Feb 9, 2009 1:29 pm US/Mountain
Some In Congress All A 'Twitter' With New Media
by Michael Choy, cbs4denver.com
DENVER (CBS4) ―
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Images of Colorado Congressional delegation Twitter pages
CBS
The explosion in social networking and new media technologies is starting to make its way deeper into the inner workings of government and politics as representatives and senators share their own personal perspectives on hearings, meetings and votes with the world through tools like Twitter and Facebook.
"We really just started (Twitter) and are trying to get a handle on it," said Tyler Q. Houlton, a spokesman for Rep. Mike Coffman, R-District 6.
Houlton told CBS4 by phone that there has been an institutional push in Washington, particularly in the Republican Party, to get up to speed on new media communication tools since the Internet and new media networking played such a big role in President Barack Obama's election victory.
One Washington political Web site reported that a Republican congressman was showing colleagues how to use Twitter during the party's congressional retreat late last week. While some were interested, at least one freshmen GOP representative said he wouldn't use the online micro blogging tool because he didn't want "everything out there."
Colorado's Delegation Online
Coffman has been pushing the use of these tools since taking office, Houlton said. He also has established a personal Facebook page and also has a political Facebook listing.
Staffers have been updating Coffman's Twitter account since starting it on Jan. 23, posting a handful of links and notes. That's in contrast to some members of Congress who provide first person updates they post themselves using Blackberries or other PDAs.
Rep. Jared Polis, D-District 2, the Internet businessman from Boulder turned education advocate and politician, is the member of the Colorado congressional delegation with the most Twitter posts (12) since taking office at the start of the year. (He's made 26 total posts to Twitter since joining on Oct. 26.) While still intermittent, his updates are first person and clearly written by him.
"Twitter is one of my favorite new forms of communication and a great way to connect with constituents and the community on a more personal level," Polis said in an emailed response to CBS4. "I have been busy with the recovery package, my work on the Education and Labor and Rules Committees, and also blogging, but I look forward to tweeting even more and continuing to use Facebook, YouTube, and MySpace to engage my constituents."
After going more than 3 days without updating on Twitter, Polis posted a note last Friday from the congressional Democrats retreat in Virginia after this reporter's inquiry to his office on the topic.
Polis is also providing blog posts to CNN on the experience of being a freshmen Congressman.
Among Colorado's nine members of Congress, Polis, Coffman and Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., were the only ones with any obvious activity on Twitter as of this writing. While Udall did make Twitter posts during the 2008 campaign, there haven't been any since he won the election.
Everyone in Colorado's delegation except for newly appointed Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., has a "politician" page on Facebook for supporters during the campaign season. Polis, Coffman, Rep. Diana DeGette, D-District 1, and Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-District 7, also had easy-to-find personal Facebook pages.
DeGette's personal Facebook page appears to have the most all-around activity. Perlmutter's had a few recent notes posted on issues like SCHIP, the digital TV transition and the economic stimulus bill. Coffman's personal Facebook page was established last Wednesday, but had steady activity since then. Polis' personal page was only available to his Facebook friends.
Houlton said Coffman and his staff have been busy during first month in office, but plan to look at new ways to use Twitter, Facebook and other new media when things "slow down." Houlton indicated Coffman didn't previously use Twitter, but will look at getting more personal with first person posts and increasing the frequency.
Going Too Far?
Everyone in Congress may be looking to the examples set by some members who have been tweeting with more regularity than most.
Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., has been posting to Twitter several times a day since starting on Jan. 17. Her updates are a mix of comments on personal interactions with other politicians and her family, along with her thoughts about the process of trying to pass the economic stimulus bill. It is a true snapshot of her day-to-day life.
Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., has been on Twitter since the middle of last year, posting updates through the campaign season on the trail and while back in Washington. Some were personal, but most were about the campaign or his work in Congress. There was a noticeable lull during December, but his posts, all of which appear to be written by him, resumed with the new session.
Hoekstra's most recent posts came from the Green Zone in Baghdad where he was visiting the U.S. Embassy as part of his role as the chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He did come under fire in some quarters for potentially risking the security of his trip by Twittering about it before leaving the U.S.
