The thing I don't get is their hessitation to this.... If I was a manipulative, back stabbing Republican

I would take the debate, because they're not random questions.... CNN pre-screens the questions they want to have on the debate, and how much do any of you want to bet that the democrate canidates had a chance to geta quick viewing of the questions that would be coming their way?
I agree.... it's not the best thing for a debate, it's not as open minded as many would like to believe, it is still filtered questions by those we don't have control over, so these canidates arn't just thrown to the wolves......
As mentioned before, it does help make a connection to the new generations of us who are fed up of not being able to do much in regards to prodding with our own questions.
Quite honestly, CNN filters the questions and pretty much issues the same questions that they would most likely ask in the previous debates, only they're using regular Joe faces and people to send the same messages just to make it look like you have more say.