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http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,314002,00.html
CNN Defends Its Use of Democratic Supporters in Republican YouTube Debate
Friday, November 30, 2007
After spending the day facing accusations it stacked the deck against the
Republican presidential contenders by having Democratic backers ask video
questions during its debate, CNN on Thursday responded that it doesn't know
what the fuss is all about.
The cable news network, in collaboration with video Web site YouTube, hosted
the Wednesday night debate that had more than 30 voters pose questions to
the Republican candidates. It later turned out that several of those
questioners are actively supporting Democratic candidates.
"The whole point of these ground-breaking CNN/YouTube debates is to focus on
substantive questions of concern to real people and to throw open the
process to a wider range of Americans all around the country. CNN cared
about what you asked, not who you were. This was the case for both the
Democratic and the Republican CNN/YouTube debates," CNN said in a statement
issued late in the day.
"The issues raised during last night's debate were legitimate and relevant
no matter who was asking the questions. The vested interests who are
challenging the credibility of the questioners are trying to distract voters
from the substantive issues they care most about. Americans are tired of
that discredited low-road approach, and throughout this election campaign
CNN will stay focused on what the candidates are saying about the pressing
issues facing this country at a critical time in our history.
"Judging by the fact that last night's event was the most-watched primary
debate ever, it seems that the audience responded to our focus on
plain-spoken questions about important issues," the statement continued.
But Republican candidate Mike Huckabee said news of the involvement of
Democratic supporters tainted the debate.
"I think it compromises the integrity of what it was supposed to be and that
is a very objective people's kind of debate," he said. Huckabee added that
he's happy to answer anyone's questions, but it's a bit untoward if the
advertised purpose of the debate was to give Republican voters a chance to
question with their candidates.
"If the stated purpose is to give the people a chance to ask Republicans
what Republican voters are interested in (in) the primary, I'm not sure that
Democrat activists for other campaigns for Democrats are going to know best
what Republicans are thinking for their nominee. And that's what does in
fact somewhat compromise or even corrupt the process," he said.
Nearly as soon as Wednesday night's debate ended, the Internet started
buzzing about one of the questioners - a retired Army colonel who revealed
himself as gay.
Keith Kerr of Santa Rosa, Calif., challenged the eight candidates via video
message and live in the audience at the St. Petersburg debate, on the right
of gays and lesbians to serve openly in the U.S. military.
The broadcast, however, failed to mention that Kerr, who served as a
brigadier general in the reserves, is a member of a gay and lesbian steering
committee for Democratic candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton. He also was an
active supporter of 2004 Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.
Read the Clinton campaign release naming Kerr to the steering committee:
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=2196
Clinton spokesman Phil Singer has denied that the campaign had any knowledge
ahead of time that Kerr was going to participate in the debate, and Kerr
said he did not inform the campaign of his plans.
It turns out Kerr wasn't the only Democratic supporter asking questions. Ted
Faturos, 20, a student at University of California, San Diego, asked a
question about corn subsidies. It turns out the urban studies and planning
major also worked as an intern for Democratic Rep. Jane Harman. John Hess,
Harman's chief of staff, issued a statement Thursday saying Faturos is no
longer affiliated with the office.
"Ted Faturos was a high school intern in our district office for the summer
of 2004 only and has had no connection to the office or contact with the
congresswoman since," Hess said.
Elsewhere, one woman who identified herself as Journey from Texas, and who
has a Web page in which she goes by the name Paperserenade asked the
candidates about whether they would prosecute women and doctors if abortion
were made illegal and the practice continued. After the debate, she posted a
Web video wearing a John Edwards '08 T-shirt. In the posting, she said she
was disappointed by the responses she got, particularly from Fred Thompson,
though it's the answer she expected.
Another questioner, Leeann Anderson, asked about the danger of lead toys
from China. Anderson, an activist on the issue, is reportedly an assistant
to Leo Gerard, president of the United Steelworkers of America. The union
endorsed Edwards earlier this month, and Anderson's question is posted on
the steelworkers' YouTube page next to a picture of Edwards.
David McMillan, a screenwriter from Los Angeles who asked the candidates why
they thought the vast majority of African Americans don't vote Republican,
has pictures of himself on his Web site attending a fundraiser for Barack
Obama as well as several parodies bashing current and former Bush
administration officials Dick Cheney, Karl Rove and Alberto Gonzales.
But McMillan told FOX News he attended the Obama fundraiser in Los Angeles
in mid-August as well as an Edwards event the same night, "not as a
supporter, but as 'citizen journalist.'" He added that for professional
purposes, he would not announce his political affiliations or which
candidate he may vote for next November.
As for Kerr, he has been an activist against the military's
don't-ask-don't-tell policy for years. He appeared on CNN twice in 2003
discussing his opposition to the policy that says service men and women will
be dismissed from service for revealing their gay orientation. But as if
reading from that policy Wednesday, Kerr told FOX News that CNN "never
asked" him if he is a Clinton supporter so he "never told."
Kerr submitted the question for Republican candidates at the video debate "a
couple months ago," and said last Saturday CNN called him and said they'd
like him to come to the debate. He said the cable news network paid for his
flight, his hotel and his transportation to and from the event.
