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Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees
You Asked It
Aired July 25, 2007 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm trying to provoke a debate here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How will you address these critics?
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think it is terrific.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I would like to know...
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm going to get to the question, Anderson.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thanks.
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ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: You asked it, they answered it in our unprecedented CNN/YouTube presidential debate.
In all, nearly 3,000 questions were submitted. But we could only post 39 of them to the Democratic candidates. And believe me, given how smart and important a lot of the questions were, we wish we had time for more of them to be heard.
So tonight, in the next hour we do. We're going to turn the program over to you with the questions that never made it to the debate, including some of the most unusual questions. Plus, your post-debate videos sent to CNN's I-Report.
Let's begin with the war in Iraq. It is potentially a make or break position for presidential candidates. Last night in our "You Asked" special we showed you some of the questions we received on the subject. Here are a few more.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My name is Tim Gingrich (ph). I'm an American. I live in Beijing, China. Coming to you now from Tiananmen Square which is the most political place can you find. As an American, it's pretty scary when I see people around protesting our country. People here like Americans. They're pretty confused about American government politics.
Even the taxi drivers are asking, what is America doing in Iraq? I want to know if you become president, what you are going to do to restore America's reputation overseas?
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) trying to get troops out of Iraq, what are the candidates' answers as to whether this should be done all at once or gradually? If the answer is gradually, how does this answer differ from the Republicans? If it is all at once, how do they answer the argument that Iran would take over Iraq?
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: For the past three years we have been in Iraq in what is called a war. Though Congress never declared a war in Iraq.
We have been in Iraq supposedly to find weapons of mass destruction and to overthrow Saddam Hussein and to fight terrorism.
Well, all these excuses aren't very good. I want to know what you will do to stop this prolonged war that is killing innocent lives in Iraq.
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COOPER: Those questions never made it to debate, but the Democrats were put on the record about what they plan to do about Iraq. Listen.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you for taking my question. The 2006 election gave the Democrats in office a mandate to end the U.S. occupation of Iraq. Since that time 800 of our military service members have died there.
As a mother of an American soldier deploying to Iraq for a second time, I would like to know if the perception is true that the Democrats are putting politics before conscience. How many more soldiers must die while these political games continue in our government? Is the reason that we're still in Iraq and seemingly will be for some time due to the Democrats' fear that blame for the loss of the war will be placed on them by the Republican spin machine?
COOPER: Senator Clinton? SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D-NY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, I want to thank her and her son for their service and their sacrifice. When we send a soldier or Marine to combat in Iraq, we really are sending a family.
And since the election of 2006, the Democrats have tried repeatedly to win Republican support with a simple proposition that we need to set a timeline to begin bringing our troops home now.
I happen to agree that there is no military solution, and the Iraqis refuse to pursue the political solutions. In fact, I asked the Pentagon a simple question: Have you prepared for withdrawing our troops? In response, I got a letter accusing me of being unpatriotic, that I shouldn't be asking questions.
Well, one of the problems is that there are a lot of questions that we're asking, but we're not getting answers from the Bush administration.
COOPER: Time.
CLINTON: And it's time for the Republicans to join us in standing up to the president to bring our troops home.
COOPER: Congressman Kucinich, the Democrats have been in power -- the Democrats have been in power for seven months. Nothing has changed in Iraq.
REP. DENNIS KUCINICH (D-OH), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If you're not going to answer the question, I'm going to answer the mother that troop -- question.
The answer to your question, ma'am, is yes. It is politics. The Democrats have failed the American people. When we took over in January, the American people didn't expect us to give them a Democratic version of the war. They expected us to act quickly to end the war.
And here's how we can do it. It doesn't take legislation. That's a phony excuse to say that you don't have the votes. We appropriated $97 billion a month ago. We should tell President Bush, no more funds for the war, use that money to bring the troops home, use it to bring the troops home.
And, Anderson, right, now if people want to send that message to Congress...
COOPER: OK. Senator...
KUCINICH: ... they can text "Peace 73223."
COOPER: Senator Dodd -- we're going to see your campaign commercial.
Senator Dodd, you're in the Congress. What about it? You've been in power seven months now. Nothing's changed in Iraq. SEN. CHRISTOPHER DODD (D-CT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: First of all, there are differences here. The first responsibility of the commander in chief is to keep our nation safe and secure. It has been said from the very beginning, There is no military solution to this civil war in Iraq.
I think it's incumbent upon the Congress. There is a sense of disappointment. We should set that time certain. I don't normally advocate that here, but I know of no other way we're going to convince the political and religious leaders in Iraq to take seriously their responsibility to decide to form a nation-state or not.
