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Romney mocks YouTube debates.

By Amanda Terkel on Jul 28th, 2007 at 3:45 pm

Romney mocks YouTube debates.»

So far, only Sen. John McCain (AZ) and Rep. Ron Paul (TX) have agreed to participate in the Sept. 17 CNN/YouTube Republican presidential debate. Earlier in the week, Romney confused YouTube with Myspace. Yesterday, Romney’s spokesperson mocked the debate — where citizens nationwide submit video questions — stating that “a lot of Americans would wonder whether we should be answering questions from a cartoon.”




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78 Responses to “Romney mocks YouTube debates.”

  1. mikey Says:

    yeah well…maybe that would get him to be less or a jackass.


  2. JG Says:

    Perhaps he is wondering why he should be expected to answer questions from Americans??


  3. shane Says:

    Romney, what a joke. Mormons think a YouTube is what you use to sort your wives out.


  4. Jane E. Schneider Says:

    Is “Baseball Glove” Rommel from ‘Toontown?


  5. Pakaal Says:

    Romney’s question about “answering questions from a cartoon” is less important than the question of why anyone would want to vote for a caricature like Romney.


  6. dbadass Says:

    Romney is like the scary dad of the weird family down the road who makes their daughters walk in silence in a straight line without speaking to anyone. It’s so weird and they’re my neighbors. Freaks me out! Not that I ever wanted to have a beer with the Pres but what social event would anybody want to share with Mr. Stepford?


  7. lonesomerobot Says:

    great. first the naacp debate, now the youtube debate. that’s right republicans, keep showing america your true colors.

    only vetted questions, only friendly audiences - the republican circle jerk continues.


  8. BuckarooBanzai Says:

    That’s ok Mitt. Americans won’t elect a cartoon either.


  9. notanumber Says:

    If they can’t stand up to Youtube, how can the voters think any GOP wannabes can stand up Al Queda?


  10. Hardy Haberman Says:

    Unless it’s scripted the GOP really doesn’t like interaction with the “little people”. Arrogance and hubris! More of Bush, just a different face.


  11. shane Says:

    And for the record, Mitt doesn’t look like he’s sporting any $20 haircut either. He looks like he has a stylist and makeup artist get him ready for every appointment. Why don’t we hear about his primping.


  12. Tom Says:

    Answer questions from cartoons? Heck, turnabout is fair play!

    We’ve had cartoons in office for more than six years now ala GDumbya and Darth Cheney giving their cartoon answers. It is high time that we got some cartoon questions on our side of the ledger.


  13. Wayne A. Schneider Says:

    Yesterday, Romney’s spokesperson mocked the debate — where citizens nationwide submit video questions — stating that “a lot of Americans would wonder whether we should be answering questions from a cartoon.”

    Well, if Gov Romney has any sense, he’ll fire this buffoon, too. This statement shows an utter contempt for the average American.


  14. Frank J Says:

    The joke is not YouTube it is CNN.


  15. Kurt Says:

    Romney has blown it! He should call Michael Vick to help him with his “how to win friends and influence people campaign”. Oh wait Vick shot me a bird at a game last year when we told him what we really think & feel…Nevermind! Romney doesn’t want to know what Americans really think & feel.

    Ron Paul 2008!!


  16. For Whom The Bell Tolls Says:

    Finally there’s a way for candidates to give their platform without having to raise millions and millions of dollars for t.v. We may not be cartoon characters, but they are clowns if they think t.v. is the only media.


  17. Decider Liar Says:

    Ron Paul is the only republican worth listening to.

    See: http://youtube.com/watch?v=FG_HuFtP8w8


  18. Bobwurst Says:

    So the walking Ken doll doesn’t like cartoons. Is he afraid that the cartoons will make him look two dementional by comparision?


  19. tarazan Says:

    Romeny Spokeperson:” A lot of Americans would wonder whether we should be answering questions from a cartoon”.
    ——————————————
    A lot of Americans people wonder why we should vote for a cartoon candidate’..!!


  20. pgw Says:

    “That’s ok Mitt. Americans won’t elect a cartoon either.
    Comment by BuckarooBanzai — July 28, 2007″

    bingo.


  21. JG Says:

    Speaking of cartoons, did you see the cartoons on Bob Geiger’s blog today? I visit it every Saturday. THere were a few today that were especially hilarious:
    http://bobgeiger.blogspot.com/

    Especially the first one with Alberto Gonzales!
    I have a son with Reactive Attachment Disorder. One of the characteristics of the disorder is that ‘crazy’ lying or obsessive lying. The psychologist told me once “How do you know a RAD kid is lying?” “His lips are moving”.. He was right. Difficult years..
    Anyway, the cartoon was hilarious.


