AppyLover2
Well-Known Member
This article was published in the monthly newsletter my ISP publishes. Found it interesting reading.
"No matter whether your leanings are conservative or liberal, you will probably agree that the upcoming general election is one of the most important in a long time. In addition to the many serious issues facing our nation, the 2008 election marks several "firsts".
This is the first election in which an African American is the presidential nominee for a major party. In fact, the eventual winning ticket will feature either the first African American to be elected President or the first woman to be elected Vice President. Should the Obama-Biden ticket be successful, Joe Biden would be the first Roman Catholic to serve as Vice President.
For trivia-oriented folks, it is the first time since the 1952 election that the incumbent President or incumbent Vice President is not a candidate in the race. Never before in U.S. history have two sitting senators vied for the presidency, and never before have both candidates been born outside the continental United States. Barack Obama was born in Hawaii, and John McCain in the Panama Canal Zone.
Another first is the number of Americans using "the Internet, email or text messaging to get news about the campaign, share their views and mobilize others." According to a report by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, a record-breaking 46% of us have done this already.
The Pew Report states that a significant number of voters are also using the Internet to gain access to campaign events and primary documents. A full 39% of online Americans have used the Internet to access "unfiltered" campaign materials, which includes video of candidate debates, speeches and announcements, and position papers.
The way Americans view the political process and the part they play in it is being changed by the growing influence of the Internet on our lives. Original commentary or analysis has been posted online by 5% of us, while 11% have forwarded or posted the commentary someone else has made about the race.
Just as younger Americans are leading the way in social networking, young voters are helping to define the online political debate. Two-thirds of Internet users under the age of 30 have a social networking profile, and half of these use social networking sites to get or share information about politics.
Some interesting trends have also surfaced during the long primary campaign. The number of Americans who have watched online political videos has tripled since the 2004 race, as 35% of us have turned to a multitude of web sites, including www.youtube.com. A small but growing group of adults have made political contributions online, with 6% having done so in the 2008 compared to 2% in 2004.
The Internet has had positive effects on the involvement of Americans in the political process. The Pew Report concludes that many voters and potential voters feel more personally connected and would not be as involved in the campaign if it were not for the Internet.
The downside is that large numbers feel the Internet magnifies the most extreme viewpoints and is a source of misinformation for many voters. As with any resource, check your Internet sources for accuracy and reliability - and don't believe everything you read or hear. Perhaps this advice is even more appropriate where politics are concerned! Visit these web sites to get started on your 2008 Internet political journey.
www.barackobama.com
www.johnmccain.com
http://www.democrats.org/
http://www.gop.org/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/
http://people-press.org/
http://www.pollingreport.com/2008.htm "
"No matter whether your leanings are conservative or liberal, you will probably agree that the upcoming general election is one of the most important in a long time. In addition to the many serious issues facing our nation, the 2008 election marks several "firsts".
This is the first election in which an African American is the presidential nominee for a major party. In fact, the eventual winning ticket will feature either the first African American to be elected President or the first woman to be elected Vice President. Should the Obama-Biden ticket be successful, Joe Biden would be the first Roman Catholic to serve as Vice President.
For trivia-oriented folks, it is the first time since the 1952 election that the incumbent President or incumbent Vice President is not a candidate in the race. Never before in U.S. history have two sitting senators vied for the presidency, and never before have both candidates been born outside the continental United States. Barack Obama was born in Hawaii, and John McCain in the Panama Canal Zone.
Another first is the number of Americans using "the Internet, email or text messaging to get news about the campaign, share their views and mobilize others." According to a report by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, a record-breaking 46% of us have done this already.
The Pew Report states that a significant number of voters are also using the Internet to gain access to campaign events and primary documents. A full 39% of online Americans have used the Internet to access "unfiltered" campaign materials, which includes video of candidate debates, speeches and announcements, and position papers.
The way Americans view the political process and the part they play in it is being changed by the growing influence of the Internet on our lives. Original commentary or analysis has been posted online by 5% of us, while 11% have forwarded or posted the commentary someone else has made about the race.
Just as younger Americans are leading the way in social networking, young voters are helping to define the online political debate. Two-thirds of Internet users under the age of 30 have a social networking profile, and half of these use social networking sites to get or share information about politics.
Some interesting trends have also surfaced during the long primary campaign. The number of Americans who have watched online political videos has tripled since the 2004 race, as 35% of us have turned to a multitude of web sites, including www.youtube.com. A small but growing group of adults have made political contributions online, with 6% having done so in the 2008 compared to 2% in 2004.
The Internet has had positive effects on the involvement of Americans in the political process. The Pew Report concludes that many voters and potential voters feel more personally connected and would not be as involved in the campaign if it were not for the Internet.
The downside is that large numbers feel the Internet magnifies the most extreme viewpoints and is a source of misinformation for many voters. As with any resource, check your Internet sources for accuracy and reliability - and don't believe everything you read or hear. Perhaps this advice is even more appropriate where politics are concerned! Visit these web sites to get started on your 2008 Internet political journey.
www.barackobama.com
www.johnmccain.com
http://www.democrats.org/
http://www.gop.org/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/
http://people-press.org/
http://www.pollingreport.com/2008.htm "
