NY Times Enlightenment - Obama and Connectivity

[TBF]

This article doesn't focus on sexism, racism, Obamites or Hillbots - but it is a very interesting and on-point discussion by Roger Cohen of why we are connecting to Obama. Simply put, he is connecting to us:


It’s the networks, stupid.

More than any other factor, it has been Barack Obama’s grasp of the central place of Internet-driven social networking that has propelled his campaign for the Democratic nomination into a seemingly unassailable lead over Hillary Clinton. Her campaign has been so 20th-century. His has been of the century we’re in.

That’s not surprising. Obama spent only 10 years of his adult life in the split world of the cold war, double that in a post-Berlin Wall world of growing interconnectedness. MAC — mutually assured connectivity — has replaced the MAD — mutually assured destruction —of cold-war days.

For Clinton, born in 1947, that ratio is different. Her mental paradigm is division. When her husband last ran for president in 1996, the Internet was marginal. The thinking and people from that campaign have proved unable to fast-forward a dozen years. They’ve been left like deer blinded by the Webcam lights of the Obama juggernaut.

This cultural failure has been devastating for Clinton. As Joshua Green chronicles in an important piece in The Atlantic, Obama has used social networking and his user-friendly Web site to develop the money machine, and the youthful engagement, that has swept him forward.

Green notes, “Obama’s claim of 1,276,000 donors is so large that Clinton doesn’t bother to compete.” He gives some other Obama campaign numbers: 750,000 active volunteers and 8,000 affinity groups. In February, a month in which he raised $55 million ($45 million over the Internet), 94 percent of donations were of $200 or less, a number dwarfing small contributions to Clinton and John McCain.

Obama has been a classic Internet-start up ....


Read entire article here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/26/opinion/26cohen.html?ex=1369540800&en=349523dcf245fd9d&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

[JerseygirlCT]

1. I think that's probably true - and an interesting point. But

I also don't think that social networking alone will get you anywhere. You actually have to have something to say, something people will want to connect *to*. The internet, and social networking sites are tools only. Wielded by someone with something to offer, they become powerful tools. Wielded poorly by someone without anything to keep people interested... I don't think it works for long.

[TBF]

2. Good point, Jerseygirl. And I'm interested to see if Obama's connection

continues. We signed up to be "precinct captains" around the country, and the campaign will doubtlessly turn to us again during the GE should Obama be the nominee as many of us are hoping. But will he continue to communicate through the website, will he continue the connectivity? I've gotten several emails from different campaign folks asking for feedback at different points, and it will be interesting to see if that continues.

[JerseygirlCT]

13. I suspect yes - part of the strength of the campaign

has been effectively using those tools - I don't think they'd abandon them now. And if you were drawn to him to begin with, I suspect he'll continue to be a draw. The trick with these tools, I think is, as you say, using them effectively, and then CONTINUING to use them. It's really just a new tool for communcations - so a) do you have something good to communciate? and b) are you an effective communicator?

I think, personally, that the answer is yes to both for Obama, and that he's assembled a campaign team smart enough to use these newer tools to make the most of that.

[goclark]

19. I am a Precinct Captain and I receive updates and tx yous

on a daily basis from his top notch staff.

They are simply amazing.

If you contact them with a question by the Contact Us mode, in less than 2 days the email response says.... Dear_____ Thank you for letting us know your thoughts about _______. That is important to us and we have forwarded your email to the appropriate assistant.

Thank you so much for all you are doing for the Obama Campaign. You are important to us.

We need you to __________ for the upcoming Primary in __________ can you help? Please go to the website and volunteer.

That is just a sample of how they respond, it's simply amazing!

[JerseygirlCT]

20. Yup - that's just smart

If you got a canned letter with dear friend from them, I'm betting it wouldn't have the same impact.

It's all about taking the care to do things the right way, IMO.

[TBF]

26. During the extended caucuses here in TX (we had major meetings in each

"Senate District" well after the primary) we kept getting feedback as well. Emails from campaign workers on the ground here in TX who continued to organize by Senate District in order to keep all the precinct captains up to date on where meetings were being held (several switched due to size), and all the other mundane details. We got them from TX dem party officials as well, but I was impressed that an official Obama team stayed here to assist with the coordinating while others moved on to Penn and NC.

