Legal Commentary

McCain vs. the YouTube Generation

By Professor University of Miami School of Law

In what likely will be my only decent piece of political prognostication this electoral cycle, back in November 2006 I predicted that John McCain would be undone by YouTube, saying “it’s interesting to see just how out of touch with modern realities the increasingly aging McCain seems to be. Pre-YouTube it might have been possible to campaign out of both sides of one’s mouth, but that approach is in the dustbin of history now.”

The media will let you run away from what you say in the primaries. YouTube will not. Yesterday I posted a masterly example of what McCain is in for. Here’s another, hot on its heels, that’s almost as good, YouTube - John McCain: No, You Can’t.

In the competition between the YouTube generation and a 71-year-old with a penchant for gaffes and the occasional doubletalk, don’t bet on the get-off-my-lawn guy.

Full post as published by Discourse.net on February 12, 2008 (boomark / email).