January 30, 2007
'Staying Alive' on the Web
French Presidential contenders Nicolas Sarkozy and Segolene Royal are putting alot of effort into "Le Web" in preparation for this year's presidential election.
Sarkozy's new site, http://www.discosarko.com, features the typically straight-laced interior minister boogying down to "Staying Alive." The site is part of an effort appeal to a younger voting bloc as well as to collect contact information from potential supporters. It asks visitors to leave e-mail addresses and mobile phone numbers so they can be reached ahead of the April-May presidential vote.
Segolene Royal's supporters, following an example set by the extreme-right National Front party, opened an office in "Second Life," a virtual world where users create avatars, buy land, build homes and do business.
"Come in large numbers and you'll find me there," Royal said in an online video posting to inaugurate the virtual headquarters, which drew a steady stream of visitors last week.
Additionally, both camps aim to have collected at least 1 million e-mail addresses each by polling day.
"The whole goal of collecting e-mails is to bring the campaign to life and, most of all, to bombard our supporters in the last days, telling them, 'Don't forget to vote, get people around you to vote,'" said Arnaud Dassier, whose company manages part of Sarkozy's cyber-campaign and created the "disco sarko" site.
'Le Web' Plays New Role in Politics
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January 26, 2007
On the Web, Clinton Leads the Pack
New York Senator Hillary Clinton is making use of several tech-savvy Internet tools to promote her candidacy for the US presidency.
Beginning with an e-announcement last weekend, Clinton followed up strong with three live web chats this week as well as a town hall meeting in cyberspace.
Through video streamed on her Web site, for a half-hour Clinton answered about a dozen queries on each of three evenings this week. Questions ranged from "What is your favorite movie?" to "Do you plan on ending our dependence on foreign oil?"
Clinton also used the Yahoo Answers service to ask voters: ``Based on your own family's experience, what do you think we should do to improve health care in America?'” By 5 p.m. Pacific time, Clinton had gotten more than 33,000 answers, making her question the second-most popular in the history of Yahoo Answers.
"Internet and technology has become an integral part of politics, and it is a great way for Sen. Clinton to have a conversation with people," said Peter Daou her campaign's Internet director.
Web-Savvy Campaigning: Hillary Clinton
Meet Hillary 2.0
Hillary’s Yahoo Answers Page
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January 24, 2007
Italy Boards the YouTube Express
Italian minister Antonio Di Pietro has joined the wave of YouTube vlogging politicans.
The infrastructure minister has decided to post video to YouTube regularly describing and explaining the decisions taken in Romano Prodi's centre-left cabinet. In his most recent post Di Pietro chats his way unscripted for almost seven minutes through last Friday's cabinet meeting. The transcript is available in English on his Web site.
One of Italiy's most unconventional politicians, this former police officer is probably better known outside Italy for his exploits before entering parliament. His investigation of party corruption as a prosecutor in Milan set off a veritable political earthquake that virtually destroyed the country's old political order.
The minister first popped up on YouTube in December 2006 in a video explaining his controversial opposition to a cross-border merger between Italy's Autostrade and the Spanish firm, Abertis.
Italian Politics Takes to YouTube
Antonio Di Pietro - YouTube Profile
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January 22, 2007
E-Announcements and First YouTube Hit Job
This was a big weekend for 2008 Presidential e-announcements. Richardson and Clinton both threw their hats in on the Web.
New York Senator Hillary Clinton made her formal announcement stating the formation of a presidential exploratory committee on her Web site Saturday. The centerpiece of the well-rehearsed video is her declaration "I'm in and I am in to win." She promised to hold Web chats Monday through Wednesday of this week.
Democrat Bill Richardson, 59-year-old New Mexico governor, announced in a video posted on his Web site that he too will set up an exploratory committee that will allow him to begin raising money and assembling his campaign organization. This is the first step toward the US's first Hispanic president.
In other Election 2008 related news, the first video "hit job" appeared on YouTube last week. The video featured spliced clips from former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney's 1994 debate with Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.). In it, Romney (R), then running for the Senate in a losing campaign against Kennedy, voiced support for abortion rights and gay rights -- positions he has since renounced.
Romney's campaign, alerted to the threat released a counter video on YouTube within hours. The video of Romney rebutting the charges was sent to his supporters and to Republican blogs.
"In a viral information age, a distortion of the record can quickly sink in as fact," Kevin Madden press secretary for Romney's presidential exploratory committee said. "It was very important to show that what was an anonymous attack eventually became a moment of strength for our campaign."
On the Electronic Campaign Trail
For Democrat Hopefuls, Web is Way
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January 19, 2007
US Political Bloggers - Criminals?
US political bloggers could be forced to register with the government or face criminal penalties up to one year in jail.
An organization called GrassRootsFreedom.com is reporting that the U.S. Senate is considering legislation that would require political bloggers with readership over 500 to register as lobbyists. Section 220 of S. 1, the lobbying reform bill before the Senate, would require grassroots causes, even bloggers, who communicate with the public on policy matters, to register and report quarterly to Congress, as lobbyists are required.
