WASHINGTON (CNN) - Nearly 5 million viewers tuned in to watch the CNN/YouTube Republican presidential debate Wednesday night, making it the highest rated primary debate in cable news history.
A total of 4.9 million viewers watched the Republican candidates square off – 4.4 million on CNN and 500,000 on CNN Headline News, which simulcast the debate.
CNN’s Democratic presidential debate at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas two weeks ago is the second highest-rated debate in history, with 4 million total viewers.
With five weeks to go before the first wave of voters weigh in at the polls, the historic television audiences seem to indicate a growing interest in what have shaped up to be wide-open primary contests in both parties.
From CNN Politics
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Oh no, please don't encourage the Youtube geeks
Just a terrible example of CNN stacking the debate. We can never trust anything you people do or say. First, planting good ole' Hillary questions and then the gay general. You people are a joke. The you Tubetube thing is ridiculous after Anderson said we would not use comics or sick humor this evening. What was the VP Cheney mimic about?
CNN doesn't have one story about the contraversial debate coverage, which diplayed its absolute bias once again. Were there any questions that were not from the liberal left? Are we supposed to believe that CNN had no idea the General asking about gays in the military was working for the Clinton campaign? Not one mention, even though the story was headline news! I will give them this, they do not worry about showing their stripes, they are rip-roaring liberals out to defeat Republicans. There is a reason they are called the Clinton News Network... Very sad
Congratulations Anderson , and CNN on your big win.
The Duh/Tube Republican debate was a liberal network twisting the issues
with Clinton plants and a slant towards homosexual rights. It's not
illegal to be a homosexual, but as
"sexual orientation" seems to be on
the CNN/NBC/Clinton liberal agenda,
soon they will be granting "special
rights" to a small group of people who
made a choice to be homosexual. Only
liberal psychologists/psudeo scientists think homosexuality is
inherited. It's a choice, period !
LAST NIGHT CNN BECAME CBS AND LITTLE ANDERSON COOPER BECAME DAN RATHER....
General Keith Kerr's ticket to the Republican debate was paid for by CNN and he was able to spend more time asking his "set-up" question than any candidate was allowed to have to answer. CNN KNEW he was in Clinton's camp and was part of the "set-up" to try and embarass the Republicans. Folks, thank goodness it backfired on you and Anderson Cooper should have had more sense than to do something this underhanded. A news organization .... what a joke!
um, Ron Paul?
CNN mislead 4.9 million viewers into believing they were seeing candidates answer important political questions from unbiased sources..
I watched CNN for at least two hours today and didn't hear a word about the gay General working for the Clinton campaign, I thought that would be news. I guess not.
The choice of what videos' to show was on you Anderson and picking the democratic's surgates sure shows where YOU and CNN stands on being FAIR AND BALANCED.
WORLD POPULATION EXPLOSION, CLIMATE CHANGE, PROLONGED PERIODS OF DROUGHT WITH WATER SHORTAGES, AND SPECIES EXTINCTION. AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO CARES ABOUT THESE ISSUES...
To CNN, don't waste our time or the political candidates with those stupid questions like you all did last night (the last question being about base ball). Who cares! What we do care about his hearing from the candidates about issues not cute questions! CNN should be ashamed!
i feel AC was outof lie letting the gay gen speak from te floor when he already did the youtube bit, the others did not get the same chance.
AC in my opinon is favoring the gay communitity
The "staff" at CNN who selected the questions showed out NOT in TOUCH with America they are by focusing so much on gay military rights. Now I won't deny that we should address this as an issue, but we're at war and supposedly Americans are waking up with other matters on their minds, yet CNN choose to highlight gay rights...
But it was a manipulated and deceptive event. CNN took the time to carefully screen the questions, find a 13 year old Romney quote, create a trap for Romney and fly Keith Kerr to Fla., but they couldn't 'google' Keith Kerr, Retired Colonel ?
