Mother Jones, the left-leaning magazine that has been publishing hidden camera footage from a private meeting between Mitt Romney and some of his wealthiest backers, has published the full 49-minute recording in two clips on YouTube. The previously released footage, in which Mitt Romney speaks candidly about Barack Obama supporters, Iran, Palestine and other issues, has sparked a great deal of controversy in the political world. It couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Romney team, which was attempting to use this week to “reboot” the campaign’s message. In a hastily-called press conference Monday night, Romney said he hoped the full versions of the videos would be released so that viewers could get the full context, and hear the question he was responding to. Now Mother Jones has obliged. (Watch part one of the video above, and part two below.) On YouTube, the most popular of the short videos posted by Mother Jones has already amassed more than 1.4 million views. Images courtesy of Flickr, Gage Skidmore Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/09/18/full-romney-hidden-camera/
Ever wonder how the President of the United States uses Twitter? You can find out in the video above, shot during a Twitter Q&A that President Obama held after a campaign rally in Newton, Iowa earlier this year. “I’m the master tweeter,” exclaimed the President after typing the following tweet composed of exactly 140 characters — even though a shorter tweet is easier for others to retweet and is therefore considered preferable. His team celebrated the 140-character tweet as a “twoosh.” .@jwarner180 bio fuels, wind , solarall getting cheaper each year & oil getting more expensive. Why we need all-of-the-above strategy. -bo — The White House (@whitehouse) May 24, 2012 The tweets were sent from the official White House account — which just hit 3 million followers — and not any of the Obama campaign’s accounts. Obama used the Twitter town hall to answer questions on energy and other topics from a MacBook Pro. How should politicians use Twitter to engage with citizens? Who’s your favorite politician on Twitter? Share your ideas in the comments. window._msla=window.loadScriptAsync||function(src,id){if(document.getElementById(id))return;var js=document.createElement(‘script’);js.id=id;js.src=src;document.getElementsByTagName(‘script’)[0].parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}; _msla(“//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js”,”twitter_jssdk”); Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/08/06/obama-twitter-video/
Political Kombat Political Kombat ’12: Obama Vs. Trump Political Kombat ’12: Romney Vs. Cain and Santorum Political Kombat ’12: Romney Vs. Gingrich and Ron Paul Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/10/08/political-kombat/
Is foreign money infiltrating American politics through insecure online donations to Barack Obama? That’s one question pondered in a report published Monday but quickly denied by the Obama campaign. The study was conducted by the Government Accountability Institute, a research group run by conservative author, strategist and researcher Peter Schweizer. An 109-page examination of “fraudulent and foreign online campaign contributions,” it points out three ways in which the Obama campaign may be receiving foreign funds, which is illegal. First, the report, titled “America the Vulnerable,” claims the Obama campaign “lacks the industry-standard level of credit card security for donations,” but “uses it for merchandise purchases” on the campaign store. Donors on the official Obama site don’t need to include their credit card security number, the three- or four-digit code found on every card. The Obama campaign previously claimed it doesn’t need that code — called the CVV — because “they are able to vet contributions on the back end using sophisticated techniques that it doesn’t disclose,” claims the report (the Obama campaign since said it uses an Address Verification System to verify credit cards). Second, the report highlights Obama.com, a domain that’s not owned by the Obama campaign but points to a campaign donation page. According to the GAI, a majority of traffic to that site has come from abroad: “In 2008, Obama.com was purchased by an Obama fundraiser living in Shanghai, China, whose business is heavily dependent on relationships with Chinese state-run television and other state-owned entities. According to industry leading web analytics site Markosweb, an anonymously registered redirect site (Obama.com) features 68% foreign traffic. Starting in December 2011, the site was linked to a specific donation page on the official BarackObama.com campaign website for ten months. The page loaded a tracking number, 634930, into a space on the website labeled “who encouraged you to make this donation.” That tracking number is embedded in the source code for Obama.com and is associated with the Obama Victory Fund. In early September 2012, the page began redirecting to the standard Obama Victory Fund donation page.” The GAI report also noted several occasions where foreigners have received Obama donation pitches, but doesn’t confirm those foreigners were actually able to donate. GAI’s report also examines the Romney campaign, stating the following: “About 11.9% of the Romney campaign’s Internet traffic comes from foreign sources. Examining over 100,000 backlinks on the Internet that link to the Romney campaign’s webpage, approximately 12.8% of those are from foreign sources, including foreign language news sites and blogs.” However, the report isn’t as accusatory toward the Romney campaign as it is of the Obama campaign. The Obama campaign’s response? A Monday afternoon blog post explaining that the campaign screens for foreign IP addresses and requires a copy of a valid passport from a contributor identified as valid but donating from abroad. It also dismisses the GAI as having a right-wing agenda and claims the campaign “does not accept donations from foreign nationals or any other ineligible individual.” “OFA has […]
