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The Reporters: US mid-terms

Guto Harri

Strange space


I imagine that few of the candidates in this election have either the time or inclination to hang out in cyberspace, but half an hour on the vast social network offers an intriguing insight into the contest. "Bush is Bad" is the most popular political grouping here, with 166,969 members.
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MySpace Democrats have more members than MySpace Republicans and has drawn more support than any other public figure in this category. An unavoidable one-upmanship affects everyone on MySpace because the website keeps a strict count of your "friends".

Politicians at a time like this could be forgiven for being paranoid about the numbers. But some will find comfort clicking on. has a cool-looking profile, 17,512 friends and a long list of people who've wished him "happy Halloween" as well as begging him to run for president.

has some similar pleas, one suggesting she should secure Obama has her running mate. A woman introducing herself as "carrot top" tells the New York senator she's "excited you're coming to my home town this weekend". Another simply wishes the former First Lady "good morning".

The most bizarre comment is directed at Republican hopeful . "Black Mary the Turquoise Desert" tells him she's "descending from above to give... a kiss of divine black female love". Asche Krieger assures the senator that he'll vote for him in 2008 whether he's on the ballot or not.
What I can't establish is how many of these sites are genuine. There's another on MySpace with 509 friends, who believes he's 31 years old. John McCain is 70. And the profile I found, curiously has only 189 "friends", including "planet" and "spider".

Perhaps the politicians are better off staying clear of this virtual world after all.

Guto Harri is the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú's North America business correspondent.

°ä´Ç³¾³¾±ð²Ô³Ù²õÌýÌýPost your comment

You seem to be overlooking the fact that these profiles are, in likely every case, generated by a third party without the endorsement of the candidate.

On the Barack Obama profile it states explicitly "This profile is a tribute to the great Barack Obama. It has not been created and is not managed or endorsed by Senator Barack Obama".

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  • 2.
  • At 06:56 PM on 02 Nov 2006,
  • Matt Staccone wrote:

This is the dirtiest election season that I can remember. I expected as much from the Republicans. But the Democrats have put that page into their playbook too; the Rovian tactics are are being turned on the Republicans. And, the Republicans have made themselves easy targets with the corruption and selling of the government to the highest bidder.

The Republicans have committed enough sins against the American public that it is time for a change.

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  • 3.
  • At 07:08 PM on 02 Nov 2006,
  • Pantelis Kotopoulos wrote:

I just followed the links to Barack Obama's and John McCain's "myspace" profiles and noticed that both are on my extended network of friends! I can now fully understand Manuel Castells' claim regarding serendipitous interaction that finds expression on the internet.

In my humble opinion none of the profiles you have found is genuine. However, I couldn't agree more with your comment that politicians are better off staying clear of this virtual world.

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  • 4.
  • At 08:04 PM on 02 Nov 2006,
  • Akber A. Kassam. wrote:

Politics is a dirty game, These poilitians will never say their profiles honestly, somehow they are hiding their ages, their involement with other woman, lying to their wives, involved in a scandles, stock markets, not answearing correctly to the reporter, not admitting their faults or wrong doing etc. etc.

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  • 5.
  • At 08:22 PM on 02 Nov 2006,
  • Niki Young wrote:

On the contrary, politicians should visit the virtual world. The internet is a powerful tool to get your message out there. Young adults do not trust the mainstream media to give them the whole story. If we want reform, we want young people to vote! (not corporations)

visit a myspace page "count the black vote" or watch the HBO special on how easy it is to "Fix" the electronic voting booths and you'll see that we are in desperate need of spreading truth and encouraging action! Every voice should be heard, that's what a vote is, right?

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  • 6.
  • At 08:26 PM on 02 Nov 2006,
  • Abesiri wrote:

The democrats need to forge a policy based on fact. A policy acceptable to the elctorate. Democrats ought not get a mandate to govern by defualt but through constructive engagement nastionally and internationally.

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  • 7.
  • At 08:43 PM on 02 Nov 2006,
  • anon wrote:

The "Bush is bad" group does seem to give support to the "young people are impressionable and are easily affected by bad influences" argument. In this case, they blindly hate someone (which is not a good thing) because they have been told to by the media.

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  • 8.
  • At 09:02 PM on 02 Nov 2006,
  • Universal Denominator wrote:

You guys are all idiots. The purpose of all of this is to distract us while the real truth plays out behind our back. If anyone has ever flown over this country or taken a moment to count the houses, cars or people they go by every day and imagine the money that is collected by our government and what we get for it, you would come to the same conclusion.
Are YOU being represented?...America. Or are we creating a new ruler-class. 2076 is about the time it will all catch up to us and the people will once again take charge of thier own destiny.

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  • 9.
  • At 09:46 PM on 02 Nov 2006,
  • Ann R. wrote:

@#5: "visit a myspace page "count the black vote" or watch the HBO special on how easy it is to "Fix" the electronic voting booths and you'll see that we are in desperate need of spreading truth and encouraging action! Every voice should be heard, that's what a vote is, right?"

Well stated and right on target.
Let's get back to some of the really
critical issues. Get the facts. Spread the word. Vote and demand a fair election.

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  • 10.
  • At 10:24 PM on 02 Nov 2006,
  • Saber Zaitoun wrote:

The internet is a scary place for some who have stuff to hide BECAUSE it is not a one-way medium that could be controlled and manipulated by mega-billionaires like Rupert Murdoch or Ted Turner. Welcome to the voice of the people. Bush IS bad!

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  • 11.
  • At 10:54 AM on 04 Nov 2006,
  • Dave Parker wrote:

Steering clear of MySpace is sound advice. You'd think by now its alleged 120m users would have come up with an alternative that isn't just a vehicle for dodgy sex ads. But I suppose imaginary friends count for more than allowing any expression of genuine creativity: maybe we'll see some of them turn up as imaginary Republican voters next Tuesday.

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