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The Wild Wild World of Campaign Websites
Posted on October 6, 2019 22:19
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People born in the 1900's learn about technology.
What's the most useless part of a political campaign? No silly, it’s not the candidate. It’s the campaign website - a URL filled with a couple of jargon words, a picture of diverse and attractive voters set on the backdrop of a nice bright sunshine-filled American day. Let's not forget the big old DONATE TO ME button. Despite being deep into the twenty-first century most political website’s look like early 2000’s Myspace pages for hip adults. You’d think with the forecasted $6 billion being spent on political ads in 2020 they’d spend a little time on the platform where a majority of Americans get their news.
But wait what's that? Is that something different? Something New? I can’t believe it, ladies and gentlemen the most comprehensive political website I’ve ever seen is for the 70-year-old Senator from Massachusetts. I didn’t even know people from Massachusetts knew how to use the internet. It offers everything you could ask for -- all of her ideas. That’s right, all 48 of Elizabeth Warren's complete and thought-out campaign promises are right there for you to tediously read through. Good luck walking around after you get off the toilet.
It starts out much the same as any other candidate's website. It’s a nice well-lit picture of her face right next to a stirring call for action. Suddenly, text lands on your screen. One word at a time it assaults your irises like the trailer for a Michael Bay movie. Warren has things to say. Then, as soon as it draws you in, it tricks you into reading.
The most impressive part (and the reason I brought it up in the first place) is how in-depth Warren’s issue’s tab goes. It’s not your usual two paragraphs and a slogan. When she says she’ll end corruption in Washington she means it, and she’s going to tell you exactly how it’s done in excruciating detail. The Warren website brings politics back to what it should have always been. Horrifyingly tedious. Some of the explanations on her website top out well over 2000 words. If the candidate only gives you slogans, expect a presidency that never goes beyond a few sentences.
Lay people probably aren’t going to go out of their way to read thousands of words about what someone might do. We’re too busy; there are cheeseburgers to be eaten. But If you’re running for President, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, then we should expect them to act like the annoying smart kid in class. They should go way above and beyond what anyone expects of them, even if we all kind of wish they would shut up. Because at the end of the day we all want them working on our group project.
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