MyDD :: Obama asks Dean to make Democratic debate videos free for use on Internet

Obama asks Dean to make Democratic debate videos free for use on Internet

by Silent sound, Thu May 03, 2007 at 03:40:14 PM EST

From a letter from Barack Obama to Howard Dean:

Dear Chairman Dean:

I am writing in strong support of a letter from a bipartisan coalition of academics, bloggers and Internet activists recently addressed to you and the Democratic National Committee. The letter asks that the video from any Democratic Presidential debate be available freely after the debate, by either placing the video in the public domain, or licensing it under a Creative Commons (Attribution) license.

As you know, the Internet has enabled an extraordinary range of citizens to participate in the political dialogue around this election. Much of that participation will take the form of citizen generated content. We, as a Party, should do everything that we can to encourage this participation. Not only will it keep us focused on the issues that matter most to America, it will also encourage participation by a wide range of our youth who have traditionally simply tuned out from politics.
...
Your presidential campaign used the Internet to break new ground in citizen political participation. I would urge you to take the lead again by continuing to support this important medium of political speech. And I offer whatever help I can to secure the support of others as well.

This issue is of particular interest to me, because as a person who does not have cable television I am finding access to debate video consistently problematic. I still have not seen the first Democratic debate.

The letter referred to was sent last week and was signed among others by the founders of Craigslist, Wikipedia, DailyKos, MoveOn and the Huffington Post. As far as I know Obama is the first of the presidential candidates to endorse this particular effort; I hope the others will jump on soon as well.

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Tags: Barack Obama, Howard Dean, Youtube, Debates, 2008, Primaries, lolcats (all tags)

Permalink :: 15 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: Obama asks Dean to make Democratic (3.00 / 2)

Does Obama take every chance he can get to utter the word "bipartisan"?

Help build a stronger and more progressive Democratic Party from the grassroots on up

by Peter from WI on Thu May 03, 2007 at 04:27:06 PM EST

Re: Obama asks Dean to make Democratic (none / 0)

Yes. You need little words that either promote yourself or tear down your opponent. It helps people remember you better. (Ronald Reagan's "There you go again Jimmy.") Obama is setting one up for himself.

by JeremiahTheMessiah on Thu May 03, 2007 at 04:45:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Um (none / 0)

Whether that is the case or not, this was very much in fact a bipartisan letter; it was sent to both the DNC and the RNC, and the signatories included both liberal and conservative bloggers (Michelle Malkin, Glenn Reynolds, and the founder of RedState signed the version sent to the RNC).

Incidentally, interestingly, the signatory list on the RNC letter was reported as being noticeably shorter, and has gotten less attention. Whether this says something about whether Democrats or Republicans consider the ideas in the letter to be more important, or whether this just says something about which faction Lawrence Lessig (who organized this whole thing) has better contacts with, I wouldn't know.

by Silent sound on Thu May 03, 2007 at 06:30:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I would assume they all asked. (3.00 / 0)

Edwards did

Follow the money

by dkmich on Fri May 04, 2007 at 12:05:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Bipartisan (3.00 / 1)

I hope so considering he is running for President of the entire United States, not just the Democrat part. Maybe your idea of a candidate is Blue Rove, but many in this country are sick of this bullshit.

by dougdilg on Thu May 03, 2007 at 06:37:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Good first step (none / 0)

This is a good first step. We desperately need to move back to "equal time" access to the public airways, so money isn't the only criterion for public office.

**Prevent the next war before it starts!**

****Help prevent the next war before it starts!****

by Pilgrim on Thu May 03, 2007 at 04:29:44 PM EST

Obama's right on this. (3.00 / 0)

Many of us don't have time to watch the debate on the day and hour when it first appears on television. Many of us want and need to watch the debate again and share all or part of it with others so that we can analyze it.

It makes no sense to put so much effort into a debate and then stuff it in a can where the public has no access to it. That's a corporate model of intellectual property that does nothing to further the ends of democracy.

Now that technology makes it possible to see the debates over and over at our convenience that should be an option. If the major networks don't want to do it that way, then the debates should abandon the major networks.

Moreover, instead of having the debates appear on only one network, all of the networks should be able to film a debate, just like a press conference, but longer.

by Manic Lawyer on Thu May 03, 2007 at 06:35:53 PM EST

Re: Obama's right on this. (none / 0)

Hi francis!

Join us at Show Me Progress!

by clarkent on Fri May 04, 2007 at 02:24:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama asks Dean to make Democratic debate vide (none / 0)

<snark>
Obama never stands up for anything. Even now. He was following the lead of academics, bloggers and Internet activists. He's such a follower who never stands up for anything
</snark>

Sorry.

Good for him. Fighting for a more open political process. He's no Russ Feingold but it's a good thing. Now everyone should follow.

Off topic but I sure wish Russ was running. And you know was charismatic and had a chance. Basically if he Paul Wellstone.

"Live your beliefs and you can turn the world around." --Thoreau

by Populista on Thu May 03, 2007 at 07:01:31 PM EST

Re: Obama asks (3.00 / 0)

I think I just read that Edwards is in on this too, wish I could source it.

"And so in the place of the palace of privilege, we seek to build a temple out of faith and hope and charity."-FDR

by jallen on Thu May 03, 2007 at 08:25:37 PM EST

Re: Obama asks (3.00 / 0)

Yep! Great news. Edwards has followed the lead and he sent this to the networks executives that's a good idea too.

http://johnedwards.com/news/headlines/20 070503-debate-footage/

Clinton? Richardson? Maybe someone like Dodd would step up this time?

"Live your beliefs and you can turn the world around." --Thoreau

by Populista on Thu May 03, 2007 at 10:00:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama asks (none / 0)

That is wonderful news, kudos to Edwards.

Once Edwards and Obama are both pushing for this it's probably only a matter of time before it happens...

by Silent sound on Fri May 04, 2007 at 03:09:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I'll also note (3.00 / 0)

that the nternet stream only works for windows/IE. As a Mac user, I can only get the cspan radio stream.

and with 'show of hands' questions, that really is not too good.

John McCain is a Bush ally on Social Security.

by John DE on Thu May 03, 2007 at 10:53:43 PM EST

Re: Obama asks Dean to make Democratic debate v (none / 0)

But I thought Obama hated the netroots. </snark>

Rudy Giuliani hates firefighters. And puppies.

by Fran for Dean on Thu May 03, 2007 at 11:24:24 PM EST

Edwards too (none / 0)

I wrote about this at DailyKos:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/5 /3/222236/2148

This is the first step in taking our discourse back from the msm...

by potus2020 on Fri May 04, 2007 at 12:21:50 AM EST

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