The Gregory Brothers have struck again — this time, creating a musical version of what Mitt Romney may have really been thinking during his concession speech on election night. This version of the Republican candiate isn’t disappointed about his loss to Barack Obama at all. Instead, he’s quite jovial. Find out why by pushing play and bopping your head to the toe-tapping tune. The Gregory Brothers, the duo behind “Songify the News” and the “Bed Intruder Song,” teamed up with Maker Studios to add a melody to this year’s presidential campaign. The collaboration resulted in clever song versions of every debate of the 2012 election. Which songified political moment was your favorite? Sing it in the comments below. Auto-Tune The Debates First Presidential Debate Date: October 3, 2012Topic: Domestic policy Location: University of Denver in Denver, ColoradoParticipants: President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt RomneyModerator: Jim Lehrer (Host of NewsHour on PBS) VP Debate Date: October 16, 2012Topic: Foreign and domestic policy Location: Centre College in Danville, KentuckyParticipants: Vice President Joe Biden and Congressman Paul RyanModerator: Martha Raddatz (ABC News Chief Foreign Correspondent) 2nd Presidential Debate Date: October 22, 2012Topic: Town meeting format including foreign and domestic policyLocation: Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York Participants: President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt RomneyModerator: Candy Crowley (CNN Chief Political Correspondent) 3rd Presidential Debate Date: October 22, 2012Topic: Foreign policyLocation: Lynn University in Boca Raton, FloridaParticipants: President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt RomneyModerator: Bob Schieffer (Host of Face the Nation on CBS) Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/11/07/romney-concession-speech-song/
You might not recognize the latest ad in Obama’s presidential campaign as politically charged on first listen. The video features Girls star Lena Dunham comparing her first time voting to losing her virginity. Specifically targeting women, Dunham advises how to make your “first time” special. “You want a guy who cares whether you get health insurance, and specifically whether you get birth control,” says Dunham in the ad, which has stirred controversy for its sexy tone. Dunham has been known to raise eyebrows before, like when she ate cake naked at the 2012 Emmys. The Obama campaign ruffled feathers earlier this election season when it released a video that compared Big Bird to Bernie Madoff. What do you think of the ad? Is this offensive or do critics need to lighten up? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/10/26/obama-lenda-dunham-first-time/
Have you ever heard a politician make a claim you just couldn’t believe, so you turned to Google or Wikipedia for the truth? You’re far from alone — 64% of “persuadable voters” use the Internet to fact-check political candidates, according to a recent study. The study also found that a majority of persuadable voters in several battleground states — 58% — are using the Internet to look up candidates’ voting records or stances on the important issues of the day. 49% are getting their regular fill of election news online, and 53% said the Internet provides them “with the information they need.” “The Internet is an increasingly important resource when it comes to getting information about this year’s campaigns and elections,” wrote Global Strategy Group and Public Opinion Strategies in a memo on the survey of 500 “persuadable voters.” But is the information found online trustworthy? Yes, according to most voters — 62% of “persuadable voters” trust the information they find online. That’s on par with television news (67%) and print (62%). Why the confidence? 41% of those surveyed reported it’s “generally easy” to tell the difference between truthful and inaccurate news on the Internet, more so than it is on television. And why the heavy use of the Internet to get political news and fact-check candidates? 63% of respondents said it’s important to be able to access information on their own time, and 73% said the Internet helps them do that. In aggregate, these numbers mean that persuadable voters are online — making candidates’ social media and online advertising strategies all the more necessary and important. “Persuadable voters are online. They are engaged and ready to listen. And they are looking for answers to the questions that will help them make up their minds come November 6,” reads the study, which is embedded below. Do you use the Internet to fact-check politicians? What are you favorite tools to do so? Share them in the comments. Google Voters Research Image courtesy of iStockphoto, sjlocke Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/10/10/voters-fact-check-online/
