2008=1960?
Posted on December 25, 2007 - Filed Under Elections, media |
A two-term Republican President is leaving office. A new medium of communication has become a household item. So far, this medium has been used in Presidential politics but only with limited success. The election is expected to be tightly contested, fought by bitter rivals. The country has troops abroad, an expanding economy, but one at unease with its growth. Is this today, or is it 1960? Surprisingly, the answer is both.
Will the election of 2008 unfold as did the election of 1960, when a new medium, television, was first used by a candidate to harness just enough votes to win the White House. If history is any guide, then the answer is yes.
Now that the Internet (and the rambling yet increasingly organized and coherent blogosphere) has deeply penetrated daily life for so many, it seems that 2008 can be what 1960 was for television. So will this happen? It depends on the candidates.
In 1960 both Senator John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard Nixon took to the stage and didn’t disagree on much. In fact, one poll suggested that those who listened to the first debate on radio thought Nixon won. But on television, for the record 70 million viewers, it was a much different story.
Nixon refused makeup (after he watched Kennedy decline it first), wore an ill-fitting dress shirt, and has ‘5 o’clock shadow’ made him look unclean. By contrast, Kennedy had been vacationing in California, and appeared tanned, relaxed and confident.
The Internet is still waiting for its Kennedy-Nixon debate moment that television had in 1960. Will 2008 be the year the a blog, a citizen journalist, or a website makes a similar impact? Only time will tell. But it makes perfect sense that this will be the year the Internet determines who will be the next President of the United States. History has a funny way of repeating itself.
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9 Responses to “2008=1960?”
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That’s a very good point. I bet there is also a similar comparison with radio as well in FDR’s fireside chats.
Grover: Yeah, I agree as well. If you guys have a minute, take a look at this:
http://www.WriteInYourVote.com.
I guess it’s still in progress, but I see potential!
Uncle Sam: looks awesome. Are you affiliated with that site? its a great concept. I like the notion of 2008 being the year the Internet effects the outcome of the election.
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