Monday, April 7, 2008

YouTube and the race for President

YouTube's YouChoose '08 channel is an interesting example how the internet can both help and hurt candidates. Today, on the channel's front page, there is a link to this video making fun of Hilary Clinton's chances in the upcoming election.

The link to this video is directly below the link to the Clinton campaign's official YouTube page. That is certainly not something that Mrs. Clinton would appreciate being there.

While the internet provides a medium for politicians to share their views, recruit supporters, and rally their base, it also allows them to be ridiculed in the same space. As much the campaigns try to present the perfect image of their candidates, there's no stopping something like this.

4 comments:

Jessica said...

If I were working on one of these big dolla campaigns, I would hire people specifically to monitor the criticisms and concerns voiced online. So much information and ideas are available, they should totally use the online space to their advantage.

Steph said...

Everyone is going to get made fun of by someone else the internet just makes it possible for everyone else to hear the funny things people say about the democratic candidates! I'm not sure how harmful these videos and posts really are the their campaigns, i mean i think most people can seperate a humorous video from a politician's stand on healthcare, gun control, and educaton.

Well i sure hope so...

Evan said...

I just think its funny that the careful, controlled, efforts by the campaigns to use the internet to their advantaged can be messed up a little by these funny videos appearing in the same space.

Brian said...

I can't wait until our generation starts running for president and videos and pictures of us party gets on the internet. Lets see how that goes. I feel it could be accepted because it will be common, maybe not though.