“How would electing you, a Clinton, constitute the type of change in Washington so many people in the heartland are yearning for…” “…Yet everything is business as usual in D.C.” But when it came time to increase the minimum wage, they had a problem.” “Congress seems to never have a problem when it comes time to give themselves a raise. “I’d like to know if you plan to defend that statement, or if you’re just going to flip-flop.” “Is the reason why we are still in Iraq…due to the Democrats’ fear that blame for the loss of the war will be placed on them by the Republican spin machine?” “I know you all are going to run around this question, dipping and dodging, so let’s see how far you all can get.” “Partisanship played a major role in why nothing can be done in Washington today.” “What’s going to make you any more effectual…how are you going to be any different?” Considering that a 62%-majority of the public disagrees with the statement “most elected officials care what people like me think” it was not surprising that a current of skepticism toward government ran through many of the questions - a sense that little ever changes in Washington and that government today is not run for the benefit of all people.
The YouTube format gave voice to a range of citizens not normally heard on the presidential debate stage. Fully 44% of the public have heard of at least one of the four videos and 27% have seen at least one. Recent popular campaign videos have included Hillary and Bill Clinton’s parody of the final episode of “The Sopranos” “I got a crush on Obama” John McCain joking about bombing Iran and a tape of John Edwards combing his hair. Some 15% of adult internet users report having watched or downloaded political videos online and 2% report doing so on a typical day. The debate highlighted the emerging role of online videos in the 2008 presidential campaign. Surveys by the Pew Internet & American Life Project found that 15% of Americans used the internet as their primary source for campaign news in 2006, more the double the percentage that did so in the 2002 midterm elections (7%). In the 2006 midterm elections, 31% of the public used the internet to get political news and information and to email others to discuss the race. Even before last night’s CNN/YouTube debate, the importance of the internet in politics and elections was well established.
0 kommentar(er)
