The big controversy surrounding the Republican YouTube debate is the use of Hillary “plants”.

Plant! screams Drudge. (click for larger image)

For example, according to Politico:

The retired general who asked about gays and lesbians serving in the military at the CNN/YouTube Republican debate on Wednesday is a co-chairman of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s National Military Veterans group. He was also active in John F. Kerry’s 2004 campaign for president.

Kerr asked candidates “why you think that American men and women in uniform are not professional enough to serve with gays and lesbians.”

After the debate, former Education Secretary Bill Bennett said on a CNN panel that he was being told Kerr was involved with the Democratic presidential campaign of Clinton, a New York senator.

Michelle Malkin has also dug up the following:

• “Journey”, a.k.a. “Paperserenade,” the girl who asked an abortion question, is a declared John Edwards supporter.
• David Cercone, the Pompano Beach, Florida, man who asked the question about Log Cabin Republicans, is a declared Obama supporter.
• The lead toy questioner, LeeAnn Anderson, who appears to be an ordinary mom concerned about her two children, whom she includes in her video, is a prominent Pittsburgh union activist–and aide to Leo Gerard, President of the American Steel Workers Union/John Edwards supporter.

Now, whether you think this is a sneaky maneuver by CNN or not, I think it’s much ado about nothing. In fact, I would welcome such a debate, and wouldn’t have a problem with Republican supporters asking tough questions at a Democratic debate.

Why? Because it’s easy to preach to the choir. Why do I care about Bible questions and Confederate flag questions and gun questions being pitched to Republican candidates who will in all likelihood give the same answers? That’s boring. Throw in an abortion question. Throw in questions about imports, and gays in the military. Why not? Why should it matter that the person asking the question is a Democrat? Does that automatically invalidate the question?

And that’s the problem with people like Drudge and Malkin. Because somebody bringing up a tough issue might be a Hillary supporter, all of a sudden that makes the question unfair. All of a sudden it’s a CNN conspiracy. Give me a break.

Like I said, I want to see Republican supporters asking questions at the next Democratic debate. That would make it less likely for me to turn the TV off. (There’s only so much of Hillary I can take).

* Bill G supports Ron Paul.