I think by saying with clarity here that we are withdrawing and redeploying our forces out of there, robustly pursuing diplomacy, which we have not done at all here. This administration treats statecraft and diplomacy as if it were a gift to your opponents here.
We need to have a program here that allows us to become much more engaged in the region.
The answer on Darfur isn't just what we do...
COOPER: No, no, no, no, let's not go to Darfur...
DODD: Well, no, because Iraq is related to Darfur, Anderson, here. It's because we're bogged down there at $10 billion a month, we've lost our moral leadership in the world. No one listens to us when it comes to foreign policy. That has to change in this country. That's the difference here.
(APPLAUSE)
COOPER: The question, though, is: Are the Democrats playing politics?
GOV. BILL RICHARDSON (D-NM), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: There's a big difference on Iraq between me and the Senators, and here's where it is.
The lives of our young troops are more important than George Bush's legacy.
This is where I stand. I believe we should bring all the troops home by the end of this year, in six months, with no residual forces -- no residual forces.
This is critically important. A hundred American troops are dying every month. And this war is a quagmire. It's endless.
COOPER: Time.
RICHARDSON: And the time has come to bring the troops home. No politics.
COOPER: Time.
RICHARDSON: Get it done.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: It's not just the war that's on your mind. We also heard a lot about the environment. That's next.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My name is Chuck Bankil (ph). I live in Streamwood, Illinois.
Gas prices are way too high and we do need to lower our dependence on Middle Eastern oil. We are doing a great job with ethanol by using corn.
My question is this: Is there a candidate willing to endorse the use of more sugar-based ethanol imported from Brazil which is much less expensive, much better for the environment, even at the risk of losing Iowa?
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello, candidates. Buenos Dias. My name is Bow Regard (ph). My question is very simple: What do you plan to do about our fuel future? It is getting ridiculous and something needs to be done. Please tell me what are your plans for our fuel future? Thank you for the opportunity.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello. I'm Aqua Man from Atlantis. I have a question for the candidates. What do you plan on doing about global warming and about the pollution of our fair oceans?
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COOPER: We received a lot of questions about global warming. Probably none as creative as using one of the super friends as your spokesperson.
The candidates answered a few of them, but there were many others that we feel deserve to be noticed. Here are some of them.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My name is Carrie Roy (ph) and I'm a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin.
Like many other people in my community, I commute by bike, I try to buy local produce, and I use energy efficient appliances and light bulbs. But it's not enough. Also many farmers around here and in my home state of North Dakota are struggling to make ends meet.
What are your thoughts on Al Gore's proposal to the Congress to institute a national decentralized power grid? I'm intrigued.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My question is for Senator Obama.
Our country's oil addiction is a dangerous one. It shapes our foreign policy, contributes to global warming, creates smog and we are running out of it. Hybrid vehicles are a great start, but they are still gas dependent.
Plug-in electrical vehicles create zero emissions and need no oil. They can get their power from any source. We have the technology available.
As president, what will do you to encourage major car companies to develop plug-in electrics and how will you create an infrastructure of charging stations for them?
Thank you.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look here, global warming is a cancer. It's spreading its tentacles across the planet.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have a question for Senator Barack Obama.
We all know our dogs can sense danger, they can smell cancer, they can hear earthquakes and tsunamis well before we can feel them.
Now, thanks to Sterling, shouldn't we all be on high alert?
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Please, Senator Obama, tell me what you would do specifically to help about global warming.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you going to increase our taxes?
Are you going to tax the carbon content of coal and oil?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Harry, do you have a particular pet peeve?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm peeved that Sterling is really suffering. This is an ongoing problem.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: The environment has emerged as a key issue in the 2008 election and one that you called the candidates out on.
Take a look.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello, Democratic candidates. I've been growing concerned that global warming, the single-most important issue to the snowmen of this country, is being neglected.
As president, what will do you to ensure that my son will live a full and happy life? Thank you.
COOPER: It's a funny video. It's a serious question.
Congressman Kucinich?
KUCINICH: Well, we have to understand the connection between global warring and global warming. Because when we start talking about wars for oil, we're essentially keeping the same approach to energy.
So I'm saying we need to move away from reliance on oil and coal and towards reliance on wind and solar.
And Anderson, that's the basis of my WGA, Works Green Administration, where we take an entirely new approach to organize the entire country around sustainability, around conservation. We don't have to have our snowmen melting, and the planet shouldn't be melting either.
COOPER: Are the people on this stage, are your fellow candidates, are they green enough?
