Subscribe to Capitol Fax      Advertise Here     Contact Rich Miller
To subscribe to Capitol Fax, click here. Subscriptions are $350 per year. To advertise on the Capitol Fax Blog, please click here.
Facebook, the future for legislators?

Friday, Mar 28, 2008

* More and more public officials are realizing the value of the social networking site Facebook. Many have used the site to help spread awareness about their campaigns. I remember seeing the “One Million Strong for Barack Obama” group when I was in school. Now candidates of all levels of office are joining in.

However, some are also beginning to notice its potential for advancing their legislative agenda:

The online social networking site is home to a group of young voters who supported a measure in the Illinois House to legalize civil unions between same-sex couples, which some opponents say is a form of gay marriage.

The group, Students for the Illinois Marriage Equality Bill, has attracted more than 8,000 members from across the country and directs members to write or call state representatives to talk to them about the bill.

* Soon after, Rep. Greg Harris contacted the administrator to ask about his group.

“I had no idea there was this much grassroots organizing going on,” said Harris, the rep. who is sponsoring the civil union legislation.

Harris said he is still working with the group to see what type of awareness he can raise through the Web site. For now, he has posted a message on the group page asking members to continue lobbying for the cause and offering his office contact information.

The bill would grant the same legal rights to same-sex couples as it would a married couple, such as hospital visitation, health care choices and funeral options. However, no church or other religious institution would be forced to sanction the union:

“This is not same sex marriage,” Harris said. “This is just basic rights and obligations that the state can afford to give these people.”

* Currently Connecticut, Vermont, New Jersey, New Hampshire all allow civil unions and Massachusetts will grant marriage licenses to same sex couples.

Voters in Missouri overwhelmingly passed a constitutional amendment in 2004 defining marriage as “only between a man and a woman.” Since then, there have been no major efforts by state legislators to legalize civil unions in the state.

Harris said he is unsure of when the civil union bill could get called to a vote before the entire Illinois House. It narrowly passed a House committee last March and then was amended to remove all references to marriage in hopes of attracting further support.

* Sites like Facebook and MySpace, once seen as teeny bopping pastimes, could become an integral part of the future of politics. Discuss.

- posted by Kevin Fanning


7 Comments
  1. - wordslinger - Friday, Mar 28, 08 @ 11:21 am:

    No question. New media will only get bigger. It’s incredibly cost effective. Just compare email to traditional direct mail fundraising. With both, you have to build or buy a list. But after that, email costs virtually nothing. No postage, no printing and barriers to contributing are eliminated. All you have to do is click a button and enter your credit card number. No writing checks, affixing a stamp, hitting the mailbox, etc.


  2. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Friday, Mar 28, 08 @ 11:32 am:

    Facebook is so yesterday.

    Obama has added “Obama Mobile”. Sign-up for updates and event invites, download screensavers and ringtones.

    Imagine half the cell phones around you ringing with this:

    “Hi, this is Barack Obama, asking you to help change America and answer the call”

    Or a clip from the internet smash hit “Yes, We Can” by will.i.am


  3. - Kevin Fanning - Friday, Mar 28, 08 @ 11:33 am:

    LOL


  4. - Pot calling kettle - Friday, Mar 28, 08 @ 11:50 am:

    All the candidates I have been following this year have Facebook pages, but not much information is provided and I’m not sure how much they are used for organizing.

    I would say the jury is still out as far as a campaign tool for candidates. I think there is a lot more potential for the sites as grass roots organizing tools for certain issues, but again, I think only time will tell.


  5. - Levois - Friday, Mar 28, 08 @ 12:00 pm:

    I heard a city councilman in Atlanta is updating his Facebook profile with information about what he’s doing in his capacity as a member of the city council.


  6. - capitoldem - Saturday, Mar 29, 08 @ 2:41 pm:

    There is a facebook group advancing the support of a Chicago Casino in Springfield that has the support among some young adult users: “I Want To Lose My Money @ A Chicago Casino”


  7. - Capitol Dem - Saturday, Mar 29, 08 @ 6:36 pm:

    I think these social networking sites can be used as a great supplement to classic grass-root movements. For example, there is a Facebook group, “I Want To Lose My Money @ A Chicago Casino”, that supports the advancement of Springfield legislation for a Chicago casino that has the support of some young adult users.


