How does pop culture influence an election? Or the political process? Is it something we should let influence our vote? These questions have been on my mind a lot lately. During the 2004 Presidential Election we saw an increase in star participation in the election. Channels such as MTV and BET increased their coverage of the election and the issues that are affecting young voters. During this time, even though I was not able to vote, I found inspiration through these channels, famous musicians and entertainers. They inspired me to become better informed. I admired their activism.

The 2008 election has been a bit different. Instead of being inspired, I’ve felt as though the tactics used have been somewhat ridiculous. I have also been questioning if some of the candidates have taken their efforts to reach out too far. What are the candidates doing that are resourceful and beneficial. I’ve done a little research and this is what I’ve found…

Senator Barack Obama has been lauded for his work to incorporate a good means of technology into his campaign. He has implemented a text messaging program to keep supporters updated on what is going on inside of his campaign. Whether it is a reminder to donate to the Red Cross for Hurricane Victims or giving a listing of Presidential Debate Watch Parties in your area, the text message aspect of Obama’s campaign is ingenious. Not only can you get text messages, you can get Obama ringtones, wallpapers, and speeches sent directly to your phone. So in the aspect of capitalizing on a generation that is technologically savvy, Obama wins. However, I am still questioning what I think about our presidential candidates knowledge of music and television. Is it really appropriate for our future president to “brush his shoulder’s off” in the spirit of Jay-Z’s famous song? I will let you ponder this question as I move on.

Senator John McCain has seemed to tap into the use of pop culture in a different way. While he doesn’t have an educational use for today’s younger generation implemented into his campaign, he has seen if fit to appear in the movie Wedding Crashers. This is a movie that has been criticized for its heavy nudity and language. Senator McCain also felt that it was appropriate to show his knowledge for the famous MTV show The Hills. While I am in love with this show, I don’t think I want its characters endorsing my next president.

I am sure I am going to regret this later, but where is P. Diddy when you need him? I miss the Vote or Die movement and I hope that our generation makes a concerted effort to educate themselves fully on the issues versus letting pop culture sway us.