The Effects of Live/Digital Hybrid Debate Formatting on Modern Political Communication

American debates have been a long-standing tradition in our political society. Finally, the candidates stand face to face and there can finally be a clear winner. Throughout history, candidate debates have traveled a bumpy road, being pushed and jerked behind the wheels of growing technologies, trying to keep up with the latest cultural trends. We witnessed the power of media in the first televised presidential debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. President Nixon refused to wear stage make up and was very tight and stone like in front of the cameras, because of this strange visual image he projected to voters he was said to have lost the debate. The format of debates have transformed over the years in an attempt to produce more viewers and educate more citizens. Modern political debates have taking a very interesting and controversial turn by incorporating virtual citizen participation. In the 2008 campaign candidates responded to questions from ordinary citizens that were posted on video sites like YouTube. This revolutionary style of debate questioning demonstrated political debates leap into the 21^st century. The use of live/digital hybrid debate format in contemporary politics is a positive and progressive step for candidates because it allows for average American citizens to question their governmental representatives on issues they care about.

Live debate questioning has move political debating into a more interactive and entertaining experience. Typical voters were permitted to ask questions to presidential candidates that were important in their lives. This also showed candidates the critical issues to middle class voters and how their political policies would affect them. With the use of YouTube videos, the moderators or debate host are able to create a flow of communication that both promotes political education and attracts a younger, more influential audience. These videos are made by ordinary American citizens, not elite media organizations or highly educated political analysts. Instead of candidates receiving questions like, “Senator Obama what is your feedback on our countries progress in the war in Iraq and how do you think this active influence of American present will effect our dependence on foreign fuels while influencing domestic research for an alternate energy source?” Since only 27.2% of Americans graduate from college, a complicated and compound question such as this might confuse or exclude voters from understanding the candidate’s response. With the use of digital questioning a normal citizen could simply ask, “do you think that we are in Iraq because they have oil and because we have not found a way to produce that much fuel in the United States?” This type of question is clear and to the point, which in turn makes the answer more obvious and understandable.

This type of concise questioning also makes it more difficult for candidates to avoid answering the questions, which is a constructive aspect of live/digital hybrid format. When a candidate is asked straight up if he is for or against gay marriage it is hard for him to “bridge to gap” into another issue. This is an incredibly exciting new form of political communication because it allows for citizens to interact and interrogate candidates we read about and observe on television. The fact the any constituent has the option to participate holds the candidate accountable for their positions on certain issues in a more direct manner. The constant development of progressive technology creates new forms of political communication that modern politics is forced to pursue. In the case of digital debate formatting, our political society has been able to play a more prevalent role in debate discourse with our communities and with the candidates themselves. It is comforting to know that candidates are able to see the faces of their typical constituents, people that might not be at speeches, rallies, or political events and leaders then have the chance to educate voters while inspiring them to get out and vote!

The application of modern technologies in our political culture most importantly draws in younger voters that would not conventionally participate in or watch candidate debates. The 2008 debates, on both the Republican and Democrat sides of the spectrum, were transformed into entertaining and educational experiences. The issues weren’t down played but the serious and harsh were turned into thoughts of hope and enthusiasm for our country’s future and for our leaders. According to political advertising specialist, the YouTube broadcast provided an, “exponentially greater opportunity to reach a young, active, passionate audience, one that is far bigger than the combined audiences of the nightly newscasts and the five debates that have been shown on television so far this season. For those five debates, the majority of viewers were older than 55.” This example shows the importance of integrating entertainment and popular culture into modern politics, especially in debates where real issues are not tainted with entertainment hosts’ bias. In the debate between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, the moderator showed many comedy clips made by citizens. This lightened the competitive ambiance and showed the candidates fun and amusing images. It also helped keep the attention of younger viewers. Hollihan cited the debate as “’revolutionary’” and noted that it did succeed in drawing a larger audience of younger viewers.” The age group 18-24 has the least voter participation out of any other age demographic in The United States; this statistic is very unsettling because of the fact that these voters are the future of our political culture. As a member of this age group I understand the negative connotation that follows the word “politics”, or the thought that older politicians are very hard for someone like me to identify with. I would much rather watch The Real World than some 60 year old, white hair man in a gray suit tell me how I probably won’t get a job when I graduate. We are the information generation centered on the Internet. We are continually communicating with each other and have access to the whole world through a 13-inch computer screen. Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter are the first websites up on my browsers. I am a typical young voter! By incorporating the use of these mass media tools in modern politics, we can turn what use to be seen as “boring” by our age group into an entertaining way to participate and educate ourselves on political candidates and their policies.

The implementation of live/digital hybrid debate format has once again transfigured our political debate system into an innovative event that appeals to younger audiences while increasing voter education and participation. The importance of this political formatting cannot be stressed enough. Mobilizing voters, especially younger ones is what keeps our country running strong and our leaders responsible for their actions. The 2008 debates used modern social media to not only attract more diverse viewers but to connect with ordinary voters that have uncomplicated, real life questions. This challenges candidates that are probably not a member of the working class to articulate to these voters why they care and why they would best represent them and support policies that would benefit their economic position. Also the use of satire and popular culture helps create an image that is easier for young voters to relate to. Live/digital hybrid debate formatting has positively swayed our contemporary political communication into the 21^st century attracting a younger audience, and causing increased voter participation and a stronger democratic system.