TrackBack URI

Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.


ON THE BLOG TODAY...
* Still nervous? You should probably calm down
* ITLA ad, Durbin on Madigan and lots of campaign videos
* Question of the day
* This just in... Hynes not interested in LG spot
* This just in... Gianulis dies
* Who's to blame? And what way forward?
* Report: Hynes would consider LG offer
* An almost perfect week
* Morning Shorts
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today's edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
** Yesterday's blog posts

Search This Blog...

Search the 96th General Assembly By Bill Number
(example: HB0001)

Search the 96th General Assembly By Keyword

Quick Links


Main Menu
Home
Illinois
YouTube
Pundit rankings
Obama
Subscriber Content
Durbin
Burris
Polls

Archives
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004

Blog*Spot Archives
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005

Syndication

RSS Feed 2.0
Comments RSS 2.0
WordPress
 

  
  » BlackBerry Curve #1 Selling Smartphone In The States… Again… I’m Calling BS Just Little Bit…
  » Apple releases iPhone OS 3.1.3, jailbroken a week later
  » Neo Nectaris strategy game arrives on the iPhone
  » iHound aims to help you find your missing iPhone
  » Review: McSweeney's for iPhone

  » MyBookmarks Syncs Bookmarks (and Bookmarklets) to Android Phones [Downloads]
  » Google Working On Live Speech-To-Speech “Babel Fish” Translator For Smartphones
  » Samsung TicToc Shakeable MP3 Player
  » zoomIt Adds Storage Expansion To The iPhone
  » From the Tips Box: Backyard Igloos, Sink Mats, and Taskbar Arrangement [From The Tips Box]

» White Sox Un-Retire #11, Vizquel to wear Aparico's number with his ble..
» Vizquel to wear Aparicio's No. 11
» Hey, who wants to sit around and talk about 2005?
» South Side Sox 2010 Fantasy Baseball Challenge
» Boyer: Any buzz must translate to wins

 
     


  » Who Does Quinn Want as His Running Mate? - Chicago....
  » Cohen move gives Democrats a rare do-over - State ....
  » Just another bump in the road of Illinois politics....
  » 2010 Complete Election Coverage: Hynes waves off L....
  » United States: Obama: A tougher political environm....
  » Dem. lieutenant governor candidate exits Ill. race....
  » Only in Illinois - Lincoln again spinning in his t....
  » US to commit $78.5M to try to halt Asian carp - Gr....
  » Gov. Pat Quinn wants Tammy Duckworth as Illinois l....
  » Illinois nominee quits, to relief of Democrats - W....


  » UIC aging research gets $1.9 million NIH renewal
  » 4-H starts military youth, special interest clubs
  » Bugging out: U of Ill. hosts insect film festival
  » Northwestern students to borrow directly from feds
  » Biggest Boeing 747 ever takes to the sky
  » US Gives $78.5M to Fight Carp
  » United Airlines sees January traffic rise
  » Dow closes below 10,000 points
  » Motorola backs social music service TuneWiki
  » Bally's new marketing chief from United Airlines

  » Shufflin' Crew gets bashed
  » Brees, Saints will have no shortage of endorsements
  » Super Bowl trumps MASH
  » United Airlines sees January traffic rise
  » State Farm claims it warned feds of Toyota problem in '07


  » Hynes won't replace Cohen, but who will?
  » Fitness contest prize: Lifetime of free training
  » Chief's kin demands return of forest preserve land
  » Lawyer: Stacy considered trying to blackmail Drew
  » Charlie Trotter sous chef honored
  » Family sues over fatal crash on Cicero
  » U.S. joins Asian carp fight
  » Transit system is winter storm-ready, chief insists
  » Police called to Cohen party
  » Man killed landlord, caught in Ky. -- cops


