Jake’s video of Edwards

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One thing I’ve never seen as a Californian is the interactions that normal everyday people have with political candidates like they have in Iowa. Mostly that’s cause Democratic politicians know they need to win in Iowa to be nominated. But partly because of the political culture that’s here. I mean 1,500 people packed a hall tonight to hear John Edwards speak with almost two years to go before the general election. The rest of us usually would just ignore this stuff cause there’s no way to engage or make your own impact.

Here Jake Ludington, a geek working on Lockergnome, brings a small Sanyo Xacti camera and records some of one of those conversations and put it up on Google video. No mainstream video press was around.

If this was 1992 I doubt you would have ever seen this conversation shared with all of you. I recorded the entire conversation (Jake only got part of it, his camera ran out of storage space), will have it up next week, along with lots of intimate conversations. Oh, yeah, that is Chuck Olson filming for Rocketboom in the background of Jake’s video.

Note that the people asking the questions sound like “professional press.” But they are not. They are average citizens who got to come backstage before his townhall meeting. The culture in Iowa is to sit down with candidates and have conversations with them and triangulate on what they really stand for.

Published by Robert Scoble

I help entrepreneurs build their technology business' story, help with getting ready for investors, with other launch plans, and many other strategic things that can help your new startup. Call to talk: +1-425-205-1921 (text first).

Published

53 thoughts on “Jake’s video of Edwards”

  1. 2008 is a breakthrough election

    Soundbites in traditional media will still influence a lot, but there is a crack in the wall for more light.

    Like

  3. Robert,

    I’ve been following your reports from the campaign trail very closely and appreciate the work you are doing. Your reports have a good flavor.

    By the way, please consider adding a dateline, or let us know in your reports what town you are reporting from, as you cross the nation.

    Again, great work.

    Like

  4. Robert,

    I’ve been following your reports from the campaign trail very closely and appreciate the work you are doing. Your reports have a good flavor.

    By the way, please consider adding a dateline, or let us know in your reports what town you are reporting from, as you cross the nation.

    Again, great work.

    Like

  15. Pingback: Ellee Seymour - MCIPR, PRESS CONSULTANT, JOURNALIST, POLITICAL AND PR BLOGGER. » Bloggers help to win votes for the American presidential campaign

  16. Robert,

    Please come back to reality and technology. Lawyers do make good political buds.

    There is a story about the first people off at Plymoth Rock. The Captain was checking the manifest while being asked which passengers were being offloaded. The Captain said he had a bunch of barristers to offload. The dock keeper wanted to know what a barrister was and the Captain said they were just a bunch of “Liars”. The dock keeper had continued to offload but forgot what the barristers were called by the Captain. After talking to one of the barristers about his politics, the dock keeper quickly recorded “offloaded one bunch of Lawyers”. Liars, Lawyers what’s the difference especially in politics.

    Welcome too “PIMP MY BLOGG”. Please use a better cause than politics. It is below you Robert.

    I respect your opinion, in technology. This is your blog, you have hired your critics and you are now dancing with politics. Don’t trust anyone over …? What NEXT?

    IMHO
    Fictional name attached below. LOL

    Like

  17. Robert,

    Please come back to reality and technology. Lawyers do make good political buds.

    There is a story about the first people off at Plymoth Rock. The Captain was checking the manifest while being asked which passengers were being offloaded. The Captain said he had a bunch of barristers to offload. The dock keeper wanted to know what a barrister was and the Captain said they were just a bunch of “Liars”. The dock keeper had continued to offload but forgot what the barristers were called by the Captain. After talking to one of the barristers about his politics, the dock keeper quickly recorded “offloaded one bunch of Lawyers”. Liars, Lawyers what’s the difference especially in politics.

    Welcome too “PIMP MY BLOGG”. Please use a better cause than politics. It is below you Robert.

    I respect your opinion, in technology. This is your blog, you have hired your critics and you are now dancing with politics. Don’t trust anyone over …? What NEXT?

    IMHO
    Fictional name attached below. LOL

    Like

  22. Robert all politicians know they need Iowa and New Hampshire. You will see a lot of what you saw in Iowa in NH as well. We here in NH take the first in the nation primary very seriously as an obligation to grill the politicians who come here.

    Like

  23. Robert all politicians know they need Iowa and New Hampshire. You will see a lot of what you saw in Iowa in NH as well. We here in NH take the first in the nation primary very seriously as an obligation to grill the politicians who come here.

    Like

  26. Well, this is developing in an interesting way, the comments to your posts are spread all over the place with people concerned about your diving into politics to people responding and requesting access to Edwards, (I am guilty of this). Given that you are holding true to the tech side of this (I can’t wait to see what your videos show) I can understand the draw that this has.

    Guy

    P.S. this is still too much politics, but from your readers, not you. I should have had faith.

