The GOP will be conducting a “Tech Summit” on Friday with the hopes of gathering new ideas in the areas of new media and communication. I, like most nerds, have a lot of ideas in general. But when you start asking about ideas related to technology I have a million. When you throw politics into the technology mix my thoughts are now approaching stimulus numbers. This is exactly what the RNC is counting on moving forward and I think it is a step in the right direction.
For what it’s worth, I would like to float one idea that I have in this area. I would like to see the RNC set up a new media production group that would handle viral video, music, entertainment programming, and short films. The group would write, film and record material that would be humorous at times, but would also communicate a message. Think SNL bailout skit here. The group would also write and produce music with a political message. I am thinking there are thousands of budding musicians out there that would be eager to work with this group. In the area of entertainment they would produce short films or regularly scheduled political satire programs. Sort of like Republican versions of Mad TV or The Daily Show. In addition to a full time, and fully funded, production unit the RNC should always solicit this type of material from Americans eager to make it. I believe if this were done right we could make major inroads with younger voters.
The syndication would be done almost exclusively online. Obviously video could be posted on YouTube or Google Video, but streaming media servers could be set up by the GOP to bypass any political censoring that websites may want to engage in. Music could be seeded to the Bit Torrent P2P network or through iTunes (this is aside from Podcasting which would be an entire article itself). Ideally the material would be so thought provoking, funny and entertaining that it would be spread around by thousands of people around the country.
Sounds kind of crazy right? Well, that’s the point isn’t it? I like the fact that the RNC is looking for new ideas first and foremost. The free flow of these ideas is exactly what the party needs to allow it to catch up (and pass) the DNC with technology. I am sure there are far more creative ideas than this out there. The RNC Tech Summit could start to turn things around for a party that finds itself behind in this area. If communication with the tech community stays open like this, they won’t be behind for long.
