How Tweet It Is
Our own Gary Matthew Miller just eight short months ago:
If the conservative movement does not figure out social media — and fast — we will be in a semi-permanent minority status until the NetGen gets well into middle age.
Even though President Obama and national Democrats use Twitter…liberal bloggers acknowledge the GOP has the upper hand when it comes to using 140 character messages known as “tweets” to influence the discussion.
“While it is obvious the progressive blogosphere is superior, we are being out-organized on Twitter,” said Gina Cooper, a blogger who helped organize Netroots Nation, an annual gathering of online liberal activists that met last week in Pittsburgh. “There is some catching up to do on the progressive side.”
Considering the limitations of Twitter, the jury may still be out if the 140-character medium is the latest social media or social, time-wasting, disease. As noted pundit Charlie Cook opined weeks ago, he’d “yet to hear a single intelligent remark twittered by an elected official.”
So while the conservative momentum on this series of tubes they call the internet is a welcome development, it doesn’t – or hasn’t yet – replaced good ‘ol fashinoned politicking:
Erick Erickson, managing editor of the popular conservative Web site RedState.com, said that conservatives’ efforts online are important but noted that people should continue to use traditional means to try and influence Congress.
“It is all well and good to be banging on your key board, but if you are not picking up the phone and yelling at your congressman, it does not do you very good,” he said.
Cross-posted at Truth Vs. The Machine. Comments welcome.
Share this post
