June 23, 2008
Posted: June 23rd, 2008 09:26 AM ET

From
 Twitter is hosting a presidential debate.
Twitter is hosting a presidential debate.

(CNN)–The McCain and Obama campaigns are participating in the first ever presidential TWITTER debate.

Twitter.com is a micro-blogging website that allows it’s users to stay in constant communication by sending instant messages known as “tweets”. It’s free, and open to anyone.

Tweets are limited to 140 characters each, so the candidate’s representatives will have to keep their answers short and to the point.

WATCH What is a twitter debate?

Liz Mair, the on-line director for the Republican National Committee will be fielding questions for Senator John McCain.

Mike Nelson, an outside advisor to Senator Barack Obama on technology, media and telecommunications will be answering questions for Obama.

The debate will be moderated by Ana Marie Cox, the founding editor of Wonkette blog, and blogger for Time Magazine’s “Swampland” blog. Cox sometimes uses Twitter to write her blog.

The debate is taking place in conjunction with the Personal Democracy Forum in New York City on June 22 and 23. The forum is being held to discuss how technology is changing politics.

A spokesman for the event says that the debate is the brainchild of the event’s founders, Micah Sifry and Andrew Rasiej, who were inspired by members of congress extemporaneously using Twitter to discuss issues. Apparently Reps. Tim Ryan and John Culberson, who both have their own Twitter accounts, started debating energy and drilling for oil in the ANWR while on the House floor last week.

Questions posed during the Twitter debate will revolve around technology policy and government reform. If you are interested in finding out more on where the candidates stand on issues like net neutrality, log on to twitter.com or tweetboards.com/pdfdebate

Filed under: Barack Obama • John McCain


STAY HOME!!!!!   June 23rd, 2008 2:27 pm ET

Ryan ..............No Obama EVER – Hillary or will stay home, along with Millions who will do the same. My vote, my choice..........LOOKS Like you will be HOME alone !!!!!! OBAMA / BIDEN 08

Delaware Voter   June 23rd, 2008 2:20 pm ET

I am a Republican – been one for 48 years – and I am voting for Barack Obama this November.

Irma in North Carolina   June 23rd, 2008 2:15 pm ET

Could you please ask all the Hillary supporters who are so stuborn and childish why they are voting for Mccain do they not know that this is four more years of Bush. Ask these supporters if they think Hillary is going to vote for Mccain, cause she lost, I think not.. Hope some one can get them to see the day light and vote for Obama

dem rule   June 23rd, 2008 2:13 pm ET

What a waste of time. Let's see BHO debate the oil execs, now that would be interesting to see real-world CEOs chew him up and spit him out.

puff   June 23rd, 2008 2:10 pm ET

BARACK HAS BEEN RUNNING AWAY FROM DEBATING FOR MONTHS NOW. HE IS A CHICKEN, AFRAID WHAT IS GOING TO COME OUT OF HIS OWN MOUTH.
HE IS ONLY A MOUTH PIECE, CAN'T YOU PEOPLE SEE IT?
OPEN YOUR EYES BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.

John Smith   June 23rd, 2008 2:04 pm ET

Please, please, let the "bitter" and uninformed (and racially motivated) Hillary supporters not vote for Obama; let them throw their votes at McCain and watch their dreams and hopes go down the drain!

These "bitter" voters should not be encouraged or begged to vote for Obama. For the educated and informed DEM, the primaries have always been about:
1. The party, not the candidate
2. The issues, not the candidate (gender, race or otherwise)
3. The White House, not the candidate

This is about winning the White House, gaining control to address issues of interest to DEMS, if people cannot see this as the goal, please let them vote for McCain! Let this nonsense and baby-talk stop!

Obama/Hillary 08   June 23rd, 2008 2:04 pm ET

When everything else fail the GOP will absolutely use race in this election. Shame on them GOP and I wonder how can we tell the world our way is better when we are reading in the same text book as them. America for God sake it is olmost the end of the 21st century and these retarded mentality do not have place in our society and world again. A man need to be judge by the content of his character. I feel that America is becoming like Pakistan and South Africa. Shame, Shame,Shame!

