The past few years have restored my faith in the democratic process. Overall it seemed as though politics (on a national scale) was so beholden to a corporate media, and the media was so beholden to the politicians, that it was a never-ending cycle and self fulfilling prophecy whenever there was an election.
Then, in February of 2005, a group of former paypal employees came together to create YouTube. I, for one, didn't appreciate the political impact it would have until the summer of 2006 when VA Senator George Allen referred to one of his opponents aides (who was videotaping the rally) as 'macaca' and the video spread around the internet (thanks, in part, to YouTube). Because of the interest on the web it hit the mainstream press and before Allen could think of a way to excuse the whole incident away, Jim Webb was being sworn in as the freshman Senator from VA.
Now it seems as though the real power of YouTube isn't in waiting for 'gotcha' moments (such as Allen's 'macacalypse') but for exposing the truth behind the rhetoric. McCain's going to have an especially tough time over the next few months if he doesn't learn the power of this new medium really quickly (which might be difficult given his admitted technical ineptitude). It almost reminds me of the Kennedy-Nixon race in 1960 when Kennedy wore makeup for the first televised debates and Nixon chose not to. Those who listened on the radio thought Nixon won the debate whereas those who watched on television gave an overwhelming victory (in the debate) to Kennedy. Hence the power of controlling the medium of the day.
Here are some examples of McCain's inability to shape the argument as in the days of old because of the power of YouTube:
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