Psst! Obama To Text Supporters Veep Pick

Despite "Celebrity" Criticism, Move Could Generate More Interest, Grow E-mail List

(CNET)  In one of his recent -- and subsequently parodied -- attack ads on U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, Republican John McCain accused his rival of being too much of a celebrity and not enough of a political leader.

That was what I first thought of upon learning that the Obama campaign has instituted text-message alerts to inform supporters of the candidate's choice for vice presidential running mate.

So this way, if you're OMG OMG TOTALLY DESPERATE to learn whom Obama has chosen for his veep, you can sign up and learn the moment it's announced -- even before anybody Twitters it. The timing seems a little bit awkward, considering the whole Paris Hilton ad debacle. Text-message alerts for Obama's vice president assumes the sort of eager anticipation generally reserved for the second or two of Best Picture envelope-opening at the Oscars, or the naming of the Brangelina brood's latest member. You know, celebrity.

On the other hand, this could net the Obama campaign quite a few more e-mail addresses and cell phone numbers for its Rolodex of supporters. And text message initiative like this is an appeal to the Britney generation, the hordes of young supporters who have grown up drinking a highly caffeinated blend of AIM and the E! network, and who don't see the slightest problem with applying the rhetoric and strategy of celebrity infatuation to national politics. That's the crowd who made Obama into a "celebrity."

And, come to think about it, if TMZ-inspired campaigning has reinvigorated public interest in the nation's future, I don't see anything wrong with that. But I'll pass on the text message, Barack. I can wait until it shows up on Google News.

[kansas1946]

Wow! You conservative McBush supporter''''s sure are desperate, aren''''t you? It clearly shows! Aw... poor babies! LOL


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by Cheetah-Man7 at 05:44 AM : Aug 12, 2008
*********************************************

That is what I think. Republicans are just sour-pusses, social drags, and tiresome. It is a worn out party with a worn out candidate. I can''t wait for my "special" email. :o)

[kansas1946]

LOL. Well, I am 62, so forget the text message, but I am signed up for an email from Obama. Personally, I just think it is fun. Politics is serious busniness, but that is not reason not to have some fun along the way. It is one of the reasons I like Obama. He can be deadly serious, but he also has another side. Human. And that is a HUGE change from the robot puppett we have had in the Whitehouse for eight years. Huge.

[rf35]

Remember, the media is corporate. Republicans are perceived as better for corporations than Democrats.

[getcenttered]

Pos/Neg press for Obama - 28%/72%

Pos/Neg press for McCain - 43%/57%

Just sayin.

Posted by jtyler271 at 09:02 PM : Aug 11, 2008

So even according to the scum media....

McCain is less evil? Oh that''s rich! BWAHAHAHA!!!

[getcenttered]

Barry Sadam Hussein''s veep pick?

John McCain.

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

CBS suckz ballz!!!!!

[chika6]

CBS and MCCAIN are so desperate to be president. Are you not really ashamed that stuff like this gets mentioned in your media? SHAME. By the way, how many Americans will be happy seeing a man like John McCain representing her among world leaders. John McCain can''t win. I am happy to be assocaited with a president candidate (like Obama) who comes up with new ideas and strategies.

[cheetah-man7]

Wow! You conservative McBush supporter''s sure are desperate, aren''t you? It clearly shows! Aw... poor babies! LOL

[danielle_mom]

What a creative way for his campaign to get your cell phone number and permission to contact you whenever they desire it.

[wellhell3]

psssssssst...who cares about Obscamma''s VP pick...if he can scam somebody up to join his whacjob proposed administration! They''re not exactly lining up and jumping up and down and saying pick me! pick me!

[downtowner97]

The most fun thing about watching all this partisan bickering on these blogs is knowing that even though the neocons are noisy, they are very much a minority. Only 25 percent of those polled support Bush now. That''''s gotta hurt. Keep typing, idiots.

[jtyler271]

Obama gets most of the headlines and almost all of them are positive for him.

Posted by commonsence1 at 09:53 AM : Aug 11, 2008

As of July 27th, 2008:

Pos/Neg press for Obama - 28%/72%

Pos/Neg press for McCain - 43%/57%

Just sayin.

[downtowner97]

Hmm. Reverend Wright and John Edwards versus the endless war(s), the collapse of the US economy, and $4 gas? Wow. The Democrats are totally screwed!

[andor3]

A tactical move... it will take the McCain staff weeks to figure out how to get this info.

[thgdriver]

Scientists say invisibility cloak possible!
Hummmmmmmmmmmm, I know the Dimwitocrats may want to see how well this will work on making Edwards and the Reverend Wright disappear till after November. LOL.

[downtowner97]

The polls put the two candidates in a dead heat. Who do the polls poll, anyway? The polls are conducted by calling peoples'' HOME PHONE numbers. Who has a home phone anymore? The pollsters'' calls come through to anyone with caller ID as "political call". Who is going to answer that? The pollsters call these no-caller-ID-home-phone-using citizens at dinner time when I''m not home, and neither are my friends.

So who''s getting polled? McCain''s base. His wrinkly, tech-averse, home in time to watch Wheel of Fortune base. And half of them like Obama? Ouch.

[mr2258]

Makes no difference---Obama has no chance of winning.

[brundage3]

In classes on Personnel Relations, Motivation, any number of human relations subjects, is is emphasized that providing a sense of "belonging"or "ownership" can be a good thing to keep people motivated and working well. This idea is a very good one.

[kate1149]

The McSame campaign can''t compete with Obama so they resort to Junior High tactics of criticizing everythink he does - what kind of beverage he drinks, what kind of lettuce he eats, how much he weighs blah blah blah. McCain even criticizes what shcool Obama attended, complained that he is too smart, and that he is too fit! Give me break! Just like in Jr. High what motivates this kind of attack is jealousy and fear of the competition. I can''t wait until the debates Obama will show up old man McSame for the senile old geeqer he is. Obama 2008

[kate1149]

I hate to be the one to inform you but 18 year olds get to vote too. The idea that you have to have grey hair, wrinkles, bifocals, and arthritis to be interested in the Presidential campaign is just what is wrong with the McSame campaign. I for one think notifying supporters by e-mail and text is a great idea - god knows he doesn''t owe the first scoop to the main stream news media - the same ones that ran 24/7 coverage of Reverend Wright or his so-called bitter comments!! No wonder Obama thinks the news media are bottom-feeders - so skip them and go right to the supporters. Of course McCain would think this is too new age because he can''t even get on the Internet.

[Syndicate]

I''ll wait the extra thirty seconds for it to show up on Google or Fox news. Of course if I registered it would have to cost Obama something. Even if its just a few cents for the extra bandwidth. Maybe everyone should sign up.