William, from Cali!   June 23rd, 2008 1:56 pm ET

Enough already! I'm tried of "reality shows", that consists of "Just Words" and "political pandering", for the sake of discussion..........they really don't solve problems..............or keep us safe from our enemies...........Do they?

HULK   June 23rd, 2008 1:54 pm ET

To all HRC supporters. We the republicans welcome you with open arms. We donte believe in womans rights, we disagree on who we put in the supreme courts, and disagree in many other things but we still love to use you to our full advantage.

Muchos Thanks

Alice in Florida   June 23rd, 2008 1:49 pm ET

Well, good thing it's the candidates' representatives giving the answers. Barack can't think fast enough! We all saw that in the few debates he didn't run away from.

I can't wait to see him stumble, mumble, and bumble his way through debates with McCain….or maybe he'll claim it's racist to expect him to debate……Racism seems to be his answer to everything. He looks more and more like Al Sharpton every day!

PUMA

Crush Rush   June 23rd, 2008 1:45 pm ET

The Republicans dont do debates,they just do smear and fear,just like the blogs.They cant back a candidate because they dont have one,so they just attack, like dogs chasing their tails.Its a shame to see but oh so funny too.

Anthony Russo   June 23rd, 2008 1:45 pm ET

Expect a Twitter crash.

mCBUSH   June 23rd, 2008 1:44 pm ET

mccain will flip flop again. I am sure mccain will lose. Go Obama we want to show the world we can change our country

A CANUCK   June 23rd, 2008 1:44 pm ET

Now Hillary's "ladies" can tweet and get all ruffled again !!!!!

DD, New York   June 23rd, 2008 1:43 pm ET

Hey Barak will do well??? After he finishings phumphering and stuttering, he will have used up his allowable, 140 characters, and we still won't know what changes he really means.

Generation X   June 23rd, 2008 1:42 pm ET

@Proud army and navy mom'

You are exactly right, there are a lot of republicans still doing Operation Chaos = the new PUMA (Poor uneducated miserable adults). Don't worry, NOT THIS TIME. We have got Obama's back. LOL

FLORIDA Voter for Obama   June 23rd, 2008 1:35 pm ET

Great, another spot we can cuss eachother out on.

Pam   June 23rd, 2008 1:34 pm ET

Sounds good, Barack will do well.

Obama 08

Susan from Scotts Valley   June 23rd, 2008 1:34 pm ET

I agree proud army and navy mom. I think that there are a lot of posers and part of what they do is to leave these mean messages for Hillary supporters so that Hillary supporters THINK they're coming from Obama supporters. And then they get even more angry and upset.

demwit   June 23rd, 2008 1:32 pm ET

Welcome to the Bob the Builder generation.

Can we debate John McCain!?
Yes we can!!

Kenneth M   June 23rd, 2008 1:30 pm ET

OH PROUD MOM, YOU HAVE DONE IT AGAIN. TELL THE TRUTH, TELL THE TRUTH, YOU ARE A HISTORY, I MEAN HILLARY SUPPORTER, NO?

Alice in Florida   June 23rd, 2008 1:30 pm ET

Well, good thing it's the candidates' representatives giving the answers. Barack can't think fast enough! We all saw that in the few debates he didn't run away from.

I can't wait to see him stumble, mumble, and bumble his way through debates with McCain....or maybe he'll calim it's racist to expect him to debate......Racism seems to be his answer to everything. He looks more and more like Al Sharpton every day!

PUMA

Under 50 / Over 50   June 23rd, 2008 1:29 pm ET

The spped of the You-Tube and Twitter age are a major deficiency for Team McCain.

I recall John's denial that he had accused the media of criticizing Hillary only to have a speech where he dis so surface shortly thereafter.

He will have to be very careful to keep his stories straight. This political environment moves a lot faster than he is use to.

S. Boatman Warrensburg Mo.   June 23rd, 2008 1:29 pm ET

Will The Real Mccain Please In Away!

Raghu   June 23rd, 2008 1:29 pm ET

CNN debate
You tube Debate
Twitter debate.
WHAT NEXT?

