tinatracy: “yes, just like the demo yuoutube debate question that asked if they would raise taxes “like all democrats do”

I agree with both of you. Both of these were questions which were leading. But all the candidates had to do was say that they disagree with how the question was framed, point out why they think the leading part of the question is inaccurate and answer the main jest of the question honestly. Should be an easy task for someone looking to have the voting public to make him or her our next President.

I was also expecting the questions to be from average American voters but I don’t think it’s too much to ask that the candidates from all parties be willing to answer any question directed to them…whether from an actual average American, a non-average Democratic general like Kerr or a non-average Republican insider like Grover Nordquist.

A retired General is not average. How many Generals are there out there? And how many of them, have then worked for a political campaign? Puts him in the “not-that-average” group, at least for me.

Your hypocrisy knows no bounds.

“But I have another question about this incident. Wasn’t the whole purpose of the YouTube debate to be questions from the “average” American?”

Ah so if you are successful you can’t ask a question? What’s the litmus test? How much you earn? Your work title?
The Average American, at l;east in my mind, is successful, no?

and that was not the darn question ;)

I’ll grant you that there were intelligent questions asked, but that’s not the issue.

The problem is that is was a Republican debate before the Republican primary. And you had a bunch of Democrats asking about the things THEY care about. Not the things that Republican primary voters care about. CNN allowed Democrats to hijack a Republican debate.

Um, what?

Although, I mostly agree with what you’ve said, that I can understand. The candidates need to be able to answer all types of questions, no matter who asks it. However, this particular question was leading (”Why do you feel they’re not responsible enough…” is very similar to “When did you stop beating your wife?” No?) and CNN should have disclosed the credentials of the person asking it. If CNN had said this is so-and-so, a former general and strong gay-military-rights advocate, they would have been fine.

But I have another question about this incident. Wasn’t the whole purpose of the YouTube debate to be questions from the “average” American? How is a retired General, an “average” American? “Average” should be Tony, the guy at the deli… or Anne, the woman at the supermarket.

If people ask intelligent and articulate questions I don’t care if they are purple aliens, the answer should be the litmis test nut the dran questions.