It’s sadly clear that our current leaders have little understanding of technology and why it’s important to our economy and culture. That has to change.
We’ve been interviewing 2008 presidential candidates for the last few months to get them to state, on record, their positions on ten key technology related issues (Barack Obama, John McCain, John Edwards, Mitt Romney, Mike Gravel and Dennis Kucinich).
In December we announced that we were also holding a Tech President primary here at TechCrunch, where readers could vote on the candidate that they thought had the best policies on these ten key issues. The poll ended yesterday, and the results can be seen here. Barack Obama won the Democrat side, with 60% of the votes (John Edwards took second). Ron Paul won the Republican vote with 73% of those votes (John McCain took second).
Those results are meaningful indicators of how our readers feel about the candidates. In addition, taking into account those votes as well as our own analysis, we are endorsing one candidate from each party: Barack Obama for the Democrats and John McCain for the Republicans.
Senator Barack Obama - Democrat
Senator Obama has put more time and effort into defining his technology policies than any other candidate. In November he released a detailed position paper on technology issues, and we had a one-on-one interview with him two weeks later.
He is staunchly in favor of net neutrality, and has promised to make it a priority to reinstate it in his first year in office. He has proposed intelligent programs for increasing technology education and access to children. He doesn’t believe the FCC went far enough in their proposed rules for opening up the 700MHz spectrum auctions. He wants to see increases in the number of H1-B visas given out each year. He strongly supports research into renewable energy sources and he has a realistic, market based approach to capping carbon emissions.
More importantly, though, Senator Obama talks about the future with a sense of optimism that the other candidates seem to lack. America has done great things in the past, and we can do great things in the future, so long as our leaders support our home-grown and immigrant entrepreneurs, or at least get out of the way. Jobs will be lost in some sectors, but growth in technology can drive our economy ever forward. Senator Obama seems to understand that, and has spent a great deal of time addressing technology issues and talking to Silicon Valley leaders. Some of the other Democratic candidates have staked out similar positions as Senator Obama on tech issues - but I get the sense that they are playing “me too” rather than showing real leadership and thoughtfulness on the issues.
Senator Obama also continues to surge when it comes to using the Internet to amplify his voice. I talked about his online surge earlier this month.
Senator Obama is the candidate of optimism and leadership, and he will be getting my personal vote.
Senator John McCain - Republican
Choosing Senator Obama for our Democrat endorsement was relatively easy. We had a lot more trouble with the Republicans. The trouble comes because, based on their positions on the issues, none of them are the perfect candidate. The leading candidates - Romney, Huckabee and McCain - all have flaws. And while Ron Paul won the TechCrunch primary by a very large margin, he too has flawed technology policies - not the least of which is that he is staunchly against net neutrality, and doesn’t want the FCC to get too involved with spectrum allocation rules.
The problems stem from Republicans’ general rule to “let the market decide,” which appeals to my libertarian leanings but can cause real problems in a monopoly-type markets. People tend to have few choices when it comes to Internet or mobile providers. In those cases using government to force a level playing field and open access is what actually stimulates economic growth. Republicans also tend to shy away from “green” issues such as pollution (carbon emissions), and alternative fuel research. Finally, their reluctance to get the Federal government involved directly in education means that they avoid issues like increasing math and science curriculums in public schools, or providing Federal funding or incentives to address the digital divide (in particular, getting computers and Internet into schools). Their resulting policies tend to put off technology focused voters.
Taking all of the Republican candidates positions into consideration, as well as TechCrunch reader voting, we are endorsing Senator McCain as the best candidate from that side of the aisle. Senator McCain, more so than any other Republican candidate, is at least willing to go on record on any issue we brought up in our interview with him.
He is standoffish on net neutrality, mobile spectrum rules and the digital divide. And he has voted against some bills to fund renewable energy research.
But he’s made it clear that he’ll address inequities that arise from his hands-off policies on net neutrality and mobile allocations, which other Republican candidates refuse to do. And his positions on Internet Taxes, H1-B visas, China/human rights violations and other issues are strongly pro-technology. Romney and, to a lesser extent Huckabee, by contrast, have shown little inclination to even discuss their position on these issues.
Senator McCain also has more pure leadership experience than any other candidate running for office. He is the elder statesman of the election, and that experience counts for something. Finally, his pro-business leanings will do much to promote the technology economy in the U.S.
