Technosailor - Latest Comments in Congress Moves to Close Member Access to Social Media

Re: Congress Moves to Close Member Access to Social Media

Elaine — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 00:58:32 -0000

Any attempt to curb communications of our elected officials to the people who elected them should be nipped in the bud.

Re: Congress Moves to Close Member Access to Social Media

Eric Eldon — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:19:30 -0000

Aaron,

I'm really confused by your accusation that I didn't credit you. I read Memeorandum and related political news sites for hours every day because I'm addicted to political news (yes, even though I cover tech). If you go look back on the VentureBeat archives, you'll see that I've been covering other stories that intersect between politics and tech, before this issue ever came up.

So, I neither found out about the issue from you. Nor -- and I don't mean this to be offensive -- did I learn anything new from you.

You'll notice, for example, that I didn't credit O'Reilly for anything in the story, even though I also respect him.

Look, I'm most certainly not trying to pick a fight with you here. Just tell me what I'm wrong about and I'll update my story.

Thanks,
Eric

Re: Congress Moves to Close Member Access to Social Media

Jen Zingsheim — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:13:29 -0000

This is an interesting exchange, and a good study in what can happen when an institution (of any kind) is trying to keep up with changing technology. A note: Franking privileges are among the most closely-watched because the nature of "communicating with constituents" at taxpayer expense can often be construed by the congressional opponent as being too-often used, moving the communication from "here's what you need to know as my constituent" to "I'm sending you something every darn day so that you remember who I am at election time." There's also the question of official communications (having to do with the office) bleeding into stuff that's so informal there's a question as to whether it's official communication (allowed on office equipment) to political communication (not allowed).

It's a fine line, and I'm all about the proper committees examining this closely. Clear direction and proper standards might not be in line with the free-wheeling nature of social media, but in this case, I think it's critical.

Re: Congress Moves to Close Member Access to Social Media

Sanford Dickert — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:46:56 -0000

Great post - and if you;d like - happy to go over the challenges that Congresspeople have to deal with walking that fine line of staying within the bounds and sharing in the concept of governing.

Re: Congress Moves to Close Member Access to Social Media

Aaron Brazell — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 06:04:52 -0000

Mr Culberson,

Thank you. I try to remain as fair as I can. Feel free to contact me if there is anything you'd like to talk about regarding this or any other issue. My contact information is here.

I'll keep following the story as closely as possible and post it here as I can. I'll also add your comment to the post in the morning update.

Best,
Aaron

Re: Congress Moves to Close Member Access to Social Media

John Culberson — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 05:49:52 -0000

Aaron

You have done a great job of presenting both sides of this debate and giving readers source documents. Let me add what I learned today on the House floor.

I spoke to Cong. Mike Capuano,Chairman of House Franking, who is a good person and a friend. He confirmed that my analysis of where this rule change is going is correct. Today they are focused on YouTube and video posts - Twitter and blogs and social media are next.

Under this new proposed rule (which he said is fluid) Congressmen could only post video that complied with House rules (subject to review and editing by House Franking Committee)on websites that complied with House rules if the video contained a disclaimer that it was an official communication from a federal official for official purposes. He said that YouTube has already agreed to prepare a "sanitized" (my word) special website just for members of Congress to post videos. The special page can have no ads and no political content and must be reviewed and approved by the Franking Committee.

He confirmed that websites like yours, Aaron, are next.

Since I am typing this in my official capacity for official purposes on a non approved website I am already in violation of existing House rules which would require me to submite each word of this post to House Franking Committee for editing and approval.

When Chairman Capuano says the change they are proposing will make it easier for us to post - that is true - if we don't mind having all our posts edited and approved by Franking Comm, and if we don't mind being limited to posting only on preapproved websites and if we don't mind the mile long federal disclaimer on every post.

If they adopt this rule, the only way I could ever post again on Technosailor is if I complied with their rule and edits and if YOU agreed not to comment ever again on politics or campaigns or make any recommendations of any kind on politics. Your website would have to be completely free of politics, elections and any commercial content or ads. Plus you would have to submit to regular reviews and edits by House Franking Committee or lose your preapproved status for Congressional posts.

Twitter and every other social media source would have to submit to the same requirements or they will be off limits to Members of Congress.

Mike Capuano is a decent guy, and we need to encourage him to do the right thing here with lots of positive reinforcement.