According to the Clinton campaign, members of Clinton's Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual and Transgender Steering Committee have endorsed Hillary Clinton
for president "in their individual capacity" and work with the campaign on
several areas including political outreach, communications, policy advice
and counsel and fundraising.
The retired officer said his activities with the Clinton campaign are
minimal. He receives e-mails from the campaign and has been invited to a
fundraiser in San Francisco. He said he offered to pay "some token amount
like 100 bucks" to attend the fundraiser, but as of yet has given no
contribution.
"I have not done any work. Several friends asked me if I would allow my name
to be listed and I agreed. She's been such a strong advocate for gay
rights," he told CNN on Thursday.
He added that he had been a Log Cabin Republican for a long time and
recently changed from Republican to independent in California. He said he
had supported the GOP but "these guys are just partisanly homophobic."
Not all the questioners at the debate were Democratic supporters. Jay Fox,
who asked a question about the candidates' positions on gun control,
confirmed to FOXNews.com that he is a lifetime member of the National Rifle
Association. He said that he had seen speculation online that he may have
been a phony, but confirmed, "I actually am a Republican."
Fox, a senior film production major at Chapman University in Orange, Calif.,
said he is undecided but likes both Ron Paul and Tom Tancredo. He also said
despite the safety lecture from Duncan Hunter after he tossed his gun in his
video, he thought Hunter answered his question adequately.
Following the debate, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper said in a broadcast
statement that Kerr's political ties to Clinton were unknown to the network.
"We don't know if he is still on it," said Cooper. "We are trying to find
out that information. Certainly, had we had that information we would have
acknowledged that in using his question, if we had used it all."
CNN said that before deciding to use Kerr's question and fly him out to the
debate, it had verified his military background and that he had not
contributed any money to any presidential candidate.
Afterward, Senior Vice President and Executive Producer of the debate, David
Bohrman, issued a statement. "We regret this incident. CNN would not have
used the general's question had we known that he was connected to any
presidential candidate."
During the debate, Kerr said he wanted to know why the GOP candidates think
that "American men and women in uniform are not professional enough to serve
with gays and lesbians."
Candidates Hunter, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney and John McCain all answered
the question. Hunter said it would be "bad for unit cohesion" for openly
homosexual people to serve in the ranks. Huckabee said the the Uniform Code
of Military Justice states that such "conduct could put at risk the morale."
Romney said that in the midst of a war is not the time to change policy, and
he would listen to recommendations from military leaders. McCain said he
respects the general's service to the nation but believes the leaders in the
field when they say the present policy is working.
CNN Defends Its Use of Democratic Supporters in Republican YouTube Debate
Friday, November 30, 2007
After spending the day facing accusations it stacked the deck against the
Republican presidential contenders by having Democratic backers ask video
questions during its debate, CNN on Thursday responded that it doesn't know
what the fuss is all about.
The cable news network, in collaboration with video Web site YouTube, hosted
the Wednesday night debate that had more than 30 voters pose questions to
the Republican candidates. It later turned out that several of those
questioners are actively supporting Democratic candidates.
"The whole point of these ground-breaking CNN/YouTube debates is to focus on
substantive questions of concern to real people and to throw open the
process to a wider range of Americans all around the country. CNN cared
about what you asked, not who you were. This was the case for both the
Democratic and the Republican CNN/YouTube debates," CNN said in a statement
issued late in the day.
"The issues raised during last night's debate were legitimate and relevant
no matter who was asking the questions. The vested interests who are
challenging the credibility of the questioners are trying to distract voters
from the substantive issues they care most about. Americans are tired of
that discredited low-road approach, and throughout this election campaign
CNN will stay focused on what the candidates are saying about the pressing
issues facing this country at a critical time in our history.
"Judging by the fact that last night's event was the most-watched primary
debate ever, it seems that the audience responded to our focus on
plain-spoken questions about important issues," the statement continued.
But Republican candidate Mike Huckabee said news of the involvement of
Democratic supporters tainted the debate.
"I think it compromises the integrity of what it was supposed to be and that
is a very objective people's kind of debate," he said. Huckabee added that
he's happy to answer anyone's questions, but it's a bit untoward if the
advertised purpose of the debate was to give Republican voters a chance to
question with their candidates.
"If the stated purpose is to give the people a chance to ask Republicans
what Republican voters are interested in (in) the primary, I'm not sure that
Democrat activists for other campaigns for Democrats are going to know best
what Republicans are thinking for their nominee. And that's what does in
fact somewhat compromise or even corrupt the process," he said.
Nearly as soon as Wednesday night's debate ended, the Internet started
buzzing about one of the questioners - a retired Army colonel who revealed
himself as gay.
Keith Kerr of Santa Rosa, Calif., challenged the eight candidates via video
message and live in the audience at the St. Petersburg debate, on the right
of gays and lesbians to serve openly in the U.S. military.
The broadcast, however, failed to mention that Kerr, who served as a
brigadier general in the reserves, is a member of a gay and lesbian steering
committee for Democratic candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton. He also was an
active supporter of 2004 Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.
