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Recognizing The Best Of Online Politics
by Heather Greenfield
The "people's choice" for Online Politician of the Year is Rep. Jack Kingston.
The Georgia Republican won a Golden Dot Award in that category last week at the annual Politics Online Conference hosted by George Washington University's Institute for Politics, Democracy and the Internet.
"We did it!" was the response from David All, Kingston's former online media adviser who left this year to start the David All Group. All had sent an e-mail earlier in the month asking for votes for Kingston. All promised a YouTube video of Kingston's acceptance speech later.
"It means that despite expectations that liberals are 'ahead online,' it's actually the Republicans who are using technology more effectively," All wrote.
Kingston was among the first Republicans to start a Web log, and the nominator said he "preached the virtues of podcasting and interactive Web sites with 'pizzazz.'" Kingston also has a channel on the YouTube video-sharing site, though it has been dormant for months.
Other nominees for the honor were former Connecticut Senate candidate Ned Lamont, former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner and Michigan gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos.
The Golden Dot Award for the best blog covering national politics, meanwhile, went to one that's nondenominational, at least politically: e.politics, which features a mix of original musings on online politics and a reader's digest of the latest e-politics news.
Colin Delany, who created the blog, seemed surprised but accepted the award. "I'm as mystified as you, though I ain't exactly complaining," he said.
Delany also posted a full list of other Golden Dot winners, including:
-- Blackrock Associates for best online viral campaign in recognition of the infamous "macaca" video that helped now-Sen. James Webb, D-Va., topple incumbent Republican George Allen.
-- Former GOP Sen. James Talent, who lost to now-Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., for the best Web site for a federal candidate;
-- Rep. John Hall, D-N.Y., for best blog by a federal, state or local candidate;
-- And Mandate Media's campaign for Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., for the outstanding state online campaign.
Earlier this year, Mandate Media also won a Pollie Award from the American Association of Political Consultants for its work on Blumenauer's campaign. The honor recognized Mandate Media for best use of a Web site for volunteer/field organizing.
The full list of Pollie Awards, including categories that cover the Internet, Internet communications and advertising, new media communications and telephone calls, is available at the association's Web site.
TechNet Recognizes Innovation Legislators
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.; Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah; House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.; and Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., are receiving awards from TechNet as champions of the innovation agenda.
They were chosen by TechNet's member companies for the 2007 Founders Circle Awards. They receive the awards this week during the organization's annual "TechNet Day" trip to Washington.
"The technology industry is blessed to have such a wonderful advocate for innovation in Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid," said John Doerr, a partner with Kleiner Perkins, Caufield and Byers and a TechNet co-founder.
"Speaker Pelosi deserves credit for her engagement with our industry on a variety of critical issues," added Cisco Systems CEO John Chambers. "She has worked tirelessly to put the needs of America's high-tech industry as an engine of economic growth to the top the policy agenda, and her energy and commitment to this cause deserve great praise."
Lezlee Westine, the president and CEO of TechNet, lauded Hatch for his "steadfast support of American innovation, particularly the protection of intellectual property through his current effort to reform the U.S. patent system." And Stratton Sclavos, the chairman and CEO of VeriSign, said Cantor "is a rising star in the U.S. House of Representatives who keenly understands the importance of policies to bolster American innovation."
Music Publishers Keep Their Leader
David Israelite has agreed to a repeat. The president and CEO of the National Music Publishers' Association accepted a contract extension to continue leading the organization through 2010.
The NMPA board unanimously voted to extend Israelite's contract so he can continue to fight for copyright protection on behalf of music publishers and their songwriting partners.
"Since he's taken charge, the NMPA has paved the way in the battle for better laws protecting copyrights in the digital age," board Chairman Irwin Robinson said. "Under his leadership, the NMPA has become a forceful voice for music publishers and songwriters, and that voice is now being heard in the chambers of Congress and throughout the nation's capital."
Israelite joined NMPA in February 2005 and moved its headquarters from New York to Washington. "It is challenging and rewarding to convince our nation's leaders and the public at large that protecting copyright is vital to America's continued economic and cultural leadership," he said.
FCC Chairman Announces New Staff
Michelle Carey will become the legal adviser for media issues to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, and Ian Dillner has been hired as Martin's legal adviser for wireline issues. Dillner is moving from the office of Commissioner Deborah Tate, where he has been an acting legal adviser.
"I am pleased that Michelle and Ian have agreed to assume these new responsibilities, and I appreciate their continued service to the commission," Martin said. The chairman also hired two acting advisers -- Erika Olsen for wireless issues and Nick Alexander for wireline issues.
Supercomputing Expert Becomes Education Adviser
The Education Department has named a former Nobel Prize winner as a high-school curriculum adviser. Leon Lederman, winner of the Nobel Prize in physics in 1988, has joined the State Scholars Initiative Advisory Board. The panel oversees a national business-education partnership designed to increase the number of students who take a rigorous high-school curriculum.
Lederman is director emeritus of Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Ill. In 1979, he began supervising the construction and utilization of the first superconducting synchrotron there. Now it is the highest energy accelerator in the world.
Troy Justesen, the assistant secretary for the department's vocational and adult education, said the board is "excited and honored" to have Lederman join its work. "Dr. Lederman is an icon in the world of physics, and we look forward to his counsel in developing the scholars initiative to help promote excellence in American education," Justesen said.
Quote Of The Week
"We are all flawed. And my flaw is that I can sometimes be aggressive, even mean."
-- Former Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, in his new book "No Retreat. No Surrender."
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