How Democratic are the YouTube Debates?
[Editor Note -- The following study was undertaken by Alex Lamballe, a junior varsity debater at Wake Forest University. His study examines the questions used in two CNN/YouTube debates. He assesses if the purportedly democratic format fulfilled it purpose.]
Democracy should be about more than great television. And it doesn't end with our ability to ask more vibrant and compelling questions. It also includes strengthening our ability to get real answers. (Sifry 2007)
The CNN/YouTube debates produced a great deal of political excitement from the day that they were announced. Most of the excitement was focused on the idea that the inclusion of YouTube video questions in the debate would make the presidential debate process more democratic and deliberative by bridging the gap between the general public and the candidates for the 2008 presidential election.
Unfortunately, the excitement over the potential of the new debate format to produce democratic change noticeably dulled just after the first of the two debates. Many people did not find the debate to be as revolutionary as they believed it would be and were generally disappointed with the inability of the CNN/YouTube debate to produce a discussion much different than that heard in past debates.
Indeed, the trend carried over into the second CNN/YouTube debate, which similarly failed to produce a dramatically innovative debate. The current controversy surrounding the debates frequently centers on the concern that CNN chose the questions for the debates. Indeed, much of the failure of the CNN/YouTube debates to produce a more educational and deliberative political discussion can be explained by CNN's role in selecting the questions for the debates.
paper continues below cut