CNN, I challenge you as a network to actually become the most trusted name in news. As long as there have been news agencies, there has been political bias in reporting, but it's becoming more and more clear that the interference into politics by news networks such as CNN and others has increased the partisan hatred a hundredfold, and this country is being ripped apart at the seams. We need to be able to unite, to listen to and respect each other's ideas without the childish bickering and namecalling. And you at CNN should be ashamed of yourselves for interfering in the two most recent debates by allowing planted questions that clearly favor one party and one candidate over all others.
So I challenge you to end the planted questions and the blatant Clinton favoritism, and if you can't, then I hope that all the candidates, Republican and Democrat, who haven't been given a fair shake will decline all future invitations to debates hosted on CNN
I watched in complete dismay that one of the most important issues on most of Americans mind: Health Care never came up. Am I surprised? Not exactly, but what a HUGE disapointment and diservice to this country. WHAT A SHAME CNN !!!!!
Annoy CNN, vote Republican.
Ron Paul was clearly the winner in last nights republican debate. The rest of them are status quo and all of you are in for a rude awakening. You can try all you want to say and give the other candidates your support but the small business owners in the U.S. will support Ron Paul. The media is owned by the Jews in the country, the Senate and congress are owned by the REPUBLICATS/DEMOCANS and they both work hand in hand to try to divide and conquer us.This is the new organized crime in the United States and its days are numbered.Hopefully many of them will be sent to jail as where the past organized crime syndicates in the history of the country.
The CNN Republican debate lasted over 2 hours Wednesday night, but once more, we learned nothing about what the candidates would do about the economic dilemma we are in. Not a word about the housing crisis, or the credit crunch. Not a word about the Recession Wall Street is betting on. We learned nothing about the broken health care system, stagnant wages, rising food, gasoline, and college costs. Nothing about global warming, trade deficits, energy dependence – we heard the same conservative rhetoric about not raising taxes, but slashing domestic spending by using the veto pen -when, in actuality, where we are at this point, this would be like squashing a gnat on a giant! Ron Paul , though given little time in the debate, at least knows where the money is, by pledging to bring the troops home, and save billions in the military budget. We did learn where they are on "securing the borders", outlawing abortion, reading the bible,gays in the military, protecting guns, and cutting taxes on the wealthy and spending more on the military – we all got that! But there might be a couple of voters out there who are interested in the declining dollar, the depreciation of their homes, the housing crash, the recession, the health care system, soaring gas prices, inflation running rampant, etc., etc. Is it any wonder that the majority of the nation has no idea who they will vote for in the upcoming primaries? Is it any wonder that we have no idea if any of these clowns can handle the state of affairs that have escalated under our present administration? Give us real debates on real issues! Give all of the candidates an opportunity to address these issues! Thus far, we haven't heard the real issues or the real solutions from any of them. The record viewership is telling you that we are not tuning in to be entertained, we are concerned about our country, our livlihoods, our families, our futures!
I watched the Democratic hosted by Wolf Blitzer and now the Republican You Tube/debate and CNN has proved to be unfit to host another debate. We watch the debates to get a clear understanding of the candidates and their policies and beliefs about the major issues facing our country. The questions selected were shallow and limiting. The one question about gays in the military was insightful; however, with the connection to the Clinton campaign it has been rendered irrelevant. Why can't anyone maintain crowd control? I like Anderson Cooper and typically find his reporting of the highest ethical standards so I have to conclude that there are institutional deficiences within CNN. Moreover, the Bill Bennett comment about the "darky Governor of Louisiana" completely reprehensible and CNN should issue a statement addressing such rhetoric. Completely disappointing.
The debate was a disaster. CNN turned it into a cirucus rather than a real discussion of the candidates different points of view. They included questions about sports, the confederate flag, trips to mars and the literal translation of the bible but nothing about healthcare, education and the environment! Pointless. And the You Tube videos were a bad idea. Let's bring back some serious discussion to these debates. We're talking about who is going to be the next President of the United States! C'mon CNN.
I guess this is the closest thing to actual coverage of your own debate we're gonna get... a "Ticker" blurb buried several posts deep. C'mon, it wasn't that embarassing for CNN was it?
People tuned in and were severely dissappointed...
I'm sure the ratings for the CNN/YouTube debate where good.
However the debate was HORIBLE! Terrible questions, and our right obvious bias.
