CNN, YouTube To Orchestrate Debate On July 23

CNN and YouTube are to be the joint presenters of a US presidential debate in “unprecedented” format come July 23rd. That’s a Monday. Mark your calendars.

If the last group of CNN-hosted debates for both the Democratic and Republican parties are any indication, there’s a good chance the loose enforcement of the objectives of what we human beings call “debate” will continue. Of course, when there’s more than half a dozen candidates on stage trying to hammer out talking points in a limited amount of time, it’s understandable that canned, shallow messages are all one can glean from the pricy productions. Unfortunately, the moments of overtly embellished commiseration among presidential hopefuls while onlookers understand very well each resents the other doesn’t help matters much. Not enough mud (infused with at least a modicum of intelligent attack) is flung among the finely-pressed suits. In that way they can learn a thing or two from British Parliamentarians and others around the globe.

The fact that YouTube is to be a co-host of the July 23rd debate, however, might actually shuffle things about for the better. All depends on how much more “open” the forum indeed is than is typically the case in the political arena today.

The New York Times described the methodology to be used for preparation for the debate: YouTube users would be allowed to submit videos requesting candidates’ answers on issues the users deem important. Presumably, the videos will be voted on by fellow YouTube members prior to the debate in Charleston, South Carolina, and the most popular will be channeled (through CNN's Anderson Cooper) to those onstage.

How much the chosen inquiries will be vetted for “improprieties” will reveal just how safe the events organizers wished to tune the atmosphere and, subsequently, how “successful” this particular old-media-new-media joint venture really was. Those at polar opposites of the political spectrum will of course find reason to denounce the goings on. The middle majority however can only wait to see just how substantive, or adversely, unsubstantive the experiment turns out to be.

Did we mention that the debate will be held just for those yearning for the Democratic Party nomination? (And some hoodlums who just like to travel freely throughout the US, have their names plastered into headlines week after week, month after month, and generally waste peoples’ time – which, as it so happens, was reserved for wasting anyhow.) Yes, it’s true. YouTube intends to hold a separate event for Republicans in Florida on September 17th. No word on whether it will promote the GOP debate alone or with a partner.