KUCINICH: No. And I think that the reason is that if you support, for example, in Iraq, if you say that Iraq should privatize its oil for the U.S. oil companies, then what you're doing is you're continuing a commitment to use more oil.
If you believe that all options should be put on the table with respect to Iran, that's about oil.
So we need to move away from reliance on oil...
COOPER: Time.
KUCINICH: ... and that's really connected to our defense policy, and I'm the one who gets the connection.
COOPER: All right.
(END VIDEOTAPE) (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi. My name is Shawn (ph), and I'm from Ann Arbor, Michigan.
There is a scientific consensus for man caused climate change. And I've heard each of you talk in previous debates about alternative energy sources like solar or wind. But I have not heard any of you speak your opinion on nuclear power.
I believe that nuclear power is safer, cleaner, and provides a quicker avenue to energy independence than other alternatives. I'm curious what each of you believe.
COOPER: Senator Edwards? JOHN EDWARDS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Wind, solar, cellulose-based biofuels are the way we need to go. I do not favor nuclear power. We haven't built a nuclear power plant in decades in this country. There is a reason for that. The reason is it is extremely costly. It takes an enormous amount of time to get one planned, developed and built. And we still don't have a safe way to dispose of the nuclear waste. And it's a huge problem for America over the long term. I also don't believe we should liquefy coal. The last thing we need is another carbon-based fuel in America. We need to find fuels that are in fact renewable, clean, and will allow us to address directly the question that has been raised, which is the issue of global warming, which I believe is a crisis. COOPER: Senator Obama? SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I actually think that we should explore nuclear power as part of the energy mix. There are no silver bullets to this issue. We've got to develop solar. I have proposed drastically increasing fuel efficiency standards on cars, an aggressive cap on the amount of greenhouse gases that can be emitted. But we're going to have to try a series of different approaches. The one thing I have to remind folks, though, of -- we've been talking about this through Republican administrations and Democratic administrations for decades. And the reason it doesn't change -- you can take a look at how Dick Cheney did his energy policy. He met with environmental groups once. He met with renewable energy folks once. And then he met with oil and gas companies 40 times. And that's how they put together our energy policy. We've got to put the national interests ahead of special interests, and that's what I'll do as president of the United States.
COOPER: Senator Clinton, what is Senator Edwards -- why is he wrong on nuclear power? CLINTON: Well, first of all, I have proposed a strategic energy fund that I would fund by taking away the tax breaks for the oil companies, which have gotten much greater under Bush and Cheney. And we could spend about $50 billion doing what America does best. It's time we start acting like Americans again. We can solve these problems if we focus on innovation and technology. So, yes, all these alternative forms of energy are important. So is fuel efficiency for cars and so is energy efficiency for buildings. I'm agnostic about nuclear power. John is right, that until we figure out what we're going to do with the waste and the cost, it's very hard to see nuclear as a part of our future. But that's where American technology comes in. Let's figure out what we're going to do about the waste and the cost if we think nuclear should be a part of the solution. But this issue of energy and global warming has the promise of creating millions of new jobs in America. COOPER: Time. CLINTON: So it can be a win-win if we do it right.
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COOPER: From global warming to God. Next, the YouTube debate turns to faith and your questions on religion.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mark Strauss (ph), Davenport, Iowa.
I've never been real religious and I'm not gay. I am an American, though. You handle the civil. Let my church handle the holy. As president, will you promote laws that actually define what my god or anyone else's god deems as holy union?
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My name is Eric. I'm from Boston, Massachusetts.
I'd like to know what steps you have taken and will continue to take to cultivate respect among the variety of religious traditions your constituents practice.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, my name is Freddy (ph). And I live in Rockville, Maryland with my owner.
Sometimes I feel like the candidates treat us like guinea pigs. They always want to try a new spin on us just to see how we react, which makes me wonder where they really stand on the different issues.
President Bush has made a lot of mistakes, but there is one thing I believe he does well. He is a man of convictions.
My questions to the candidates is this: What are your deepest convictions and can you cite an example of how you were able to stand by a conviction despite public opinion and other forms of resistance.
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COOPER: A little humor for a serious issue.
A lot of politicians say convictions grow out of a strong sense of faith. It's been a major topic in this campaign, especially how religion and power would play out in the White House.
Here's some of what you had to say about it.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: While, it's nice to hear Democrats fighting the Republican chestnut that only the GOP can represent people of faith. That can be a double-edged sword.
With creationists constantly trying to hijack science curriculums and the religious right, including Mr. Bush, attacking the stem-cell research that can improve and extend the quality of life for millions, my question is: How much of a role should faith play in determining direction for our elected leaders?
