Politicians Brave the Internet - With Help
 

By NANCY ZUCKERBROD and BROOKE DONALD

LOL Look who's podcasting! No, it's not your teenager. It's your senator.

Veteran politicians more familiar with turntables and typewriters are enlisting twentysomething computer whiz kids to help them brave the digital world of blogs, podcasts and the Web as they look to connect directly with voters.

The 2004 presidential campaign ushered in Internet fundraising and the lightning speed effectiveness of Web logs. The next campaign promises a significant increase in Web-based activities; politicians are responding to the reality.

Few are treating it with a LOL - laugh out loud - attitude. This is serious business.

Consider Ari Rabin-Havt, 27, who blogs for a living as a staffer to Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., 66. Rabin-Havt's duties include watching the blogosphere for what's being said about his boss and others, and helping manage the blog and other Web-based activities for Reid.

http://apnews1.iwon.com//article/200...=home&SEC=news

Is an educated politician a good thing or a bad thing?