I think I have figured out why John McCain’s disinterest in the internet bothers me so much. It isn’t that he doesn’t know how to email by himself, it is the fact that he doesn’t give the power of the web the credit it deserves. He is disrespectful of the power that citizen journalists, bloggers, and information itself have using the web. He is fairly dismissive of the growing influence or reach of the people who use the web as a major means of communication.
The comparison between the McCain and the Obama websites are one clear example of why you either get it or you don’t when it comes to using the web as a campaign tool. While they seem to have the same kinds of information, the Obama website was an original with a huge focus on what actions an individual or group could take to support the campaign. And, it was much more than just donating money. The web 2.0 tools being used (facebook, youtube, twitter, Obama Everywhere, mybarackobama.com) are genius. The funny thing is that it doesn’t seem like they just signed up and have a blank page—time and effort is being invested in each one of these items listed. The content being generated for these sites is useful, quality information. Not just a superficial account set up with nothing useful.
While it seems to be a little late in the game in my opinion to be playing catch up, McCain recently updated his website and it looks amazingly similar to the Obama website. Apparently I am not the only one who finds the whole thing a little fishy. This blog compares and contrasts the two candidates’ websites. Hysterical.
Another example of McCain lagging behind is the use of youtube. The youtube videos are almost always negative or attacking McCain, parodies. And Obama—three words—Yes We Can.
So, I think I have this out of my system. McCain is miles behind Obama when it comes to communicating online (disseminating information and receiving information) and he will not catch up, no matter how hard he tries. Too bad he underestimated the power of the internet of email of social networking. Or, of even hiring someone who did understand the importance of those tools.
