Catherine Morgan on Mon, 07/23/2007 - 15:28

Question about Darfur

Biden - Says he's tired of this. We must send troops now.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
also at Women 4 Hope and Informed Voters

Submitted by Catherine Morgan on Mon, 07/23/2007 - 15:31

Hillary says...

Wants no fly zone. No American ground troops.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
also at Women 4 Hope and Informed Voters

Submitted by Catherine Morgan on Mon, 07/23/2007 - 15:33

Hillary's Ad

Did everyone see Hillary's ad? It ended with: "sometimes the best man for the job is a woman." Love it. Great music. Simple presentation. It was a little difficuult to see on TV through the screen there, but still effective. I think it will go over better on YouTube.

Submitted by Sarah Granger on Mon, 07/23/2007 - 15:31

That was good.

So far...best debate I've ever seen.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
also at Women 4 Hope and Informed Voters

Submitted by Catherine Morgan on Mon, 07/23/2007 - 15:34

agree

liked the video but hard to see on TV.

~Denise
Fast Times @ Homeschool High & Flamingo House Happenings

Submitted by Denise on Mon, 07/23/2007 - 15:41

Question..."Are we watching the same
'blanking' war?"

No real answer given. Not surprised.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
also at Women 4 Hope and Informed Voters

Submitted by Catherine Morgan on Mon, 07/23/2007 - 15:37

Evading questions

With all of the very direct questions in tonight's debate, there is more direct evasion I think than the previous debates. That question for former Senator Edwards, for example, about his using his Southern Baptist background to excuse his position on gay marriage was a whopper and he completely avoided it. He did a good job, considering, but he could've just apologized and cleared the context first.

I like the presented video format, and I like the curve balls they are sending the candidates.

.....
Sarah Granger ran Gary Hart's presidential exploratory blog during the 2004 election.

Submitted by Sarah Granger on Mon, 07/23/2007 - 15:37

Sarah you're right

and the pastor was in the audience, and he admitted he couldn't hear Edwards' answer, because of "noise." I think it's more because Edwards mumbled his words, because he doesn't stand by them.

Submitted by Morra Aarons Mele on Mon, 07/23/2007 - 15:42

Clinton on the war...

When we send a soldier to Iraq, we are really sending a family. There is no military solution, and Iraq not showing a political solution. Republicans need to stand-up to President and get out of Iraq.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
also at Women 4 Hope and Informed Voters

Submitted by Catherine Morgan on Mon, 07/23/2007 - 15:40