Today I saw most of the Visible Vote 08 democratic presidential candidate forum online, LIVE! Some thoughts:

  • The Visible Vote 08 website is TIIIIIGHT! During the live debate, they had live blogging, good photos, rapid video summaries of the candidates who had spoken just minutes prior, the ability for anybody to comment on the debate, good streaming live video with wonderful sound, a vote for which presidential candidate you support most on LGBT issues, and right after the live debate they put together video clips from all the candidates. Sweet! Ok, probably VERY costly to put together, but nicely done.
  • Who won the debate? Hands down, I’d have to say the moderators. HANDS DOWN. I don’t care how eloquent Obama was, how not-angry Mike Gravel seemed, how personable John Edwards was. Gotta give it to the moderators. Melissa Etheridge took the candidates to TASK — remember, this is the JOB of a moderator. She asked personal questions, she came back at a candidate and asked for more clarification on a question if the candidate averted the original question, and she was spontaneous and on POINT. I’ll say the SAME about the other two moderators — Joe Salomnese (HRC) and Jonathan Capehart (Washington Post). (the head moderator was also good — margaret carlson, former white house correspondent). This debate really made me think about the role of moderator. The questions were SPECIFIC, related to actual things each candidate did or said in the past, and oftentimes related the issues to broader issues that the candidates had to answer to. With the exception of a few questions, I found myself going “wow, great QUESTION!” after almost each one. Looking back, these moderators were all queer, all personally invested and politically invested in the issues discussed. Here’s a radical idea — what if we required moderators of all debates to be personally invested or at least politically invested in the issues (not like wolf blitzer or anderson cooper)? I guess that was partially the direction that the CNN/YouTube debate was going in, but the candidates ended up having too much leeway to direct the answer away from the question.
  • I really really appreciate the fact that all these candidates showed up to the debate. This is historic. In so many ways. Just a point of contrast, not ONE single republican candidate has agreed to show for a similar debate. If you will recall, only 2 republican candidates (and not any of the major ones) agreed to a YouTube style debate (like the CNN/YouTube debate for the dem candidates) in September. Notice I titled this post “LGBT presidential candidate forum”. I didn’t mention dems or republicans. What’s the point, the republicans aren’t making themselves visible.
  • Senator Obama. Smooth talking. Somewhat from the heart. Had some good things to say about homophobia in the black community, about his commitment to LGBT rights, but as always was slimy (talking around the issue) when it came to his support or non support of civil unions vs gay marriage. He won the debate online (got 34% of the online poll) but I think he’s mostly a smooth talker.
  • John Edwards. Oh he’s my man. Have I mentioned I *heart* Edwards and feel he is the most electable? As always he spoke from the heart. Was honest about not supporting gay marriage but supporting civil unions. Also spoke passionately about homeless gay teens in los angeles and how he was moved by their stories (after his recent trip to the LA Gay and Lesbian Center). Brought it back to the tale of two americas. Diplomatically refuted a question Melissa Etheridge asked about him being uncomfortable around gay people (NOT true!). He stumbled a bit through the forum, which isn’t like him these days. I missed the dinner/reception he was having at a local LA restaurant because I thought i’d get out of work too late. Heard it was good, from a friend.
  • Kucinich. Wow. Ok, not really electable, but I *heart* him too. Let’s just summarize his time by the moderator’s comments to him: Capehart: “Is there anything that the LGBT community wants that you ‘don’t’ support?” Etheridge: “I hope you always run for president until you win.” But the funniest — moderator: “Congressman, you are so evolved for a member of congress”. Kucinich gets #2 in the online poll on the visible vote website. Supports equal marriage rights for LGBT couples.
  • Mike Gravel. Took some xanax before the show? He wasn’t his riled up self! He was the uncle I want to have dinner with and talk politics with. It was really refreshing to see him casual and confident and pleasant. He’s a great guy, hands down. Check out some of his videos on the Visible Vote 08 site, some GREAT quotes there. Supports equal marriage rights for LGBT couples.
  • Bill Richardson. Bumbling. Slow talking. Brings things back to his record on voting, which is a good tactic. But hardly answers any questions directly. And when asked if homosexuality is a choice or otherwise, he right away answers with “it’s a choice!” He answers so quickly that the moderator has to ask the question again (maybe you didn’t understand the question) and gives background on people who think homosexuality is a choice that can be mended, fixed. I lose attention here as he drones on about how he’s not a scientist, etc. BLAH. Didn’t have an answer for what he’d do if given a bill in support of gay marriage. How is he still in the race?
  • Hillary Clinton. She’s a robot, she knows exactly what to say and when! You’d think she WAS president for 8 years already (instead of her husband). Gotta give her kudos for all that. She’s got good energy, and had quick responses back to the moderators. BUT, she REALLY tripped up when she mentioned that her non-support for gay marriage is a personal position but didn’t give any backup for that. And then she had another moment when she tried to defend her belief that gay rights are really an issue that should be left up to the states. Moderator Solomnese came RIGHT back at her, recalling that racists used states rights arguments when fighting against federal civil rights in the 1960′s. BLAM! gotcha. (see above mentioned winner of forum — MODERATORS!)

Phew! more than I thought I’d say. Check out the videos (already all up online with sections for each candidate — go online team!) at Visible Vote 08. Also check out the reportback from thebrotherlove. We were using Twitter together, sharing thoughts on the forum online as it was streaming live. We’re such geeks!
Over and out…

UPDATE: Anil Kalhan alerted me to a solid criticism of the moderators’ specifically and only asking the black candidate (Obama) about black homophobia and generalizing black homophobia in the first place (the entire black community does not think the way the black homophobes do, so it’s kind of a faulty term).