  22. james k sayre Says:

    Frankly, my dear, I prefer President Daffy Duck or President Bugs Bunny to over 90% of the Republican cartoon/candidates for President in 2008. Ron Paul is the only Republican candidate who has an ounce of integrity.

    f the GOP were smart, they would skip putting up any candidate in the 2008 Presidential Election.


  23. GSD Says:

    Two days ago Shifty Mitt Romney was telling everyone to “lighten up” after he was waving around a sign comparing Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama to Osama Bin Laden.

    Now Shifty Mitt wants people to “get serious”.

    Flip-flop.

    -GSD


  24. tom baker Says:

    And I mock Mitt, for professing a looney-tune faux-faith, no more credible than Scientology.


  25. Daniel Says:

    The problem isn’t Youtube. It’s CNN. When I watched the Dem debate, I was embarrassed for candidates who had to answer to someone who pretends a gun is his baby, or someone who wants them to work for minimum wage. This does not advance the debate, and the political atmosphere in the US has already been dumbed down enough.


  26. ebbAndflow Says:

    The g.o.p.’s: ‘ridicule and debase’ to take away all debate is wearing very thin with the american public. Romney, et al should truly shop for some wisdom on how to relate to the citizens they hope will vote for their failed ideals.


  27. veritas Says:

    By mocking the YouTube debates, Romney is illustrating his troglodytism. That, combined with taking actual questions from the public and not some well-rehearsed, canned presentation technique must have Romney running scared.


  28. JG Says:

    I frankly would love a less staged, choreographed, less ‘prepared for in advance with the questions and answers’ kind of national debate. Even these so called “Town Hall” meetings are set up with planted softball questions without followup so that the Candidates get to do their schpiels (sp?). I want the Candidates to not know what is coming, be out of their comfort zone, not be able to launch into prepared statements, and just be forced to talk and answer the questions directly and honestly, and when they don’t answer directly be forced to answer the followup question. No cue cards and no prepared statements. If I wanted that I could just go to their websites.


  29. Brassmask from 3DHS Says:

    The liberals looked really stupid answering questions from a snowman.


  30. veritas Says:

    JG: Precisely! And that’s exactly what the last Republican debate turned into, with Tweety losing total control. They just ran right over him, the question being asked, and launched into their very tired, rote diatribes. It was so boring that it wasn’t worth watching except for a bit of comic relief here and there.


  31. veritas Says:

    #29 The liberals absolutely looked “spot on” when it came to answering extemporaneously; something this dismal group of Repukes could only dream of doing. They’re all lockstep robots.


  32. veritas Says:

    Daniel: Don’t feel embarassed when it comes to our right of free speech, please. Most of us actually love it (not the gun bit, of course, but this guy’s right to present himself as he wishes). Besides, if the gun bothers you, talk to some of the Repuke card-carrying NRA members about that issue.

    Everyone I spoke with thought this format was a breath of fresh air and clearly the candidates enjoyed it as well. It was definitely a departure from the “stepford Republican candidates” all dressed (for success? I think not) in their red ties. First debate, all but two had red ties on….and the tailing of Rudy’s “tail” as they filed into the debate hall was absolutely priceless. He’s obviously spent way too much time in a sitting position. His rear end looked about 4 feet wide. But maybe that was just a wide-angle shot??


  33. upside00 Says:

    It is quite ironic that ONE of the GOP candidates is worried about taking questions from a cartoon when all of them (save Ron Paul) are walking talking jokes themselves. Kinda like caricatures of real people.


  34. tom baker Says:

    29, but it doesn’t look really stupid to you for righties to line up behind a guy who believes that a “spaceman jesus” preached to “white indians” on this continent and that God gave some preachers’ kid from New England a “golden book” that’s never been seen by anyone else??????? nice try - what are you, a scientologist?

    you’re reaching so far you resemble a “stretch armstrong” doll.

    don’t bring plastic utensils to a saber duel, (br)Assmask


  35. JG Says:

    I want to know who these candidates ARE. What they stand for and what they are really going to do once given the reigns of power, not what they are trying to paint themselves to be.
    You are who you have always been. It is important for people to read up on what these people have already done and who they have been all along. None of them are going to just ‘change’.