  » Illinois plans reforms for processing DNA
  » Pace route cuts hit suburban bus riders
  » Lawyer: Stacy Peterson asked about blackmailing Drew
  » Joliet cell phone store worker shot during holdup
  » Daley: Let inspector general probe City Council
  » Democrats prepare to pick new lieutenant governor
  » Report: Zion-Benton high school dean faces drug charges
  » Snow, CTA cuts could leave commuters struggling
  » Murder victim's family sees suspect in 1984 crime
  » 3 kids, adult hurt in Southwest Side crash


  » Inspectors Trash More Food at Shared Kitchen
  » Blue Monday for Some in Indiana
  » Quinn: No Money Deal for Cohen
  » Durbin Says Giannoulias Should Answer Questions About Family Bank Involvement
  » Rider Outrage at CTA Service Cuts
  » CTA Cuts are Here
  » Cohen Ends Troubled Candidacy, Dems Jockey to Replace Him
  » Democratic Lt. Gov. Candidate Scott Lee Cohen Exits Race Amid Furor
  » A Mixed Reaction from Cohen's City Council Supporters
  » Cohen Could Lose Another Endorsement Monday

» Ex-Cohen girlfriend: 'Politicians should be beyond reproach'
» Blago lawyers refused prosecution trial plans
» Downstate Democratic leader dies
» State senator threatened with eviction from suburban office
» Hynes would consider spot on ticket with Quinn if asked


  » Latest weather-related closings and cancellations
  » Sullivan, Koehler say no contact about lieutenant governor nomination
  » Cohen move gives Democrats a rare do-over
  » Regional changes could have altered primary election results
  » Judge denies early look at prosecution evidence in Blagojevich case
  » Ashland asks residents to conserve water
  » Snow to make for messy morning commute
  » Virden man gets 4 years for helping wife with bank robbery
  » Quinn: Lt. governor hopefuls should speak up
  » Lincoln monument unveiling Tuesday at Amtrak station


  » Gray to be honored at book signing at SIUC
  » Five arrested in drug raids
  » Dems look for Cohen's replacement
  » New state law inadvertently bars farmers from using ATVs
  » Herrin to look into remedying cat problem


» Seven things with Wauconda chief Larsson
» Lake Co. adult social calendar
» Northwest suburban police blotter
» Northwest suburban books and enrichment
» PHS honored by Forensics League


  » GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - February 9, 2010
  » Dems must pick new lt. gov candidate
  » GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - February 8, 2010
  » GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - February 7, 2010
  » GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - February 6, 2010

» Ill. gov might want to run from his running m..
» Kirk, Giannoulias to square off in general el..
» Questions still need answering on April 30 de..
» Bill Calls for Public Transparency into Fanni..
» Kokopellli Leaders Ask City for Help - WSIL T..
» Caterpillar announces plans to join FutureGen..
» RI County Democratic powerbroker dies - Quad ..
» FTC probing CVS Caremark's prescription drug ..
» The Election File: Those 19 men and 19 women ..
» Walsh, local activists center stage at tea pa..

» Cohen fiasco highlights issues with office - .....
» Caterpillar buys into the FutureGen Alliance .....
» Caterpillar throws its support behind FutureG.....
» Scott Lee Cohen: Dem Illinois Lt. Governor Ca.....
» Our Opinion: Dare to DREAM - Tallahassee Demo.....

» Ill. gov might want to run from his running m.....
» Nation will watch Illinois races closely - Qu.....
» Column: I'll take the Senate seat for $500! -.....
» Voters should step up, be more involved in st.....
» What is it about Illinois politicians? - Wash.....

    » The Dems take a Mulligan
    » Speaking of IMAX, have you heard of “fake IMAX”?
    » AMC is buying Kerasotes ShowPlace Theatres
    » A brief anti-commercial message
    » Remember, this ISN’T torture
    » Chicago's “Big Snow,” 2010
    » In Gov's Race, Christmas Goose not always Good for the Gander
    » Black is Back at Art Basel
    » Chicago's News Wars: Did the Scoop Get Scooped?
    » Chicago News Cooperative Debuts: Newspaper Wars are Back


Header Photos...
Wayne Bretl & UIS


Hosted by MCS