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DEL.ICIO.USThe Internet and politics: You can lead a horse to YouTube, but can you make it watch?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
If necessity is the mother of invention, then - at least when it comes to politics - the Internet has become the overworked midwife.
Anyone with eyebrows had them raised several inches two weeks ago, when Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul - a libertarian-minded afterthought in both debates and national polls - raised a record $4.2 million in a single day via a web-based fund drive.
On the Democratic side, Barack Obama has gone deepest into Internet campaigning, and has more supporters on the Facebook social network than all his rivals combined — though the numbers are slightly tighter on MySpace.
Videos posted on YouTube by Paul and Obama have been seen by a combined 10.4 million viewers — accounting for about 40 percent of the total traffic created by presidential videos, according to techpresident.com., which keeps track of such data.
None of this has gone unnoticed in Georgia. Last week, Dale Cardwell, one of four Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate, rolled out the beginnings of an Internet-based campaign.
The former TV journalist had raised only $72,000, with $35,000 in the bank, as of Oct. 1. Cardwell can’t afford to appear on the medium that once gave him a living.
His solution is tens of thousands of e-mails linking recipients to a set of YouTube videos that are very much modeled after the reports he once fashioned for WSB-TV — but which are actually intended to subvert the stranglehold that TV has on statewide politics.
“The domination of television is coming to an end. The Internet is destroying that monopoly in front of our very eyes,” Cardwell predicted. “I think this will be the last election cycle where television advertising determines who is elected to office. And I’m not quite sure it will do it this time.”
Cardwell’s videos are unbridled attacks on Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss, salted with requests for small campaign donations. A WSB video truck appears in one. And Cardwell’s campaign colors are a WSB blue, red and yellow.
“I want to put people in the mental framework of what I’ve done for the past 12 years,” he said. Cardwell said he’s had no complaints from his former employer. “They haven’t said a word,” he said.
Democrats in Georgia aren’t the only ones who see the Internet as a way around the limitations imposed by an empty wallet. A certain Sonny Perdue was a pioneer. In 2002, he used the Web to distribute a video that portrayed Gov. Roy Barnes, the Democratic incumbent, as a giant rat.
This year, Republicans trying to boost their numbers in the U.S. House have found themselves on the short end of the fund-raising stick. In past cycles, the GOP has poured money into campaigns against Georgia’s two white Democrats, John Barrow of Savannah and Jim Marshall of Macon.
Not so this time. So far, Republicans haven’t even been able to field a well-financed candidate against Barrow.
David All, a former staffer for U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston of Savannah, has proposed a tactic to match the party’s strapped situation. He wants to arm hundreds of college-aged Republicans with video cameras and send them out to document every public word uttered by select Democratic congressmen — including Barrow and Marshall.
“Let’s pick the 30 most vulnerable House Democrats and let’s focus our limited resources,” said All, now a 28-year-old media consultant in Washington.
The idea would be an organized hunt for “macaca” moments of the sort that tanked the U.S. Senate campaign of Republican George Allen. The practice would not be new — campaigns have stalked rivals for decades.
“The difference is now with YouTube, the material can actually be distributed making minor flip-flops a serious problem,” All argued on techrepublican.com — back in May.
All said the project is gathering steam. “It takes a while to get it around to the right people,” he said last week.
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Comments
By James H
November 18, 2007 8:39 PM | Link to this
TV wont be completly eliminated, but the demographics will change significantly.
This also presents amazing oppertunity for TV companies, showing them that they can put televised shows on the interenet in real time, and people will watch.
By RJ
November 18, 2007 10:23 PM | Link to this
Both nationally and in Georgia, the Repubs have blown their golden opportunity. The average citizen in Georgia is feeling the blunt of their actions and inactions and will not be in a forgiving mood in 2008. All the the marketing strategies and wedge issues they can drum up will not overcome the pain of the current reality for the average Georgian.
History well documents the fact that people vote their pocketbooks.