    Like

  27. Well, this is developing in an interesting way, the comments to your posts are spread all over the place with people concerned about your diving into politics to people responding and requesting access to Edwards, (I am guilty of this). Given that you are holding true to the tech side of this (I can’t wait to see what your videos show) I can understand the draw that this has.

    Guy

    P.S. this is still too much politics, but from your readers, not you. I should have had faith.

    Like

  28. Pingback: Scoble and Edwards, Day 2 « Thinkings of an Old Baby Boomer

  29. Should be interesting to watch the spin doctors in action on the Edward ScobleSHow. LOL

    It is starting to happen under roberts nose. Keep the drinks a flowing.

    Like

  30. Should be interesting to watch the spin doctors in action on the Edward ScobleSHow. LOL

    It is starting to happen under roberts nose. Keep the drinks a flowing.

    Like

  31. @16. Good point. I wonder how soon Scoble will realize he’s being used by the campaign to get their message out and less to show how technology will impact a campaign. If it ever gets to the point where the Edwards campaign realizes Scoble is not carrying their message, they will cut him loose.

    Like

  32. @16. Good point. I wonder how soon Scoble will realize he’s being used by the campaign to get their message out and less to show how technology will impact a campaign. If it ever gets to the point where the Edwards campaign realizes Scoble is not carrying their message, they will cut him loose.

    Like

  33. Robert, thanks so much for your insight on the trip. I was one of the local citizen journalists you recorded and I appreciate you and Jake taking the time to record the interview as well as promote this kind of political action.

    Like

  34. Robert, thanks so much for your insight on the trip. I was one of the local citizen journalists you recorded and I appreciate you and Jake taking the time to record the interview as well as promote this kind of political action.

    Like

  35. Pingback: Edwards calls for national sense of responsibility and action at Political Forecast

  38. Want my vote, and this goes for any politician…

    * Raise the minimum wage to at least $10.00 – 12.00
    * Push socialized medicine no matter how unpopular with congress/senate/your friends
    * Bring back the unions that the Republicans and some Democrats killed off
    * Get out of Iraq
    * Stop all subsidies to all oil companies and pass a law that prevents then from price gouging as a result
    * Make education all the way through the BA/BS level free for American citizens
    * Mandate green environmental efforts to get the US off of oil, much like what Scandinavia is doing

    The list could go on and on…

    Like

  39. Want my vote, and this goes for any politician…

    * Raise the minimum wage to at least $10.00 – 12.00
    * Push socialized medicine no matter how unpopular with congress/senate/your friends
    * Bring back the unions that the Republicans and some Democrats killed off
    * Get out of Iraq
    * Stop all subsidies to all oil companies and pass a law that prevents then from price gouging as a result
    * Make education all the way through the BA/BS level free for American citizens
    * Mandate green environmental efforts to get the US off of oil, much like what Scandinavia is doing

    The list could go on and on…

    Like

  40. raise the minimum wage to $10-$12? Why so low? Why stop there? Hell, why not mandate that every person that has a job makes at least $100,000/yr? Afterall, the businesses can afford it, right? What makes you think every business can afford to pay their employees $10-$12/hr. Do you want drive more small business owners out of business? Just what is your plan for ensuring businesses can afford to pay those kinds of wages?

    Socialized medicine and “free” education also comes at a cost. What would be your plan for funding it? Very noble ideas, to be sure. But how do you pay for them?

    Like

  41. raise the minimum wage to $10-$12? Why so low? Why stop there? Hell, why not mandate that every person that has a job makes at least $100,000/yr? Afterall, the businesses can afford it, right? What makes you think every business can afford to pay their employees $10-$12/hr. Do you want drive more small business owners out of business? Just what is your plan for ensuring businesses can afford to pay those kinds of wages?

    Socialized medicine and “free” education also comes at a cost. What would be your plan for funding it? Very noble ideas, to be sure. But how do you pay for them?

    Like

  42. Dude, you pay 30 – 40% in taxes in the US, we aren’t that much better than Europe.

    The difference is, in this country, you don’t GET anything for your taxes beyond the bare minimum. Would I give back every tax cut Bush has given me in exchange for universal medical coverage, (which given what this country spends now on the mess we have, would not cost us any more money)? Oh HELL yeah. I’d save a bundle in insurance premiums.

    Like

  43. Dude, you pay 30 – 40% in taxes in the US, we aren’t that much better than Europe.

    The difference is, in this country, you don’t GET anything for your taxes beyond the bare minimum. Would I give back every tax cut Bush has given me in exchange for universal medical coverage, (which given what this country spends now on the mess we have, would not cost us any more money)? Oh HELL yeah. I’d save a bundle in insurance premiums.

    Like

  44. @22

    Sure. Businesses make a profit, and since workers make those profits possible, they should share in the wealth.

    I would gladly take a 5% tax increase to pay for education and medicine. Those that make over a certain amount, say $150,000, should pay far more. I’ve read considerably about this and 5% from everyone into an educational/medicine pool would more than cover the costs.

