The GOP & the Internet Divide?

by Richard Ivory & Patti Mur

The rise and power of the internet has taken this election cycle by storm both the Democrats and Barrack Obama have capitalized on its use to raise money and create a new pool of voters. Barrack Obama has used the Internet alongside groups such as MoveOn.org to get his message out and to define John McCain. In this online revolution there are many solders on the left. The Democrats to there credit have dominated the Republicans with online advertising and social networking.

Historically however Democrats have often done better than Republicans at appealing to younger voters as a result this may explain why Democrats have been more successful in using the Internet as an outreach tool to attract younger voters. Young people,who spend a lot of time online these days, can be easily influenced by flashy ads and with a few clicks of the mouse can easily be exposed to new political ideas. In this new online war sadly, the Republican National Committee with its millions appear like a deer in headlights.

The RNC like the DNC have historically raised millions using telemarketing tactics and mailers to get its funds. Because of these perceived successes in the past the mantra at RNC headquarters instead of change may be "why the hell should we" I happen to personally know this very well because in 2001 I worked in the fundraising department of the RNC.

Everyday we contacted and phoned hundred of RNC members. By far these people were either married older individuals who hated the fact they were being called around dinnertime to be hit up for cash. This is the mindset at RNC headquarters and to there credit has proven successful as far as money is concerned.

The problem however is that party leaders think money is the only way to build a party.The party should rethink this and start using the internet and social networking as a launching pad to reaching out to potentially new voters some who may have little money at all.

In the past contributors to the RNC have often felt a lack of power over the destination of there money because of this many contributors have started to give only to local campaigns

This local giving empowers the contributor to feel he or she has some control over there funds. The RNC has failed to use its own website as a tool for social networking and recruiting potentially new members. Ans if you are looking at the face young Republicans then not even the College Republican’s website would provide you much hope. The College Republican’s launched there website a few years back and so far is very boring with few if anything that would attract a young person. As far as social networking is concerned neither the RNC nor the College Republicans have have a forum to discuss issue important to the voters.

The College Republicans do have a small blog that they try to keep current however it is hardly the place to go to for the latest in Republican politics. The only social networking sites featured on the site seems to be Myspace and Facebook.

Ironically the use of Facebook may be a better application for Republicans given its popular forums and strong networking abilities. These two applications are a lot stronger than anything the RNC has put together. The RNC has on its site a section called "group and interest" the problem is it is hard to navigate. I tried signing up for the African American group and an error site come up.

In contrast, the DNC and Obama teams have thousands of members chatting and debating issues. They are planning rallies and sharing blogs. Over at the RNC site nothing at all the McCain site has nothing even close to what Obama has. The Obama team has a social networking group for every racial group known to men. For instance if you are Jewish, you go the site and start chatting and talking to hundreds of other Jewish supporters of Obama. From there they are organized into Jews for Obama group. From there blogs and fundraising parties are conducted.

The groups application on the RNC website is horrible most people cannot even use this format. The entire site is difficult to navigate and by the time you are done signing up you are so tried you just throw up your hands.

One of the reasons I created HipHopRepublican.com was to create a place online where black Republicans could meet and discuss ideas. All of this cost lest than 800 dollars and the RNC with major cash has hardly done anything to reach out. It fact on the RNC links section there is no link for an African American group...they even have an Irish GOP group but no African American group. These sort of silly gaffes make the media think the RNC is out to lunch and could careless about minority groups within the party.

While the Party leaders have failed us in this gernation there is a bold generation of young people led by such people as David All the founder of RepublicanTech.com, he is also the brainchild behind Slatecard, a conservative competitor to ActBlue. There are the guys at Keep That Faith.com, RedState.com, Pajama Media and The Next Right all who have watched with great anxiety as party leaders ignore the online opportunity. These are my heroes for daring to think out of the box.

A few days ago, C-Span hosted a panel conference with the internet directors of the McCain, Obama, Edwards, and Clinton campaigns discussing new media harnessing the power of the internet. Mark Soohoo was our guy he is a young, Asian, Republican who sounds sincere about creating a movement online. Mark serves as Senior Vice President of Campaign Solutions, a leading Republican online consulting firm. He is currently its Deputy eCampaign Director.

If the party continues in its failure to reach out too young people online it will lose its influence eon an entire generation. They generation is looking for answers and the they looking for them online as of now the RNC has failed miserably in trying to meet them half way. The arrogance and unwillingness of the party leaders to address these concerns will only further create a digital divide. In truth, maybe the only way to wake up the GOP is a huge loss in 2008. When they realize they have been left behind only then will they pick themselves of the floor and pay attention.



Richard Ivory: is the editor of HipHopRepublican.com and online forum for black moderate Republicans

Patti Mur: is a new addition to the team at HipHopRepublican.com she is our only Jewish contributor and will focus primarily on African American and Jewish relations. She will also do commentary on events affecting the 2008 campaign.

We at HipHopRepublican.com would like to welcome Patti Mur to our team!