After months of delays, the hour is nigh. Tonight at 8:00 p.m., the Republican presidential candidates will finally stride on stage in St. Petersburg, Fla. for the CNN/YouTube debate, subjecting themselves to a few dozen videotaped questions from--gasp!--the American people. Plus the occasional Mr. Potato-Head.
This almost didn't happen. After the Democrats clashed on CNN in July, Mitt Romney mocked the format. “I think the presidency ought to be held at a higher level than having to answer questions from a snowman," he said. Romney and Rudy Giuliani soon declined to participate; they apparently had better places to be on Sept. 17, the original date. When CNN rescheduled, only three Republicans--John McCain, Ron Paul and Tommy Thompson--had signed on. The rest begrudgingly followed. “I think it would have looked very badly if the Democrats were eager, and the Republicans didn’t seem to address questions
directly from the American people,” says moderator Anderson Cooper.
So which questions will the candidates address? Only CNN, who picks the clips (despite criticism from the Web community), knows for sure. But that doesn't mean the rest of us can't weigh in. With a little help from David Colarusso and the good folks at TechPresident, I've whittled the 40 most-viewed submissions--Web 2.0-style--down to 10 must-ask questions.
CNN might think it's "dangerous" to let citizens vote videos onto the show. But the 40 most popular clips were remarkably intelligent, issue-based and even moving. Nearly all of my Top 10 take advantage of what I consider the format's greatest strength--when ordinary Americans ask about issues that affect their lives, politicians can't bluster, posture or blame the media for bias. Here's hoping these questions make the broadcast--and get the candid, revealing, difficult answers they deserve.
And don't worry, Mitt. No snowmen in sight.
(Ranked in order of YouTube views, not personal preference)
37. Gay IED Disarmament Specialist: Why Can't I Serve Openly?
33. Immigrant/Soldier: How Can You Deport Those Who Risk Their Lives for the U.S.?
30. Atheist: Mike Huckabee, Would You Ever Vote for an Atheist for President?
28. Cancer Survivor: How Many of You Would Cut or Freeze the Medicaid Benefits That Helped Me?
26. Gay Businessman: Would You Discourage People from Using Religion to Discriminate Against Gays?
17. African-American Man: Ron Paul, Why Did You Make Racist Statements?
9. Will You Punish Journalists for Giving Aid and Comfort to the Enemy?
7. What Problem Has the Bush Administration Most Neglected?
2. Gun Enthusiasts: Which Three Gun Laws Would You Repeal?
1.Spanish Language Student: How Would You Prepare America for a Bilingual Future?
