Analysis: Is Ron Paul Leading the Political Internet Revolution?
However, Michael Cornfield and Pew researchers find that while more voters are using the internet as a political tool, the internet has not yet transformed the political process as some critics may have thought it would. Their analysis finds that experts thought that the internet would provide better (and cheaper) communication between candidates and the electorate. Instead, Pew states that many feel "the internet only hardens our views, polarizes our politics and contributes to the nation's red and blue divides." Will Ron Paul become the candidate who brings the electorate together through a grassroots internet campaign?
The Pew research finds that the internet has helped candidates to raise awareness regarding their campaigns, but that traditional media forms such as television and newspapers are still dominating the political front. The research finds that candidates such as Ron Paul are using the internet to increase their fundraising efforts, but are using the money raised online to support "traditional" promotional efforts such as television advertising. This internet awareness seems to be particularly important for "back of the pack" candidates such as Paul as GOP frontrunner Rudy Giuliani has only a fraction of Ron Paul's internet support.
Note that Ron Paul critics have cried that Ron Paul supporters are guilty of spamming to promote their candidate. Interestingly, the Pew analysis finds that email, which is the most common means of transporting spam, was found to be a minimal source of spreading campaign news. Indeed, little if anything has been said regarding to use of email by the Ron Paul campaign to support their candidate.
The Pew analysis also states that the candidates attempting to lead the internet political revolution will perhaps use "mobile applications" to keep in touch with their supporters. The Ron Paul campaign has already put themselves on track to keep up with the latest innovations by creating an "iPhone Headquarters" for supporters.
The Pew analysis concludes with the following statement: "Looking ahead, it's clear that the Internet's role in politics will continue evolving as the technology improves and users continuously adapt it for new purposes. And someday, the iconic internet president may emerge, dominating the medium like FDR did with radio and JFK and Ronald Reagan did with television." Certainly, Ron Paul supporters hope that their candidate will become the "iconic internet president" which Pew refers to.
Sources:
http://pewresearch.org/pubs/85/the-internet-and-politics-no-revolution-yet
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/282540/ron_paul_internet_success_may_reflect.html
Published by C.M. Paulson
C.M. Paulson is a versatile writer and analyst with extensive business experience working for 2 Fortune 100 companies. View profile
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23 Comments
Post a CommentRon Paul really has a lot of people look him on the net. We do not spam. We love our candiate.
Right on the money, EEKman! No amount of ignoring, ridiculing, or denying will do. The fact is that the RP r3VOLuyion is for real and unstoppable!!
As of today, the Paul Campaign's YouTube channel has 20,302 subscribers. The GOP candidate with the second most subscribers is Mitt Romney with 2,416. Barack Obama has 8,807.
Dr. Paul also has 20,677 individuals in 428 cities across America signed up though Meetup.com to participate in grassroots activities. Meetup members have thus far held 1,127 events for Dr. Paul: walking neighborhoods, making signs and handing out literature. Barack Obama has 5,327 Meetup group members, while Mitt Romney has 29.
70% of Americans want us out of Iraq.
Ron Paul is the only republican candidate against the war in Iraq.
Over the next six months Ron Paul will gain name recognition and republicans will learn about who Ron Paul is and most will support him.
Ron Paul only needs 30% of republicans sick of the war and abuse of powers to win the republican nomination.
Once Ron Paul wins the nomination he will be the only anti-war candidate. Ron Paul will win election. At least we ca
We the American people will know the second the old school media (formerly the mainstream media) have come to the realization that their control tactics are no longer effective. We will know this as they will drastically change their format, or they will begin a horribly obvious directed disinformation campaign against Ron Paul.... but it will be too late as it already is. We have begun to wake up and smell the crap...and it stinks and were on our way to voting in the pooper scooper...he's going to clean out the litter box that was once our proud government. GO RON GO!!
It's funny that Alyce Rocco calls most of Ron Paul's supporters "druggies" when Alyce Rocco lists one of her affiliations as gypsywoman and her interests as love, peace, happiness, dance etc. Obviously Alyce Rocco supports Obama and is unwilling to be open to the message and views of Ron Paul. Ron Paul's presence on the internet is much larger and stronger than all the other candidates. I think Jeff's comments are true and in time Alyce will wake up.
There will always be a residue of people, like Alyce Rocco, who must be taken into account in the latter stages of the campaign. These are those you won't find commenting on complicated concepts such individual liberty, legitimate powers of the constitution, etc. Instead, in a masterful bit of detective work, Alyce Rocco has apparently discovered a lunatic who "claimed" to be Ron Paul supporter. With a limited expenditure of mental horsepower, Alyce Rocco was able to gain sweeping insights into the merits of Ron Paul's numerous positions based on the hairstyle of one or more supporters. A masterful bit of deduction. Alyce Rocco has also uncovered the startling fact that Obama "has the largest presence on the web" (youtube views I presume).
This is the reason we need to spread the word about Ron Paul. As he takes on more support or breaks into the lead, followers of the pack, such as Alyce Rocco, will effortlessly merge into our ranks.
Rory: I personally try to tell at least one person about RP every day, and am reasonably certain that half of them will go home and do some homework on the web. It even amazes me, because I've never been impressed enough by any candidate to just bring it up in casual conversation. The troglodyte mass media are the ones who are behind the times here. The Ron Paul Revolution is growing like wildfire while the TV ignores the smoke.
Perfect example of next media. Who is Ron Paul? http://www.FreeMe.TV
Alyce, you are mistaken. Ron Paul is for real.
There are just a lot of intelligent, resourceful, people on the internet who are DESPERATE to save a political process that has traded democracy for demagoguery.
This is a good objective article based on fact and logic. I was thinking much the same but I was thinking that what we are witnessing is a revolution - more like the industrial revolution instead of the revolutionary war. The CEO's of ABC, NBC, NY Times, Chicago Tribune, etc., no longer have a monopoly on the information that the majority of the country gets. This means that these CEO's are losing their control over the minds of Americans. We are becoming more independent and better informed. Who knew the Internet would go from porno entertainment to empowerment of an entire nation of individual thinking minds. It is beautiful and Ron Paul appears to be a catalyst for this 'revolution'. I hope Ron Paul becomes president - I have been watching him on CSPAN for a decade and he never fails to impress me with his clear vision and wisdom regarding what the proper role of the federal government is.