JSM Cafe: Originals by JSM80

Election 08' Update -by JSM Cafe

I watched the CNN Democratic Presidential debates last Tuesday night as it was heavily hyped as a new and innovative format in which regular citizens could send in their questions via You Tube videos for the candidates to answer. I found this format to be unique and I also liked how they mixed in serious to-the -issue questions concerning topics such as the War in Iraq and also provided more humorous off key questions to balance out the mood of the evening.

Anderson Cooper did a fine job as the host and moderator of the debates, often challenging the candidates if they swayed from the questions asked, as was often the case early on.

One notable difference here from the earlier Republican debate last month was that the three "major" democratic candidates, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John Edwards were literally center stage all evening. The face time for each candidate was noticeably skewered toward the favorites of the upcoming primaries, much to the chagrin of the other less-known democrats like former Senator, Mike Gravel who quipped: "I like the question. I don't get very many of them, but I'll just tell you...(LAUGHTER) Thank you. Thank you. Has it been fair thus far?"

Here were some other notable excerpts from the evening's debate.

COOPER: Senator Obama, how do you address those who say you're not authentically black enough?

(LAUGHTER)

OBAMA: Well...

COOPER: Not my question; Jordan's question.

OBAMA: You know, when I'm catching a cab in Manhattan -- in the past, I think I've given my credentials.

-On the comments that John Edward's wife made that her husband was more qualified to serve the concerns of women then Sen. Hillary Clinton:

I have made this a central cause in my life and a central cause in my campaign. More women have difficulty getting the health care that they need than men do. And I was the first person to come out with a comprehensive, truly universal health care plan.

COOPER: So do you think you're a better advocate for women than Senator Clinton?

EDWARDS: Those are issues -- listen, Senator Clinton has a long history of speaking out on behalf of women. She deserves to be commended for that. But I believe that on the issues that directly affect women's lives, I have the strongest, boldest ideas and can bring about the change that needs to be brought.

Ohio Representative, Dennis Kucinich also was clear in stating that the Democrats were not united on all fronts:

"Well, first of all, a clear record as having not only opposed the war from the very beginning -- the only one of the stage that actually voted against the war, and also the only one on the stage who voted against funding the war 100 percent of the time."

COOPER: Senator Obama, you were involved in that question as well.

OBAMA: "Look, I don't think this is just a Republican problem. I think this is a problem that spans the parties. And we don't just need a change in political parties in Washington. We've got to have a change in attitudes of those who are representing the people, America. And part of the reason I don't take PAC money, I don't take federal lobbyists' money is because we've got to get the national interests up front as opposed to the special interests.

And that is something that I've got a track record doing, and I think that is what the American people are looking for in this election -- people of both parties as well as independents."

Overall, I thought this new format was very innovative and new age in bringing the questions to the candidates directly that forced them to answer the real questions of the people without the benefit of prior rehearsal. I look forward to the Republican Presidential You Tube/CNN debates that will follow on September 25th. As always, I will be watching and ready to report back to the readers. -JSM.