On Thursday we announced that we are holding a “primary” that includes each 2008 presidential candidate. We are asking readers to vote based on the candidate’s positions on ten key technology related issues.
I talked with CBS news on Wednesday (clip is here) to announce the project. On Thursday morning, I spoke with Ross McGowan from the San Francisco Fox affiliate station as well. The clip is above.
Read up on the candidates’ positions on the ten key tech issues and vote for the candidate you prefer at primaries.techcrunch.com. We’ll announce our endorsements prior to Super Tuesday on February 5, 2008. You can also review the podcasts and interviews that we’ve done directly with five candidates so far: Barack Obama, John McCain, John Edwards, Mitt Romney and Mike Gravel.
By the way: TV is hard. It’s very new for me. And it is, of course, a lot different from blogging where you can think, write, edit, etc. And both of these interviews were done at the crack of dawn, when I am normally going to bed.
Just keep telling us how great Ron Paul is. Say it over and over until it becomes true.
First, congratulations on being the #2 spot (after perez hilton) and more importantly congratulations on being on the major news channels. This is amazing that you’ve built this credible reputation in a short few years.
just an unsolicited note: the word “yeah” doesn’t come across well on TV
But the reason I am posting here is related to my rant on the crunchies. You said in the video that TC is a news site that it talks about emerging companies AND breaking news.
So maybe it’s time to separate the two? I don’t devalue the tips & relations that TC has built to get scoops and post breaking news and I do find that aspect interesting. But I also very much like to read on start-ups, and I am having more and more trouble finding them in among the drama on the blog and posts I presume posted to show TC’s strength in the breaking news world and power. So how about separating the TC technology news items apart from the start-up reviews? This would serve to solve a lot of the problems I see people complaining about re. this blog and allow readers to be where they want to be.
@4 stupid idea
Someone’s using Skype in the background. I hear that noise so much it’s seriously annoying.
@jesse, ooo logical reasoning! love your astute explanation.
Amazing the impact that blogs have had on politics in just 4 years.
This blog is even more intriguing in that it is only two years old and it is a tech blog.
When you initially conceived this idea for this blog, did you EVER think it would take hold so prominently?
I wana be a TC STAR
This video is cool, but also a a let down because Im sitting watching it and keep looking for a Skype conversation that never happens - LoL
Ryan - yeah, i hear it too now that you mention it. I actually don’t know who created the original clip, it was forwarded to us. funny.
“Nowadays you really do have to be up to date with what’s going on.”
It’s so sad that people were, apparently, not up to date with what was going on with politics in the past.
You should set up a Facebook Group for this endorsement. I’ll help you promote it…
TV is very difficult. That’s why I feel that love him or hate him, Ryan Seacrest is phenomenal at his job. He’s one of the few people who makes TV look easy, whether it’s Idol, the Emmy’s or anything else. I look forward to seeing your endorsement. By the way, I should be posting another entry on Blockbuster Total Access’s slow, painful demise.
Wow, that interview was kind of all over the place. He obviously wasn’t that well prepared to talk to you… “I forget, do we pay taxes on the internet?” And his questions were kind of all over the place. Ooh, I’ve got an internet expert on live, he’s thinking, I should ask him for identity theft prevention tips!
Anyway, I thought you did a great job especially considering you had to keep up with questions that seemed to come out of nowhere.
This endorsement is actually a really good idea. If and when you endorse the front runners, they might invite you to the inauguration eventually! And then maybe the state of the union address. Good move, Mike.
Well first of all congracts for ur achievement and reaching to this top level its everybodys dream but there are few who can reach here hope someday I can reach half of what u have achieved . keep up the good work
I think this is ridiculous or stupid, whichever is worse. The premise that tech positions are valid criteria to select the next POTUS shows Silicon Valley for what it is: a mile wide and an inch deep.
The next thing you know you’ll have some lame-ass awards show or something.
When you extend the brand beyond the breaking point, there’s nothing left when it snaps.
At least Ross didn’t talk about the “tubes” on the InterWeb…
Mike! You ripped me off man!
fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com
For those that are interested in Web2.0, technology, governance, and politics, the Politics Online Conference should be a good time. March 4&5, in DC.
Damn, steve you’re everywhere.
~ CARversation.com
How is this news. a joke if you ask me. and who the hell cares which candidate you endorse, it wont a difference, the 648k people who read your blog dont even matter to the process and the ones that do, are only trolling.
so there you go a shot to your ego.
