One of the many great qualities of social media and people in the public eye posting on social media is that every now and then, you get the chance to see into their “normal” lives, whether it is a Tweet, an Instagram picture, or a Facebook post. More interestingly, these posts are always turned into something they are not, whether that is positive or negative, because simply put, that is just what the internet does. This blog will take a deeper look into the personal accounts of President Obama, and those who are currently in the run for the next presidential election. While many of these accounts are generally ran by a staff, every so often the President and the presidential candidates will post something that comes entirely from their own fingers. It is nice, and sometimes shocking, to see what these people that are in the public eye will post for the public to see.

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Let's hash it out on Twitter...


In their book, Mass Media and American Politics, Graber and Dunaway explain how the expansion of the media into a readily online source, anywhere and anytime, has had negative consequences for those in the news profession or those in the public eye. It is no surprise to this generation that the internet and social media can have severe consequences depending on the type of posts that are shared with the public. The political arena has, and probably always will be a cutthroat, and harsh type of world. Especially during election times, politicians will say and do what will get them the most people on their side, because during an election, it is always about the votes, right? It is a competition, and competitions are meant to be won at all costs, right?
Harsh and demeaning campaign ads have been aired on television since before I was born. The moral of just about every demeaning campaign ad is “vote for me because I am right and the other candidate is everything that is horrible on this planet.” While campaign ads are still just as harsh and over-the-top as they have been for years, what is even more interesting, in my opinion, is that when these politicians take to social media websites to bash those who they are in competition with.
The seemingly ongoing debate between Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush surrounding Planned Parenthood is something that has taken over Twitter. While both Clinton and Bush's Twitter accounts have been sure to tweet their opinions on the matter, they have also taken numerous hits at each other with sly remarks and downgrading posts of one another. It seems as if the debate has evolved into an “I can make you look worse than what you are trying to make me look like” game.
During a meeting at the Southern Baptist Convention, Jeb Bush said, “I’m not sure we need a half billion dollars for women’s health issues.” This sparked even more tension between Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton when she responded to the discussion held at the convention declaring how ultimately wrong Jeb Bush was on the matter. Of course, Bush responded to Clinton’s comments by saying how what is wrong is giving an organization (Planned Parenthood) money to take away unborn lives (Planned Parenthood has been targeted for some time now concerning their abortion polices). Clinton responded with a statement that is basically saying that Bush does not care about women’s health and so on. I can go on forever about how the two went back and forth targeting each other and responding to each and every little comment the other made. People.com has an excellent article that gives almost all the full details of the quarrel these two have going on concerning the matters of Planned Parenthood and women’s health issues. Read about it here! http://www.people.com/article/hillary-clinton-jeb-bush-fight-planned-parenthood-womens-health

Check out these tweets! There are not from Clinton nor Bush, but numerous people have joined in on the discussion. 

This snapshot is probably my most favorite ever. People responding to a harsh comment that Jeb Bush tweeted to Hillary Clinton about drilling in the Arctic.

Many are furious that Bush supposedly does not care about women's health. The argument is that while Planned Parenthood may have a controversy going on, they still provide many important women's health services.


Clinton's Twitter weighs in by just simply stating how wrong Bush is. Keep in mind that, Clinton's Twitter Bio specifically says that tweets that come directly from Hillary Clinton herself will be signed with "-H." However, it is safe to say that if this is being posted on her Twitter account, then she agrees with the post. This is not the only post directed towards Bush either. Take a look at her Twitter account to see all the tweets yourself! The tweets and the replies get really intriguing! 


You know things get real when you @ someone!!!!!! 
Also, Bush's Twitter Bio says nothing about whether all tweets come directly from him, or a staff. Either way, his account is very active in all things political, and there are other tweets toward Clinton on his account, so them out as well! 


The rivalry between these two is interesting, but aren't all "fights" between political competitors interesting? Even when it has nothing to do with the Planned Parenthood and women's health issues, Jeb Bush just couldn't help but to sneak in a little extra punch at Clinton on social media! 


Whatever side you may stand on in this debate, the one thing I think we can all agree on is that politicians on social media is one of the most fastest informing news outlets, and yet, very dramatic. You grab the popcorn, I'll grab the drinks, and let's decide who we want to be our next President of the United States by how well they are at bashing one another on social media websites! 

.... Only joking you guys

Or am I? 




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