Interesting point raised in the article - does the use of digital in campaigning encourage undue focus on senstionalist and controversial issues (i.e. misspeaking Clintons, Obama’s pastor etc) at the expense of discussion about substantive policy issues?
For those who fancy a reason to go to Paris for the day, we have received word that FH global CEO Dave Senay is to speak on the successful use of the internet by US Presidential nominee Barack Obama on 30 June in Paris. A subject close to our heart on this blog, as you may have noted.
Caroline Marchetti and Cyrille Arcamone from FH Paris, who are organising in collaboration with the association of Sciences-Po and RSP.fm, would be most happy to see all those interested in digital and politics turn up for an evening of debate.
Further details on registration can be found in the thumbnail below.
Barack Obama definitely has the wind in his sails as he heads towards a possible (probable?) Democratic nomination. And an increasingly cool wind it is too. The latest foray of pop into politics sees hip-hop grandee, Wiil.i.am, front man for the Black Eyed Peas and producer of the Pussycat Dolls, lend his voice in support of Obama in the way he knows best; a pop video. The combination of Obama’s spoken words and singing raises the hairs on the back of the neck, recalling the great black-and-white orators of yesteryear, King and Kennedy, and bringing Obama a mantle of cool to which European politicians can only aspire. 13 million people have already seen this video, with one million a day logging on. What MEP would not give his or her eye teeth for that level of exposure?
For cool, also read sexy. Obama-Girl’s song “I have a crush on Obama” also gained six million hits or so on YouTube. Perhaps we will see “I have a crush on Barroso” by Barroso-Girl sometime soon, but somehow I doubt it.
As we head towards the dog-end of the second Bush administration, and as the US election battle becomes the greatest show on earth, there is no doubt that their politics is much cooler than ours. Annoying, but true.
A blog on politics, policy, public affairs and communications in Brussels and the European Union. The blog is written by the team at Fleishman-Hillard in Brussels. Views expressed are personal and do not reflect those of the company or its clients.
You will find the contact details of our team at www.fleishman-hillard.eu
