A live satellite broadcast of “America Rocks the Vote”, the first-ever presidential debate to focus on youth issues, brought about 60 young people to the Sun Room of the Memorial Union Tuesday night. Rep. Dick Gephardt, D-Mo., was the only candidate not present at the debate, which took place in Boston.

Host Anderson Cooper of CNN welcomed the Democratic candidates by joking that most of the people watching the debate are the same people who use the candidates’ stock phrases to play drinking games during debates on college campuses. He encouraged the candidates to stay away from these phrases — since it was a school night.

Youth across the nation had the opportunity to ask the candidates questions via e-mail and other electronic devices. The questions ranged from the candidates’ views on Iraq to their preference between Macs and PCs. Although the debate was focused on the concerns of people between the ages of 18 and 24, there were no questions addressing the funding of higher education.

During the debate, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean was attacked by the Rev. Al Sharpton and Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., for commenting he wants to be the candidate for guys with Confederate flags on their trucks. Dean said he was trying to reach out to Southern voters.

“I understand the Confederate flag is a loathsome symbol,” he said. He clarified he was interested in changing the way white Southerners vote.

“White Southern voters have been voting for Republicans, and they have nothing to show for it,” he said.

The situation in Iraq and the treatment of American soldiers generated a lot of discussion.

“The President has made our military weaker by overextending them,” said Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.

Gen. Wesley Clark agreed. “Our military is being used in a way that was never intended. We need to give American soldiers the benefits they need and deserve,” he said. Clark said he would not reinstate the draft if elected president.

Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun said she thinks it’s important to repair and rebuild the infrastructure in Iraq.

“We have a responsibility to leave Iraq in a better state than we found it,” she said.

Clark was questioned on his opinion of homosexuals in the military.

“I think everyone has a right to serve,” he said.

The candidates were also asked to comment on the nation’s reported 7.2 percent annual growth rate.

“Until middle class America gets their jobs back, can afford health care insurance and send their kids to college, then we don’t have an economic recovery,” said Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn.

“I believe in dreams — President Bush believes in hallucinations,” Sharpton said.

The debate could not be concluded without the question of which of the eight candidates had ever tried marijuana. Edwards, Kerry and Dean admitted they had, and Braun declined to comment.

“Coming into tonight I wasn’t sure who the candidates were, but now I have a better idea of who is representing our country,” said Patrick Hall, freshman in pre-business.

Brandon Joyce, freshman in liberal arts and sciences, said he thinks Kerry has a lot of charisma. “A president needs to be able to make people interested in politics,” he said.

Hall said he thought Gephardt’s decision to skip the debate would hurt his chances with younger voters.

“We didn’t get to see his views,” Hall said. “Gephardt will be out of the picture until I see another debate.”