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Preston Gralla

Seeing Through Windows

Will YouTube elect Obama?

31 comments

TAGS:Arianna huffington, eric schmidt, Google, huffington post, YouTube
IT TOPICS:Government & Regulation, Internet, Networking

If Barack Obama becomes president of the United States, as least one prominent political blogger believes that one of the biggest contributors to his election will be YouTube. Arianna Huffington of the Huffington Post says that YouTube makes it easier for voters to bypass the "Rovian" campaign tactics that have been used to elect Republicans in the past, and so the site helps Obama's campaign.

In her blog entry, The Power of the Internet and the Death of Rovian Politics, Huffington quotes Google CEO Eric Schmidt, who just endorsed Obama, as telling her, "We are witnessing the end of Rovian politics." She goes on to say, "YouTube, which Google bought in 2006 for $1.65 billion, is one of the causes of its demise."

When she talks about "Rovian," she's referring to Karl Rove, the architect of President Bush's campaigns, and who many Democrats believe has run particularly vicious and nasty political campaigns.

Huffington says that because campaigns can use YouTube to post videos, voters are able to get the truest picture of candidates and their views, without having to rely on campaign ads and biased media. She writes:

The Internet has enabled the public to get to know candidates in a much fuller and more intimate way than in the old days (i.e. four years ago), when voters got to know them largely through 30-second campaign ads and quick sound bites chosen by TV news producers.
Compare that to the way over 6 million viewers (on YouTube alone) were able to watch the entirety of Obama's 37-minute speech on race -- or the thousands of other videos posted by the campaign and its supporters.

Agree with Huffington's politics or not, she's right about the power of YouTube. Whichever campaign uses it the best will greatly help themselves.

Preston Gralla is a contributing editor for Computerworld, and the author of more than 35 books.

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The truth will set you free!

Submitted by Anonymous on October 23, 2008 - 9:08 A.M.

I agree 100 % that many of the last elections were won based on who had the most money to run on the highly biased media as long as it fit the will of the powers that be who own the highly biased medias (Rovian tactics is a good name for this). Youtube is a People tool. Within its bounds people bring out causes for concern and as a group analyse and discuss them. The truth pretty much eventually makes its way to the surface. On Youtube, one can surf an learn continuously and is the heartbeat of information ...or sources to links for just about any subject or hot topic one wishes to study. Long live the Peoples voice!

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I thought this was an

Submitted by Thoughtreqiured on October 23, 2008 - 1:16 A.M.

I thought this was an article about technology, not about "who's daddy can kick who's daddy's butt".

As for the technology, and Hufffington's glowing approval of it, I find there is every bit of bias there as there is on any other media outlet. The facts are rarely presented without reservation or qualification or simply a series of sideways slurs against whoever the writer wishes trample with thinly veiled sarcasm.

How about all of you quit fighting and actually discuss and actually accept some of the facts that you don't personally like to hear!

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Bias

Submitted by Anonymous on October 23, 2008 - 5:15 A.M.

There are many views expressed on Youtube. I could get political and call Huffington what she is. But this comment hits the nail squarely on the head. Reasoned debate is the power of the 1st amendment. And people that abuse thoughtful accurate information take away from the debate.
Also the language being used loses people that have serious points to make. Thank you for your comments!

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Bias

Submitted by Anonymous on October 23, 2008 - 5:10 A.M.

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Elected

Submitted by Anonymous on October 22, 2008 - 8:05 P.M.

If Obama is elected it will be due in large part to the increasing number of American's that vote for the person that will "do the most for them personally." They are people that want the government to look out for them. His tax plan pushes us close to, or over, the tipping point were most Americans pay zero income taxes and indeed get a check back for more than was deducted from their payroll (negative taxes?). Once we hit the tipping point there will likely be no way to go back. The majority of the people have no interest in how high income taxes go. None. They are not paying and indeed they will favor higher and higher taxes because they will get more and more.

Too bad, we are trading personal responsibility for a government warm blanket.

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tax

Submitted by Anonymous on October 23, 2008 - 8:31 P.M.

Obama wants to roll back tax to the level of the Clinton era. If you think small business is doing better than it was during the Clinton administration then "hats off to you".Oh! it looks like the socker mom is really a material girl,She's definitely going to write those items off,for the good of the six-packers.

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Obama Hypocrisy

Submitted by DaveS on October 22, 2008 - 5:33 P.M.

I am a Democratic donor, so it is hard for me to say, but Obama’s campaign is racist. I know because I am Black and have been sent Obama supporter e-mails. E-mails indicating that if you don’t vote for Obama, you must be a self-hating Black person. Also videos showing slaves in the bottom of a boat implying that you have to vote for Obama for “them”. It is very sad to see Obama’s campaign feeding off the hurt that our past/great Black Americans have suffered/endured. Obama’s has bad character and judgement and I will be vote for McCain for President. The first time in my life I will be voting Republican. After this election, I am a dedicated INDEPENT.

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Obama Hypocrisy

Submitted by Anonymous on October 26, 2008 - 5:58 P.M.

I don't know what organization you made your donations to/through. I have been receiving e-mails from Barack Obama's Campaign For Change for about a year now. I have also made a couple of donations in response to those e-mails. However, I have NEVER received anything the least bit racist. How would they even know that you are black? I have never seen anywhere on barackobama.com's signup page, donations page or volunteers page, where it asks for your race. Perhaps you just hooked up with a racist organization who happens to support Obama. His message is one of unity.He cannot be held responsible for the actions of everyone who supports him.

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