First of Its Kind Online "Debate" Tonight
While there has been alot of news of Democrats refusing to take part in debates on Fox, tonight's online debate on Iraq, sponsored by MoveOn.org, will be "attended" by all of the Democratic contenders (save Gravel, if you want to call him a contender).
The Boston Globe has an excellent article.
While this event may slip under the radar of all but the most obsessed, the event is significant in a number of respects:
- The subject matter is focused on the Iraq war.
- It's the first ever live, national event of its kind where questions are answered in real time.
- Questions come entirely from the listeners who are, in this case, also highly active citizens who can make a difference "on the ground" in campaigns.
- The audience votes on the winner. No one spin room, just 100's of living rooms where MoveOn members gather to listen, plus the internet.
Debates do test ones ability to respond extemporaneously, and the live, phone-in method will do what on-line "debates" via keyboard cannot (who can even know if the candidate is the one typing?).
Future MoveOn "Town Halls" will cover health care and energy.
I'll use the comments to discuss and liveblog the event.
