Lez Keep It Real

CHARLESTON, South Carolina — Democratic presidential candidates faced questions directly from voters on Monday in the first CNN/YouTube debate.Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and Gov. Bill Richardson listen to a YouTuber’s question.

The lights and cameras were focused on the eight candidates, but it was the personal, heartfelt and, at times, comical nature of the user questions that stole the spotlight.

Questions included one from a father who lost a son in Iraq and wondered if he would lose another, a gay couple asking why they shouldn’t be allowed to marry and a woman stricken with breast cancer who asked if her chance of survival would be better if she had health insurance.

In all, 39 questions were asked from the 3,000 submissions YouTube said it received.

Most observers agreed that none of the candidates debating at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, particularly outshined their rivals, doing nothing to challenge Sen. Hillary Clinton’s position as the Democratic race’s front-runner. ~ CNN.com

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The lead-off question was posed by a voter name Zach who, upon approaching the mic, said simply, “Wassup?” Then, “Can you as politicians … actually answer questions rather than beat around the Bush?”

My assumption is that the pun was fully intended.

The answer of course, was yes. As the debate went on, a slew of rather blunt and colloquial questions were asked. Each candidate answered candidly to questions such as, “Are you feminine enough,” “Are you black enough,” and my personal favorite, “How are you going to do be any different [than the current administration]?”

That’s exactly what I wanted to know.

I’m not a democrat. I’m not a republican. But I am a citizen of this country whose vote counts just as much. For me, it doesn’t come down to party affiliation. It comes down to who I think would be the best person for the job, and who I think would make choices and decisions based on what was best for the people of this country and not based on their own religious doctrine, party affiliation, the fattening of their pockets or their own political agenda.

I’m a pretty positive person, but I must admit that I’m not too optimistic about the current direction our government is going. Like the rest of the people in this country who have become numb to politics do to the consistent appalling, scandalous and self-righteous acts of our President and other government officials, I need to see some kind of change for the better. I need to see less talk and more action. I can’t just go on the word of Obama or the promises of Hillary. I need to see it to believe it folks. And until I do, I can only take their words at face value.

Here’s a clip from the debate that includes the question of gay marriage. If you missed it – take a gander. It’s worth it.

cnn, cnn.com, democratic debate, hillary clinton, barack obama, john edwards, bill richardson, you tube debate