That is not simply "using the Internet" - it is continual organizing and follow-up. Any one who has ever managed an event (from a kid's birthday party to a major corporate affair) knows that the devil is in the details. Obama's team not only uses new tools effectively, but is on top of things in the organizational sense.

[goclark]

32. They are exceptional with the internet

and with their rapid response statements and with their creative ideas for calling potential voters etc.

Fantastic!

[dsomuah]

3. True but ...

Social Networking changes the rules.

Conventional wisdom says that a candidate needs favorable media to win an election. Conventional wisdom says that a candidate needs the support of the political establishment, Conventional wisdom says that you can't win an election without the help of the PACs and lobbyists. Conventional wisdom says, don't even expect states other than the usual swing states to be in play. Conventional wisdom says that to win the nomination you need a Super Tuesday blowout. Conventional wisdom says that if you don't have a national polling lead going into Super Tuesday, you will not get the nomination.

This election is changing conventional wisdom, and part of it is the new tactics being used by the Obama campaign. Social networking is a tool. PACs are a tool, establishment political support is a tool as well, attack dog tactics are another tool. Hillary had the old tried and tested tools, But Obama has found new tools and has destroyed the notion that you need the tried and tested tools to win.

That's why Hillary supporters don't understand Obama's success, that's why they keep on insisting "But he can't win." What they are really saying is: "He doesn't have the tools people have used in the past." But politics with the Facebook / Myspace generation can be conducted using a completely different set of tools.

[TBF]

5. Obama has taken his "community organizing" toolbox and brought

it into the digital age. A big part of his message is not just the wisdom he inparts, but the expectation that we respond, and speak with each other. That may be a component tradionalists are missing as well. In the past there was more emphasis on a leader being authoritarian. Perhaps a very bright and compassionate authoritarian, but ruling from on-high just the same. Obama is encouraging inclusion by asking our opinions, and asking us to take ownership in our country and participate. Will people want to be bothered, or are they still looking for someone to come along and solve the problems for them? (such as a kindly Bill Clinton figure did in the 90's??).

[JerseygirlCT]

15. Yes. And it may be that in an age of internet, and networking tools

that people now nearly *demand* two-way communications. The key is to find an effective way to do that on a very broad basis. The people being communicated with know full well they're not really talking one to one with someone from the campaign. But they MUST feel like they're being heard at some level - that the conversation is happening both ways.

I think Obama's people are savvy to this - I'm not sure the Clinton folks have quite caught on to that yet. People are not going to be satisfied with being given information anymore - however it's delivered. They're eager to offer their feedback now, and eager to be heard.

[scarletwoman]

8. Great post! Your delineation of the "Conventional Wisdom" is dead on.

Welcome to DU!

sw

[JerseygirlCT]

14. Exactly

They are all tools. And tools are useful when used well. But they are "sales" tools, if you like, and if there isn't anything to sell, their usefulness is limited.

I think in this case, there is much to "sell" - which means using these newer and potentially powerful tools well is really boosting the Obama campaign.

[cliffordu]

21. DING DING DING We have a winner!!! Exactly right.

[lisa58]

28. welcome - great post...

...I do believe you are right when you state that THIS is why Hillary supporters believe Obama can't win.

[Howler]

4. I could be wrong about this but..........

Wasn't Howard Dean the first candidate to really take advantage and work the internet?
if he was..... then he had left a really good example for the folks running Clinton's campaign.Right?
So if Hillary's people didn't use the internet after Deans example wouldn't that just be another bad campaign decision?

[hisownpetard]

6. Good point. And - yes!

Welcome to DU!

[scarletwoman]

7. Sounds about right. I think the Clintons were just so very certain that their "machine"

was unstoppable, that they didn't think they'd have to add anything else to it.

sw

On edit: I wanted to add: Great post, very insightful! And: Welcome to DU! :toast:

[Howler]

11. Thank You!!

Hisownpetard,Scarletwoman,Crisco for the warm welcome!
I really like this board lottsa really informative posts and passion.LOL!

[NashVegas]

10. You Are Entirely Correct

This is the second essay I've seen in a major publication that ignores Dean's role in pathmaking.

Found - the other was in the Atlantic.

