Presidential Music
Everyone knows that people’s feedback and opinions are important for companies. For politicians listening is just as or even more critical. As demonstrated through her recent YouTube outreach attempt, Hillary Clinton not only cares what any and all Americans think (or anyone in the world for that matter), but she’s actually soliciting our opinion! If you don’t believe me, check out her video message before continuing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FV7XU-TLMU.
Clinton may not be leveraging YouTube’s popularity to get insight into hot button campaign issues like illegal immigration or healthcare reform, but her desire to reach out in order decide on what her 2008 election campaign song should be is meaningful nonetheless. Her YouTube video has been viewed almost a million times since it’s May 16th release and has garnered over 100,000 votes! Furthermore, the viral upshot from this exposure is immeasurable.
Some people have been quick to point out how this tactic is just a blatant attempt to catch up with Barack Obama’s “cool quotient”. There has also been debate over whether people’s derogatory song suggestions (“Cold as ice” and “It’s the end of the world as we know it” are just 2 of the many examples) have actually made a mockery out of her whole campaign.
That being said, her particular motives and the eventual success or failure of this campaign are secondary issues – of primary importance is that peoples opinions are increasingly being sought after in various public, private, and now political spheres.
Three years ago it would be virtually unthinkable to see either George W. Bush or John Kerry posting a video on the same site that showcases people getting mauled by their pets and practicing their light-saber fighting skills. Things are now different though, and the proof is right in front of us: politicians are now engaging their stakeholders and expanding their support base by soliciting feedback, in this case through a public user-driven content site.
Politics is very much a business, which is why it’s perhaps not entirely shocking to see politicians following the lead of private companies in order to interact with and listen to potential voters. Asking a voter to help select a campaign song is akin to asking a consumer how they felt about a brand interaction; you may not be guaranteeing your party a vote but you are building up your brand and benefiting from the acquired insight.
The question now becomes what song will we all be inundated with on Clinton’s campaign trail; will it be “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” by The Police, Barry McGuire’s “Eve of Destruction”, or another one of the public’s top choices? Whatever the song is we’ll probably end up regretting our choice if she actually resorts to singing it.
