All Aboard The Bandwidthwagon: 2012 And The Trials And Tribulations of Technology

Most of us recall the first time we used the Internet, how excited we were to run to our bulky-at-the-time computers and test out all it had to offer. We could follow news headlines from around the world, find message boards to talk about anything from quantum physics to quarter pounders with cheese, and even order ourselves a nice personal pan pizza to fuel our adventures. That is, of course, after we waited and went insane hearing that ear-piercing dial-up tone over and over again. I can’t begin to describe the days and nights I would stare at the walls, hearing it, practically begging myself to order a supersize cup of cyanide to go along with the pepperoni.

Seeing and using the Internet in the 90s and now even more so today is to recognize a complete shift in the way we run our lives. From Tweeting the 140 characters that describe our lives best to sharing photos from last year’s ComicCon, our existence thrives on how we present ourselves to other people. As such, it is only appropriate that political seeds sprout from within these crevices.

Earlier this month, President Barack Obama took charge of his re-election campaign, beginning it not with a giant stage or great big balloons, but with a video camera and an email address, sending 13 million supporters words of assurance regarding his attempt at a second term. On Wednesday, Obama will be visiting Facebook headquaters in California and live chatting with site founder Mark Zuckerberg, answering people's questions posted on the social network.

Republican challengers are also grabbing onto the bandwidth wagon, choosing to create online videos to supporters and undecided voters alike in an effort to modernize following John McCain’s 2008 statement that he does not use email. Republican candidates Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty ridded themselves of the mystery, instead giving clear pictures to the public about their goals to run for the White House.

"Pre-Obama, the political world viewed digital as a box that had to be checked," said Bryan Merica, a Republican media consultant, to the Los Angeles Times. "What Obama did was show this is a tool we can use to not only fundraise but win elections."

Obama’s 2008 campaign, considered the gold standard for online politics for its use of sites such as YouTube, MySpace, and Facebook, was not only significant because of how it attracted the youthful, tech-savvy voters, but also because of its drastic progression from prior campaigns. In 2000, Republican presidential candidate John McCain received $500,000 in 24 hours via online donation. In 2004, Democratic candidate Howard Dean used MeetUp.com to attract the web surfer demographic.

While the most successful campaigns were, and still are, the ones that effectively mix technology with political and social relevance, as seen by Franklin D. Roosevelt's use of radio and John F. Kennedy's use of television, today's world of online media is at a crossroads never seen before in the world of Washington. Given the ways in which the Internet has changed, providing virtually anyone with the ability to develop platforms and opinions in such tangible, easy-to-learn ways, mystery still remains about how much more room there is for candidates to develop their own edges without having the competition quickly attack back. But this demand for political and technological innovation, mixed with challenges regarding stepping up above the rest is what will, in the end, best define this journey.

For the 2012 Presidential Election, presumably one of the last to feature voters born before the Internet's initial rise, Americans are sure to be conscious, one way or the other, of all aspects of the political battles. From finding clarity on the issues to skimming over the confusion, the growth of online networking will inevitably grab onto the minds of voters, leading them to new ways of connection never seen before in the world of politics. With the journey in progress, citizens can only sit back in their office chairs, maybe grab a slice of pizza or two, and enjoy the ride.