Hello and Welcome to
The Walden University
Presidential Youth Debate!

Senators Obama and McCain have provided their 2-minutes-max answers to the 14 previously unanswered questions young Americans themselves chose as most important, including, for the first time in history, two questions submitted and chosen by 13-17 year-old "Future Voters" as their two greatest concerns. The Walden Presidential Youth Debate gives young Americans the answers they need to vote for the future they want, and Americans of all ages their last look at where the candidates stand on the same issues before Election Day.

Click the individual videos below to watch the candidates' responses to particular questions. All candidates who met participation criteria set forth by The Appleseed Citizens' Task Force On Fair Debates were welcomed to participate. The full-length debate video [Duration 43:30] and its transcript will be available here for a full year, thanks to the debate host, Walden University.

Enjoy the videos and let us know what you think - and don't forget to click "share" below each video answer to help us inspire informed voting nationwide. Thanks...

Question 1 of 14: Economy

Young people across the country are very worried about the financial crisis. They need to get student loans for school and find jobs after graduation. This Wall Street crisis and bailout happened largely because of a breakdown in oversight, so will you support an independent, government-created agency led by consumers that will protect the public and shareholders to prevent something like this from ever happening again? What additional protections would you propose?

• Question 1 of 14: Economy
  Young people across the country are very worried about the financial crisis. They need to get student loans for school. . .
• Question 2 of 14: Energy; Oil Consumption
  Is there a realistic way for the government to drive a reduction in oil consumption . . .
• Question 3 of 14: No Child Left Behind
  If elected, how do you propose to reform the No Child Left Behind Act. . .
• Question 4 of 14: Genocide
  What steps will you take to help end genocides around the world? (Darfur, Burma, etc.) Furthermore, what steps. . .
• Question 5 of 14: Health Care
  Dear Senators McCain and Obama - Both of you have talked about your plans to lower the cost of health care. However, a less often addressed issue. . .
• Question 6 of 14: Free and Fair Elections
  Electronic voting machines have been shown to be inaccurate, with some not leaving a verifiable paper trail, making a recount impossible. Many Americans object. . .
• Question 7 of 14: Equal Opportunity
  The United States currently has 50 percent of the world's prison population, a disproportionate amount of whom are minority youth with limited access to education. . .
• Question 8 of 14: Mistakes
  I think an important quality in a leader is being able to admit when he or she was wrong on an issue, and adjust his or her stance. . .
• Question 9 of 14: National Debt
  The Brookings Institution-Urban Institute Tax Policy Center has found that Senator Obama's fiscal policy would increase the national debt by $3.5 trillion by 2018, while Senator McCain's policy. . .
• Question 10 of 14: Reproductive Rights and Sex Education
  Senators Obama and McCain - Compared to other developed nations, the United States still continues to have a comparatively high unintentional pregnancy rate. . .
• Question 11 of 14: LGBT Rights
  In your view, how should The Full Faith and Credit Clause in the US Constitution apply to legal marriages of gay and lesbian persons? Should they, as their straight counterparts, have their marriages. . .
• Question 12 of 14: UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
  The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is a legally binding set of basic rights for minors. The only two countries which are not signatories to the CRC. . .
• Question 13 of 14: School Funding
  Sir, My Name is Cheneir W., I am 17 years old and from GA. I live in a small community that is already suffering from the economy. With the cutbacks that have happened in the past, my school does not have enough text books for ...
• Question 14 of 14: VA Reform

  My dad is a veteran receiving medical care from the VA. How are you planning to make considerable changes to provide former soldiers like my Dad adequate care versus the sub-par care he is currently receiving? It saddens me to see him in so much pain and the VA won’t do anything about it.
• Full-Length Debate Video

  Watch the full debate, from introduction right through to all 14 questions and candidate responses.
• Voting Inspiration: "Why I Vote"

  Former US Poet Laureate Billy Collins and Survivor Africa-winner Ethan Zohn share their reasons for voting - and why you should too