Editorial: YouTube debate

Sunday, June 24, 2007 | 7:09 a.m.

YouTube is entering the presidential election, sponsoring a debate among Democratic candidates next month. It will be a first in presidential debates as YouTube viewers will ask the questions, and they will undoubtedly do so with music, video clips and photos.

Mike Gehrke, director of research for the Democratic National Committee, told The New York Times last week that this is "one of the biggest innovations we've seen in politics."

Gehrke said user-generated video is changing campaigning, as voters are creating messages similar to what campaigns used to do with television ads.

"It used to be a one-way street," he said. "Now it goes the other way, too, and you have people talking to each other and to the campaigns."

CNN, which will broadcast the debate on July 23, will pick the questions, and those whose questions are selected will be in attendance and offer their thoughts after the debate on YouTube's political blog, CitizenTube.

Political campaigns have for years been working to harness support on the Internet, and political parties have seen the power of the Web as online activists can quickly marshal partisan opinion. Democrats learned that earlier this year when they planned to air a debate in Nevada on Fox News and were overwhelmed by the outcry from progressive bloggers. As a result, party leaders scrapped the plan.

More than cyberdating and online shopping, the Internet has the incredible power to bring people and ideas together. Connecting the YouTube generation to the presidential race will hopefully interest younger voters and spur a renewed interest in the national debate on issues, the candidates and the future of our country.