I went hunting again, today, for the online home of the Troy King re-election campaign. Google searches turned up nada. But I did find him on Facebook (282 "supporters", including another "Troy King" in Australia), and it was there that I spotted a small link to his campaign site. It's pretty bare, just a "bio" and a solicitation for funds. Course, the primary election is still almost a year off.
King's primary opponent, lobbyist Luther Strange, is already occupying some online real estate, both a website and facebook (1,192 "friends"). I did not find any disclaimers on either candidate's facebook page...i.e., "paid for by the campaign to reelect candidate x". Does campaign finance law not cover Facebook pages on which votes or donations are solicited? The Federal Elections Commission regulations on the Internet seem to say only ads placed by one person on another person's website require the disclaimer.
I did find some journalists on the friends' lists. Is it any more appropriate for journalists to be "facebook friends" with candidates than it is for them to socialize with them in real life? I've signed up for news releases and announcements from some candidates, but is "friending" them crossing a line?
Meanwhile, smelling blood in the water, several Democrats are considering a run reports AP's Phil Rawls this morning.
It's fascinating to see that of the three pictures on Troy's site, the final one shows him walking out (the viewers see his back).
ReplyDeleteI think that's what's going to happen to him and to Republicans in many state-level elected offices.
With apologies to Al Stewart (and Alan Parsons), this is the Year of the Democrat.
I'd like to see Mobile County DA John Tyson enter the AG's race again.
And yes, Tim... there is some concern for journalists that "socialize with them in real life." However, one cannot be a stranger and expect to obtain coverage. So there's definitely a fine line that must be drawn in the realm of objectivity as it pertains to familiarity. Does it indeed breed contempt?
Regarding "Facebook friends"... there's no such thing. It's about as much a "friend" as the physician lecturer/federal policy advisor/veteran/public health specialist from Tulane whom I recently met and spoke with, then e-mailed.
We had quite a congenial and enlightening conversation, but he's NOT my "friend." The appropriate word is "acquaintance."
But for "Facebook," that sounds just too... too... too impersonal. So, they calls 'em "friends."
I think this lyric excerpt is apropos for a definition of "friend."
Friend, since I can’t remember when
Seems like forever we’ve been together
Hey, how long has it been?
Friend, I hope you know that you’re my hero
Never once thought of yourself
Always there to help
Man you’re something else
In the dark you were the light
When the truth was hard to find
When I needed someone to call me on it
You’d call me on it every time
Through all the good, through all the bad
I knew you always had my back
The best part of being who I am
Is that I get to call you friend
Some got ‘em by the hundreds
But when that thunder comes a-rumbling
They’re off and running
Makes me glad that I got one good friend
God knows you’ve had your moments, too
Sometimes I wonder if you knew
How it meant the world to me
To get to be a friend to you
Performed by VanZant
FRIEND
(ASCAP Title Code: 361702570)
BMI Work #9213503
Writers: Tom J. Hambridge - ASCAP, CAE/IPI #214716980;
Jeffrey Steele - BMI
Jeff A Le Vasseur - BMI 52464785
Publishers
Jeffrey Steele Music - BMI 460041697
Publishers/Administrators:
EMI April Music Inc.
C/O EMI Music Publishing
ATTN: Audrey Ashby
75 Ninth Avenue, 4th Floor
New York , NY, 10011
(212) 492-1200
SARACHEL SONGS
% EMI April Music Inc.
C/O EMI Music Publishing
75 Ninth Avenue, 4th Floor
New York , NY, 10011
(212) 492-1200