Tag Archives: politics

Activism Has Never Been This Trendy.

American fashion designer Kenneth Cole recently launched a social issues web site, www.wheredoyoustand.com, a platform which encourages open debate on political hot topics like gun control, abortion, gay rights, and war. The topics, while very limited in scope, present an opportunity for focused dialogue in a socially savvy way. What I find most interesting and compelling about Cole’s new site is the way in which dialogue takes place on a given issue.

Users are immediately propelled into a whole new realm after clicking an issue. You are then prompted with a question, such as “Are Anti-War Protests Unpatriotic?” and are given the opportunity to answer a simple “yes” or “no” your response, though, comes in the form of a Facebook “Like” so it automatically links through to your page once you choose a side. This not only lets your audience know where you stand on a certain issue, but it also allows the Where Do You Stand audience more of an insight to your social graph. Comments left underneath the question prompt then immediately posts to the website as well as your own Facebook page and includes functionality to leave comments on complete stranger’s points of views. Questions about each issue are scheduled to change at the beginning of each month.

Not one to remove himself from the industry which launched him, Cole’s site also has video of fashionable and (apparently) politically savvy models protesting on behalf of one of the issues while wearing Kenneth Cole. This, then, creates a politically charged commercial of some sorts for Cole’s line. It seemed important for Cole, who is quite the activist himself (hence this site) to include the fashion aspect into it one way or another. Visitors of the site also have the option to shop Cole’s e-commerce site after giving their respective point of views on the issues at hand.

Cole visited the set of Morning Joe August 9th to promote his new venture and gave more details as to why his new site will sustain. He said, “Fashion comes and goes… What’s fashionable today may not be tomorrow. But if I can connect to you and talk to you about stuff that survives any given moment and I can talk to you on both levels. What you stand and what you stand for. Then I think I have a bigger place at the table. It’s just a privilege we built over time. We continue to look for ways to talk about issues that touch you and also aesthetics that inspire you.”

Regardless of Cole’s opinions on the issues presented on his site, it’s nice to see a platform that brings together two worlds which most people don’t necessarily correlate with one another: fashion and political activism, especially because it brings converse opinions together in a positive environment. Also worth noting is the open solicitation for bloggers to include their posts about the issues onto the website.

Never before has fashion been this politically innovative. My hat’s off to you, Kenneth!

2012. The Candidates So Far. Part 2

Political conversation since my last at-glance-look at the 2012 candidates has been centered on fixing our nation’s debt issues and employment. Since this is a non-partisan column, we’re going to stick away from the discussion and stick to the numbers – the social numbers that is.

Something that I’ve noticed is how actively engaged each candidate’s fans are on Facebook. Unlike Twitter, it provides a platform for a long form means to express your opinion, as opposed to Twitter’s 140 characters. People interested in politics are passionate about their beliefs and their feelings towards representatives. That being said, it doesn’t come to much of a surprise that of the two platforms being measured for the sake of this column, Facebook tends to have the stronger following than that of Twitter.

Note, though, the disparity between number of fans between Newt Gingrich’s Facebook and Twitter pages. He is the only potential Republican candidate whose Twitter presence is in the millions yet his Facebook remains in the six-figures. From what we hear though from Google, looks as though Mr. Gingrich has a very strong presence on Google+ and hosts a number of public “hang-outs” – I wonder how that will affect him in the long run because this is a great tool for some free video publicity.

At a glance, the candidates so far:

This article first appeared on Big Fuel’s Content to Commerce blog 7/21/11 — as linked here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eyes on 2012…

Tuesday, November 6, 2012 isn’t only about a month or so off from when the Mayan’s predicted the world would end. It also happens to be the day our nation’s citizens choose the next leader of the free world.

We’re about a year and a half away from the election (give or take) and are now starting to see some people throw in their hats for 2012. The question I pose until next November is how will these people learn from Obama’s successful campaign? – at least in terms of integrating as comprehensive and successful of a social media movement.

Now is the time where the marketing geniuses behind those pining to be the next POTUS develop complex strategies to make them win this ever-desired seat. These people would be utterly remiss not to take a few pointers from our 44thpresident’s award winning “Obama for America” campaign from 2008. One of the major contributing factors that propelled the former junior senator to the political forefront was a comprehensive and strategic social media program that turned him in to a viral sensation and eventually our nation’s leader.

Arguably, the integral component to launching a successful social media campaign for 2012 will be how each prospective candidate chooses to position their brands online. What worked for Obama – “Yes we can,” “Change”, and a charismatic/likeable personality – may not work too well for, say, Donald Trump. What also worked for Obama was being able to translate his positive personality traits into equally as likeable a character in the digital world.