By Mike
November 18, 2007 10:38 PM | Link to this
The bottom line is that the only candidate that is telling the truth…let me say that again, the truth, is Ron Paul.
Secure borders, sound money, ensured privacy and liberty. These are the things that matter to me and that is the man that I along with the 243 members of my local meetup group will be voting for.
By Dan
November 18, 2007 10:51 PM | Link to this
Only libertarians can raise this kind of money on the internet. There are simply a lot of libertarians on the internet.
By this rocks
November 18, 2007 10:55 PM | Link to this
www.DaleTheTruth.com is a great site and shows georgia how Saxby is working against us.
By Churchill
November 18, 2007 11:09 PM | Link to this
RJ you are wrong. This election will be all about Hillary, and people will vote against her. Might not be the best motivation in the world, but its a fact. You guys will be left scratching your heads the day after the election. My guess is that instead at looking at the obvious flaws of your candidate, you will claim that the election was stolen, again. Isn’t funny that every election that the republicans have won since 2000 was rigged or stolen, but there were no such claims after the 06 midterms?
p.s. Ru Paul has a zero, zip, nada chance of being elected President. All you Ru Paul supporters are wasting your money.
By NH
November 18, 2007 11:15 PM | Link to this
UH you goofed in your research. NO ONE SENT EMAILS directing us to Ron Paul videos. We went on our own. That’s the difference. This campaign was NOT engineered by the top… it was created by the supporters who naturally organized and flow like a school of fish in beauteous unison for the call of freedom.
By NH
November 18, 2007 11:19 PM | Link to this
No one engineered the YouTube thing. No emails were sent! That’s poor research AJC.
By Craig
November 19, 2007 7:29 AM | Link to this
Chruchill, you may very well be right. But let me present another alternative to you. (And she’s not my first choice either.)
Have you actually watched her in the debates? She’s generally poised, charming, funny, and self deprecating, with a good grasp of policies, whether you like hers or not.
I think you might be surprised. There are a lot of people out there who have heard Hannity and Boortz demonize her for the last 14 years. But when they actually see her in action, they’re going to be surprised, and much more comfortable voting for her. Especially if the Republican candidates continue their effort to appeal only to the very nastiest theocrats.
By RJ
November 19, 2007 9:00 AM | Link to this
Churchill, Only time will tell which one of us is on the mark. Your implied point about the gullibility of the electorate is well taken. However, I the distinguishing/ motivating factor this time around is the “had enough” factor… having to make choices between going to the doctor or not, food, home heating and buying gas for the auto, to name a few.
By Steve
November 19, 2007 9:13 AM | Link to this
I the Repubs do that then the Dems can send cameras to airport restrooms. What would Sen. Larry Craig do then!!!!
By SpaceyG
November 19, 2007 9:47 AM | Link to this
WTF????? WSB hasn’t said a word? They must be freakin’ ASLEEP! Then again, maybe they just have dial-up over there. If I was running the place, all heck would have broken loose by now, rest assured. And those graphical hints in ANYONE’s political ad campaigns would be gone. That’s outrageous use of old media. Than again, that’s Cox Plantations for you. They own it all. They’re private, so they don’t answer to anyone except ACC’s poodles. They don’t care, because they don’t HAVE to care. Jesus Christ. We are SO media-screwed here in Atlanta. Just glad that there are now other sources. Thank God and Baby Jesus for the Interwebs.
By Gene
November 19, 2007 9:49 AM | Link to this
Dan says:
this text will be italicOnly libertarians can raise this kind of money on the internet. There are simply a lot of libertarians on the internet.this text will be italic
Um, if 80% of the public is now reading news online, who the heck are the other 20% Dan? Your post make zero sense.
By cnote
November 19, 2007 10:14 AM | Link to this
In contrast, Dale’s videos have been seen by a whopping 150 - 300 people (depending on the video). In a state of 9 million people I’m not sure if Cardwell has destroyed television with the internet yet.
