<p>I am using the open source <a href="http://openwebware.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Javascript WYSIWYG from OpenWebWare</a> and Asp.Net <strong>RequiredFieldValidator</strong> on the <strong>TextBox</strong> which I am calling the WYSIWYG for.  Everything works fine, but the first time I try to submit the form, I get the server-side <strong>RFV</strong> <strong>ErrorMessage</strong> "Required", but if I submit a second time, it goes through.</p>

<p>Am I missing something?  I would like to have the client-side validation... how can I get the text to register as not empty?</p>

the textarea HTML tag is one of the most unpleasent tags to work with and I'm not 100% sure if the client-side validator will support it, regardless of whether it's a WYSIWYG or not.
I think you'd be best off using a CustomValidator and writing the JavaScript which does the checking manually.
Alternatively you can debug though the JavaScript which is used with FireBug or VS 2008.