Impolite or Not, Congress Twittered While Obama Spoke

Despite Colorado Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) opining it would be "impolite" to send Twitter messages from the House floor, about half a dozen members of Congress (from both political parties) thumbed their iPhones and BlackBerries while President Obama spoke about the economy and technology.

How would Polis respond to Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) who tweeted to her constituents, voters, and other global Twitter watchers? The Missouri senator was joined by Congressmen John Culberson (R-TX), Rob Wittman (R-VA), Bob Inglis (R-SC) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), among others.

Culberson made headlines last summer when he joined the Twitter revolution, and has built up more followers than any of his peers.

Dedicated to using social media to reform Capitol Hill, he broadcasted this live video on Qik from Statutory Hall. Watch the scene about three-quarters into the film when Culberson is receiving delayed Twitter messages from the world simultaneous to being interviewed live by the international paparazzi. The scene is surreal.

Some of Culberson's tweets during the speech include:

How will he assure us that banks will make loans? Sounds like nationalization - very bad news

I am glad to hear his commitment to investment in scientific and medical research and to cure cancer - nanotechnolgy is the key

We are at war - seems to me honoring our troops should come on page one rather than the end of the speech

As for other Congressional tweets, check out these pearls of opinion (unedited, showing human typos that anyone makes from mobile devices):

Rep. Bob Inglis (R-SC): Speaker just gaveled to order. Senate entering now. It's crowded on Democratic side. Not so much on R side. Something about 255 D to 178R!

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO): Quite an ovation.The warm greeting between Pres Obama & Sec Clinton makes me proud of our democracy. What a difference a year makes.

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR): His introduction of the first lady is a first

Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA): I agree that all government spending should have accountability an transperency.

After the speech, here's what some wrote:

Rep. Don Manzullo (R-IL): Appreciate President's call for fiscal prudence, but why hike taxes on small employers who create 70 percent of new jobs?

Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL): Just sat through the state of the union. The President did well but values matter and so the fight for the future of this country continues.

Rep. Chuck Grassley (R-IA): Concentrate on what Obama said abt parental invovment in kids education. I'm going to help him. Wout spending one penny that will do good

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ): President Obama delivered straight talk and a vision for how we can renew the American Dream for the 21st century

Rep. George Radanovich (R-CA): Did not like to hear Obama mention GHG cap and trade. Our economy cannot afford such a disastrous idea

Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT): These are difficult economic times for many, but with the leadership and vision that President Obama displayed tonight... we can be confident that America will emerge from this crisis stronger.

Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ): Pres Obama assured us tonight that he "doesn't believe in big government." Dang, that's a relief!

Rep. Judge Carter (R-TX): From U.S. Capitol, immediately following President Obama's Speech: http://tinyurl.com/d7m9er

Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH): Be sure to watch my YT response youtube.com/congressmanboblatta

Sen. John Ensign (R-NV): Starting a satelite media availability for Nevada media.

Rep. Cathy McMorris-Rodgers (R-WA): I'm being interviewed on KXLY live right now!

Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY): Great speech by President. Had nice but brief chat with him when he concluded. Message from my daughter: "I just say you on TV!"

Moments after Obama was sworn into office on Inauguration Day, the first White House blog post highlighted the importance of communication, transparency, and participation, indicating that "change has come to the White House."

I can't think of a better example of those three tenets than bipartisan members of Congress using a social networking service to microblog and intermingle facts with opinions in real-time to the American public -- and the global audience.

I don't think anyone was impolite -- and I cite that White House blog entry as evidence.

Thoughts?

Comments

[KarenGeorgetown]

The general public is asked to turn off phones and electronic equipment in so many places... would it be untoward to ask our legislators to can it while they are in the chamber?

[Klimb]

Very rude and disrespectful to POTUS!!!

[NoSandwiches]

this is just rude. anything said here could wait, or did not need to be said at all.

[movecenter]

It just seemed rude to be fumbling around on a blackberry while the president was speaking. I thought it was inappropri­ate....and many of those tweets were just normal campaign rhetoric. It could have waited.

[CatladyLinda]

I'd rather see them twittering than sleeping. How many times during the speech did the cameras show another old man nodding off? If you're too old to stay awake during a Presidential speech to the congress, you should be too old to be a congressman or senator. At least those who were twittering were awake, and commenting on the speech, presumably!

[LiquidSunshine]

It's about hearing various points of view DURING an event as opposed to AFTER it (when everyone has had a chance to ponder and politicize their thoughts). I'd say these live-tweets are most valuable. It's also the way we are consuming media today (working on the laptop while watching tv, etc.). So if you don't "get it", then step aside, the future doesn't need you and will leave you in the dust.

[Dante in Madison]

The whole web 2.0 thing is a double-edged sword for politicians: you're damned if you use it, you're damned if you don't. I think it's encouraging that some of our elected officials are giving at least a token effort to use the technology and hope that at least a few (besides Obama, et al) learn how to truly harness the power it carries.

Part of the problem a lot of this technology brings to the forefront of our society is a heaping pile of impatience. It was fascinating watching all of the live comments on Facebook last night--particularly from people who didn't understand the protocol of the type of address that was to take place.