    And as far as Giuliani goes (which I still can’t figure out for the life of me how he could ever run for President), he has NOTHING at all to run on that is remotely Republican (or at least my understanding of what a Republican is) expect for his experienc of one day in history and getting a lot of press because of it. Of course, he also has a LOT of money and rich and powerful acquaintences. (What a good reason to become president..)


  36. GSD Says:

    A Youtube question for Mitt Romney.

    Do you plan on visiting the Planet Kolob anytime soon?

    -GSD


  37. Perry Logan Says:

    Don’t tell me about Ron Paul’s believability. He’s a libertarian posing as a Republican. Now there’s a guy you can trust!


  38. upside00 Says:

    Comment by tom baker

    And don’t forget that in order to have female representation on their platform of candidates, they had to add RUDEE. That is the Repug version of affirmative action.


  39. Guido, Lover, OBGYN- Says:

    Well if he can’t face Youtube how can he face the terrists?


  40. NIHILISTIC & FREE Says:

    This may come as a shock to the Leftist blogosphere, but…

    YOUTUBE IS NOT A RESPECTABLE MEDIUM FOR DEBATE!!!


  41. NIHILISTIC & FREE Says:

    The joke is not YouTube it is CNN.

    Comment by Frank J — July 28, 2007 @ 4:07 pm
    —————
    Well, it’s both.

    CNN is a joke for their pandering to the left. YouTube is only kidding themselves by putting on airs of legitimacy.


  42. Mark @ News Corpse Says:

    Like I said at News Corpse:

    Republicans Are Afraid Of YouTube

    “If you can’t stand up to a snowman on YouTube, how can you stand up to Al Qaeda?”


  43. Anne Colter Says:

    YOUTUBE IS NOT A RESPECTABLE MEDIUM FOR DEBATE!!!

    Comment by NIHILISTIC & FREE

    How would you know? You hate everything! And, politicians should not answer questions from their constituents? Why not? And I am not a lefty!!


  44. Brassmask from 3DHS Says:

    The liberals should stop be such chickenshits and let’s see a debate of Clitnon, Hussien Obama and Edwards.


  45. Anne Colter Says:

    CNN is a joke for their pandering to the left. YouTube is only kidding themselves by putting on airs of legitimacy.

    Comment by NIHILISTIC & FREE

    CNN is a Christian Network, not a Godless lwft propaganda machine!!

    What kind of self hating Repulican are you??


  46. Anne Colter Says:

    The liberals should stop be such chickenshits and let’s see a debate of Clitnon, Hussien Obama and Edwards.

    Comment by Brassmask from 3DHS

    Oh shut up you lefty liberal hiding behind a Republican cloak, you post here all the time, traitor!! Godless heathen!


  47. pgw Says:

    “YouTube is only kidding themselves by putting on airs of legitimacy.
    Comment by NIHILISTIC & FREE — July 28, 2007″

    so is romney by confusing it with myspace. maybe he’ll also comment on ‘murphy brown’ or something equally as topical.


  48. tom baker Says:

    i don’t think a real nihilist would bother commenting, or caring - here, or anywhere else.

    so much for your “radical independence” there, bud…..

    “cynical and narcissistic”, maybe (probably)

    but “nihilistic and free” ? unlikely at best (snort, chuckle)


  49. The Republic of Stupidity Says:

    Hey, Mittens, take a peek in the WH…


  50. m12 Says:

    Many of these questions are moronic. Will you work for minimum wage? Gimme a break!


  51. AngryOne Says:

    As their empty podiums at the recent NAACP convention attest, like the current Oval Office occupant these Republicans apparently have no stomach for authentic, unscripted questions from the American people.

    For the details, see:
    “GOP Candidates to Add YouTube Event to NAACP Boycott?”


  52. Jay Randal Says:

    Romney is a certified Mormon imbecile, so ask him to show off his special one piece underwear, or ask him why his 6 sons are not fighting in Iraq nor Afghanistan.


  53. JG Says:

    Many of these questions are moronic. Will you work for minimum wage? Gimme a break!

    I loved that question! Obama’s answer was priceless. Of course most of them on that stage could just say yes becauset they are RICH! Then Joe Biden pops up and says that he couldn’t because he only had around $70,000 - $150,000 in his net worth. Joe Biden was NOT a rich man.

    “BIDEN: I don’t have Barack Obama money either. My net worth is $70,000 to $150,000. That’s what happens you get elected at 29. I couldn’t afford to stay in the Congress for the minimum wage. But if I get a second job, I’d do it.”

