Casual approach hurts Democrats

Charleston City Paper ^ | July 25, 2007 | Michael Graham

[suspects]

Maybe it was the YouTube factor: Normal people asking direct questions in plain language.

Maybe it was the unexpectedly left-leaning crowd gathered in Charleston to watch the Democrats debate, enthusiastically cheering even the kookiest of Kucinichisms.

Or perhaps it was the Citadel Effect. Could it be that the same reckless spirit that inspired a group of foolhardy Citadel students to fire on federal forces in 1860 fell upon the candidates Monday night, bolstering their bravado and casting caution to the wind?

Whatever the cause, a minor political miracle took place at the You Tube/CNN debate. A group of politicians running for president actually told the truth.

Political events normally involve the usual suspects getting the usual questions and giving the usual answer. The goal in most debates is to not say anything the voters will remember. (For fourth tier candidates like Mike Gravel, that includes your name.)

So when Tony Fuller from Wilson, Ohio asked, via YouTube video, "if the candidates feel women should register for the draft when they turn 18. Why or why not?" I was expecting to hear plenty about how the candidates "feel," but not much about the idea of females forced into military service.

I couldn't have been more wrong.

"Well, yes, I think they should," answered Sen. Dodd. OK, so "President Chris Dodd" is about as likely as "WNBA Commissioner Don Imus." But then Sen. Clinton gave her answer.

"I do," she said, without missing a beat. No "on the one hand, on the other" about gender equity or the value of public service. Instead, the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination simply stated for the record that any future military conscription will include teenage girls. 'Nuff said.

[cinives]

unexpectedly left-leaning crowd gathered in Charleston to watch the Democrats debate

Who could write this with a straight face ? Like a group of conservative Republicans would want to listen to Dem tripe ...

[Williams]

Yes, I thought their support of drafting women was astounding. I certainly hope that is not republican policy, and that the republicans are smart enough to use it. Great example of how unbridled leftism will destroy every vestige of traditional decency.

My "favorite" Hilary quote was "Let's start acting like Americans again."

[JamesP81]

Bill O'Reilly on his radio show is constantly saying that the netroots are the fringe of the left and don't represent the dem party. This proves him wrong. The dems are onboard with the MoveOn.org agenda, they are just careful about who they say that to.

Anyone with a brain also knows conscripting women is crazy as well.

[ModelBreaker]

I didn’t watch the debate. But, unless the candidates all said that their programs were designed to make the totalitarian, socialist state in America more totalitarian and more socialist, to make sure America cannot defend itself, to eliminate Christianity (except for “Christians” that deny Scripture), and to eliminate freedom of speech, then they did not tell the truth.

[marlon]

I believe that Hillary added one of her famous equivications but implying that the conscription would be for “government service” rather than saying that it would necessarily be in the military. You know, we all you know, need to you know, serve the government so that you know, we all, you know, share in the, you know equal outcome of you know, our village.

[1035rep]

Bill O'Reilly on his radio show is constantly saying that the netroots are the fringe of the left and don't represent the dem party. This proves him wrong. 

So how does Bill explain who they chose to lead the party.  Reid and Pelosi, it doesn't get more liberal wacko than that.

[johnny7]

Bill O'Reilly on his radio show is constantly saying that the netroots are the fringe of the left and don't represent the dem party.

Mort Kondrake alluded to the same thing last night on FOX's 'The Panel'. Either they're lying through their teeth in order not to worry the sheeple ... or they're mentally delusional and have no business doling out political analysis on the public airwaves. MoveOn.org and Daily Kos are now the straw that stirs the drink for the DNC... and sets the tone for the DBM.

[JamesP81]

Mort Kondrake alluded to the same thing last night on FOX's 'The Panel'. Either they're lying through their teeth in order not to worry the sheeple ... or they're mentally delusional and have no business doling out political analysis on the public airwaves.

I think there is a third likelihood: the talking heads, even now, do not understand the phenomenon that is the internet. They continue to get their information from their usual sources in the MSM which, as we all know, doesn't know squat. They are part of an aging and dying system that no longer understands the world it finds itself in. The future of truthful news is in the Internet and talk radio.

[CivilWarguy]

I don’t know who this Michael Graham is, but for a Charlestonian he sure doesn’t know Charleston history. The incident where Citadel cadets fired on federal forces didn’t take place in “1860” but rather, Jan. 9, 1861 when, under orders from state authorities, a cannon manned by Citadel cadets fired on the steamer “Star of the West”, which was bringing supplies to Fort Sumter.

[GitmoSailor]

Bring back the DRAFT women included==HILLARY