The 2008 election was historic, and Mark Shields, a national columnist and commentator best known for his work as moderator on CNN’s “Capitol Gang,” had a front row seat.
Shields will offer his analysis of how Sen. Barack Obama won the presidency, as well as remaining questions going into the Obama administration, during The COuncil of State Governments Awards Luncheon at noon Saturday, Dec. 6, in the Qwest Center in Omaha. In addition, Shields will reveal “the dirty little secret of the American press” during his talk at Saturday’s Awards Luncheon.
This year saw a lot of firsts: Obama is the first African-American elected to the White House; Hillary Clinton was the first woman to win states in a primary; and Sarah Palin was the first female vice-presidential nominee on the Republican side.
“In many respects, this election followed a pattern and was not that different,” Shields said.
“In the final analysis, it does come back to the candidate,” he said. “If the candidate is not generating enthusiasm and excitement among voters … if what they’re saying is not relevant or interesting or evocative to the voters, it’s not going to work.”
Shields said this election will bring about changes in the future, particularly with how the message is delivered. The Internet—and YouTube in particular—played a major role in the campaigns.
Consider this: Not long ago, Sen. George Allen of Virginia was a leading contender for the Republican nomination. “All he had to do was be re-elected to the Senate from Virginia where he had been enormously popular,” Shields said.
But in one YouTube moment, Allen was seen calling a young person of Indian descent a macaca.
“It was not simply the slur, but he was seen as a bully and what YouTube in particular does if there is the latent perception in the electorate about a candidate that he might be a bully or not racially open or above board, it sinks him,” he said. “It confirms what is already the perception on the part of the people.
“That’s what makes it so incredibly powerful.”
It also has the power to help a candidate. Obama’s 35-minute speech on race was downloaded from YouTube more than 8 million times, according to Shields. YouTube doesn’t measure a hit unless the full item is downloaded.
“I think there are a lot of elements in this campaign that are going to influence and shape politics in the future,” Shields said.
Also at the luncheon, CSG will recognize the winner of the inaugural State Governance Transformation Award and the winners of the 22nd annual CSG Innovations Awards. In addition, CSG’s new officers: West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, president; Idaho Sen. Bart Davis, chairman; South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds, president-elect; and Kentucky Sen. David Williams, chair-elect.
Allen's "macaca" blooper did anything but "confirm...the perception...of the people" (Shields, 2008). However, the ordeal does "confirm" how desperate sleazy Democrats were to unseat senior Republicans, including Virginia's conservative darling (i.e. Sen. Allen).
Posted by: Anonymous | December 29, 2008 at 02:39 AM