Repub candidates to skip You Tube debate; nervous about unpredictability of questions

[dajoki]

Most Republican Candidates Won't Participate In YouTube Debate
July 27, 2007 10:28 p.m. EST
Christopher Rizo - AHN Staff Writer
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7008033607

Washington, D.C. (AHN)-The Republican version of the You Tube debate that the Democratic presidential hopefuls engaged in last week, answering video uploaded questions, could be a flop.

The only candidate to commit to the two-hour event co-sponsored by CNN and the Republican Party of Florida is U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX).

The GOP front-runner, Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, says a scheduling conflict will prevent him from participating, Time magazine reports.

Meanwhile, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has been poking fun at the questions asked of the Democratic candidates.

<<snip>>

Republican campaign consultants say the candidates cannot help be nervous about the unpredictability of the questions.

[KingFlorez]

1. What they are afraid of is answering really tough questions

[dajoki]

12. And having to think...

instead of their programmed responses and slogans.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

2. The headline doesn't reflect the article, as much as I'd like to believe it's true.

It only cites Giuliani as declining, although I'd like to see another source.

MKJ

[frogcycle]

4. Olbermann said only two had agreed to go

[dajoki]

6. Here's one...

But Don't Ask Him on YouTube...
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2007/07/26/but_dont_ask_him_on_youtube_1.html

Four days after the Democratic debate in Charleston, S.C,. more than 400 questions directed to the GOP presidential field have been uploaded on YouTube -- targeted at Republicans scheduled to get their turn at videopopulism on Sept. 17.

But so far, only Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) and Rep. Ron Paul (Tex.) have agreed to participate in the debate, co-hosted by Republican Party of Florida in St. Petersburg.

"Aside from those two candidates, we haven't heard from anyone else," said Sam Feist of CNN, who's co-sponsoring the debate with the popular videosharing site.

Rudolph Giuliani and Mitt Romney, both with dozens of videos on their YouTube channels, have not signed up. Neither have the rest of the Republican candidates, including Rep. Tom Tancredo (Colo.), whose "Tancredo Takes" on his YouTube channel draw hundreds of views. Sources familiar with the Guiliani campaign said he's unlikely to participate. Kevin Madden, Romney's spokesman, said the former Massachusetts governor has seven debate invitations covering a span of 11 days in September.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

9. Thank you.

:-) MKJ

[killbotfactory]

24. Giuliani only declined because no one else would agree to dress in drag.

[frogcycle]

3. Romney said

he doesn't want to answer a question asked by a snowman

[snowbear]

23. What a bunch of woosie weasles...

[Placebo]

5. HA—"scheduling conflict"....

that's the funniest thing I've heard all day!

As if Rudy would let something else get in the way of some serious free national face time.

He and the rest of them are terrified of what kind of questions they might get. :)

[smtpgirl]

7. What are they nervous about???

Oh, yeah right, they need a scripted response for every answer. Just like the last 6 1/2 years of this fucked up experience we are now in.

[smtpgirl]

8. self-delete

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

10. Well, now I have to kick, since I was skeptical and proved wrong. They really are that chickensh*t.

:kick: MKJ

[cui bono]

11. So twice as many Repub candidates like you tubers better than African-Americans.

[ellacott]

14. I wanted to post a youtube question to them about this

I wanted to ask them why they chose to miss this event.

[cui bono]

15. Is it too late? Or just irrelevant now? n/t

[ellacott]

16. I don't think it's too late.

I was just a little unsure there would even be a debate.

[cui bono]

17. Yeah. I wouldn't doubt CNN will cancel if only 2 agree to participate.

But I think they should keep it on to show that the Repubs don't care what the people's questions are and that they are afraid to answer to them.

[dajoki]

25. Debate may shift its date...

Debate may shift its date to suit the heavyweights
CNN scrambles to salvage the YouTube event.
By TIMES STAFF
Published July 29, 2007
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/07/29/Northpinellas/Debate_may_shift_its_.shtml

ST. PETERSBURG - A Sept. 17 Republican debate planned at the Mahaffey Theater might be rescheduled because of scheduling conflicts with some of the leading candidates.

The Web site for GOP candidate Texas Rep. Ron Paul - who has agreed to participate in the debate -- said the CNN-YouTube event had been postponed and that a new date had not yet been selected.

CNN declined to confirm that. But the network's Washington bureau chief, David Bohrman, said in a statement, "We're working with the campaigns to resolve any scheduling issues."

Leading GOP candidates Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney said Friday they would not attend the Sept. 17 debate because of scheduling conflicts.

Gov. Charlie Crist has said he would contact the candidates if need be to urge them to attend so the event wouldn't be doomed.

[gulliver]

13. OK. We can wait for the general election.

It will be funny to watch them try to get out of it then. IMO, the YouTube debate concept is revolutionary. The questioners don't have to face the powerful mano-a-mano, so they are free to ask whatever they want. Journalists have to stay friends with the people they question at the debates.

The YouTube style is like sunlight. The Dems thrive on it. Republicans just shrivel up and blow away.

[DesertRat]

18. What a bunch of cowards! n/t

[pepperbear]

19. I wanna see the "Red State Update" fellows ask the Republicans a question!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrPnWoZTjlQ&mode=user&search=

[HughMoran]

20. Cowards. Though it is typical of Republicans to be cowards

Most Republicans that I know base their life on fear and scaring other people.

Cowards.

[John Q. Citizen]

21. They would be president, but they are afraid of the "predictability" of the questions?

[1932]

22. Says a great deal about the debates they do attend (and is quite an indictment of MSM)

Clearly, they're not worried about debates sponsored by NBCABCCBSCNNFOX -- because the questions are predictable.