Seeing as our current president’s campaign was clearly such a success, it will be interesting to watch as other potential candidates turn their attention towards implementing a social media program as powerful as his was.

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This post originally appeared here on Big Fuel’s blog Content to Commerce.

Making the Blind Tweet See…

Turning a blind eye is always a simpler undertaking than accepting the pains of reality. This, of course, can be used in a variety of contexts, however, for the sake of this blog let’s use it in relation to the current state of affairs in the Middle East and American culture.

If we take a quick glance at the events of the past week we’d see that the social mediasphere has been ablaze with James Franco, Oscars, and… Charlie Sheen? Yes, it was amazing that the seemingly amazing super-artiste/ultimate scholar Franco has joined the social mediasphere – most likely at the behest of the powers who be at the Academy. I myself am a major devotee of all things Franco – a self-proclaimed Franco-phile if you will, and despite all of the criticism he garnered for his hosting responsibilities, he definitely helped bring many a wandering eye over to the awards’ telecast this year. Also worth noting are his amazing (read: ridiculous) videos…

Now to this whole Charlie Sheen nonsense. We’ve all known since the 80s that the man formerly known as Carlos Estevez was the black sheep of the Sheen/Estevez clan – he did, of course, turn down the epic role of the Karate Kid, and was never as cool as Gordon Bombay was in the 90s. Both Sheen-arios are merely blips on the proverbial Sheen radar which has come to measure the many antics in the 20 years after Mr. Miyagi helped a young Ralph Macchio soar to teen idol status. (Writer’s note: Sheen obviously rose to such a level himself, but for his killer bad boy image thanks to films like “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”). There were many strippers, arrests, rehab stints, physical assaults… the list goes on… leading up to the current joke that Sheen is making himself into. The Twittersphere is on fire with Sheen related trending topics – mostly because his soundbites are just so absurd that the average literate human being’s mind goes haywire after soaking in his nonsensical musings.

There’s a problem though – while Charlie Sheen is busy #WINNING and doing whatever it is one does with #TigerBlood, Middle Eastern countries are in a series of (what is turning out to be) domino-effect civil unrest. The irony here is that while we’re busy using our tweets and status updates to interpret the deeper meaning behind Franco’s photos (there aren’t any, the man just likes cats) and figuring out why no one has imposed that California “you’re an adult, and you’re crazy so I’m going to put you under psych evaluation” rule onto Sheen yet (Note: California code 5150 allows for involuntary psychiatric hold if you were interested) – people in the Middle East are using their 140 characters to start overthrowing authoritarian regimes.

It’s time we all tune in to what’s happening in the Middle East. There are a lot of effects of the melee hitting our coasts – among them the almost $5.00/gallon gas pump situation. Try giving your Sheen-dar a break for a bit and allow the left side of your brain an opportunity for propitious usage. It’s easy to ignore the obvious, especially when you feel it doesn’t pertain to you, but if Middle Easterners can turn their tweets into political action, the least we can do is read up on what’s going on.

These sites have been providing me with some solid information on the current state of affairs in the Middle East – links will bring you to their ME tabs:

Eyes on November 2012

The next presidential election is 21 months away and there’s only mere speculation as to who will be running for the office of our nation’s chief executive. If we look back to around this time during the last race for office there is one particular difference – the contenders were more vocal and at least we had the slightest intimation as to who was swimming in the pool of potential candidates.

There is one person, though, who has been passively campaigning since being plucked from obscurity in “The ‘Silla” and thrust into the political atmosphere. While others (mainly Mitt Romney & Rudy Giuliani to name names) have taken the time since the ’08 election to quietly rebuild, Sarah Palin has made it a point to keep her name, and particularly her brand, in the forefront of all American’s minds.

Whatever your opinion of the gun-toting hockey mom from a small Alaska town, we would all be remiss to not acknowledge her ability to remain culturally and politically relevant since her running-mate lost the presidency. From her books, to FOX News corresponding, reality show, online presence, and countless appearances, (Dancing with the Stars, anyone?!) Ms. Palin has undoubtedly built her platform brick by brick since 2008. She has worked hard to make herself a political juggernaut and overall well-known name.

Why is it, though, that she has yet to make her run for office official? She has been running for office of public opinion for so long that it’s only a matter of time before anything formal is announced.

The most important component of any candidate’s run for office is name recognition, so congrats Ms. Palin, you’re certainly ahead of the bunch.