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello. My name is Alex Jones.
We've all heard a lot about your individual religious beliefs and how they will effect your policymaking decisions. But my question is regarding the one-tenth of the U.S. population who chooses to acknowledge themselves as an atheist or an agnostic. What sense of secularism are you going to bring to the White House? Thanks.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's up? My name is Luke and I'm from Washington.
Now the first amendment to the constitution guarantees the right to a freedom of religion to all Americans. One of the things the constitution talks about is the need for separation of church and state.
Now I totally understand why and agree with the need the government should be impartial when it comes to religion.
My question for you is this: What are your views exactly when it comes to student expression of religion inside the public classroom?
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COOPER: While we didn't have nearly enough time for all the questions on religion, we did get the candidates talking about it.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, I'm Zenne Abraham (ph) in Oakland, California.
The cathedral behind me is the perfect backdrop for this question. This quarter reads "United States of America." And when I turn it over, you find that it reads "Liberty, in God We Trust." What do those words mean to you? Thank you.
COOPER: Senator Biden? SEN. JOE BIDEN (D-DE), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Religion informs my values. My reason dictates outcomes. My religion taught me about abuse of power. That's why I moved to write the Violence Against Women Act. That's why I take the position I take on Darfur. It came about as a consequence of the reasoning that we're able to do it. You know, look, I don't think they're inconsistent. I don't find anything inconsistent about my deep, religious beliefs and my ability to use reason. I think the coin's got it just right. I think I have it in perspective. COOPER: Here's a question from the other side of the coin.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good evening. My name is Stephen Marsh (ph) from Thousand Oaks, California, proud citizen of the United States of America that does not believe in god.
However, the former President Bush said this statement was an oxymoron. Now I am worried about the amount of time given to evangelical concerns while secular voters are more or less getting snubbed -- the faith and politics forum.
So my question is this: Am I wrong in fearing a Democratic administration that may pay lip service to the extremely religious as much as the current one? And if so, why?
Thank you for your time.
COOPER: Senator Edwards? EDWARDS: As president of the United States, we will embrace and lift up all Americans, whatever their faith beliefs or whether they have no faith belief, as Stephen just spoke about. That's what America is. Now, my faith is enormously important to me personally. It's gotten me through some hard times, as I'm sure that's true of a lot of the candidates who are on this stage. But it is crucial that the American people know that as president it will not be my job -- and I believe it would be wrong -- for me to impose my personal faith beliefs on the American people or to decide any kind of decision, policy decision, that will affect America on the basis of my personal faith beliefs. COOPER: Senator Obama? OBAMA: I am proud of my Christian faith. And it informs what I do. And I don't think that people of any faith background should be prohibited from debating in the public square. OBAMA: But I am a strong believer in the separation of church and state, and I think that we've got to translate -- by the way, I support it not just for the state, but also for the church, because that maintains our religious independence and that's why we have such a thriving religious life. But what I also think is that we are under obligation in public life to translate our religious values into moral terms that all people can share, including those who are not believers. And that is how our democracy's functioning, will continue to function. That's what the founding fathers intended. (END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Later in the show, some very unusual and creative questions. But next, guns in America. A right or a wrong? Here's what you wanted to know.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello. My name is Landon Williams (ph) from Woodstock, Georgia.
And my question to all the candidates is: What will you do to increase the number of sportsmen, as I mean fishermen and hunters? Also, what will do you to stop PETA, as they too are infringing on our rights to hunt and fish. Thank you.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Senator Obama and other politicians who say they support a ban on military style assault weapons and yet they still support the second amendment in hunting. My question to all of you is, given the Bush administration's disregard for civil liberties and other politicians seemingly doing the same, how are we supposed to defend our individual liberty against government tyranny that the founding fathers intended for the second amendment to do if we don't have these military style assault weapons?
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm Jeff Miller from Charleston, South Carolina.
And if one of you candidates would happen to become the vice president rather than the president and you shot someone in the face, what would you do?
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COOPER: We're turning tonight over to you, with some of the questions from the CNN/YouTube presidential debate that were never answered by the candidates.
One question many of you wanted addressed was on guns and gun control. Here are a few more.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, my name's Matty (ph). I'm from Boston, Massachusetts.
My question for the candidates is about gun control. About two years ago four friends of mine were shot to death in a recording studio. In the last month a 9-year-old and a 7-year-old have been shot, one killed. It seems to be out of control, at least on our streets. And I think it's even worse in New Orleans, from what I've read. What you are going to do to make the gun companies responsible for all the illegal guns that seem to be getting onto the street?
