Not being American I don’t really follow the politics, but I am a fan of internet. American politicians are really upping the campaign ante now, getting more and more involved in the online arena. While I’m sure you’re already friends with your favourite politician on Myspace or even Facebook, there’s an interesting trend of the internet as a viable and noteworthy campaign tool.

YouTube

This isn’t terribly new, but politicians know about the YouTube. Why YouTube has become the political success it is, really is beyond me, but those wacky Republicans and Democrats have their own YouTube profiles now.

I’m thinking the word “Tube” is the real reason for its popularity, because the internet is not, in fact, a dump-truck, but a series of tubes.

Political tech-savvy varies. We all know for a fact that Al Gore invented the internet, while others think the internet fills up.

It’s funny because they’re supposed to be serious.

Even more than just putting up YouTube profiles, politicians need to realize that people use the internet for fun. If you want to teach children inside a Chuck E. Cheese, you should dress in something other than a suit. That probably makes no sense, but what does make sense is playing on what’s popular. It’s no secret that people get their news solely from places such as The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. Some people may be surprised and even concerned about this, but it’s the reality, so you’ve got to roll with the punches. I personally get all my news from The Onion, but that’s a different story.

I could care less about The Sopranos, but quite a few people watch it. When they ended the series with an abrupt cut at the end of the final episode, people were talking and the Clintons knew when to strike.

While it’s not comedy, the entertainment value is there, you know, chuckling over them actually doing something like that.

Then came Mike Huckabee, playing on the popular Chuck Norris facts. Chuck Norris facts is a meme which consists of “facts” with questionable merit about the manly man, such as:

Some kids piss their name in the snow. Chuck Norris can piss his name into concrete.

Is there a potential problem doing something like this and being taken seriously? For the target demographic, probably not. Then again, why not have fun when nobody is going to vote for you? (I kid!)

Putting the You in YouTube

Aside from having an online presence, people like to get in on the action too. They want to give their opinions on the things they care about, as will be illustrated by the friendly comments on this post saying this has nothing to do with UNEASYsilence.

CNN will be having debates where you, the viewer get the upload questions to YouTube that will be “answered” or craftily worked around, if you will.

It’s a big, big world out there

Apparently politicians travel. A lot. America is a big place and they have to connect with all you people. But how ever will you know when your politician of choice is in the area when you’re always inside refreshing this site for a new update? By checking them out on eventful, of course. Hillary Clinton is like a rock star, so she has to have a site giving your her tour dates, right? Knowing when Barack is nearby is a search away.

Pics or it never happened

What’s traveling if you don’t have pictures to cherish the memories? Follow Barack and Hillary on Flickr. Now you can criticize politicians for their health policy and the the fact that they’re using the Nikon D40 and not the D40x which has more MP, thought it doesn’t matter since they’re use a better lens. Or whatever photogs go on about.

Witty Comment About Digg

Politicians are in the news, in fact they are news, so why not be their friend on the largest social networking website out there? Digg’s elections page allows you to be friends with any politicians savvy enough to have a profile. Maybe you’ll rethink voting for Chris Dodd after that hilarious comment he made on the “Don’t Taze Me Bro” video. You never know. Get your friend connection on digg here.

It’s interesting to see this approach to the new media, though it’s really no surprise politicians will do anything to get votes. Maybe now democrats and republicans alike will have closer connections with the people, fostering a better sense of caring for people and the issues that support them, thanks to the interactivity of the internet. Or maybe they’ll stop updating everything after they drop out or lose at the polls on election day. That seems more likely.