This new political ad from Priorities USA Action, an Obama-affiliated Super PAC, may be the most brutal ad yet from the 2012 presidential election. Called “Understands,” the ad features the story of Joe Soptic, who claims he lost his job after Bain Capital, the financial services company for which Mitt Romney once served as CEO, shut down a plant where he worked. Soptic lost his health insurance along with his job, meaning he couldn’t pay for his wife’s treatment when she was diagnosed with cancer. Soptic’s wife died as he stood by, helpless. The seemingly implied message of the ad: Mitt Romney indirectly killed Soptic’s wife. Yikes. That implication aside, the factual foundation of the ad is built on tenuous ground. As the Washington Post pointed out on Tuesday, Mitt Romney had left Bain Capital before Soptic’s plant closed. A representative of Priorities USA Action also told the Washington Post that “this is another in a series of ads that demonstrates how long it took for communities and individuals to recover from the closing of these businesses.” Is this ad on target, or does it go too far? Share your thoughts in the comments. YouTube’s 10 Most-Shared Ads in July 1. DC Shoes: Ken Block’s Gymkhana Five: Ultimate Urban Playground, San Francisco The most-shared ad of July is a riveting, white-knuckle adrenaline ride through the streets of San Francisco. Watching Ken Block rip and shred through turns is a pure delight for speed junkies and gearheads. Anyone who winces at car crashes in movies – this is not for you. But good luck looking away. 2. Sesame Street: Share It Maybe We all knew this was coming right? It makes perfect sense that the Cookie Monster would spoof Carly Rae Jepsen’s song “Call Me Maybe” and turn it into a plea for you to share your cookies with him. We just have one suggestion. In the words of the immortal Randy Jackson, “I’m not sure about your tone dawg. It seems just a little bit off to me. Otherwise, I’m totally diggin’ it!” 3. Abercrombie Models Sing “Call Me Maybe” While Shirtless Supposedly this is a video created by the controversial store’s models and employees themselves. From the description: “To celebrate the song’s Summer popularity, A&F asked its hottest guys from its Flagship stores all around the world to have fun with the song — film it on their phones and to do whatever came naturally… This is what the guys sent back!” Regardless of who created it, it’s being shared like crazy. It’s got virtually the same recipe as the number two video so it makes complete sense to us. 4. Som Sabadell Flash Mob Flash Mobs still light up the charts on share counts. Banco Sabadell chose to celebrate its 130-year anniversary by arranging one of their own with some truly talented musicians and singers. The little girl conducting from the lightpost is one of the best visual moments, but it seems like a lot of the people […]
Tuesday’s town hall-style presidential debate at Hofstra University was a slug fest. President Obama and Governor Romney escaped the podiums of the previous round and danced all over the stage, trading jabs and interrupting each other and the moderator, CNN political correspondent Candy Crowley. If you were watching your social medias simultaneously, there was plenty of fun to be had. As they’ve done with the previous two debates, our friends at Hark.com have collected the night’s best audio moments into the graphic below. Click your favorite quotes and share them with your friends on the web. This time, we’ve got some fun surprises in the audience, as well. Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/10/17/hofstra-debate-sound-bites/
Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons stars in a new digital short for “Battle For Your Ballot,” a non-partisan grassroots movement raising awareness about voter suppression. The video is the first in a series of PSA-style YouTube clips from The BRPR Group. The movement’s website, BattleForYourBallot.com, will house the videos, inform viewers about their voting rights and let people report voter irregularities by submitting audio, videos or photos. “We want to utilize the followings of celebrities and high-profile individuals with fans who are most effected by voter suppression tactics — younger voters and minority voters,” BRPR Group’s agency director Christopher Renz tells Mashable. He says the next figures in the movement will be a politician and Hispanic celebrity. The website also details state-by-state information for voters, including rights as an employee on Election Day and a list of necessary documents to bring to the polls. “This is not about a red or a blue state, Republican or Democrat,” says Gerard Bush, co-founder and chief creative director of The BRPR Group, who also has a prominent role in the video. “It’s actually not partisan at all; it is about the most valued right of every American citizen to have our voices heard at the ballot box.” Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/10/01/battle-for-your-ballot/
