Wed
Apr 14 2010
10:57 pm
Facebook: Win, lose, or draw for local candidates
By: grasshopper

Let's face it, Facebook is huge. A lot of local candidates have FB pages... it's free! They have both personal pages and "Elect Me" pages. But if not managed properly, could those pages actually lose some votes?

I have to admit, when I see a candidate is a fan of FB pages or a member of FB groups representing polarizing issues, groups, or people I oppose like Friends of Coal, the Tea Party, Sarah Palin, etc., it gives me pause in the booth. FB can be very revealing without a candidate even knowing it.

I won't go so far as to say I wouldn't vote for them, but it definitely signals my brain that the candidate shares different ideals/values than me that I otherwise would not know. Good for me to know, not so good for the candidate.

I would advise local candidates to clean up their FB pages and stick to the local issues that are important to locals. If a candidate doesn't want to change their views on their personal FB page, then don't make that page public and accept friends cautiously. Just my two cents.

Good advice, IMHO...

Submitted by RoaneBooster on April 15, 2010 - 11:30am.

Well done GH. I think candidates would be well advised to heed these words on their FB pages.

RB

Well, FB postings and the

Submitted by chelsea on April 15, 2010 - 7:06pm.

Well, FB postings and the groups a candidate joins helps me see just how close their values are to mine. Often it is to the candidates detriment.

Thanks RB

Submitted by grasshopper on April 15, 2010 - 7:53pm.

And I agree chelsea. Good for voters to know, but maybe not so good for the candidate.

Having been around a few local elections, I always found that on a local level, candidates don't really share their party affiliation. Sometimes we know, sometimes we don't. And I don't really care beyond what their position is on local issues important to me. I like that about local elections, sort of bi-partisan, joined together for causes that directly affect us, regardless of party. I know state and national is different.

What's funny is with FB, local candidates still don't put their party affiliation in their Info box "political views", where a lot of people do. And I have NO problem with their party if they did post it. I'll cross party lines if reasonable to do so locally.

What surprises me is that local candidates, unwilling to state their party affiliation on FB or anywhere for that matter, have no problem affiliating with other very polarizing groups and pages on FB. Not only does it clearly reveal their party affiliation, but most importantly, it reveals how far to the fringe of their party they actually land.

So I guess the most revealing part of some candidates in this story is that if candidates don't know better to begin with when it comes to Facebook, left or right, it just shows they aren't too bright.

just a comment

Submitted by Ron Woody on April 16, 2010 - 7:53pm.

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
(link...)

Facebook

Submitted by HurleyforHouse on April 20, 2010 - 10:32am.

You all make very good points. I accept any and all friends requests b/c I have nohing on the fan page or personal page to hide from anyone. But for most people protecting that personal page and its' information seems too little fallen by the wayside.

Julia Hurley
Julia@hurleyforhouse.com

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

Eco warriors and politics

Science and stuff

Lost Medicaid Funding

To date, the failure to expand Medicaid / TennCare has cost the State of Tennessee ? in lost federal funding.

Sponsors