The RNC announced recently that they will be using Twitter in an effort to reach new and younger voters but some Republicans have been on the service for a while - like Texas Congressman John Culberson.
I'm a liberal and frequent Twitter user and I've argued with Rep. Culberson a few times online. It was actually amazing carrying on a political back and forth with real, live elected representative. We don't agree on much politically but he's the real deal on Twitter...it's not an intern or a speech writer doing his Tweets.
Here's an interview I did with Culberson in July, 2008.
@Stranahan: How did you get interested in Twitter?
@JohnCulberson: Erica O'Grady showed me on May 27 - I love high tech. In Jan 1987 in Texas House I was first elec off to create a live BB legis info system
@JohnCulberson: In 1987, I used my Mac Lisa & White Knight BB to type in daily House calendar & tried to tap into Tx Legis mainframe.Got in big trouble w Ds
@Stranahan: Who is Erica Grady?
@JohnCulberson: See http://www.ericaogrady.com/. I met her through my friend Joseph McReynolds.
@Stranahan: Are you the nerdiest Republican ever?
@JohnCulberson:Ha! Actually dont know anyone else who thrives on this or uses it as I have - My brother Chris & father got me started in 1985
@JohnCulberson: I got a Kaypro & Chris & I drove to Clear Lake & bought our graphic artist father the 1st Mac Lisa in Houston for art layout w Pagemaker
@Stranahan: What is your favorite tech toy?
@JohnCulberson: No contest - my Blackberries - one campaign, one official - I like the Nokia 95 & it may surpass BB but I doubt it. Chris just gave me a GPS
@Stranahan: What is your greatest hope and greatest fear for social media technology like Twitter?
@JohnCulberson: Greatest hope: We the people will take back DC & shut down the waste & idiocy & shift power back to us & local & state as Jefferson dreamed
@JohnCulberson: Greatest fear: None - as Mr Jefferson said "All abuses should be tried at the bar of public opinion." Sunshine is truly thebest disinfectant
@Stranahan: Thanks for the interview.
@JohnCulberson: Good night! I enjoyed the visit - this is a first for me - my first Twitter interview! Thanks
@JohnCulberson: Buck. Fuller said: "Gutenburg made us all readers, Xerox made us all publishers." The www made us all broadcasters