June 27, 2008
The Internet, Political Discourse, and Today's Context

We here in the blogosphere are obviously a young and ever-evolving dynamic in politics and government. Increasingly, blogs help drive news stories, shape opinions, foment discussion, and propel activism. Yet, we need to keep it all in perspective.

As much as the Internet is a rapidly expanding source of political news for Americans, it is not yet dominant. Huge swaths of the electorate still rely on other mediums to obtain political news and information.

Recent research by Pew found that 46% of Americans had used the Internet - and text messaging - to obtain or share information about this year's campaign. Yet, while the number of Americans using the Internet for political intercourse is rising, TV, radio, and newspapers still remain powerful.

Similar studies by Pew found that 18% of Americans considered the Internet their primary source for political news in 2004 . In 2006 that number held almost steady at 15% - likely due to the older tilt of midterm electorates versus the infusion of younger voters in Presidential years.

No doubt the overall number will go up in 2008, but even at that it is highly probable a majority of Americans will continue to get more of their political information from non-Internet sources than otherwise.

We should keep that in mind when we get worked up about the potential electoral impacts of the gaffe of the week, web video, or witty repartee.

UPDATE: link fixed.

Posted by Eric Earling at June 27, 2008 11:40 PM | Email This
Comments
1. Older Americans in my observation still get their news from the paper, or from the evening CBS newscast. Many remain faithful to the Democratic Party which they somehow believe continues to be made up of the heirs of Scoop Jackson and JFK. They don't pay attention to the latest gaffe, or nasty political ad.

The Dems have long put a lot of their marbles into transforming traditional media outlets. Mainstream media can be counted upon to parrot Democrat Party talking points. They fawn endlessly over Obama and fail to report that he appears to easily bend to whatever political wind happens to be blowing.

The leftward slant of the media and the continual brainwashing of young people by the left's wholly owned public education subsidiary makes every election a tough slog for Republicans.

Posted by: Bill Cruchon on June 28, 2008 07:49 AM
2. Eric,

Just curious - What do you think the average age is of the people who post on this website?

Posted by: Smoley on June 28, 2008 09:15 AM
3. The Internet and most of Talk Radio is a growing source for the Conservative political viewpoint and in general, getting out the Truth as to where it is at. Unfortunately, it is also, a source for the Liberal Lie sites as well. Nevertheless, the Internet allows a better balance to the exposure of both Conservative and Liberal viewpoints than, being limited to the Mass Media. However, those who are GODLESS and blind to the Truth will remain tied to the Liberal Lies and misconceptions.

Posted by: Daniel on June 28, 2008 11:18 AM
4. When my favorite conservative talk radio hosts ask their callers where they get their liberal-tainted information, the most-often-heard response seems to be "I read it in the New York Times". Even here in Seattle, that liberal rag is widely read and cited. It is prominently displayed on the newspaper racks at every Starbucks, even above the Seattle Times.

Posted by: Carol Kujawa on June 28, 2008 11:24 AM
5. @4: The 'liberal' NY Times was the single biggest water-carrier for the Iraq invasion. They were played like a fiddle. Then they went on to carry Hillary's water for the last 2 years. Why they would have any credibility at this point with anyone - liberal or conservative - is beyond me.

As far as getting info from the internet goes, the extent to which many comment forums - especially those associated with mainstream media like boards on newspaper or cable network websites - have been made unusable by the rise of astroturf spammers from across the political spectrum is depressing.

I am modestly encouraged by the greater skepticism I'm seeing among real posters on sites across the political spectrum about the veracity of professed views. More savvy internet users are getting better at recognizing trolls - agents provocateurs in the old parlance. I feel bad for the novice, though, who reads the comment boards at foxnews.com, cnn.com, or especially nytimes.com and remains blind to the fact that many (often most) of the letters and comments are not the spontaneous utterings of individuals but are the product of coordinated (and often "false flag") PR operations.

The brief, clumsy rise of the paulistas was just the visible tip of the iceberg.

Posted by: Don't believe everything you read. on June 28, 2008 12:23 PM
6. We're all gonna be racists in November.

Just wait.

Posted by: Independent Voter on June 28, 2008 12:34 PM
7. The word racist has become considerably cheapened with the over-reaching use of it by the left. My solution would be to call the other party a racist also because they wanted to make a race issue out of it and have it out then and there.

The Republicans are basically stupid for not making their case to the black community as to how they are working for them and the Dems are out to exploit them and giving them entitlements and political manipulation.

Case and point - Why did blacks vote more Republican back in the 50's than Democrats ? During the 1960's, LBJ passed sweeping civil rights legislation but it was largely because of the Republicans that it passed, yet the Dems started demonizing Repubs to the black community back then. The Republicans have largely given up on campaigning before the NAACP, BET or the like because they have written it off as a lost cause, when in reality the black community feels dissed because of that. Its not too late - hopefully will go after the black vote in spite of the opposition.

Posted by: KS on June 28, 2008 01:17 PM
8. Smoley -

My guess, and it's purely that, is that the median age of regular commenters (not trolls) is in the mid-to late 40's. Probably the same for the readership as a whole.

Posted by: Eric Earling on June 28, 2008 01:33 PM
9. Good God, I just came across this blog and immediately wanted to vomit. Do you brain dead conservatives really believe radio talk show hosts are a reliable source of news. These frauds are entertainers-They would never survive a serious fact checking audit. Do me a favor and don't post until you all get an education and figure out how the world works. If this is the state of GOP discourse maybe you guys would be better off consulting the stars like your movie star hero bonzo

Posted by: tmf on June 28, 2008 02:37 PM
10. If this mild blog turns your stomach "tmf" you might try wading through some of the sewage at Horsesass.org or most any other liberal blog site.

Reading snotty, childish posts like yours only further validates what I believe about the people that make up the left.

Posted by: Bill Cruchon on June 28, 2008 04:57 PM
11. tmf is probably a troll from HA.org or a progressive blog. Time to grow up and have adult discourse over here and you'll be respected even if your opinions are contrary instead of childlike flatulence of the mentally imbalanced loons that characterize HA.org.
I doubt if you are capable of that.

Posted by: KS on June 28, 2008 11:15 PM
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