Democrats Face YouTubers and Each Other

CHARLESTON, S.C., July 23, 2007 — -- In a made-for-television event with viewer-generated questions from YouTube, the eight Democratic presidential candidates took to the debate stage for the fourth time this political season for a session that may be more remembered for the questions than for the answers.

The topics of the questions — ranging from the provocative to the humorous — submitted via video on YouTube ranged from partisan gridlock in Washington to the war in Iraq, health care, and global warming — a topic brought to the debate courtesy of a snowman puppet in one of the quirkier videos.

Consistently polling at the top of the Democratic field, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton was clearly the target for her closest competitors. Both Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards attempted to paint themselves as candidates who represent change and the future and Clinton as the candidate who represents the past.

"We don't just need a change in political parties in Washington. We've got to have a change in attitudes of those who are representing the people, America. And part of the reason I don't take PAC [political action committee] money, I don't take federal lobbyists' money, is because we've got to get the national interests up front as opposed to the special interests," said Obama in a not-so-subtle dig at Clinton who accepts PAC money and contributions from federal lobbyists.

"Do you believe that compromise, triangulation will bring about big change? I don't," said Edwards, using a word — "triangulation" — strongly identified with the politics of the Clinton administration in the 1990s.

Clinton also made the case for change in Washington, but she portrayed herself as the candidate with the most experience and the strongest hand to bring about that change beginning her first day in the Oval Office, should she win the presidency.

"The issue is: Which of us is ready to lead on Day 1? I have 35 years of being an instrument and agent of change, before I was ever a public official. And during the time that I've been privileged to serve as first lady and now as senator, I've worked to bring people together, to find common ground where we can and then to stand our ground where we can't," said Clinton.