Google debate
Myspace debate.
Facebook debate

S. Boatman Warrensburg Mo.   June 23rd, 2008 1:26 pm ET

A Vote For Mccain Is A Vote For More War, Failed Foreign Policies, Tax Breaks For Special Interest, No Benefits For Troops, No Health Care, Unequal Pay For Women, The List Goes On And On!

Bulldog   June 23rd, 2008 1:24 pm ET

I will ask Senetor McCain why he supports the "Enron Loophole" that his economic advisor pushed through legislation that caused the illegal price fixing by Enron is now a major cause in the run-up in oil and gas prices along with out futures commodities. McCain voted against the recent farm bill along with the veto of George Bush that would correct this fatal "Enron Loophole" because his hands are in the pockets of big oil and other Wall Street insiders who want to keep this loophole open. This loophole allows these corrupt individuals to manipulate commodity prices (oil and gas) in futures trading overseas that is unregulated. Pure supply and demand, as some like to claim, would only raise the prices moderatly while the price fixing and manipulation going on is due to the "Enron Loophole."

Farrell, Houston, Tx   June 23rd, 2008 1:21 pm ET

John McCain knows nothing about the old or new technology and he feels he can move our country forward. I DON'T THINK SO. JOHN MCCAIN IS ABOUT AS BACKWARDS AS YOU CAN GET. AMERICAS BEHIND ON A LOT OF THINGS BECAUSE OTHER COUNTRIES SUCH AS CHINA ARE USING THEIR YOUNGEST AND BRIGHTEST TO MOVE THEM FORWARD. THE OLD SHOULD BE RESPECTED BUT RETIRED, JUST LIKE MYSELF. I KNEW WHEN IT WAS TIME TO RETIRE, I COULDN'T KEEP UP WITH THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WAS CHANGING EVERY DAY.

123456789   June 23rd, 2008 1:21 pm ET

(Total: 313  193 Deciduous 120 Pine/Spruce)

S. Boatman Warrensburg Mo.   June 23rd, 2008 1:20 pm ET

Does This Mean Mccain Is Going To Have Someone Type In His Answers Since He Has Never Used A Computer? He Is Not Even The President And He Is A Lame Duck!

proud army and navy mom   June 23rd, 2008 1:20 pm ET

there's a lot of republicans in Hillary's clothing on the blogs today.

what's wrong? are you worried about the polls that show mccain in sloppy second?

Patrick Henry   June 23rd, 2008 1:16 pm ET

I get it...a place for the TWIT's to communicate with each other.

Dear God–why did you invent politicians? Please un-invent them.

Jaime   June 23rd, 2008 1:16 pm ET

Except McCain won't be able to see it. He's computer challenged....

Thomas   June 23rd, 2008 1:10 pm ET

Wow does cnn own Twitter? What a sales pitch how much are they paying for this?

This makes sense????   June 23rd, 2008 1:09 pm ET

This is just great…not, the first debate is between the candidate’s advisors. When are these two going to debate amongst the issues face to face? I am waiting and I think most Americans are too.

Vig   June 23rd, 2008 1:05 pm ET

Tweet, tweet – write in Hillary Clinton on your November ballot – put a backbone in the White House.

To Tell The Truth   June 23rd, 2008 1:03 pm ET

Will the real Barack Obama please stand up?

Kay-Arizona   June 23rd, 2008 12:58 pm ET

So much for body language, know your candidate and up close and personal. The candidates are getting increasingly isolated from the voting public unless you are into fighting crowds and long lines. I think its a waste of time and a big mistake. Voters need to be able to stand these two candidates next to each other and make their decisions. What is "who" afraid of?

Binh   June 23rd, 2008 12:55 pm ET

This is horrible horrible news. Twitter is a joke and all of this traffic will bring down the servers again. Wait, is it even ever up for more than an hour at a time anymore?

This makes sense????   June 23rd, 2008 12:49 pm ET

Great, a debate between the candidate’s advisors. This is a dumbest idea yet. These two need to stop lagging and show up somewhere face to face. With 4 months to go time for this campaign to get down to business.

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