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February 10, 2012
Lisa M. Krieger: Man with defibrillator demands access to his own heart's information
David G. Savage: Why activists may not be in a hurry to have High Court rule on alternative marriage
February 9, 2012
Laura McMullen: 10 Least Expensive Public Schools for Out-of-State Students
Kimberly Palmer: How to actually enjoy -- relaxing, financially -- your vacation
February 8, 2012
Warren Richey: Why momentous Prop. 8 ruling might not satisfy gay-rights groups
Menachem Wecker: Though Controversial, LL.M.'s Can Lead to Specialized Legal Jobs
The Kosher Gourmet byDana Velden: Going to the bother of making soup? You know it better be good. This CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP certainly is! And it's a cinch to make, too (Includes techinques and serving secrets)
February 7, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Caught off-guard? President's Super Bowl interview with Matt Lauer gives those who need a reason not to vote for him, a darn good one
Suzanne Bohan: Leaping lizards! Tiny reptiles advancing robot design
February 6, 2012
Jonathan Tobin: Iran Threatens Israel With Destruction, But the New York Times Doesn't Hear It
Jeffrey Fleishman: In newly democratic Egypt, tens of democracy activists jailed, to stand trial; their groups are 'threatening the stability of the homeland'
Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
February 3, 2012
Edmund Sanders : Israeli official says Iran is creating missile that could reach East Coast of US
Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
February 2, 2012
Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran
Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
February 1, 2012
Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
January 27, 2012
Caroline B. Glick: Obama: Of course I intend to prevent a nuclear holocaust . . . in a few months
Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
Jeannine Stein: An inflated ego and thinking you're 'all that' doesn't just make others sick of you, it can make you ill
Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
Ed Koch: To the New York Times, calling for the murder of Jews by those capable of having their incitement taken seriously isn't news
Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
Jordan Rau: In quest to grow, Catholic hospital system will announce this morning its break from church
Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
January 18, 2012
January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
David G. Savage: They sued their principals after slandering them online --- now the cases are headed to the Supreme Court
David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
Ben Lynfield: Israeli lawmakers move to annex Jewish Judea, one museum at a time
Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
Warren Richey: Supreme Court says no to new rule on eyewitness testimony
John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
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January 11, 2012
Shari Roan: Millions of atrial fibrillation sufferers at risk for devastating, but preventable, stroke
Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
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Jewish World Review
Dec. 2, 2008
/ 5 Kislev 5769
Will Barack Obama give presidency online forum?
By
James Klurfeld
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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first politician to master the use of radio as a way to communicate directly with the nation. Three decades later, John F. Kennedy became the first candidate to exploit the power and reach of television.
And now, in 2008, Barack Obama has demonstrated the power of the Internet - not just to raise money but to mobilize an army of supporters for his presidential campaign and to communicate his message directly to them.
And the more I'm learning about what the Obama campaign did, and how it did it, the more I believe Obama's use of new technology could have an equally profound impact on how our nation governs itself.
This is big stuff. It's hard to believe that some of the sites that the campaign took major advantage of - Facebook and YouTube, notably - either didn't exist or were in their infancy four years ago. The hottest Internet firm around these days might be Blue State Digital, which organized Obama's online efforts and explains how it works on its Web site: bluestatedigital.com.
Obama was able to bypass the press and get his message out directly to his supporters in an unprecedented manner. He held few news conferences and generally remained aloof from the reporters who were traveling with him. Can he adapt those same techniques when he's sitting in the White House? Or will he ignore the press at his peril?
In the old days, it was the role of political parties to raise money, organize workers and get the message out to voters. That role was greatly reduced with the popularity of television. Political consultants replaced party bosses as the key campaign operatives, and 30-second commercials and sound bites became the primary means through which to communicate with voters.
But 2008 was different. Short commercials were still a major way candidates tried to get their messages across, but in many cases those commercials never went out over the airwaves.
Instead, they aired on the candidates' Web sites - at no cost. And longer messages got a full hearing on the Internet, a distinct departure from how we've been doing our politics in recent years. For example, one of the most-watched events of the political primaries was Obama's 37-minute race-relations speech that he gave in Philadelphia in March.
The Internet meant that you could watch what you wanted when you wanted to - it didn't matter if you missed a candidate's appearance when it aired on television. And you didn't have to depend on columnists and pundits to tell you what it meant.
In fact, one of the criticisms of how the news media has covered politics in recent years - that what the candidates actually say gets short shrift and is too often only presented through the prism of a newsperson's analysis - is easily remedied on the Internet, where the actual speech or policy paper itself is always available.
The negative side of that, however, is that you are receiving raw information that hasn't been verified. There's the tendency of even the most inaccurate rumors to take on a life of their own, as they are e-mailed from address list to address list.
One example that had the potential to hurt Obama was the false claim that he is Muslim. That report continued to fly around the Internet even after it was discredited.
But such negatives seemed to have been outmatched by the Obama campaign's ability to transform passive supporters into active participators in his campaign. And if he could do that during a campaign, why can't he do it as president?
He's maintained from the beginning that change must come from the bottom up. This always sounds good, but it's hard to implement in a society as complex as ours, with as many different interest groups as ours. But maybe, just maybe, Obama has found a way to trump interest-group politics.
This much I'm sure about: The Internet doesn't offer incremental change in how we do politics. It's revolutionary.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
Comment by clicking here.
James Klurfeld is a professor of journalism at Stony Brook University.
Previously:
11/20/08: Job 1 for Obama: Governing from the center
10/14/08: What about the economy Obama, McCain?
09/04/08: Palin stunningly wrong choice by McCain
05/01/08: Carter, Hart ... and Obama?
04/12/08: Election year politics and the cost of war
04/02/08: Time for a '30s-style government mortgage role
03/11/08: Power rightly belongs to Dem superdelegates
03/04/08: A neophyte looks like a pro, and vice versa
02/22/08: The allure of Obama for young people
02/19/08: Obama sounds good, but words aren't enough
© 2008, Newsday Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services
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