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To all candidates, the gun free zone policy at Virginia Tech was followed by all but one person earlier this year. Gun control just seems to provide safety for those terrorizing unarmed sitting duck citizens. I'm concerned about my right to defend myself in a violent world where police tend to arrive on a crime seen not with protection, but with plastic bags for evidence and bodies.
Is the answer to crime more gun control or simply to allow me responsibility for my own safety? How do you interpret the second amendment?
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Aloha. My name is Dennis Shekette (ph) and I live in Lahaina, Hawaii.
My question is for both Republican and Democratic candidates. The right to bear arms came about because America needed its farmers to help protect America in case England, France or Spain invaded it. We now we have the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines to defend us. Americans now use the right to bear arms to kill other Americans.
So my question is this: Which one of the presidential candidates standing before us has never taken money from the gun industry?
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COOPER: The issue of guns in America provided one of the most compelling -- and for one candidate, disturbing moments of the debate. Watch.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good evening, America. My name is Jarrod Townsend (ph) from Clio, Michigan.
To all the candidates, tell me your position on gun control, as myself and other Americans really want to know if our babies are safe. This is my baby. Purchased under the 1994 gun ban. Please tell me your views. Thank you.
COOPER: Governor Richardson, you have one of the highest NRA ratings. RICHARDSON: The issue here, I believe, is instant background checks. Nobody who has a criminal background or is mentally ill should be able to get a weapon. That is the key, and that includes gun sales. That includes gun sales at gun shows. The key is going to be also attacking poverty, bringing people together, dealing with those kids in the ghettos that are heavy users of gun violence and they are victims of gun violence, to make sure that this country attacks the core problems of poverty, having child care, bringing parents together. COOPER: Senator Biden, are you going to be able to keep his baby safe? BIDEN: I'll tell you what, if that's his baby, he needs help. (APPLAUSE) BIDEN: I think he just made an admission against self-interest. I don't know that he is mentally qualified to own that gun. I'm being serious. Look, this idea we go around talking about people who, who own -- I'm the guy that originally wrote the assault weapons ban that became law, and then we got defeated and then Barbara -- excuse me, then Dianne Feinstein went to town on it and did a great job. Look, we should be working with law enforcement right now to make sure that we protect people against people who don't -- are not capable of knowing what to do with a gun because they're either mentally imbalanced and/or because they have a criminal record, and... COOPER: Time. (END VIDEOTAPE) COOPER: Just ahead, taxes. The candidates have their say about it. First, let's hear from you.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi. My name is Tim Brady, Sarasota, Florida.
Special interests have rewritten the tax code and the super rich manage to avoid paying a fair share of taxes. Let's fix it with a straight-forward tax reform proposal. Call it the 50 percent over a million rule. Simply, all income over a million dollars gets taxed at a flat rate of 50 percent.
I want to ask the candidates, would you support the simple step towards increased fairness and taxation? Thank you.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello. I'm Caton Dawson (ph), chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party.
Most of you have voted to repeal the Bush tax cuts and on the campaign trail you've promised to raise taxes. Please put a dollar amount on how much you intend to raise our taxes. Thank you.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our Pentagon spends as much money on the military as the entire rest of the world combined spends on their militaries. And a lot of that money is for obsolete Cold War weapons. This sounds crazy.
Meanwhile, our kids don't have enough money for health care and our schools are broke.
As president, would you be willing to take some money to the Pentagon and help to take care of our kids and get our national budget priorities right side up?
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COOPER: That's Ben Cohen of Ben & Jerry's. The ice cream maker is talking about the military budget and how he wants the money to be used.
It's clear money matters in the 2008 election. And when it comes to taxes, you want the candidates to tell you the truth on what they promise to do.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My name is Anthony Moore (ph), and I live in Georgia.
My question is for any Democratic candidate. Most poor middle- class Americans want to eliminate the IRS. You would scrap the IRS? Would you replace the income tax with a national flat tax or a value added tax or what would you do?
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, my name is Josh from Suwanee, Georgia.
My question is to all the Democratic candidates. I have watched the debates and most of you have expressed that you intend to raise taxes. As you can see, I'm a young person. I'm trying to become successful in life. And I already lose about a third of everything I make to taxes.
My question is, couldn't you just spend my money a little more wisely? I'd appreciate an answer. Good luck in the debates. I'll be watching.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My money, my tax money goes to policing the world to make it safe for U.S. corporations to grow pineapples, to take oil and other natural resources from people in other countries and I think that's wrong. So what is your view on corporate personhood, candidates? That's my question.
