Smile, Politicians! You're on YouTube (LAT)

[spindrifter]

By P.J. Huffstutter, Times Staff Writer
September 4, 2006


CHICAGO — The voyeurism of reality TV has collided with the political arena, thanks to digital technologies and the broad reach of a website: Alongside clips of animal antics and goofy celebrity parodies, the gaffes of this year's candidates are being posted, watched — and ridiculed.

YouTube, founded last year as a way for friends to share digital videos, has emerged as a powerful campaign tool, used by political operatives and interested citizens to anonymously and cheaply spread messages or blow whistles.

<snip>

Some see YouTube as a way to bring authenticity to the political process and attract a younger generation of voters. Others fear that it will make politicians even less spontaneous in public, and say that anonymous video postings invite doctoring to create false and damaging impressions.

<snip>

When Republican Sen. Conrad Burns briefly nodded off during a Montana farm-bill hearing in August, a state Democratic worker was taping him. Within hours of being posted to YouTube, the clip was drawing viewers and comments, such as "This senile old goat would probably do less damage if he slept thru more Senate hearings."

<more>

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-youtube4sep04,0,4698346.story?coll=la-home-nation

[rodeodance]

1. it is sites such as this that would be harmed if net neutrality passed.

[wakeme2008]

2. Bingo...

They do not have the $$$ to pay AT&T for high speed...

[MindMatter]

3. And the problem with this is ...?

The article makes it sound like showing politicians as they actually are is some sinister development. Of course, it is possible to take little things way out of context, but this medium is still far more informative than the carefully packaged phony bits that the campaigns use to advertise themselves.

The "Macaca" comment by Allen was far more revealing than anything that would emerge from teh carefully scripted campaign appearances and debates.