Prayer and Politics

“Agitate – Educate- Legislate!” This powerful slogan can be heard and read throughout American communities since 1874. In the 19^th century Christian women congregated in order to protest saloons and other establishments that supplied alcohol in their neighborhoods, and fight for the American families values. The Women’s Christian Temperance Union was founded in 1874 by American women who sought to provide education, and to promote legislation that would ban all alcohol consumption along with tobacco and harmful drugs. The use of religion as a foundation in the formation of special interest groups such as the WCTU, helps create a common ground of membership along with the shared theme of morality and family values. The WCTU is an example of how religion and politics are directly related by creating a movement that connects faith with political issues. Today I will argue that the formation of 19^th century religiously motivated special interest groups such as the WCTU have paved the way for not only women to enter the sphere of political participation but also demonstrates the incredible power that religion has over political communication in American communities.

The Women’s Christian Temperance Union was centered around the ideas of American purity through religious education and abstinence from anything that would contaminate the soul. The importance of this radical group was that for the first time, women were able to assemble and converse about political issues, but also because these women produced powerful protests that influenced their communities to prohibit alcohol consumption. The women would use the persuasion of prayer to influence saloon owners to stop serving their neighbors alcohol. According to the WCTU’s website, “in three months the women had driven liquor out of 250 communities, and for the first time felt what could be accomplished by standing together.” ("Women's Christian Temperance Union") Through the use of religious rhetoric the WCTU was able to convince their communities that alcohol was morally wrong and the consumption of liquor completely went against American family values. In the 19^th century, religion was a very important aspect of family and cultural life, and nobody wanted to be considered “sinful” or “impure.” The women used this religious fear in order to push their political agenda for the protection of women and children. “The WCTU adopted this as a policy, which came to mean that all reform was inter-connected and that social problems could not be separated. The use of alcohol and other drugs was a symptom of the larger problems in society.” ("Women's Christian Temperance Union") By supporting religion and prayer, the WTCU incorporated tainted cultural issues into their fight for family rights, and because women did not have the right to vote or the protection of property in the event of a divorce, women were virtually powerless and were not able to protect themselves or their families. In response the their lack of individual power they attempted to change society in order to support their personal agendas. If their husbands were not legally able to go out and drink, they were less likely to come home drunk and beat their wives and children. Religion served as their foundation of morality, but their determination is what predicted and influenced change.

By 1894, the Women’s Christian Temperance Unions’ main focus had turned to women’s suffrage. They fought for the right to vote and became one the biggest and most powerful women’s and religious organization in the country. The WCTU continued to encourage family and moral legislation. In 1920, when women received the right to vote they became one of the most influential voting demographics in the country and this legacy continues today. The WCTU in the 21^st century continues to support the same family values they did 135 years ago. Their website demonstrates their support for religious education in order to promote abstinence from drugs and alcohol in teens and young adults. They work to convince their audience to indentify with social problems that alcohol causes. The WCTU delivers staggering statistics to persuade readers how appalling alcohol can be and the problems that can grow from consumption. Did you know that 350 people die everyday from alcohol related issues, or that 31% of high school age teens admit to binge drink each week, or how about that fetal alcohol syndrome is the number one of preventable birth defects? ("Women's Christian Temperance Union") They argue that through the teachings of the Bible and religious morality young people can lead a more fulfilling life of purity and sobriety. The WCTU is still very much involved in political issues and communication. They sway toward the right side of the political spectrum by promoting the injunction of medical marijuana and same-sex marriages. They support the outlawing of alcohol, tobacco, all drugs, pornography, and gambling. WCTU encourages religious families to embrace the language and teachings of the Bible and use these values in their political decisions and communication with the purpose of promoting the spread of morality throughout society.

The early culture of The United States of America was filled with religious influence and rhetoric. Our cultural was formed around puritan ideals of morality and conformity, and throughout our political history voters have struggled to find the line between politics and religion. Groups like the Women’s Christian Temperance Union mix politics with religion and the use of guilt to pressure people into believing that in order to be faithful to God, we must always vote using religious undertones. I come from a very Catholic family that was extremely active in our church and our community. I would consider myself extremely faithful and I am encouraged by leaders in my church to illustrate my faith by opposing anti-Catholic legislation. However, should God or His literature have any effect on how we communicate politically in 2009? Should we as voters be influenced by literature that was written thousands of years ago, as well as be expected to apply it to our modern political decisions? No. In religious communities it is important the draw the line between social issue and political issues. The WCTU promotes political support for the abolition of alcohol and tobacco in order to lead a religiously pure life. This is a waste of their powerful resources! American political cultural in 2009 will never support the abolition of alcohol or tobacco, and educating abstinence to children because the Bible says so is not preparing them with the tools to enter modern society. The WCTU is a positive organization because it empowers women to become educated and stand up of their beliefs, but their use of strict religious policies hinders their ability to influence voters and traps them in the 19^th century. This organization is a perfect example of why progressive politics can’t be mixed with religion because of the old traditional values that no longer fit in our modern society.

Although American society was build on the establishment of religious society and organization we must learn to separate our political identity with our religious identity. I feel that is possible for me to be a Catholic on Sundays and a Republican on Mondays and even though I identify with my strong traditional faith, I use my modern education and experiences to make important political decisions. Groups like the Women’s Christian Temperance Union are important to our political society because they provide women with the ability to openly discuss politics and promote voter participation, but their use of religion in political communication is very outdated. When the tradition of religion is combined with contemporary political culture, our political system is weakened because of the outdated ideals of religion have no relevance to our current political issues.