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COOPER: Well, the topic of taxes is certainly serious. But it's also shown just how creative some of the questions were during the debate.
Here comes the guitar guy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This here's a two-part question. (SINGING): Pay taxes on my clothes and food, pay taxes on my place, pay taxes on my moisturizer, I pay taxes on my weights. I pay taxes on my land. Every year, y'all make me pay. I pay the tax on this guitar so I can sing for you today. My taxes put some kids in college I can't afford to send myself. Now, tell me, if you were elected president, what would you do to help? Also, I got a parking ticket last week. Could one of y'all pardon me? (APPLAUSE) COOPER: Senator Biden, this guy's overtaxed. BIDEN: First of all, change the tax structure. We are giving people tax breaks who don't need it. The top 1 percent got an $85 billion a year tax break. It is not needed. My dad used to have an expression -- don't tell me what you value, show me your budget. And the budget we have here is we all dance around it. We need more revenue to be able to pay for the things the governor and everybody else talks about. And there's only one way to do it. You either raise taxes or take tax cuts away from people who don't need them. I'd take them away from people who don't need them. COOPER: I'm sorry. There's another tax question right here. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My name is Marcus Benson (ph) from Minneapolis. And I'd like to know, if the Democrats come into office, are my taxes going to rise like usually they do when a Democrat gets in office? COOPER: Congressman Kucinich, are the taxes going to rise? KUCINICH: The answer is no, that we're going to stop the tax increases that President Bush gave to people in the top brackets. We're going to end war as an instrument of policy, with the defense policy of strength through peace. So we're not going to be borrowing money from China to fight wars in Baghdad. We're going to lower our trade deficit by ending NAFTA and the WTO and going back to trade based on worker's rights. We're going to have a change in our economy so that people will be able to get something for the taxes they pay, but they're not going to have to pay more. (END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: With more and more jobs being outsourced, a lot of you wanted to know what the next president's going to do to keep you employed. We'll put it in focus next.
First, a question on the subject.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ed Shelling (ph), Meridian, Mississippi.
Hopefully in the next administration we'll downgrade our involvement in Iraq and focuses attention on solving real economic issues that plague the average American family state side.
A couple that come to mind are the rising cost of health care, out of control energy prices. And also we should create jobs that would help us curb the effect of third world intervention on our manufacturing and production processes.
I'm asking for your particular realistic approaches to solving these problems.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi. My name is Rincos (ph) from Brooklyn, New York.
My question is for Hillary Clinton. If Chelsea Clinton's job was outsourced, what would you do to stop American jobs from being outsourced to foreign countries for cheap labor? Thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My question is, as American computer programmers continue to lose jobs to outsourcing and H-1B visas, what will you do as president to prevent computer programming from becoming a lost art in the United States?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: She's referring to visas which allow skilled workers to take jobs in this country, the condition being that the company wanting to hire a foreign worker can't find an American to do the job.
Critics say the companies are exploiting a provision to hire cheaper overseas workers which in turn drives American wages down. It's the reality for millions of white-collar workers today.
Here's a similar question from a blue collar worker.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello. My name is Dan Laconahay (ph). And I'm a proud American blue-collar worker.
And if elected, what I'm wondering is, what are you going to do to try to stop manufacturing jobs from being outsourced overseas or what you are going to do to create new jobs for the displaced and the unemployed?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What you would really do?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: The minimum wage just went up for the first time in years. It will rise two more times by the summer of '09 to $7.25 an hour.
At the debate, candidates fielded a question on it. Like all 39 questions, it was intended to hit home and in this case literally. Check it out.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi. I'm Cecilia Smith (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I'm Lochontay Logan (ph). And we're from Pennsylvania.
And our question is to all the candidates and it's regarding the national minimum wage.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Congress seems to never have a problem when it comes time to give themself a raise. But when it came time to increase the minimum wage, they had a problem.
My question to the candidate, if you're elected to the service, would you be willing to do this service for the next four years and be paid the national minimum wage?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: So pretty simple, yes or no. Minimum wage, by the way, goes up tomorrow to $6.55. In 2009 it will be $7.25.
Senator Gravel, would you work for the minimum wage? FORMER SEN. MIKE GRAVEL (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Oh, yes, I would, but I would say that we don't need a minimum wage, we need a living wage. We don't have that in this country because of what they passed. COOPER: Senator Dodd, would you work for the minimum wage? DODD: I have two young daughters here. I'm trying to educate them. I don't think I could live on the minimum wage. But I'm a strong advocate for seeing to it that we increase it at least to $9 or $10 to give people a chance out there to be able to provide for their families. COOPER: Senator Edwards? DODD: That's leadership in the country. COOPER: Senator Edwards? EDWARDS: Yes. COOPER: Yes. Senator Clinton? CLINTON: Sure. Senator Obama? OBAMA: Well, we can afford to work for the minimum wage because most folks on this stage have a lot of money. It's the folks... (APPLAUSE) ... on that screen who deserve -- you're doing all right, Chris, compared to, I promise you...