CNN you may have earned good ratings, but you did it at the cost of your reputation.
CNN and Cooper had the chance to prove to a large audience that they were the respectable news service that they claim. Then they tried to setup the individuals they invited with shills. The candidates handled themselves well under the circumstances. Too bad CNN tried to manipulate the debate for CNN executives personal agendas and Clinton's political gain.
CNN, the gig is up. I don't know how you can even begin justifying posting democrat-related questions in a republican debate.
I am an independent and it is clear to me that CNN is geared to appease the liberal audience. I say this for two reasons: CNN does not have the balls to even post the story on the main page so i had to look for it. The other thing is look at the list of comments on this topic, less than 10. I wonder where are the active CNN bloggers.
CNN give it up, the bias is clear even though I don't see NBC, CBS or ABC talking about it.
I wouldn't let CNN conduct a SPELLING BEE. These debates have been conducted by the most partisan people on the planet. Why not ASK Hillary if she believes every word in the bible? Why not ask Obama if he thinks Mohammed was a great man?
The joint news conferences we have been calling debates are dumbing down our political dialog. Issues like immigration, war, health care, the housing market, foreign policy, etc. cannot be discussed in sound bites. The candidate who produces the best sound bite is not necessarily the best candidate for the job. Huckabee, for example, is very good at pandering to the intellectual lightweights in the audience, telling us that he would send Hillary to Mars and that Jesus was too smart to run for office. So what is Huckabee's plan for NASA? We have no idea. How does he think Jesus – the perfect man whose actions and teaching were without flaw by his beliefs – would behave in these times? We have no idea.
Abraham Lincoln would hold an audience for two hours while speaking about the slavery issue – and that was after his opponent had spoken for two hours. THAT was a debate.
However, by lofting fluff questions at the candidates so that they can be answered in "30 seconds" is inane. Most of us can't even decide what to order at McDonalds in 30 seconds. CNN is not serving the public interest by pandering to the stupidest part of the voting public for ratings. From CNN's point of view, their goal is (not to elect a Clinton, you nitwits) to build up Wolf Blitzer's ratings.
This has been a very bad century so far, my fellow Americans, and at this point I don't see a long future for our democracy.
Thanks CNN, I'm no longer an undecided voter..
David Bohrman, CNN vice president of elections, should be frog marched across the RNC lawn for the fraud he pushed onto the American people as an unbiased debate..
After reading these comments I'm so glad the Republican corrupt regime is soon going to be over and take those fake right wing so called Christians with you. And really liked the stupid comment about gays choosing to be gay. Those are the ignorant voters I worry about! Hopefully a majority of Americans with a brain are finally fed up with the lies and the corruption from this administration and the fact we are in the shape we are are in because of the raticals getting their way for seven years and they really believe we want more of this? NOT! The wedge issues of Carl Rove will not work this time. I HOPE. If they do we live in a truly ignorant society.
I echo Joe's comments; "CNN's debate was sad and sick disservice to American voters. I'm one of millions that are dissatisfied about the lack of coverage on CNN about positive developments in Iraq and around our own country. Dissatisfied in the leftwing, socialist bias your news coverage has. Dissatisfied in the way your news coverage demeans our nation, troops and history. Dissatisfied in the way your news coverage disenfranchises conservatives in our population and disavows and belittles their beliefs, opinions and morality." CNN must really think the American people are clueless to have presented that sham of a debate. It only served the Liberal(i.e. Communist/Socialist)Left's agenda
Anderson Cooper and Blitzer before him, at least by coming out of the closet we know you for what you are now, socialist stooges. Even Christiane Amanpour is on the Clinton payroll now. CNN's debate was sad and sick disservice to American voters. I'm one of millions that are dissatisfied about the lack of coverage on CNN about positive developments in Iraq and around our own country. Dissatisfied in the leftwing, socialist bias your news coverage has. Dissatisfied in the way your news coverage demeans our nation, troops and history. Dissatisfied in the way your news coverage disenfranchises conservatives in our population and disavows and belittles their beliefs, opinions and morality. CNN is now a blocked channel on our TV.
