I'm still working on editing a Youtube of Mayor Rybak's campaign kick-off stops in Mankato and New Prague last week. I'd arranged to interview the mayor on the drive between the Southern Minnesota cities.
The last question I asked wasn't about Greater Minnesoa, but how Rybak would use social media as a tool in his administration.
His response:
For me, Rybak's, observations about social media as a tool for creating community recalled a recent post by Robin Marty at Power Liberal, An open letter to all gubernatorial candidates. Marty, a MAK supporter, writes:
I am also excited to see that you are all beginning to embrace online media. Many of us have spend years using the internet as a place to share information and organize on line. We are happy that you have decided to join us and engage us here on our home turf.
The most ethical use of social media by a campaign is about community, not simply having another channel.
Finally, I recommend Aaron Brown's excellent series of interviews of DFL gubernatorial candidates at Minnesota Brown:
For posterity, here are the links and dates of the posts:
State Sen. Tom Bakk (June 13, 2008)
State Rep. Paul Thissen (Nov. 17, 2008)
Former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton (April 24, 2009)
Former State Rep. Matt Entenza (May 4, 2009)
State Sen. John Marty (June 23, 2009)
Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner (July 13, 2009)
State Rep. Tom Rukavina (Aug. 11, 2009)
State House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher (Aug. 17, 2009)
Former State Sen. Steve Kelley (Oct. 18, 2009)
Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak (Dec. 16, 2009)
Brown plans to release an e-book of the interviews and analysis early next year. I look forward to reading it. Lke marty, Brown shares his thoughts on the brave new world of social media and campaigns:
These interviews have been a fascinating experience and prove that we're entering a untamed new era in journalism. I am a trained journalist, but function as an independent blogger with a stated agenda (selling books and strengthening Minnesota's Iron Range through political and community action). . . .Seeing these candidates in a wide variety of situations has given me a glimpse into their personalities, operating styles and campaign strategies that 99 percent of caucus goers and primary voters don't get. For that I am grateful and hope to inform people in a way that is fair to all the candidates and viewpoints that differ from my own. . .
Brown's blog sticks to the Range, but it's one of the state most consistently strong blogs.
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