By GeorgiaValues
November 19, 2007 10:15 AM | Link to this
Last I checked less than 50 people had viewed Dale’s mud slinging, poor quality, attack ads on YouTube.
Snuggles is running away with this race.
By Craig
November 19, 2007 10:28 AM | Link to this
Since most people really aren’t focused on this race yet I think it’s a little too early to write the obituary on YouTube ads.
By RJ
November 19, 2007 1:38 PM | Link to this
Wrong, again, RJ. The electorate is far from stupid. The electorate is familiar with Clinton. I stipulate that they will reject Clinton and her ilk. As far as this description of “soup line” America. I reject that. Libs are constantly telling us the economy is in the tank. Its is not. People are a lot better off than the media and elected Democrats want to admit. Heck, even the “economists”, most of the time, are wrong. How do I know that? Well, every story on the benchmarks of economic growth start with the sentence, “Surprising most economist the _ showed growth in the last _. I understand that you guys can’t give the President credit for anything, but you run the risk of showing your own bias, when people do their own research and look at the facts themselves.
By Churchill
November 19, 2007 2:00 PM | Link to this
Craig, she will not answer a direct question. She views direct questions as a personal attack. She is a liar. Triangulator, and unable to be honest with the American people about her record and vision for the country. I keep warning you guys.
By Brad
November 19, 2007 3:39 PM | Link to this
People die that are close to Hillary’s scandals.
I Will Gladly “Waste” My Money On A “Chance” For Change.
I Am Voting For Ron Paul. Core Character Counts.
By Churchill
November 19, 2007 3:47 PM | Link to this
Ru Paul is a moronic protectionist. His national security stance alone disqualifies him. There is little day light between Ru and Edwards on the war. Hillary, for now, is even more hawkish than Ru Paul. Ru Paul will not win the nomination. I am as certain of that as I am of Hillary’s coming defeat next November.
By TheWhatNow?
November 19, 2007 4:04 PM | Link to this
Churchill,
The name is RON Paul, the man who has remembered his oath to uphold the constitution which shaped this wonderful country. If by Ru Paul, you mean to cleverly disguise your contempt for cross-dressing Giuliani, a man who has taken every opportunity to put his constituents in danger.
And churchill, it’s pessimistic attitudes such as yours that have allowed the powers that be gain influence, while encouraging the electorate to choose apathy over involvement.
Vote for America, vote Dr. Paul.
By Churchill
November 19, 2007 4:49 PM | Link to this
No I mean Ru Paul in the more obvious sense. Ru Paul, is a drag queen. You obviously have some sort of proclivity for keeping up that stuff. Ru Paul the drag Queen has no chance of winning the Presidency and neither does the stammering, stuttering, protectionists idiot Ron Paul. By the way, I am a Rudy supporter and not apathetic in the least. I am being pragmatic, not pessimistic. There’s a difference.
RU PAUL will not win the nomination.
By Typical Georgia Redneck
November 19, 2007 6:28 PM | Link to this
I seen that fella Churchill in a dress once. It was in the restroom at Hartsfield. S/he stands purty wide…
By Churchill
November 19, 2007 7:09 PM | Link to this
Typical Liberal Redneck, yes the kind of redneck that nurses off the gov’t teat, like so many democrat voters. Personal attack aside, for now, engage on the issues. Liberals have no substance. They lack courage to enter the arena of ideas, and are, to put it mildly, without conviction. That said Ru Paul, still, will never be President.
By waitaminit
November 19, 2007 11:47 PM | Link to this
Spacey-letting Cardwell get away with having Cox stuff in his ad is a bad corporate decision—but the company is looking for any way not to let Jones get an inch further.
By Gary
November 20, 2007 11:37 AM | Link to this
You stated in your Sunday 11/25 article that the 8th district does not have a good well financed candidate to run against Jim Marshall. Check out Rick Goddard, he is the GOP candidate and is being well financed. One to watch.