We Move Issues

Gordon Brown addresses social media's transformational capacity

President Barack Obama isn’t the only world leader to embrace social media: British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, addressing the TEDGlobal conference in London, said that social media such as Twitter and Facebook are transforming politics with a “shared global ethic.” In his speech, Brown recounted how media shaped major historical events, such as the Vietnam War and Tiananmen Square, and compared the role media played in those events to the role the “Youtube generation” is playing in recent events, like the election protests in Iran.

Steven Some, Chairman of NJ GOPAC, Quoted in Recent AP Article

Yesterday, CPA President Steven Some was quoted in an AP article published in the NJ Herald. The article was in regard to Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie’s announcement of Monmouth County Sheriff Kim Guadagno as his lieutenant governor selection.

Guadagno is, “a proven vote-getter who greatly enhances (Christie’s) numbers in Monmouth County, which has been trending Democrat over the last few cycles” said state GOPAC Chairman Steven Some.

Kim Guadagno was first elected Monmouth County Sheriff in 2007, and serves as the first female county sheriff. Guadagno is also a former assistant U.S. Attorney, and prior to that an assistant Attorney General.

GOPAC is a national organization which raises money, recruits and trains Republican candidates for public office.

Christie Announces Lieutenant Governor on YouTube

Earlier today, Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie announced his selection for his lieutenant governor, and running-mate, Monmouth County Sheriff Kim Guadagno. In keeping with the growing trend of social media as a campaign tool, Christie and Guadagno utilized YouTube to make the announcement. A short four minute video was created introducing Guadagno and posted on the new media site, allowing the campaign to instantly reach thousands of New Jerseyans.

"Facebook vs. Dictators"

In a video entitled “Facebook vs. Dictators,” New York Times bloggers debate social media’s capacity to combat authoritarianism and promote democracy. Disagreeing on the extent to which social media can reshape the political landscape in authoritarian countries, the two bloggers offer thoughtful and insightful analysis on an increasingly relevant question.

Social Media Intensifying Race for Governor

The race for governor in New Jersey has heated up recently, a result largely in part due to a very valuable campaign tool, new media. Governor Jon Corzine and Chris Christie have each become active in social media communications through YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. Video messages, statements, speaking events, Tweets and blog posts, are all utilized by the candidates to display information and even communicate attacks against each other. Governor Corzine and Chris Christie employ social media to speak directly with loyal supporters and display their platforms to garner additional voters. The ability to target specific niches within social media will definitely help determine November’s outcome.