New Media and the Presidential Politics

The influence of new media on our society is none more pronounced than the upcoming preseidential elections. CNN and YouTube colloborated to hold debates during the primaries. The candidates announced their candidacies online and have used the power of the Internet in generating funds in the wake of restrictions imposed by the campaign finance reform act. Moreover, the frequency and level of usage employed by the candidates running for the presidency is unprecedented. They are utilizing new media technology to engage and coax the younger generation to actively participate actively in choosing the next president. This element can be attributed to a higher voter turnout among the young people during the primaries. However, the results for the candidates are a mixed bag. Taking a cue and learning from the miscues from Howard Dean on the 2004 elections, Barack Obama, more than any other candidate, was successful in using the new media to his advantage in generating a groundswell of support even when it wasn’t seem that he will win the nomination early on. The New York Times article entitled “Finding Political News Online, the Young Pass It On” illustrates the sharp contrast between Mr Obama and the other candidates in attaining support from the younger voters. On the contrary, Hillary Clinton and John McCain have somewhat struggled to connect with the younger voters. In another New York Times article entitled "To ’08 Hopefuls, Media Technology Can Be Friend or Foe" , it describes the efforts with which Mrs Clinton is trying to revamp her image. However, it was more difficult in Mrs Clinton’s case since she and her husband has smartly used the medium of television beginning the period leading up to Bill Clinton’s candidacy and his eventual reign for 8 years as president.

It was a bold step on the part of the presidential candidates in trying to reach out to the younger generation, most of whom have distate for politics. To accomplish this by engaging and interacting with them using the tools and the language they speak is a step forward in the right direction especially when voter turnout for US presidential elections are astoundingly low. In this day and age wherein America is at crossroads with regards to its position in the world, it is imperative for the people holding influential positions, and not just government officials, to engage, to persuade and to listen to what we have to say. Who knows we may find or heardsomebody who may say something sensible and of relevance in a world that is increasingly gone upside down. And after all, the consequences of their actions (and non-actions) and decisions (as well as indecisions and non-decisions) will be felt the most by us and the future generations to come.