"Section 220 would amend existing lobbying reporting law by creating the most expansive intrusion on First Amendment rights ever," Richard A. Viguerie, Chairman of GrassrootsFreedom.com said.
For the first time in history, he stated, critics of Congress will need to register and report with Congress itself.
Sign the Petition Against Section 220
Political Bloggers Could Be Required To Register Or Face Jail Time
Congress Preparing to Criminalize Critics?
Bloggers Who Criticize Government May Face Prison
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January 17, 2007
Obama's E-Announcement
Further illustrating the vital role of the Internet in the 2008 presidential election, Barack Obama made public his intent to file a presidential exploratory committee.
With no speech or media appearance to accompany his online announcement, Obama relied primarily on Internet video to convey his message. He is expected to spend the upcoming weeks discussing a presidential campaign around the country before holding an event on February 10th in his home state, Illinois, to make known the results of his exploration.
Other Democrats who have announced a campaign or exploratory committee are 2004 vice presidential nominee John Edwards, former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd and Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich. Sens. John Kerry of Massachusetts and Joe Biden of Delaware and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson also are considering a run.
Obama Launches 2008 White House Bid
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January 15, 2007
Bloggers Gain Access to Courtroom
Bloggers will be allowed to cover the criminal trial of former White House staffer Lewis "Scooter" Libby alongside reporters from traditional media outlets.
Libby, Cheney's former chief of staff, has been charged with obstruction of justice and providing the FBI with false statements regarding the leak of the name of a CIA employee whose husband had criticized the Bush administration's use of intelligence in the run-up to the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
Bloggers will control at least four seats during the high-profile trial. The arrangement is believed to be a first for a high-profile court case, although trade shows and political conventions have issued media passes to bloggers in the past several years.
Two seats will be controlled by members of the nonpartisan Media Blogging Association, a trade group that provides legal advice and promotes increased access for its 1,000 members. Two more seats will be controlled by writers for several liberal- leaning blogs, including Firedoglake, The Huffington Post and DailyKos.
Bloggers likely will file reports from an overflow room that will be set up with wireless Internet service, although like other media outlets they will be prohibited from transmitting video or audio of the trial. Jury selection begins Tuesday.
Bloggers Gain Access to 'Scooter' Libby Trial
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January 08, 2007
Turkmenistan May Lift Internet Ban
Turkmenistan, recently condemned By Reports Without Borders as an "Enemy of the Internet," may reverse its policy restricting access to the Internet.
After the sudden death of President-for-Life Saparmurat Niyazov, the leading contender and acting president, Deputy Prime Minister Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, said he would reverse Niyazov's censorship policy if elected.
"I consider that the international network Internet and new communications technology must be accessible for every citizen," Berdymukhamedov said.
Berdymukhamedov, who made his comments at a public meeting, also drew applause by promising to lengthen the number of years at school and send gifted children to study abroad, two issues that the in-place regime has neglected.
Berdymukhamedov is one of six candidates for the Feb. 11 election. All candidates were chosen by the country’s highest legislative body. Turkmenistan has only one legal political party. It is not yet clear who is favored to win the election.
Acting President of Turkmenistan Promises Changes After Election
Turkmenistan May Lift Internet Ban
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January 05, 2007
Congress Goes Virtual
Rep. George Miller, a California Democrat, has led Congress to take the vitrual plunge into Second Life.
At a "press conference," held on Thursday January 4th, the Democrat introduced the "100 hours" plan for enacting new laws. The press conference was conducted in a virtual adaptation of the Capitol building in Washington, D.C.
Miller, chairman of the Democratic Policy Committee, called for a bill with strong network neutrality provisions. He also threw his support behind legislation that would require Congress to post on the Internet any bill at least 72 hours before a vote. The Internet posting would also have to include any "earmarks," the controversial funding method for lawmakers' favorite projects, attached to the legislation.
"I'm the canary in the coal mine," Miller said. "Second Life is the next frontier and hopefully other members will use it to expand the [public's] interest and participation in Congress."
Dems Go Virtual to Promote New Agenda
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January 03, 2007
An Internet-Based Election
The governing party in France is holding the nation's first Web-based primary for its 330,000 members.
On Tuesday, January 1st, members of France's governing conservative party began casting ballots online to choose a presidential nominee. Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy is the only candidate.
With only Sarkozy running, Valerie Pecresse, spokeswoman for the UMP, was asked about the usefulness of the ballot.
"When you launch a democratic process, you don't stop it just because there is only one candidate," she said. Pecresse said that voters could leave a ballot blank to show opposition to Sarkozy and that such a vote would be counted.
The Socialist Party, the main opposition, has already selected Ségolène Royal as its candidate.
The UMP is not the only party to make the Internet a key element of its presidential campaign. The Socialists and the far-right National Front, led by Jean-Marie Le Pen, have also relied heavily on Web sites to attract voters and pump up the party ranks.
Recent opinion polls show Royal and Sarkozy running neck and neck, with Le Pen coming in third.
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