Face time: Technology shines a different light

The Oklahoman Editorial

Published: November 10, 2008

Digging into the behind-the-scenes lives of politicians isn’t as difficult as it once was. Criminal court records are easy to come by on the Internet. So are traffic tickets. Thanks to technology, we often know a lot more about our elected officials than we did even just a few years ago. And campaigns aren’t shy about trying to garner support among the technologically inclined.

Just four years ago, mentions of Facebook would have drawn blank stares from many politicians. Now, numerous political officials have their own Web sites and Facebook pages. Supporters swapped thoughts while the campaigns announced appearances, news and solicited volunteers with just a few simple keystrokes. Of course, opponents or just those who didn’t like a particular official used Facebook pages, too.

The campaign pages weren’t typically exciting or even revealing. But some went beyond the typical political rhetoric. Take state Sen. Clark Jolley’s Facebook page for example.

Jolley, R-Edmond, was easily re-elected, but we doubt voters knew he loves "The Godfather” (one and two) and that two of his favorite quotations were spoken by the fictional president on the "The West Wing.” You can also find him on the messaging service Twitter, where he’s commented on everything from the presidential debates to his wife’s pregnancy to his kids who can be just like their dad in the mornings — "grouchy, whiny and generally unacceptable.”

We wouldn’t expect all political types to get so personal on the Internet. But for those who made that choice, it provided a refreshing election season reminder that politicians are real people, too.

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