    When has there EVER been a question like that asked at a Presidential debate? When has a candidate ever had to admit he was rich or not? I learned something new about Biden in his answer. He can’t be taking too many kickbacks from special interests if that is all the money he has to his name.
    I like the question about those with private schools as well. Again, I liked Biden’s answer to it because it was honest and I heard something I didn’t know. I didn’t know his wife and one of his children had been killed. I had NEVER heard that before. He answer was real and heartfelt. He explained WHY he had his children in Catholic schools. His sister had to help him with raising his children and she drove them to school while he worked. His catholic faith was very important to him and influenced his decision to put his children in Catholic school. I didn’t know any of that.

    “BIDEN: When it came time to go to high school when they had come through their difficulties — I’m a practicing Catholic — it was very important to me they go to a Catholic school, and they went to a Catholic school. My kids would not have gone to that school were it not for the fact that my wife and daughter were killed and my two children were under the care of my sister who drove them to school every morning.”

    It was a good question because they had to open up a piece of unscripted personal information about themselves in a direct way that gave us a glimpse of their character and who they were as people.

    I thought that particular format was great. I would like to see more.


  54. JG Says:

    A follow up, I really like Biden but he is not my candidate of choice. I am not settled on any one candidate. I just appreciated his answers, as well as Bill Richardson’s answers, and also the directness of Dennis Kucinich. I wish they had all been given the same amount of attention and mic time as Clinton and Obama. I don’t care how much money they have raised in their campaigns, this should be about who the best candidate for the job should be. Giving them all equal time and attention would give Americans the opportunity to decide for themselves. That is they way it SHOULD be.


  55. m12 Says:

    It was a good question because they had to open up a piece of unscripted personal information about themselves in a direct way that gave us a glimpse of their character and who they were as people.

    I thought that particular format was great. I would like to see more.

    Here’s the problem, JG. It is unconstitutional for Congress to cut the President’s salary.


  56. Kevin Good Says:

    A political persona calling the American people a cartoon?
    This guy is a Hanna-Barbera Looney Tune.


  57. Marie Says:

    Another clueless moron.
    Why don’t their handlers tell them to shut up if they don’t know what they’re talking about?
    How insulting to the people who submitted questions to the candidates — Romney thinks they are cartoons.
    Questions from real people? What a novel idea; too novel for the mannequin, Mitt.


  58. JG Says:

    I don’t think the question was really meaning to expect them to wrok for minimum wage, it was a question they weren’t expecting about whether they would be WILLING to. They had to scramble in their brains really quick to figure out what to say, right or wrong. It was that putting them off center moment. That is where you start to get an honest answer from them because it isn’t something they are expecting, meant to put them on the spot. Of course the President of the United States isn’t going to work for minimum wage.. Would they be willing to? Obama had the most honest response that sort of broke through the awkwardness..

    “OBAMA: Well, we can afford to work for the minimum wage because most folks on this stage have a lot of money. It’s the folks… … on that screen who deserve — you’re doing all right, Chris, compared to, I promise you, the folks who are on that screen.”

    It brought it home that MOST Americans could never just CHOOSE to do something for minimum wage because they had plenty of money they could live off of in the meantime. It opened the discussion to the need for a LIVING wage for MILLIONS of Americans living at poverty level. I think so many politicans are absolutely out of touch with how most of Americans live and struggle to get by.


  59. m12 Says:

    A follow up, I really like Biden but he is not my candidate of choice. I am not settled on any one candidate. I just appreciated his answers, as well as Bill Richardson’s answers, and also the directness of Dennis Kucinich.

    I have to admit that Biden isn’t an empty suit like Obama and Edwards. Too bad his political skill doesn’t match his intelligence.


  60. JG Says:

    Do ANY of the candidates REALLY know what it is like to try and live on the minimum wage? Have any of them been hungry? Do they know what it looks like to try and raise a family on the minimum wage? If they have never seen it up close or experienced it, how in the world can they be expected to make decisions on it? These are the people who MAKE the decisions that affect people who are struggling to survive and get by. The same urgency is there with access to health care and insurance. If it has never touched you, you don’t spend a lot of time thinking about it.

    I really admired that the govenor of our state (Oregon) who tried to live on $3 a day in grocery money for a week to bring attention to the hungry.
    http://www.nytimes.com/ 2007/ 05/ 01/ us/ 01stamps.html?ex=1335672000&en=0297b496d0f1e6e2&ei=5090
    His only goal had been to raise awareness of hunger here and of a need for the federal government to preserve the current level of stamp benefits.

