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* Illinois Issues magazine has a long feature on social media and Illinois politics. I highly recommend that you go read the whole thing. Here’s a snippet…

The only caucus that does not have its own social media presence is the House Democrats. “A lot of that is because the individual members do those things, and that seems to work well,” says Steve Brown, spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan. […]

John Patterson, communications director for the Illinois Senate Democrats, says he views the caucus’ social media presence on sites such as Facebook and Twitter as a way for people to keep up on what their senators are doing and be aware of things such as local events that may not always make headlines. “People are always kind of wondering what do state employees do, and I would like people to know that throughout the day, we’re doing all kinds of stuff, and we should have that reflected in what’s going out on Twitter, going up on Facebook or going on our websites,” he says. Patterson says that Senate Democratic communications staff started off on those platforms because it seemed kind of obligatory, but he says that in the last few years, they have really been working to step up their social media game. “In the last two years, we’ve had a big focus on trying to figure out how to use them as communication tools so that we just don’t have a Twitter account or a Facebook account, [but] that we’re actually using them as part of a communications plan and try to use them to grow an audience.” He says that providing information as basic as updates on committee scheduling, which are generally slow or do not happen on the legislature’s state-run website, helped to grow the caucus’ following online. “We quickly noticed a lot of people, particularly lobbyists and reporters, following our Twitter account so that they would know what’s going on in committee rooms, so they knew where they had to be at what time.”

* The Question: Should the House Democrats establish a social media presence? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.

surveys

…Adding… Illinois Issues’ blog features an interview with the guy who runs the “Da Speaker” parody Twitter account…

Q: How do you come up with your tweets/ set the tone of the account?
A: I try to keep it in the realm of exaggerated reality. What’s the speaker thinking that he’d never say aloud? It’s satire. Just for fun. A little edgy at times. I avoid cheap shots, I hope. I react to the news of the day. The ideas are the sort of smartass remarks reporters make to each other when passing time between stories.

Q: Are you surprised by the reaction/amount of followers? especially since you don’t tweet very often. Do you plan to continue indefinitely?
A: I’m amazed it has gained a following among people who understand politics. It’s a great audience.

Q: Do you plan to continue indefinitely?
A: I’ll continue until I’m no longer amused and/or until someone gets close to identifying me.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Nov 6, 13 @ 11:20 am

Comments

Wait! What?

Are you telling me this is a spoof account?

https://twitter.com/SpeakerMadigan

Comment by Bill White Wednesday, Nov 6, 13 @ 11:23 am
Social media is becoming increasingly relevant across the state. Even though many lawmakers have their own accounts, not all do.

Bringing the House Dems into the 21st century (have you seen the caucus website?) would obviously be pretty beneficial. The Senate does a pretty darn good job with their social media outreach.

Comment by MadManMad Wednesday, Nov 6, 13 @ 11:27 am
They are at 71, the members are diverse, from all over the state, all walks of life, all races, colors, creeds, ages …

Uniformity in a Majority Caucus’ Message, that has the “problem of “herding cats” and whose only comon link is the link of Diversity of its members …

No, the HDems don’t need to have that presence, and in fact, it “waters down” the opportunity FOR diverse opinions, and might undercut opposing views of members of the HDem Caucus as built by MJM and the Leadership.

Let the members be, let the members be unique in their tweets, and their Facebooks, and their Instagrams. Speaking with one voice, might lead to more problems then helping with one message.

The HDems are masters at understanding every district, every nuance, every bit of what makes THAT district “in play” … why make one message be the “voice” for the 71?

Keep it Local, not Localized in the HDem Caucus Page.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Nov 6, 13 @ 11:28 am
Seriously, an IL House Dem social media presence similar to the IL Senate Dem social media presence strikes me as a “good thing” although hardly a high priority action item.

Comment by Bill White Wednesday, Nov 6, 13 @ 11:29 am
As long as MJM is the Speaker, a social media presence for the House Dems is pointless because everything the House Dems do is dependent on a guy who doesn’t have a cell phone.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Wednesday, Nov 6, 13 @ 11:40 am
To @DaSpeaker,

Cannoli for you, hats off, well done.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Nov 6, 13 @ 11:44 am
No. Why let people know what the Speaker is thinking.