Now, as an aside, McCain did say that he was “illiterate” when it comes to computers, which isn’t uncommon for his generation. His campaign has clarified that position somewhat since then, and it’s clear that McCain has surrounded himself with enough technically savvy individuals that he’s likely to avoid a “series of tubes” type comment down the road. Frankly, I don’t give a damn if McCain ever turns on a computer or not. I just want a president who has the right top-down polices to support the information economy or, as I said above, be smart enough to just get out of our way and let us do our thing.
For additional information resources, check out Yahoo’s Election Dashboard, Political Base and TechPresident (unaffiliated with us).
So you know better than those you polled. I’m sure that if someone other than Ron Paul had won the Republican side of your poll, you would not have changed to winner to suit you. How blatant and how sad.
One word: Disgusting! Why should we even vote in your polls if you going to run the show yourself anyway. Total disrespect to your readers. This is the last time I visit techcrunch.com
McCain?!!??? you play too much violent video games.
War, what is good for…absolutly nothing.
Barack Obama represents a fresh start. The fact that he is not a Washington insider should serve him well. With Clinton it’s same crap different day. She owes a lot of people.
http://www.whatshottoday.com
To 1 & 2, in the real world of state primaries there is no promise of a total democracy. Each state is allowed to create there own rules for counting votes and selecting a winner. All votes are not created equal during this phase of the process.
The voting page quite clearly says:
“TechCrunch will endorse one candidate from each the Democratic and Republican party as the pro-tech candidate based on the popular results of reader voting and blog input from our community of technology leaders and entrepreneurs.”
NOT, “In addition, taking into account those votes as well as our own analysis”.
Disappointing.
What a hollow trumpet you are TechCrunch. I guess the ONLY reason you endorsed McCain is the war. Yet it’s Ron Paul who is more popular not your endorsee.
Mark: Fair enough, but as I just posted, they didn’t even follow their own rules that they set.
And McCain? Seriously?
Sure it should be about the candidate’s position on the issues, but not using a computer is a disqualification to winning the “Tech President” as far as i’m concerned. Perhaps if it were a competition for the “Tech President That Says What His Advisers Tell Him Too”?
Hey, no this isn’t disappointing at all! It’ just more data. For some readers, the polls results will help them decide. For others, they want our analysis. Ron Paul supporters tend to support their man online - but the endorsements are not a popularity contest, we’re actually trying to get the candidates to be thoughtful on these issues.
We are certainly not discounting the reader polling; on the contrary I’m highlighting it. But I get to have an opinion, too…so we’re publishing both our poll results as well as my own opinion.
Hmm, take a look at how John McCain’s voting record stands (check CNET’s technology voter guide 2006 - http://www.news.com/2009-1040-.....tag=topnav) Not so good, a 36% out of 100. Voted for the DMCA, among other things.
Obama got a 50%. Except he is only listed on voting for two issues, so who the heck knows what he believes.
This should be call the election of personal opinions.
At least this year we have a little less “I am not voting for them” and more “I am going for this person.”
Here are a couple more sites to help
http://www.electionu.com (This site allows for live debate and is focused on peoples’ opinions on issues)
http://www.politicaltrends.info (This site follows different blogs and trends the issues)
http://www.opencongress.org (This is mostly for information)
And as they mentioned http://www.politicalbase.com which I am a big fan of.
McCain? MacCAin! are you freaking serious! Then you say Net Neutrality and the FCC getting involved with the internet is a good thing. The FCC might have started off with good intentions but they are now relaxing their monopoly laws on Big Media allowing them to buy more independent stations. Net Neutrality is Internet Regulation in disguise.
Readers please do more research than to just listen to this clown. I’m never visiting this site again.
Do you happen to work for Diebold??? Is this the policy that they follow? Let’s see. The guy with the most web traffic, search queries, and fundraising on line wins an online ‘poll’. But WAIT, we don’t like him…so we’ll change the vote. “I’ve got a load of crap on isle TechCrunch, need some clean up”
This is the true definition to what ‘wasting your vote’ is.
Michael,
My point wasn’t that I didn’t want to know YOUR opinion. I’d welcome that as well! But the voting page clearly said that it was based on the votes and “input from our community of technology leaders and entrepreneurs.”
Unless that just means you deciding, then it’s quite misleading.
I’d also note that the reason you got all the media coverage for this seems to be the idea of letting your readers vote. I don’t have a problem with you endorsing who you want to, on your own private website, but you should have at least told people that was how it was going to work.
Oh and interesting link Andrew, thanks.
peteremcc - the polling definitely came into consideration in choosing McCain over Romney, huckabee or paul. You’ve got to rememeber that even though Paul is a force online, no one is really planning on voting for him. And some of his policies on net neutrality and 700 mghz, and education, are just not good for the country.