I admire Anderson Cooper BUT he was NOT the right person for the questioning.Wolf Blitzer did a MUCH better job,MADE them answer the question.ie: "Will you replace monies taken from Soc.Sec."-no answer was given.,just agreed there was a deficit...as for the rest..I have never seen the "Ads"shown...YES Mr.Romney, I WOULD ask if the workers were legal (and have)...the noise was possibly a paid "Claque" ..."Water Boarding knowledge shouldn't be available"? Why not, our "Death Penalty" is!!!...Zacari and A.C.L.U. atty's-it IS ou system and lets hope OUR atty's are better!!!
If you are a veteran, or the family member of a veteran, or you are currently serving on active duty, you were probably very disappointed and even embarrassed by the content of Wednesday night’s televised debate. The CNN regulated YouTube video questions ranged from tax cuts, to illegal aliens, to gays in the military, to the New York Yankees and Red Socks baseball teams. Apparently, the news crew at CNN felt these were the most important issues of the 2008 Presidential Election. Some of the submitted video productions were very clever and featured cartoon illustrated questions. One video showcased one Mr. Jay “NRA supporter” Fox firing live rounds from an assault rifle in a reckless way and catching a loaded pump shotgun thrown to him from off camera. The only thing missing was a dog and pony. During the two hour broadcast, several candidates referred to our troops and bragged about the success of the current ‘surge’ in Iraq. But, not once did any of the candidates address the future of our troop’s healthcare, or show concern for their earned future benefits, entitlements, or services.
In spite of all this, and according to CNN’s crack correspondent, Anderson Cooper “It was a fascinating debate” and “The candidates took it all on tonight!” A review of the YouTube video submissions reveals several very legitimate questions about veteran’s affairs, renewable energy, education, and national healthcare. Obviously, CNN felt no obligation to air any of these questions. Apparently, Mr. Anderson Cooper and CNN felt baseball and homosexuality was more worthy of nationwide recognition – then squeezing in a meaningless question about our disabled and retired veterans and their earned healthcare. The question I have for CNN is; if you don’t ask the Republicans the same questions as the Democrats, how in the hell are we suppose to know the differences between candidates on any particular issue?
where were the questions on the success of the surge in Iraq? where the heck were the questions on health care? education? energy independence?
Aren't these the FOUR topics people have harped on all YEAR?
How many americans are sitting at their kitchen table talking about the Confederate flag ? Or about infrasructure? HELLO CNN , are you listening?!
And who won the debate? Ron Paul – any mention? Of course not – what a sham.
The low point of Wednesday night’s CNN debate coverage was when Retired Army, Brigadier General, Keith Kerr delivered a very lengthy comment on gays in the military – in addition to his YouTube video submission. At one point, it appeared CNN intentionally cut the General’s microphone off in an effort to get him to sit down and shut up. It was extremely obvious that everyone on the stage was very uncomfortable with the General’s disgraceful display. According to my clock, General Kerr and homosexuality were given the most time of all the CNN YouTube submissions. Evidently, General Kerr feels ‘gay rights’ in the military is the most important problem and urgent situation facing our military personnel and their families today. I’m certain our wounded troops recovering at Walter Reed and Brook Army Medical Center were glad to hear that. CNN later reported that General Kerr was a registered Democrat and political operative from the Hilary Clinton camp, and that he (General Kerr) infiltrated the CNN debate (at the invitation and expense of CNN) in an effort to embarrass the Republican candidates. Now, don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against homosexuals or generals. However, I really don’t think this issue deserved a reserved front-row seat at the Presidential debate. Thank you Mr. Anderson Cooper and CNN for dropping the ball! CNN might know about New York baseball, but they have no idea what the score is. I would love to have been a fly on the wall at that pre-debate CNN production meeting. “Well, Anderson, we have enough time for one more question, what do you suggest? How about a question about baseball, or man on man sex in the military? BRILLIANT!”
I don't know who won the debate but CNN definitely lost it.
The General should have directed his comments to Hillary Clinton in the Democratic Debate, since it was under the Clinton administration that "Don't Ask Don't Tell" was born.