Forget Foreign Policy – I want a Web-Surfin’, Blackberry-toting President!
The Miami Herald ran an article over the weekend posing an interesting question: Does the next president have to be tech-savvy?
While the thought of the president “poking” on Facebook from the Oval Office incites fears of a Mark Foley scandal repeat (or worse, a breach in national security), the fact remains that computers have become a cultural litmus test in politics and in the real world. As the New York Times eloquently put it, “Proficiency with them suggests a basic familiarity with the day-to-day experience of most Americans – just as ignorance to them can suggest someone is “out of touch,” or “old.”
Sure, the candidate doesn’t need to be on text, Treo, and Twitter to be considered worthy. But, one would hope that he or she has a basic understanding of what America is tapped into and how it is affecting news, e-commerce, globalism, and child Internet safety (to name a few).
With 73 percent of American adults using the Internet (only 35 percent 65 or older) and more than a third of Americans over 55 regularly reading blogs and online forums, watching videos, or listening to podcasts, it is a bit alarming that the (current) leader of the free-world can unashamedly use such phrases as “the Google” and “the Internets.”
Meanwhile, McCain recently told the New York Times, “I am learning to get online myself, and I will have that down fairly soon.” At least he’s trying – and to his defense, unnecessary interruptions such as spam, miscellaneous e-mail and instant messages DO take up 28 percent of the average knowledge worker’s day, which account for up to 2.1 hours per worker per day! Could this mean McCain is more productive?
As we’ve seen in this election, both McCain and Obama camps have experimented with new media, embracing the use of sites like MySpace and YouTube. In July, BarackObama.com had 3.3 million unique viewers, and JohnMcCain.com had 1.6 million, according to Nielsen Online.
And while Obama flexed his techno-prowess with a text message to 2.9 million people, announcing his running mate Sen. Joe Biden, props go out to “old” McCain for trumping the blitz with smart Google-keyword bidding. When searching for ”Biden” on Google around the time of the VP pick, the first (sponsored) link to appear was a McCain video with sound bytes of Biden questioning Obama’s experience.
Way to go original maverick!
Very interesting information, Mike. You know that times have changed when even Lindsay Lohan is blogging about politics (according to People.com – http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20222833,00.html). What a smart move by McCain’s team to buy sponsored links for the search term “Biden.” Another example of how you always have to be one step ahead when working with online media. You have to wonder how Obama’s team let that happen.