    Now, I admire a leader who is willing to try and understand what people who are hungry are experiencing in a real and concrete way so he can better understand what needs to be done and the urgency. Not many leaders would be willing to do that.


  61. Wayne A. Schneider Says:

    It is unconstitutional for Congress to cut the President’s salary.

    Comment by m12 — July 28, 2007 @ 6:20 pm

    I’m a fair man, and I believe in credit where it’s due. This statement of his is 100% correct. Congress cannot change the president’s compensation once the term of office has begun. Bush’s annual salary of $400,000 began when he took office even though the bill was signed by Clinton, whose salary remained at $200,000 for the rest of his own term.

    There, never let me accuse you of “never being right.” ;)


  62. Wayne A. Schneider Says:

    But they can cut the salary and it wouldn’t take effect until the next president’s term begins. That is not unconstitutional, either.

    And they could “cut his salary” if they impeach him, convict him, and remove him from office. But it can’t be done legislatively.


  63. Fools on the Hill Says:

    Who would know if the real Mitt Macaca shows up, with all his make up. You tube is more real than the flip flopping clown.


  64. Dr. Ross Says:

    It must be hammered home that candidates afraid to face unscripted questions from the people they want to be hired to lead are unacceptable. Cowardice and an inability to think on one’s feet are not traits I look for in a leader.

    Reminds me too much of Bush reading “My Pet Goat” one tragic morning a few years back.


  65. celtic cynic Says:

    Good old Romney - A legend in his own mind.


  66. Voltaire Says:

    Looks like Giuliani and Romney are too scared to participate in GOP YouTube debate.

    Ron Paul is so dominant on YouTube that Giuliani and Romney are scared of the home court advantage Ron Paul would have. Glad to see McCain has some courage.

    Of the Republican candidates, Ron Paul is 1st on YouTube, Meetup, MySpace, Technorati, Alexa, Google, etc.

    Visit YouTube and search Ron Paul to learn more…


  67. JG Says:

    I think Ron Paul has been incredibly direct in his answers in previous debates so far. I don’t care much for the way Libertarians stand for (and I understand he is a Libertarian running as a Republican), but I really LIKE Ron Paul. I think he makes the other Republican candidates look ridiculous when they bob and weave around their answers and try and outdo each others’ level of testosterone. He always makes an attempt at answering every question directly and honestly, whether the answer may be your typical Republican response or not… Ron Paul is trying to wake people up and get them to think for themselves. I think he is trying to be dead honest about what is happening in this country instead of selling himself as a good authoritarian Republican.


  68. notanumber Says:

    When I watched the Dem debate, I was embarrassed for candidates who had to answer to someone who pretends a gun is his baby

    I thought it was a brilliant question! It really showed the audience what freaks many of the “gun voters” are. These are the folks who seem to define the gun lobby in much of the news. BTW - I am not sure he was pretending, I think he believes it.


  69. chazaroo Says:

    YouTube question to Mittey, ” If you are elected president, will you take that 12 inch dildo out of your ass, or would it’s removal have a negative effect on your image”?


  70. chazaroo Says:

    YouTube question to Myth Rummey “Given your history of the treatment is there any truth to the rumor, that you are naming Michael Vick as your vice presidential running mate”?


  71. JPark Says:

    Romney seems kinda skerred of actual people.


  72. G Whiz Says:

    Romney has zero chance of winning anything, so his response is meaningless.

    Anyone see his interview on PBS? He thinks everybody in the United States should be able to get healthcare….INSURANCE.

    What an effin joke is this man.


  73. Arroyo Says:

    the YouTube format is a piece of crap

    both democrats and republicans should avoid it.


  74. johnny c Says:

    Romney hates the American people, I guess.


  75. La Cuckoo Rot Ya Says:

    http://debategate.com/new3dhs/index.php?board=1.0

    I clicked on your link the other day 3DHS.

    I saw the name michael. )


  76. La Cuckoo Rot Ya Says:

    It is unconstitutional for Congress to cut the President’s salary.

    Comment by m12

    I concur.


  77. Evil Spaniard Says:

    Yes, democratic debates with regular people is a great thing to make fun off.

    /Sarcasm off


  78. PJ Pohly Says:

    In the end the Republicans will have the YouTube debates, I’m sure. Especially since the head of the GOP national committee has publicly supported the idea.

    However, I do hope that future YouTube questions chosen more closely mirror the electorate. See my recent post:

    Almost 9 Million More Women - YouTube Blew It? at EverydayCitizen.com

    It’s about the gender percentages of the YouTube questions chosen.



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