GOP Members of the 110th Congress Discover They Can Be Citizen Journalists, Too

An historic event occurred Friday...

New technologies broke a news blackout attempted by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Friday afternoon, 8/1/08, starting at 11:30 am (Eastern) Real Time News was the only window to a major event in the House of Representatives. The Democratic Party controlled-House had just voted to adjourn for a 5-week vacation without voting, or even engaging in debate, on solutions to America's energy crisis. As the Democrats went out to their gasoline-powered cars to drive to the airport to board jet fuel-powered aircraft, the House Republicans stayed on to present their All of the Above Energy Plan. Despite Speaker Nancy Pelosi removing the press from the gallery, and having lights, microphones and C-Span cameras turned off, media coverage continued, against House rules, entirely via Twitter and Qik live cell-phone video.

Thanks to Rep. John Culberson (R-TX) there was one small camera recording the events. Twitter messages alerted America to the historic events. Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ) named the event "The New Boston Tea Party", but that was quickly changed to "The Boston Tweet Party" by the new, tech real-time media. Messages flew across the country to anyone wanting to participate, as Culberson led the Real Time Media charge sending out live messages from the House floor:

Source: American Thinker (read the whole thing)

Commentary

I was under a blackout of my own, having suffered at the hand of malicious Googlebots for the 5th time in three years. I was able to continue blogging on a recently re-activated state and local issues blog and covered these events as they were happening.

I am glad to see ever more people begin to realize that they can bypass the Legacy Media and take the news directly to the consumer...and avoid the lefty Gatekeepers in the Media. Hurrah for the few Republican members who exhibited the kind of fighting spirit I was afraid had left the party when the cowards let Newt Gingrich be removed.

When are people going to follow my call, and begin broadcasting live from their local city and county government meetings? When are they going to start broadcasting live from candidate debates and campaign stops?

I already have. From a gubernatorial debate in Hendersonville to a regional radio show to a district GOP convention. I'll bet 75% of you reading this have the capability to do this without buying any additional equipment over $100. Think of it. The possibilities are only limited by your inagination and willpower.

The power of live event coverage can remove the ability of the lefty news media to "spin" the event to benefit their causes and candidates.

For my part, I plan on webcasting live all the debates between Mumpower and Shuler where I can attend. Wouldn't it be great if the same thing happened all across North Carolina, and the USA?

We stand at the beginning of a new shift in power...