Gee, #21, Mike must be reeling - he’s never had a “shot to” his ego like that before.
And it should be ‘iwantaniphone’, not ‘iwantaiphone’
Good Stuff Mike. I’ll be criticizing all the candidates as well…
but before that, wow the interviewer doesn’t know much about the internet at all
Mad Chider
http://www.chide.it
Congrats on showing up on TV as a “net guru”… your progression in the online world is inspiring Michael.
Jon
Nice job on the interview. Very relaxed, knowledgeable, brief answers, quick on your feet … exactly how it should be done. And despite the general spitting toward traditional media, it’s still cool and beneficial to get TV exposure.
Deadpoolers watching your show. Upset.
I would like to nominate my friend Ken Davitian (”Azamat Bagatov” from Borat) for president!!
Nice job Mike. Tech is pervasive so the nextpres views are important to consider. I also like your issues. I will take the time to cast my vote.
Good job Michael. It is understandable that interview of this magnitude could make people a bit nervous. I think you communicated well all the important issues.
Michael, your interview on Wednesday was with ABC news, at least according to the video that you linked to (not CBS as stated). Seems like something you should have remembered and/or easily spotted and corrected before posting this?
Like most people here have said, congrats on getting the TV spots. And you present/speak very well. You did go to law school and I’m sure you have plenty of professional speaking experience. So, don’t be so humble about being on TV =p.
Congrats on helping to bridge the gap between politics and technology. Actually, SV sometimes seems to be so segregated from the rest of the world. It’s refreshing to see TC reach outside of SV, and to see the candidates respond is very encouraging.
Congrats Mike! Love the idea as well, people get so wrapped up in graphically polarized issues of gay marriage, abortion, and other such things that they forget some of the key competencies we need in a leader for the next 4-8 years. Thanks for bringing technology into the debate again.
Also, I hope for the primaries the techcrunch staff looks at the interviews and makes some good decisions. Forget the polling since the 8 Ron Paul faithful are continually erasing their cookies to revote.
Also, as a small business owner…please don’t vote for Hillary, Obama, or Edwards, I can’t handle their taxation plans
@ Mark, as you can see Techmuch removed my response earlier. (as evidenced by the # mismatch) its their blog and as such they can do whatever they want with it, atleast i am not like the rest of “kiss ass” on here.
i have gone back and looked at quite a few posts and one thing is evident, for whatever reason most of these readers agree with everything Mike says..
feel free to delete this too. hahahaha
For more info on the “tech” president, check out http://www.techpresident.com. It is an interesting blog about how the campaigns are making use of technology. The current community / blogging / social media landscape is a perfect storm of opportunity to bring traditional politics online, yet few are making much headway…
I’m confused as to how the voting on the site will factor into the candidate to endorse. Are we picking the candidate, or are you?
Nice job Mike !
Hey the main video is not available.
Good question Fake Steve.
I suspect Mike will make whatever selection he wants and will put himself out there as somehow speaking for lots of tech savvy people.
In the end, it’s always about Mike.
So how often are you guys censoring comments? Cause I’ve seen the ones critical of the vid removed over the past few days…being a blog that can dish criticism so easily on companies you should be able to take it as well from readers. just my two cents.
Actually going back and reading through the comments…every comment here is positive - and others have noted deletions. Clean up your act TC, seriously.
@16 (Sven) - I think this is ridiculous or stupid, whichever is worse. The premise that tech positions are valid criteria to select the next POTUS shows Silicon Valley for what it is: a mile wide and an inch deep.
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Agreed! It makes no sense to ignore a candidate’s whole package and focus on just your hot buttons. This just leads to uninformed voting and making poor choices. Many people did this in 2004 and reelected Bush purely on their fear of a “terrorist around every corner”. Do we want tech friendly president who is wrong on everything else that affects our lives? I think not.
As I’m sure the Ron Paul cult will do their best to out-vote everyone, here is a comparison chart of the positions of the major candidates on the major issues (and I included RP solely for the sake of argument, even though he has zero chance of getting nominated to run for the Republican party).
http://tinyurl.com/32qenp
After reading and before watching I was expecting mass awkwardness - not the case at all. TV is very, very different and those lights get pretty hot. Early in the morning makes it 10x worse.
Nice job - segment looked good.
Say it over and over until it becomes true.