(CROSSTALK) (LAUGHTER) (APPLAUSE) DODD: Not that well, I'll tell you, Barack. OBAMA: I mean, we don't have -- we don't have Mitt Romney money, but... (CROSSTALK) OBAMA: But we could afford to do it for a few years. Most folks can't. And that's why we've got to fight and advocate for... COOPER: Governor -- Governor Richardson, yes? RICHARDSON: Yes, I would. COOPER: OK. Senator Biden? BIDEN: I don't have Barack Obama money either. (LAUGHTER)
BIDEN: My net worth is $70,000 to $150,000. That's what happens you get elected at 29. I couldn't afford to stay in the Congress for minimum wage. But if I get a second job, I'd do it. (LAUGHTER) COOPER: Congressman Kucinich? KUCINICH: Anderson, I live in the same house I purchased in 1971 for $22,500. I think we need to increase the minimum wage and so all my neighbors can get an increase in their wages. COOPER: So would you work for it? KUCINICH: I would. COOPER: OK. KUCINICH: But I wouldn't want to... COOPER: By the way, you'd all get overtime, too. So don't worry about that. (END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: We received tons of feedback on the debate from our blog where viewers posted comments in CNN I-Reports like this one.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi. My name is (UNINTELLIGIBLE). And I live in Long Island, New York. And I just got finished watching the CNN YouTube debates. And I must say that I feel that Hillary Clinton came out extremely strong after tonight. She showed that she can handle being in a room with a bunch of men and handle her own. And she spoke well. She spoke strong. And she even showed a little bit of her sense of humor, which I think a lot of us as Americans don't really get to see.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Regarding the debates tonight, I really thought that John Edwards really stood out. I didn't really think about him as a contender until tonight.
Hillary Clinton did great.
Barack Obama, he looked really inexperienced and fumbling.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: YouTube debate is an exciting opportunity for democracy. And we hope it's just the beginning of this kind of debate in politics.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But actual into a presidency.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right. Maybe a president -- the next president should have a video blog, you know, where...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Instead of just...
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... questions are submitted and the president responds.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: If you want to weigh in, just go to our blog at CNN.com/360.
Up next, the questions weren't just about politics. They were about all kinds of things including the unexpected.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) from Nashville, Tennessee.
I want to ask the presidential candidates, what is the worst thing you ever did that you won't tell us.
SINGING: Oh, what is the worst thing you ever did? What is the worst thing you ever did? What is the worst thing you ever did that you won't tell us?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My question is for any of the candidates. What would you do to help stop the fraud and the waste that does go on in our government?
We know that toiletries don't really cost $500 to make. Let's stop this nonsense right now and with all the money saved we could feed the hungry or we could shelter the homeless.
Whoever gives me the best answer, I'm going to do the chicken dance for you.
And I'm going to send you some of my daughter's wonderful home baked cookies.
Thank you, and God bless America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Question about government waste, delivered by a woman in a chicken costume with the offer of cookies for the best answer. That's unusual.
We spent much of this hour on some serious questions, questions you want the presidential candidates to answer. But there have been some lighter moments from the CNN YouTube debate. We'll get to those in a moment.
First, a sampling of the questions we didn't have time for. These are the ones that show off your creativity and sense of humor.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The past six years have made me think that perhaps voters should have the opportunity to assess the intelligence of a candidate before we elect him or her to the highest office in the land.
Therefore, to all the candidates, would you be willing to submit to an IQ test administered by Emansa (ph) or another reputable organization? And should the results come back with a score of, say, 130 or less, would you be willing to voluntarily drop out of the race?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hello. My name is Traci Reagas (ph) and I'm from Gainesville, Florida.
And my question is for all of the candidates. The United States has 50 beautiful places where we can all visit and explore. If you had three days to go anywhere in the United States, where you would go and what you would do? There are no easy answers here. You cannot pick your home state. I look forward to your answers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The following question is for all the candidates.
President Bush is often accused of having his policy shaped by corporate interests.
Like oil and peace.
Pharmaceutical companies.
Our kiddie (ph) votes you'll not receive lest you answer us these questions three.