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200806/obama-finance

[TBF]

16. That is a great point - a couple of people have mentioned that in this thread

and I regret that I didn't think of it when I posted this article.

Dean was the first to use the Internet. I wasn't as active in the 2004 race - I basically tuned in right before the GE and was impressed enough with Edwards to send a donation to the DNC. But I don't recall if Dean simply used the internet to raise funds, or did he do more with it?

[lisa58]

29. they didn't think they had too...

...remember when Kerry endorsed Obama and Hillary said she didn't have the e-mail list that Kerry had just provided to Obama as an answer to why Obama was raising more money.

Hillary's campaign thought it was in the bag.

That's probably when I lost respect for her, I really thought she - and therefore her campaign - were more organized than they were.

[Howler]

35. lisa58

There was a female talking head on Matthews today (sorry about not knowing her name)that surmised that the Clinton camp are still living in "92" before the internet really took off.They totally misjudged just how influential the net has become in setting the agenda on what political event gets coverage and what issues are front and center for discussion.The conventional media is now taking cues from the internet.

Other programs were discussing how dismissive MCcain is being to Obama!!! LOL! I certainly hope so. The Clinton's also dismissed Obama Snort!!!!:patriot:

[dsomuah]

33. True but

Many political insiders on both sides used Howard Deans failure to secure the nomination as an excuse to dismiss the power of the internet. When Obama started raising a lot of money over the internet around this time last year, I can't tell you how many dem activists said to me. "Yeah but remember Howard Dean? He did it and he still failed. Obama can't suceed. Hillary will win the nomination."

[Howler]

36. dsomuah

Ironically the internet helped make Howard Deans campaign.
Then the internet tanked Howard Deans campaign with that viral clip of the now infamous scream.
I guess you could say "what the internet giveth, the internet can taketh away" LMAO!:evilfrown:

[scarletwoman]

9. This is an excellent, thoughtful & thought-provoking article. Much appreciated!

k&r -- thank you.

sw

[TBF]

18. Thanks sw - I've never done my own post before so I appreciate your vote of confidence.

[lisa58]

31. Congratulations, your first OP is going to the greatest page!

[TBF]

34. Thank you, Lisa! Hopefully I'll come up with something else worth contributing soon. The first one

took 5 mos. ;)

[MethuenProgressive]

12. "June" filtered through Obama's network = "she's hoping he'll get shot!"

Some 'network'....

[TBF]

17. OK, I'll grant that tools can be used for good or bad. But as for the "June"

example I don't recall seeing anything on Obama's official site about that. It did come to DU quickly, but we talk about all the candidates here so that is to be expected.

[crickets]

22. K&R

:dem:

[OzarkDem]

23. Doesn't mean he's qualified to be president

IIRC, the job description requires more than internet marketing skills.

[TBF]

27. What actually has impressed me more, OzarkDem, is the organizational skill -

using these new-fangled tools effectively. You are correct that there's got to be more than just marketing, and I think today's consumers are pretty savvy. We get bombarded with images daily and tune out alot of it. There does have to be substance behind the facade. I have a feeling you and I have a different opinion on Obama, but I appreciate you taking the time to comment.

[lisa58]

30. I disagree...

...the mere fact that he and his campaign were given a problem to solve, i.e. win the democratic primary, and did (or will) makes me confident that he and he team have real problem-solving ability. That IMO makes him far more qualified to be president than any other candidate.

[Swamp Rat]

24. Interesting perspective.

Perhaps true.

[ruby slippers]

25. not to mention that his fundraisers are also grassroots level donations.....example

Maitland, up close and personal for only 250.00. Affordable times the number who showed up equaled the largest fundraiser in Orlando for a candidate ever. History making.

[AtomicKitten]

37. Obama has run a spectacular campaign.

[NC_Nurse]

38. Excellent Post. Thank you.

:hi:

[TBF]

40. Thanks NCNurse!

:)

[NC_Nurse]

41. Kick

:kick:

[Raine]

39. Interesting...

THANKS for posting this! :thumbsup:

[Arugula Latte]

42. I often feel thankful for the Internet, and the fact that Obama has been able to smack down

the substandard candidacy of Hillary Clinton because of the Internet only makes me love it more.