by Nicholas Beaudrot of Electoral Math
Via readable righty Ross Douthat, GOP strategist Patrick Ruffini argues that Republicans are making a mistake by skipping the CNN/YouTube debates. Ruffini thinks that "It's stuff like this that will set the GOP back an election cycle or more on the Internet. No matter the snazzy Web features and YouTube videos they may put up, if they're fundamentally uncomfortable with the idea of interacting with real people online, what's the point?"
This may be true, but only if the press and Democratic operatives start making it an issue. If Giuliani or Romney end up as the nominee, this is the sort of thing that must become an undercurrent to the campaign. During the almost guaranteed-to-happen general election "town hall" debate, John Edwards or Barack Obama needs to take one of the questions that asks about 'campaign theatrics' and run with it. "I was disappointed when Mitt Romney and over half the Republicans running for President decided not to participate in the YouTube debate to take questions from people across the country. Sure, it was a little strange to have a snowman ask me about global warming, but they were just trying to get their point across."
So just remember, kids, the Republican party doesn't understand YouTube, which means they don't understand you. Mitt Romney (R-MA) can't even tell the difference between YouTube and Myspace! Is that what you want in a President?
—Signed, Not Ezra Klein, dagnabbit.
