Readers react to CNN-YouTube debate

Statement from fear

I would like to comment on a quote in the July 23 Post and Courier by Charleston County Republican Party Chairwoman Lin Bennett. She remarked that Charleston would not be a sanctuary city for "cut and run" Democrats.

This is a statement made in the fear that Charleston is becoming a city with more than one point of view and that even The Citadel, that bastion of Republicanism, understands the Democrats may just have something to say that is worth listening to.

Nancy Waters

103 Venning St.

Mount Pleasant

Questions on mark

I watched the Democratic presidential debate with interest. Not only was it held down the street at The Citadel, but it used, for the first time, the YouTube and CNN format.

There were many things very interesting to me. The candidates and their responses were dead on target, but most striking was the raw intelligence of the questions culled from nearly 3,000 submitted. I have never before heard such questions on the mark in a public debate.

Debates, in which questions are asked by professionals, or the town hall format, favored by the current president, cannot compare. This debate format was truly a democratic exercise. The voices of the people were heard, and the big surprise to the pundits and other spinmeisters was how engaged the public is. Yes, we are out here listening, and yes, we do care.

I hope this format is used again. It was wonderful and engaging, and a range of people from many walks of life and social strata were able to speak, and their voices were heard.

The candidates heard the people. I can only hope the rest of the politicians will listen and hear the people who ultimately hold power in this country.

Eric Harrod

112 Gordon St.

Waste of time

Debates '07 — Democrats or Republicans a year ahead of time: Pretty suits, nice makeup and hair styles; canned speeches and replies to questions with no substance. A waste of time. Priceless.

Seymour Rosenthal

1146 Waterfront Drive

Mount Pleasant

Self-serving gaggle

Please tell me from which distant galaxy the provost of The Citadel recently emigrated. He is quoted by your reporter in the July 19 Post and Courier as saying that the Democratic presidential debate will bring to the college "high-visibility leaders, who are models of selfless leadership and service." Selfless leadership? Service? Models? Heaven help us.

The last presidential candidate who fully embodied those qualities was George Washington.

Well, maybe John Adams, but arguably none since, and absolutely not Clinton, Obama, Edwards and the rest of the self-serving gaggle of career pols who trash each other and pander to their respective fans on national television.

If the provost really wants to show the cadets and the nation examples of selfless service and what he calls "principled leadership," he ought to bring back as speakers a few of The Citadel's graduates, who are putting their lives on the line for us in inhospitable places such as Afghanistan, Iraq and along the border with North Korea, as well as those in peril on the sea.

Forget the "high-visibility" crowd. They're just in it for themselves. They always are.

C.W. Watson

43 Bull St.

Only thing worse

The only thing worse about the Democratic debate than the artificial sanctimony of the questions was the unctuous hypocrisy of the answers.

Alfred Basso

5408 Cattells Bluff

North Charleston

Whatever it was

Frank Wooten's July 25 column titled "Silliness of CNN's YouTube questions beyond debate" confirmed my wise decision not to watch this — well — whatever it was.

I'm curious, though. Of the 3,000 submissions, are the 40 chosen by CNN representative of all the submissions? I surely pray not.

If they were, we are in deep trouble. If they were not, what does this say about CNN?

We already know the answer to that one.

Patricia B. Starke

4375 Purdue Drive

North Charleston