Update: Only McCain and Paul agree to do a Youtube debate. Scared?

[Hamlette]

http://prezvid.com/2007/07/26/scared-stampeding-elephants/

[mmonk]

1. Most of them don't want a soundbite to come back at them

and bite them in the form of a TV ad.

[Hamlette]

4. they are afraid of the questions? What does the base want to know about them?

Do you believe in the rapture? Do you think mormonism is a cult? How much torture DO you love? Who should we put in Guantanamo and how many rights are you willing to give up to face an enemy more fightening than any other.

As Josh Marshall points out, when Wolf asks those questions its not so scary but when a right wing looney (like the man with his baby at the dem debate) asks, it will be like the 1992 GOP convention with Buchannon raving about minorities. Scares off the moderates.

[NanceGreggs]

2. McCain?

Where is the debate being held? Is someone going to lend him the busfare, or is he going to hitch-hike?

[BlooInBloo]

3. That's cold.

[sandnsea]

6. Smith of Oregon is raising the funds

The guy who is taking such courageous stands opposing the war -- but supports the warmonger in waiting. Unbelievabe putz.

http://www.veteransinaction.org/blog

[Canuckistanian]

5. I'd be surprised if they knew what "Youtube" meant

They probably think it's an oil company.

[Hamlette]

7. which is probaby why they agreed to it but when they saw what it was, at dem debate

they freaked out. Questions from real americans? No way.

[On the Road]

8. Look at Some of Those Responses from Republicans:

Fed up
Jul 27th, 2007 at 7:24 am
They’ll all be on there…it’s not so late yet. They know that people like me, who is an independent slightly right of center voter, are already leaning toward voting democratic and that to totally not be involved in this would probably push me all the way. That would be somewhat similar to ‘maybe if I just don’t answer the question I won’t get in trouble’ Gonzales. We went from the ‘Culture of corruption’ to the ‘politics of evasion.’ Maybe if we don’t show up, maybe if we don’t answer the question, maybe if I keep believing Iraq is getting safer….

I was extremely happy with the YouTube debate and was looking forward to seeing how the republicans handle answering questions that are not conducive to prepackaged responses.

Not sure that it makes any difference though. I’ve don’t think I’ve ever seen a more uninspiring group of republican presidential candidates (with few exceptions) versus some all-star democratic ones.

bookworm
Jul 27th, 2007 at 7:38 am
I have to second the comment by Fed up. I am a registed Republican although I do lean somewhat Independent. I was looking forward to the GOP YouTube debate and was going to submit a question. The Republican candidates need people like me and Fed up and I was only disgusted by the political weakness and fear shown by Guillani and Romney. I am afraid that it was getting to the point that the only Republicans I could vote for against either Clinton and Obama were McCain or Paul. These shenanagans are only re-enforcing that belief. Any other Republican or Independent Moderates out there that feel the same?

[radfringe]

9. don't frame it as "fear" - frame it as they don't want to mingle with us peasants

and such questions can't be controlled, scripted or otherwise processed...just like bush's "townhall" meetings where things are scripted, screened and pre-approved