Who are your major financial contributors?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why can't I find them on your Web site?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And to what extent would you allow these supporters to influence your policy?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello, everyone. (UNINTELLIGIBLE), from Knoxville, Tennessee.
I want a president whose words can inspire Americans to work towards a common goal, to share a common dream. Just as John F. Kennedy wanted to put a man on the moon or James K. Polk wanted to stretch this nation from sea to shining sea, I want a president who has a vision for America.
So, as president, what would that be and how would you lead us there?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: It looks like that guy is ready for the presidency.
As for those who really are running, they all got a chuckle from one particular question which gave me a chance to use a line that was hard to resist.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My name is Jason Coop (ph), and I'm from Colorado Springs, Colorado. And my question is for all the candidates and it is intended to lighten up the mood a little bit. I would like each of you to look at the candidate to your left and tell the audience one thing you like and one thing you dislike about that particular candidate. And remember, be honest.
COOPER: Senator Gravel?
GRAVEL: I turn to my left and I like Chris Dodd. I knew his dad, I served with his dad.
I do have a difference of opinion with respect to where the money's coming from.
I've advocated, people, follow the money if you want to find out what's going to happen after any one of these individuals are elected. Follow the money, because it's politics as usual is what you're seeing.
COOPER: Senator Dodd?
DODD: I like John Edwards. I love his wife Elizabeth and his family, and I think we've had enough of negative in politics. I have nothing negative to say about the gentleman.
(APPLAUSE)
COOPER: You're not going to answer the question. All right.
Senator Edwards?
EDWARDS: I admire what Senator Clinton has done for America, what her husband did for America.
I'm not sure about that coat.
(LAUGHTER)
COOPER: Senator Clinton?
CLINTON: Yes, John, it's a good thing we're ending soon.
(LAUGHTER)
CLINTON: You know, I think that Chris Dodd has it absolutely right. I mean, I admire and like very much Barack, as I do with all of the candidates here.
And I think that what you've seen tonight is how ready the Democrats are to lead. We are ready to lead the change that America so desperately needs.
COOPER: All right. I'll take that as you're not going to answer.
Senator Obama? OBAMA: I actually like Hillary's jacket. I don't know what's wrong with it.
And I like the fact that Bill Richardson has devoted his life to public service, because that, I think, is the highest of callings.
I don't like the fact that he either likes the Yankees or the Red Sox, but doesn't apparently like the White Sox. And we're having a tough time this year.
COOPER: Governor Richardson?
RICHARDSON: You know, let me just say, I love all of the candidates here.
In fact, I think they would all do great in the White House as my vice president.
(LAUGHTER)
RICHARDSON: Let me say something about Joe Biden.
(APPLAUSE)
RICHARDSON: Joe Biden -- you know, the only negative thing about Joe. We disagree on Iraq very strongly, on Darfur. But this man has devoted his whole life to public service. He's been a distinguished chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He's had great contributions in civil rights, in issues relating to gun control, in Supreme Court nominees. He will make an excellent secretary of state for me.
(LAUGHTER)
COOPER: Senator Biden?
BIDEN: I don't like a damn thing about him. I -- no, I'm only kidding. Only kidding.
(LAUGHTER)
BIDEN: Dennis and I have been friends for 25 years. I think this is a ridiculous exercise.
Dennis, the thing I like best about you is your wife.
(LAUGHTER)
COOPER: Congressman Kucinich, talking about Senator Gravel.
KUCINICH: Wait a minute. He talked about my wife.
COOPER: Well...
KUCINICH: You notice what CNN did. They didn't put anybody to the left of me. Think about it. (LAUGHTER)
COOPER: I'm not sure it would be possible to find anybody.
(LAUGHTER)
KUCINICH: And you know what? And you know...
(APPLAUSE)
KUCINICH: And -- and I'm glad I get a chance to debate you to my left, because there's no one more mainstream on the war, on health care and on trade than I am, Anderson.
Now, about Senator Gravel -- didn't he show great courage during the Vietnam War, when he exposed what was going on with the Pentagon Papers. Really courageous American. I'm proud that he's up here.
Thank you, Senator Gravel.
COOPER: All right, we'll leave it at that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Some frank moments from the presiential candidates brought on by people like you.
It doesn't end here. September 17th the Republicans are going to meet. Try to get your questions ready for the CNN YouTube Republican debate. That's going to be in St. Petersburg, Florida.
That does it for us tonight. Thanks for joining us and being part of this groundbreaking debate.
For our international viewers, "CNN TODAY" is next. Here in America, "LARRY KING" is coming up.
I'll see you tomorrow.
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