Hoekstra's spokesman told reporters the Congressman likes to keep the people of West Michigan informed about what he's doing.
Place, Time For Everything
While the number and frequency of a user's posts to Twitter are a good measure of how much a person is involved and immersed in social networking, some members of Congress have also been criticized for tweeting at the wrong time.
Politico, an Internet news site for everything political, reported Feb. 3 that Rep. Bob Inglis, R-S.C., Twittered seven times during the Jan. 29 GOP meeting with Obama. Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, sent 11 updates during the same discussion, Politico said.
Experts on technology, politics and etiquette told Politico there are probably times, like meetings, when it is rude to use a BlackBerry, unless it is an emergency. One expert also questioned whether a legislator is fully engaged in the process or discussion if they're focusing on sending updates to the Web.
Houlton said when Coffman does get up to speed on using Twitter, he'll wait until after meetings or hearings to provide updates for the entire world to read.
"Congresswoman DeGette believes members of Congress can strike an appropriate balance using new media," said Kristofer Eisenla, a DeGette spokesman. "It is up to the individual member to make sure he or she can conduct business without being distracted by new technologies."
Additional Quotes:
Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-District 5:
"I can communicate quickly and cost-effectively to many of my constituents through the Internet and other forms of new media. Today my constituents are increasingly getting their news from these new outlets. To meet these constituents where they are at, I am preparing to launch a congressional Facebook page, a YouTube site, and an updated Web site.
"I will be providing news clips, video updates, blogs, 'status updates,' and more that will give my constituents access to information on my committee hearings, media appearances, and floor votes. I will also be posting information of a more personal nature that shows my thinking more fully. Not only will my constituents have better access to information, but these new media outlets can be shared with friends and family.
"Constituents are wanting real-time updates on what their member of Congress is doing on their behalf and these new media outlets provide us the tools to meet some of those needs."
Ben Marter, spokesman for Rep. Betsy Markey, D-District 4:
"Congresswoman Markey is very tech-savvy, and feels that new media is a great tool for keeping constituents informed about what's going on in Congress. She also believes it's a great way for citizens to communicate with her, sending questions and comments about how she can better serve them. Our office is always exploring ways that we can communicate more easily and efficiently with the people of the Fourth Congressional District."
Kristofer Eisenla, spokesman for Rep. Diana DeGette, D-District 1:
"Congresswoman DeGette believes that direct communication with her constituents is very important and uses a variety of cutting-edge technologies to do so. She recently joined Facebook and is updating her Web site with new online tools to communicate quicker and more efficiently. The new Web site will include podcasts, links to social networking sites such as Facebook and YouTube, and will have a RSS feed for press releases and news articles.
"Congresswoman DeGette understands the value of utilizing new media and she has made it a priority to keep her Web site updated with current information, including press releases, articles, and even videos posted on YouTube. In addition, constituents that write a letter or call the office can also receive a response via email.
"Congresswoman DeGette believes members of Congress can strike an appropriate balance using new media. Quickly updating a Facebook status or sending a 'tweet' should not interfere with congressional business. It is up to the individual member to make sure he or she can conduct business without being distracted by new technologies.
"There are varying degrees of participation in using technology in Congress. Congresswoman DeGette sometimes blogs on her own during live online chats, but then sometimes relies on her staff to post an op-ed she has written due to her busy schedule. However, she thinks it is important that members stay informed of new technology in order to better communicate with the people in their district."
A spokeswoman for
Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-District 7, told CBS4 he doesn't have a Twitter account. She noted Perlmutter does text message often with his daughters and has staff that usually updates his Facebook page. She noted Perlmutter's focus on holding town hall meetings when back in Colorado, even joining some by phone while in Washington. His staff also sends regular email newsletters to constituents.
A spokesman for
Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., told CBS4 the appointed senator is working on establishing new media communication lines through tools like Facebook, email and regular postal service. The senator was said to understand the value of Facebook and other online sites as they grow in popularity across generations. Bennet did get a late start working with his staff because he didn't take office until Interior Secretary Ken Salazar resigned from the Senate.
CBS4 contacted press secretaries for all members of Colorado's delegation by phone or email for this story.
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