The Internet and Politics in California

by blogswarm [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

I think most of our readers are very proficient at understanding the potential for elected officials to use the internet for good policy. A good number of us get emails from politicians, like Barbara Boxer asking us to join her global warming bill as a citizen co-sponsor. Which is amazing for democracy. That is why this quote by Chris Daly is so batshit crazy:

The supervisor claimed Newsom may have violated campaign and ethics rules by promoting a rally on a government issue on his campaign Web site.

Totally backass. You can't raise money or anything on a government website, but campaigns should fight for policy. That is the difference between a fan club and a movement. You would have be crazy to be an elected official who cares about the issues and not use your base to join you in getting done what you can't do by yourself. And it is totally proper, the improper thing is not using your base to get things done because "political malpractice" is the term to describe that.