Republican YouTube Debate: The General Controversy

The Weekly Standard called the latest CNN/YouTube debate depressing, accused CNN of "mediocrity" and characterized Ron Paul supporters as "loons." Captain's Quarters, on the other hand, noted the elimination of "silliness."

But what has the red state blogosphere tied up in knots is that retired Brigadier Army General Keith Kerr "listed all his military credentials and then left the crowd silent by saying at the end of his video that he is 'an openly gay man' and wants to know why gays can't serve in the military." Kerr, a high-profile gay activist, serves on Hilliary's campaign and was also a "Vet for Kerry."

There was no such gnashing of teeth (on either side of the aisle) in July when the Department Chair for National Security, Intelligence and Space at the American Military University asked Democratic candidates when "will all US troops be out of Iraq, and how many family members do you have serving in uniform?"

I don't know his "politics" -- but he, like Kerr, is "military" to the core: a former Deputy Chair at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (part of the National Defense University, one of two war colleges under the direction of the Joint Chiefs of Staff).

In both cases, the man asking the question did so not in a partisan manner; rather, he did so as a person with an intimate understanding of the culture at the root of the inquiry. Both questions are valid ones for every candidate for President, no matter their source.

Missed the Republican Debate? Read a transcript or check out the video questions.

From July, Google Clear Winner In YouTube Debate; CNN-YouTube Ads, Democratic Debate; the 38 Democratic Questions; and A Powerful, Overlooked Question.