Read the Clinton campaign release naming Kerr to the steering committee:
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=2196
Clinton spokesman Phil Singer has denied that the campaign had any knowledge
ahead of time that Kerr was going to participate in the debate, and Kerr
said he did not inform the campaign of his plans.
It turns out Kerr wasn't the only Democratic supporter asking questions. Ted
Faturos, 20, a student at University of California, San Diego, asked a
question about corn subsidies. It turns out the urban studies and planning
major also worked as an intern for Democratic Rep. Jane Harman. John Hess,
Harman's chief of staff, issued a statement Thursday saying Faturos is no
longer affiliated with the office.
"Ted Faturos was a high school intern in our district office for the summer
of 2004 only and has had no connection to the office or contact with the
congresswoman since," Hess said.
Elsewhere, one woman who identified herself as Journey from Texas, and who
has a Web page in which she goes by the name Paperserenade asked the
candidates about whether they would prosecute women and doctors if abortion
were made illegal and the practice continued. After the debate, she posted a
Web video wearing a John Edwards '08 T-shirt. In the posting, she said she
was disappointed by the responses she got, particularly from Fred Thompson,
though it's the answer she expected.
Another questioner, Leeann Anderson, asked about the danger of lead toys
from China. Anderson, an activist on the issue, is reportedly an assistant
to Leo Gerard, president of the United Steelworkers of America. The union
endorsed Edwards earlier this month, and Anderson's question is posted on
the steelworkers' YouTube page next to a picture of Edwards.
David McMillan, a screenwriter from Los Angeles who asked the candidates why
they thought the vast majority of African Americans don't vote Republican,
has pictures of himself on his Web site attending a fundraiser for Barack
Obama as well as several parodies bashing current and former Bush
administration officials Dick Cheney, Karl Rove and Alberto Gonzales.
But McMillan told FOX News he attended the Obama fundraiser in Los Angeles
in mid-August as well as an Edwards event the same night, "not as a
supporter, but as 'citizen journalist.'" He added that for professional
purposes, he would not announce his political affiliations or which
candidate he may vote for next November.
As for Kerr, he has been an activist against the military's
don't-ask-don't-tell policy for years. He appeared on CNN twice in 2003
discussing his opposition to the policy that says service men and women will
be dismissed from service for revealing their gay orientation. But as if
reading from that policy Wednesday, Kerr told FOX News that CNN "never
asked" him if he is a Clinton supporter so he "never told."
Kerr submitted the question for Republican candidates at the video debate "a
couple months ago," and said last Saturday CNN called him and said they'd
like him to come to the debate. He said the cable news network paid for his
flight, his hotel and his transportation to and from the event.
According to the Clinton campaign, members of Clinton's Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual and Transgender Steering Committee have endorsed Hillary Clinton
for president "in their individual capacity" and work with the campaign on
several areas including political outreach, communications, policy advice
and counsel and fundraising.
The retired officer said his activities with the Clinton campaign are
minimal. He receives e-mails from the campaign and has been invited to a
fundraiser in San Francisco. He said he offered to pay "some token amount
like 100 bucks" to attend the fundraiser, but as of yet has given no
contribution.
"I have not done any work. Several friends asked me if I would allow my name
to be listed and I agreed. She's been such a strong advocate for gay
rights," he told CNN on Thursday.
He added that he had been a Log Cabin Republican for a long time and
recently changed from Republican to independent in California. He said he
had supported the GOP but "these guys are just partisanly homophobic."
Not all the questioners at the debate were Democratic supporters. Jay Fox,
who asked a question about the candidates' positions on gun control,
confirmed to FOXNews.com that he is a lifetime member of the National Rifle
Association. He said that he had seen speculation online that he may have
been a phony, but confirmed, "I actually am a Republican."
Fox, a senior film production major at Chapman University in Orange, Calif.,
said he is undecided but likes both Ron Paul and Tom Tancredo. He also said
despite the safety lecture from Duncan Hunter after he tossed his gun in his
video, he thought Hunter answered his question adequately.
Following the debate, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper said in a broadcast
statement that Kerr's political ties to Clinton were unknown to the network.
"We don't know if he is still on it," said Cooper. "We are trying to find
out that information. Certainly, had we had that information we would have
acknowledged that in using his question, if we had used it all."
CNN said that before deciding to use Kerr's question and fly him out to the
debate, it had verified his military background and that he had not
contributed any money to any presidential candidate.
Afterward, Senior Vice President and Executive Producer of the debate, David
Bohrman, issued a statement. "We regret this incident. CNN would not have
used the general's question had we known that he was connected to any
presidential candidate."
During the debate, Kerr said he wanted to know why the GOP candidates think
that "American men and women in uniform are not professional enough to serve
with gays and lesbians."
Candidates Hunter, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney and John McCain all answered
the question. Hunter said it would be "bad for unit cohesion" for openly
homosexual people to serve in the ranks. Huckabee said the the Uniform Code
of Military Justice states that such "conduct could put at risk the morale."
Romney said that in the midst of a war is not the time to change policy, and
he would listen to recommendations from military leaders. McCain said he
respects the general's service to the nation but believes the leaders in the
field when they say the present policy is working.