Republicans mimicking Democrats with debate boycott -- this time of CNN-Youtube

Both attempts by Fox News to hold Democratic presidential debates were stopped dead when John Edwards and Barack Obama decided to boycott them on the grounds that the network was anything but fair and balanced.  Other candidates, such as Hillary Clinton and Bill Richardson, joined in the boycott, and the rest soon followed.  This decision was welcomed by the net roots in the wake of various studies throughout the years that pointed to specific instances of media bias on the part of Rupert Murdoch's network.

Now a few Republican candidates are borrowing a page from the progressive playbook.  If the thought of boycotting Fox News excited progressives, then maybe boycotting CNN and Youtube will have a similar effect on conservative activists.  Mitt Romney and a few other GOP candidates announced they will not attend the CNN-Youtube Republican debate on September 17th, even though hundreds of videos from voters have already been submitted:

Inan interview Wednesday with the New Hampshire Union Leader, Romney saidhe's not a fan of the CNN/YouTube format. Referring to the video of asnowman asking the Democratic candidates about global warming, Romneyquipped, "I think the presidency ought to be held at a higher levelthan having to answer questions from a snowman."

Even though Romney is choosing to boycott Youtube, his campaign still uses the Youtube site to reach out to its supporters.  As of Friday morning, Mitt Romney's Youtube page had 2,558 subscriber and 692,360 channel views.

So on one hand, Republican candidates like Mitt Romney want to appear anti-Youtube, yet they turn around and rely on the video social network as a means to garner support.  Nice flip-flop.

Comments

[Great Idea]

Do not let the debates become a flop. Get your own minor presidential candidate show up in the no-show's stead. This can definately be their time to shine, and I bet there are alot of others out there still willing to be president.

[granny]

If you ask me (and I know, you didn't) Mitt Romney is doing just what they sent him in to do. Clean and slick, he keeps the conservatives lapping up the "big man, I'll tell them a thing or two - and be cute about it at the same time" road show, takes whatever hits his script invites, and the stage will be warm for Thompson.

[Robt]

So If Mitt takes the Progressive lead and only makes a weak attempt at the same complaint as the Dems with FOX bias and refuses to go on CNN with the youtube questions.

Shall we reply with O Rielly and Hannity's whine that, "If Mitt can't face CNN and Youtube how can Mitt face Al Qaida" ??

CNN is not progressive nor liberal. They have more republicans on than Dems on average.

Olberman is one of the rare shows that has libreal/progressive thought. That is only one show and not a series all day long of conservatives, republicans, right wingers, religious right, right for PNAC.

They force these shows no matter the ratings nor content in my view for they have right corporate advertisers that support their
interests and pay to have tht programming. Not much to do with the majority of viewers. Progressive or otherwise. It is in your face (you are insignificant republican mannerism). Just like religious right that expect and demand that all Americans must abide by their bible and their interpretation of their bible in comparison of all others.

[Robt]

Also it is just a "Chertoff gut feeling" that-

-with Dems boycotting the extreme bias of FOX and not giving FOX credibility while FOX smears and lies of the Dems.

Defers from Republicans boycotting CNN that is closer to FOX than most admit.

More will tune in to CNN to watch the Dem debate than those that will tune in to FOX for the Repub debate.