The internet is playing a crucial role in campaigning that has never been seen before. Presidential candidates have created their own websites enabling the public to view information that in the past would not have been accessible. Part of the reason is, because of propaganda, and making the other candidates look bad, in order to get ahead. Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton are two of the Democratic candidates for President who created websites that encourage participation in politics. Through analyzing each of the sites I’ve found that they are fairly similar in their approaches to informing the public. The websites can be found at http://www.barackobama.com/, and http://www.hillaryclinton.com/.
Barack Obama was one of the first candidates to use a television broadcast as a means of communication with the public posted on the internet. This may seem confusing, but the fact is that ever since technology has advanced people are now able to post videos or shows on the internet one of the major websites that allows people to post shows is http://www.youtube.com/. Barack Obama throughout his campaign has been posting on his website several clips that were first taped or aired on television networks. Several of them are of his visits to other states where he speaks to the public about his stance on governmental issues and preaches to citizens why he would make a great President. He also announced his running for the Presidency in a broadcast posted on the internet that was him sitting alone, relaxed talking directly to United States citizens. This enabled Obama to show his interest in reaching the public and talking to them one on one. I shows that he's interested in what people have to say in addition to showing he's like every other person, an average American.
Hillary Clinton on her campaign website posts many of the same sorts of videos as Barack Obama. Her video posts are often of her discussing her stance on various issues such as equal pay, energy, and health care as well as her speaking to the United States citizens as she goes on the campaigning trail. Clinton made her announcement that she was running for President online as well. It was then later picked up by bloggers and television networks to show on television. Clinton’s video was similar to Obama’s where she had a one on one conversation with the public. It created a more personal setting and again showed that she was interested in reaching out to show the public she cares about what they want.
The question is that if television networks and bloggers wouldn’t have picked up on each of the candidates’ announcements, would the public have been made aware? In my opinion I believe that the announcements would have been found, but by politicians themselves or people who are educated that are interested in politics, and normally seek out that sort of information. I found it especially interesting that both democrat candidates released that they were running in the same way and at the same time. I will continue to search in my future posts for answers, and try to come to a conclusion about how this relationship between television and the internet is connected with campaigning.
Rudy Giuliani, a republican candidate also has created a website that encourages participation in the campaign. On the site it has a get involved section as well as the others do. However, it seems a little different than the democrats. It has a join the cause, call talk radio, tell your friends, Rudy on your blog, raise money, and volunteer as sections citizens can use to participate. Some of the sections are similar, but I find the site as less stimulating than other campaign sites. It does not have facebook or myspace like the others and I believe having those shows the candidate is making an effort to reach the younger generation of voters as well as the overall public. It helps show that the candidate is an ordinary person like everyone else. Rudy, as his site calls him, also has video clips as do the other candidates. They are under the news pull down menu, and are mostly of him attending interviews, campaign rallies, and the President announcing him to speak. The candidate does not have an announcement video like the two democratic candidates mentioned above, yet he has him at baseball games. I'm not sure why the republicans don't want to reach the public on a more personal level, or if they are trying to in a different way like attending baseball games. But, it is important that a presidential candidate takes advantage of all resources available that help him/her reach the public on whatever level that may be. Perhaps we'll see candidates across the board using both types of media in reach all ages in various ways.
Rudy's campaign website can be found at: http://www.joinrudy2008.com/index.php
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