    Cap doctor pay to something reasonable, say $150,000 a year for really senior doctors. This would encourage only those who really wanted to help people and not make a profit.

    Police and firefighters should always make more than doctors. Teachers should as well.

    Idealistic? Yes. Possible? For sure.

    Too many Americans are too hung up on capitalism. Capitalism only serves to make a few rich while not really rewarding the very people that make that wealth possible in the first place. Workers.

    Like

  45. @22

    Sure. Businesses make a profit, and since workers make those profits possible, they should share in the wealth.

    I would gladly take a 5% tax increase to pay for education and medicine. Those that make over a certain amount, say $150,000, should pay far more. I’ve read considerably about this and 5% from everyone into an educational/medicine pool would more than cover the costs.

    Cap doctor pay to something reasonable, say $150,000 a year for really senior doctors. This would encourage only those who really wanted to help people and not make a profit.

    Police and firefighters should always make more than doctors. Teachers should as well.

    Idealistic? Yes. Possible? For sure.

    Too many Americans are too hung up on capitalism. Capitalism only serves to make a few rich while not really rewarding the very people that make that wealth possible in the first place. Workers.

    Like

  46. LayZ: I already know the campaign is using me. And, I’m not going to cover politics long-term, so why would I be back anyway? It’s time for someone else to get an interesting look inside a campaign. My videos and recordings will be up next week. After that, enough of politics.

    Like

  47. LayZ: I already know the campaign is using me. And, I’m not going to cover politics long-term, so why would I be back anyway? It’s time for someone else to get an interesting look inside a campaign. My videos and recordings will be up next week. After that, enough of politics.

    Like

  48. Thanks Robert ref.(25). Let the ring melt before it consumes you.

    Welcome back. It was fun. Did they see how fast the worm can turn?

    Like

  49. Thanks Robert ref.(25). Let the ring melt before it consumes you.

    Welcome back. It was fun. Did they see how fast the worm can turn?

    Like

  50. Robert, it was nice to meet you in Des Moines. A mom never outgrows the need to know who her kids hang out with. Now, if I could just figure out how to explain what Jake does in the annual Christmas letter.

    More to the point, I was interested in your observations about the up-close-and-personal nature of the Iowa political process. The “first in the nation” Iowa caucuses bring out the presidential wannabees every 4 years like a plague of insects. Cicadas only peak every 17 years. But I digress. We’ve had a lot of practice meeting potential presidents face to face so it’s no wonder the questions you heard sounded “professional.”

    Another reason Iowa differs from Calif. and other primary states is the caucus process. Winning a primary state means winning over the likely voters, generally party faithful, and getting them to turn out on election day. The caucus is so much more a grass roots thing. People meet in schools and churches and other public places within their regular voting precinct. In rural areas, they meet in someone’s living room. To be sure, unions, supporters of various causes such as the environment, opposing abortion, school vouchers or health care, try to get people to turn up at events, but it’s very individual. And unlike the secrecy of the voting booth, caucuses require participants to divide up by candidate. Your neighbors know who you support. In the end, the candidates receive delegates at a county convention held later in the year. Have I confused you yet? In any case, Iowa politics isn’t just local, it’s personal.
    Don’t let the cynics detract from your experience.Is the campaign using you? Probably. So what? That shouldn’t stop you from boldly going where no blogger has gone before. Would you rather make history or read about the guy who did?

    Like

  51. Robert, it was nice to meet you in Des Moines. A mom never outgrows the need to know who her kids hang out with. Now, if I could just figure out how to explain what Jake does in the annual Christmas letter.

    More to the point, I was interested in your observations about the up-close-and-personal nature of the Iowa political process. The “first in the nation” Iowa caucuses bring out the presidential wannabees every 4 years like a plague of insects. Cicadas only peak every 17 years. But I digress. We’ve had a lot of practice meeting potential presidents face to face so it’s no wonder the questions you heard sounded “professional.”

    Another reason Iowa differs from Calif. and other primary states is the caucus process. Winning a primary state means winning over the likely voters, generally party faithful, and getting them to turn out on election day. The caucus is so much more a grass roots thing. People meet in schools and churches and other public places within their regular voting precinct. In rural areas, they meet in someone’s living room. To be sure, unions, supporters of various causes such as the environment, opposing abortion, school vouchers or health care, try to get people to turn up at events, but it’s very individual. And unlike the secrecy of the voting booth, caucuses require participants to divide up by candidate. Your neighbors know who you support. In the end, the candidates receive delegates at a county convention held later in the year. Have I confused you yet? In any case, Iowa politics isn’t just local, it’s personal.
    Don’t let the cynics detract from your experience.Is the campaign using you? Probably. So what? That shouldn’t stop you from boldly going where no blogger has gone before. Would you rather make history or read about the guy who did?

    Like

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