The YouTubification of Politics
We are not in a period of great statesman leading the way. That's especially true when it comes to the 2008 presidential race. This is true on both sides of the aisle. TR, FDR, Reagan..much less Lincoln, Jefferson, or Washington? I think not.
This is made even more evident by the coming-of-political-age of YouTube. People can now effectively mock the folks they don't like with a parody, or forever record their gaffes. This humanizes all candidates, and brings them back to the average-guy/joker pack. YouTube de-iconizes our leaders.
In some ways, this is great--we are a nation of laws, not superhero leaders. Excessive adoration of our public leaders is not healthy in a republic. But, at the same time, it--like so much else in modern culture--reduces public office, and the people striving to serve in office, to jokes. Can anyone again be "great" with the new technology?
But that is the world we are in. Here are the high/low-lights. Pick your (formerly) favorite candidate:
McCain picks his side, and sticks with it;
Rudy Giuliani feeling pretty again. And again.
Hillary returning to her southern roots, yawl.
Romney goes a huntin', for varmints! (All his life, or twice.)
These clips highlight the use of new technology to bring down candidates. Some of this is helpful to the process in revealing hypocrisy--no more whistle stop speeches wherein candidates would change their positions based on what state they were in. It is also harmful, in that it trivializes serious people in a serious process.
And YouTube clips can also be used with devastating success, in a more serious way, by supporters--over whom, candidates have no control. Thus, a brilliant piece, like "1984," can create a huge buzz for a coming-from-behind candidate. This makes campaigns much less scripted, and forces handlers to worry about their candidate's 'unscripted' time (see Edwards' video, above), being captured on a phone or camcorder.
Interesting times,
Thomas More
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