I recommended to him that he and the committee simply leave the internet and social media alone - that he might as well try to regulate the wind.

We are elected by because we have demonstrated good judgment and common sense in the eyes of our constituents. Why not trust us to use social media appropriately in our official capacity using federal computers Blackberries, Nokia 95 phones etc for official business, and if we stray and make campaign pitches or seek personal financial gain, nail us for violating the law.

But leave the www alone. Otherwise this Congress will be remembered (in part) for its futile effort to regulate the wind in much the same way the Viking King Canute is still remembered for thinking he was so powerful he could order the ocean tide to stop.

Thanks

Keep up the pressure

Sunlight is the best disinfectant and Congress needs a lot of it

John Culberson

Re: Congress Moves to Close Member Access to Social Media

Aaron Brazell — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:42:20 -0000

{seesmic_video:{"url_thumbnail":{"value":"http://t.seesmic.com/thumbn..."}"title":{"value":" "}"videoUri":{"value":"http://www.seesmic.com/vide..."}}}

Re: Congress Moves to Close Member Access to Social Media

Erin, Queen of Spain — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 08:46:26 -0000

Calm down, have some dip {seesmic_video:{"url_thumbnail":{"value":"http://t.seesmic.com/thumbn..."}"title":{"value":"Calm down, have some dip "}"videoUri":{"value":"http://www.seesmic.com/vide..."}}}

Re: Congress Moves to Close Member Access to Social Media

Adrienne — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 05:05:02 -0000

Aaron, I have put up a small post on my site, mainly to point people here.

Re: Congress Moves to Close Member Access to Social Media

John Culberson — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 04:46:56 -0000

Heres how the House leadership will use this rule to control where and what I say and even exercise influence over your website/blog etc

If the Ds rule change were in effect today, before I could post this, your website/blog would have to be preapproved as complying with House rules, my post would require a disclaimer that it was "produced by a House office for official purposes," and the CONTENT of my post would have to preapproved by the House Franking Committee as complying with "existing content rules and regulations."

This is a violation of your First Amendment rights and mine, and is an outrageous attempt by House leadership to stifle and control you and me. If Rs were in charge I would be just as outraged - forget the party label - I do not want the federal gov't/House of Representatives certifying your website or the content of my posts. I am writing this post personally, in my official capacity, so it would fall precisely under their new rule and you and I would both be in violation unless we subjected ourselves and my words to their prior approval/editing.

I am always ready to admit I am wrong but I am an attorney and this is what the letter means.

This is a story worth following because I am going to continue to vigorously exercise my First Amendment rights on every social media outlet I can reach. It is my right as an American and my duty as a representative.

Re: Congress Moves to Close Member Access to Social Media

Travis Seitler — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:30:46 -0000

I dunno, Aaron. I read the letter, and it doesn't sound like anyone is "under fire" here. Depending on what comes out of the recommended reviews, it's possible that the Bio section could be employed for disclaimer use.

At least we have one example where government officials are trying to follow the rules! ;)

Re: Congress Moves to Close Member Access to Social Media

Andrea Baker — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:12:44 -0000

Aaron, good on you for writing about this and bringing it to your reader's attention. This is exactly the type of battle I have to deal with as a consultant for the Federal Government on a daily basis. With this mentality, how are we ever going to move ahead and share all the knowledge and collaborate with one another.

But its attitudes like this that is probably why we haven't been able to brief congress on the value of Enterprise 2.0 with social media to create a cohesive and collaborative Government 2.0.

I would think that the democrats would be smarter than this as they have such a successful case study of one of their own embracing social media, including twitter to get out their message, reach their constituents and educate at large. That case study would be Barack Obama. He is on twitter and has his own channel on youtube. Granted he is a senator, but to me that doesn't make a difference. He is a member of their party, if not the one who will become President and he is pushing the edge of campaigning by utilizing these new methods of communication.

I wonder if this was the same attitude and guidance that was passed around when computers and email was introduced.

Re: Congress Moves to Close Member Access to Social Media

GeekMommy — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:49:17 -0000

Oh geez.

Because heavens forbid that U.S. *Representatives* might actually want to communicate with U.S. *Citizens* whom they are representing.

"That there technology thing-a-majig? I don't understand it. Therefor, you can't use it."

Argh.

Re: Congress Moves to Close Member Access to Social Media

Michelle Greer — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:36:16 -0000

Wow. This is crap. Thanks for bringing this to my attention, Aaron.