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Nov 6, 13 @ 11:45 am
we voted no seems like the taxpayers are shelling out enough for three sets of the same information
Plus while the others twiddle away the HDems can get something done

Comment by CircularFiringSquad Wednesday, Nov 6, 13 @ 11:45 am
Yes. It doesn’t need to be whatever the Speaker is thinking. But things like “Hey, one of us gave this really great speech (youtube).” and “We passed this bill today, finally.” can work. As long as it stays informative about issues that Democrats/Illinoisans care about, then that is great.
Of course, it’s best to be simple, short, and uncommon. Don’t be like Rutherford.

Comment by Timmeh Wednesday, Nov 6, 13 @ 11:54 am
“seems like the taxpayers are shelling out enough for three sets of the same information”
Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t the caucus online presences paid for and run by those political parties and not by taxpayer dollars?

Comment by Timmeh Wednesday, Nov 6, 13 @ 11:57 am
How’d you know @DaSpeaker is a “guy”? Suspicious…

Comment by Reality Check Wednesday, Nov 6, 13 @ 12:02 pm
LOL, I think I can live without MJM on the twitter.

–Still miss #Baby Doll Polka Club. What to do on Saturday night?–

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Nov 6, 13 @ 12:05 pm
I was going to post a long detailed analysis, and then I read Oswego’s post of 11:28 and am content to say “what Oswego wrote.”

Comment by Skeeter Wednesday, Nov 6, 13 @ 12:14 pm
No. What would they post that isn’t already out there? Or, to be honest, would they post:

Day 1: Waiting on the Speaker.
Day 2: Waiting on the Speaker.
Day 3: Waiting on the Speaker.

Comment by Anon. Wednesday, Nov 6, 13 @ 12:38 pm
They should have a Twitter account for the Speaker that consists of nothing but emojis of various hand gestures and an Instagram account containing nothing but pictures of apples in various stages of being consumed.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Nov 6, 13 @ 12:39 pm
No. I don’t think the other chambers are ahead by having them either. A business, with a common theme and mission can support that mission single mindedly. None of these caucuses are the least bit single minded. The potential for conflicting messages is a certainty. All politics is local. Follow you’re own member and the other ones you want to. A generic, watered down, non-message messaging system is dopey. A bi-partisan house and senate site/account could send out the schedule.

Comment by A guy... Wednesday, Nov 6, 13 @ 12:50 pm
Should the House Democrats establish a social media presence?

Yes. Social media abhors a vacuum.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Wednesday, Nov 6, 13 @ 12:56 pm
I don’t see a coordinated HDem social media site while Madigan is Speaker. First, he likes complete control. Second, he prefers to share information strategically. Third, he’s too old to want to learn something this new–he still talks about things belonging in the “ashcan”. He could learn it and learn to use it if he wanted to, but he doesn’t believe he needs it. I also understand why he doesn’t have a cell phone–he’d be constantly bombarded with calls. Don’t call him, he’ll call you.

Comment by Rudy Wednesday, Nov 6, 13 @ 1:25 pm
I also voted yes, because House Democrats carried the weight in two key bills this year: medical marijuana and marriage equality. These legislative accomplishments received national attention and are popular.

Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Nov 6, 13 @ 1:38 pm
Don’t know about facebook, but yes to tweets with links.

The focus could be on publicizing events and organizing, not issues. Address issues face to face or in more structured forums and formats.

By the way, if the IL House Dems already had one, I wouldn’t know it.

Comment by Hans N. Sannity Wednesday, Nov 6, 13 @ 1:44 pm
– Third, he’s too old to want to learn something this new–he still talks about things belonging in the “ashcan”.–

Well, the old Irishman just muscled gay marriage over the goal line. I think the kids can dig it. I know I do.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Nov 6, 13 @ 1:58 pm
If it would help gain seats, they would have it already.

As an addition to the social sharing of real information, I would distrust it.

Some House members do a good job already, though none have matched the boffo performance of the great Fritchey.

Comment by walkinfool Wednesday, Nov 6, 13 @ 2:37 pm
Agree with Willy.

I will add that with all of the criticism of MJM’s power, tweets from the Emerald City seem like they would only compound problems.

Comment by Juvenal Wednesday, Nov 6, 13 @ 4:13 pm
Why bother if you have/control the power like THEY do? “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” From their (and MJM’s, no doubt) perspective, as was on full display with yesterday’s SSM serious arm-twisting and resultant passage, there’s just no real overriding REASon to…!

Comment by Just The Way It Is One Wednesday, Nov 6, 13 @ 7:10 pm