The YouTube presidential debate Monday night contained some flaws, but overall the event on CNN proved it is worth repeating.

This debate was very different from ones you've seen in the past.

Eight Democratic presidential candidates took questions in the form of videos submitted to YouTube, the popular Internet site. About 50 questions were culled from more than 3,000 received.

So, rather than answering a panel of journalists, the candidates fielded queries from the mother of a soldier starting a second tour in Iraq, two lesbians wanting to know why they cannot marry, and others.

On Iraq, Barry Mitchell of Philadelphia asked: "How do we pull out now? Don't you think... that would open it up for Iran and Syria?" Nancy McDonald of Wilmington, pointing out that earnings exceeding $97,500 are not subject to Social Security taxes, asked: "What's up with that?"

The result was an entertaining two-hour discussion on a variety of subjects. Many of the YouTube videos were produced creatively; some used humor effectively to inquire about a serious issue. For example, one depicted a melting snowman asking about global warming.

This isn't to say every presidential debate should use this method. But if a debate is entertaining, more people will watch — and that's a good thing.

A YouTube debate for the Republican candidates is scheduled for Sept. 17.

There's always the danger of form obliterating substance in this format, but it didn't happen Monday night. The questions were usually good, leading to discussions that highlighted real differences among the candidates.

Some still dodged questions, but they may pay a price. It's one thing to ignore a question from a reporter; it's quite another to give short shrift to a woman suffering from breast cancer.

Unfortunately, equal time was a casualty in this debate. Moderator Anderson Cooper of CNN was more likely to ask follow-up questions of the front-runner, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., or Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., while back-of-the-pack candidates former Sen. Mike Gravel of Alaska and Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, got far less air time.

Each candidate should get roughly the same amount of time.

For years, the editorial board of the Philadelphia Inquirer has sponsored civic forums aimed at giving citizens more of a voice in the democratic process. The YouTube debate used a popular technology to reach the same goal, and the result was encouraging.