They had no patience for the procedure of announcing each arrival, they had no patience for the process--they just wanted the President to get to the point. What has happened to our patience? We're fast becoming a nation of CrackBerry addicts who can't wait a few minutes out of respect for a tradition and process. We have to have our info NOW.

I've been working in the tech industry for over 15 years now and really resent what some of the "instant gratification" aspects of tech have done to some folks.

[raechel]

Maybe not impolite, but they do sound like a bunch of teenagers, don't they. Where are the grownups/

[chiguy2004]

I've been fairly amused by the all the Twittering going on lately, especially among those who tend not to ride the technology bandwagon. My parents leaped into 2004 by joining Facebook last month, yet they're both aware, dare I say even savvy, when it comes to Twitter. This may not bode well for Twitter. Nothing drives the kids away from technology more than the parents saying how "cool" it is. Will they stay with it? I can see it now: "Dude, did you read Chuck Grassley's tweet about the omnibus spending bill?" "I totally did! He's got mad stats about the effect of agricultural subsidies on small to midsized soybean farms! And the Jonas Brothers rule!"

[Ari Herzog - Huffpost Blogger]

I hear you, and while I agree with you about intergenerational issues on Facebook, I disagree on Twitter for the simple reason that I can "block" someone from reading my messages. Whereas on Facebook, even if I unfriend someone, if they're in my network, they can still see me.

[chiguy2004]

Wow, even though I've been a HuffPost reader for a long time, I hadn't registered or posted comments until a few days ago. I have to say I'm really pleased that bloggers actually read the comments that are posted about their articles. It's really, really cool. Thank you, Mr. Herzog!

[EmeraldWorld]

Honestly, the fact that these politicians feel the need to have active Twitter accounts is enough to make me weep.

[Ari Herzog - Huffpost Blogger]

The reason the members of Congress are using Twitter is because their constituents/voters and/or their peers suggest they should. It's foolish for a politician to announce one day, "HELLO WORLD! I'M ON TWITTER!" I agree with you there, EmeraldWorld. But when you consider you felt the urge to post a comment here, they felt the need to tweet last night.

[Mavsreader]

Joe Barton is my representative. What am I to glean from his message? He shows his true colors on Twitter, blames it on a staffer, then whisks it all away (removes it).
My local newspaper Dallas Morning News doesn't even mention it! It never happened. The Fort Worth Star Telegram mentions it in a blog, noting, "Barton did not Tweet during the speech."
I say stand by your Tweets.

[rainbowblue]

Nothing that was twittered was of any importance. It was rude, and stupid. Of course it could go the other way, and if Congress is no longer interested in hearing what the President has to say, then they should not invite him to give the State of the Union and request a letter instead.

I hope one day we realize that Facebook, etc. are all pointless endevors. I was out with four other friends one weekend and after brunch the four of them got on laptops and Blackberries to Facebook. I, being the only one who doesn't Facebook, was laughing at them. Here we are out in the real world, and yet the digital world is more important. "They" say that the social networking sites are to keep connected, but what's the point if you're just going to ignore the people you're with to post stupid pictures.

I guess manners and etiquette are sooooo last century. (I'm 24, btw, so don't say I'm some old crank.)

[Ari Herzog - Huffpost Blogger]

How do you feel about email, then? Is email just as pointless as Facebook?

[S Cooper]

And how about comment threads? How do you feel about them?

[LiquidSunshine]

No, you're not some old crank. You just... don't... get it (which is worse).

[CatladyLinda]

At what age does a person become some old crank? I think you've just insulted a huge group of people.

[Rescisco]

Twitter dee and twitter dum.

[Tyharri]

I am all for technology and I use it everyday so I am no prude when it comes to using it to our advantage as President Obama describes. Social technology is so new that there are no rules for the road on this type of thing. However, I know what rude feels like and looks like. There is something inherently wrong about the leaders of our country "Twittering" when the president is speaking. There is plenty of time afterwards for opining and communicating with your constituents. However, I can't think of one single thing that can be accomplished in small 140 character tweets that will change the minds of people who are truly serious about the problems that lie ahead of us. We are advised not to talk on a cell phone and drive; it is a law in some states. Is it too much for citizens to ask members of the house not to Tweet and engage in serious efforts at bipartisanship? If you are truly serious about hammering out solutions that will work for both sides let's have a true exchange of ideas that lets the other side complete a thought before you prepare a 140 character rebuttal. It sends a bad message to our children who are already too plugged in...can you imagine them tweeting from the classroom rather than focusing on what the teacher has to say?!? It's a slippery slope....

[Citizen54]

It's rude to be twittering (or checking email etc) while someone is talking to you. At the risk of sounding like an old crank, I worry we run the risk of listening to each other even less. Note it was congresspeople not listening.

But hey, at least they're broadcasting valuable wisdom like this from Shimkus (R-IL): "values matter and so the fight for the future of this country continues."

[Mavsreader]

I concur.

[Ari Herzog - Huffpost Blogger]

Would you feel any different if a Huffington Post blogger was sitting in the balcony and live-tweeting, vs a member of Congress doing it?

[mightbesane]

People commenting on HuffPost are concerned about other people being polite in the Electronic Wild West? PMSL