Michael this is bad form.
Ron had such a dominant win. Your comments do not hold up.
You should support what the polls indicated. THEN give a strong indication of your opinion and why you thing McCain should be the guy.
This could also be taken as calling your reads stupid or many other negative ways.
I am from Australia, so don’t really care who wins.
I am just calling it as I see it.
James
Do you have the split between foriegn voters and us ones? I voted and I am from the UK :p
My view is Obama is a fresh person for the job and clinton is just living on her husbands legacy.
“And while Ron Paul won the TechCrunch primary by a very large margin, he too has flawed technology policies - not the least of which is that he is staunchly against net neutrality, and doesn’t want the FCC to get too involved with spectrum allocation rules.”
What a pathetic display of ignorance. He is the most pro-internet candidate out there. As for the FCC, move to Europe if you want nanny-state socialism.
Would you have chosen Al Gore if he was running. You can not get more techie than that for his generation - or for any generation.
“You’ve got to rememeber that even though Paul is a force online, no one is really planning on voting for him.”
Michael, you do realize Ron Paul has come in at least 2nd in 2 caucuses so far and possibly after provisional ballots are counted in Louisiana he may very well be in 1st place there. He’s sure getting a lot of votes for someone who no one is voting for…
Ron Paul is irrelevant. He has absolutely no chance of winning. He’s supported by tons of (questionably sane) people online. These people will of course whine about Tech Crunch’s endorsement, but endorsing Ron Paul would be like endorsing the Santa Claus.
Ron. Paul. has. no. chance.
Give up. I’m sorry to break it to you guys. But seriously, show some self-respect.
The time for Obama is now. This is a good endorsement.
It would be nice to view one another without prejudice of skin color, race, gender, belief, sexuality, etc. Obama gives all ages alike a newfound realization that “the dream” is becoming a reality. He’s not just a positive role model for disenchanted youth, he’s a unifying leader with logical plans to move the US forward.
Not 8 years from now… now.
“But I get to have an opinion, too…so we’re publishing both our poll results as well as my own opinion.”
Fine, i get that you don’t care about the votes, same as with Crunchies. But with this, it’s not techcrunch, it’s michael arrington’s choices - poor Erick and Heather - they don’t even get a say apparently.
Make your responsibility to our country and ourselves as easy as you can make it with a single page list of links that you can quickly read from;
Candidate Research - Know Who You’re Voting For ( The Easy Way )
http://tinyurl.com/2vqv8h
Michael,
I don’t think that Paul’s policies on those issues would be bad, but you (and others) do. That wasn’t (and isn’t) my point. My point is that the voting page suggested that it was the votes that were important.
You’re saying is that because no one plans on voting for him, and because YOU don’t like some of his policies, he didn’t win the endorsement. That would be fine if you had advertised it as a personal endoresment and hadn’t bothered with all the voting.
You can argue that you never said that it would be the votes alone that would decide the result, but thats not the line you used when trying to get coverage of the event in the media:
http://abcnews.go.com/Technolo.....amp;page=1
“…giving its opinionated readership a voice on policy issues close to tech-savvy Americans’ hearts.”
“Starting today, TechCrunch, … , will allow readers to vote on its site for a Republican and a Democratic presidential candidate…”
“The idea for reader-endorsed candidates began after users responded strongly to the site’s podcasts with candidates this fall”
you even said you’d be checking for bots to make sure the vote was accurate.
Looking more at the CNET link…
Candidate: Internet Friendly Votes (%):
McCain - 31.25%
Paul - 80.00%
Huckabee, Romney, Giuliani - N/A (As not in Senate or Congress during this time)
Clinton - 33.33%
Obama - 50.00%
Edwards, Gravel - N/A (As not in Senate or Congress during this time).
Who knew Net Neutrality was a good thing? Yay, more government intervention in my life!
McCain is the most dangerous person for this country. We will be in Iraq for 100 years and at war with Iran in no time. He has absolutely no clue how to fix the economy. Put aside the issue most important to you for a moment and realize that there are more important things going on in the world. McCain will ruin this country.
Michael Arrington, you are ignorant about politics. I would love to know how ending the federal Department of Education is a dangerous thing.
I am voting RON PAUL……period.
omg - stop whining guys.
If you don’t want to read Michael “Kennedy” Arringtons view on things maybe you should consider the use of other media than a personal weblog! Especially in politics.
But to calm you down: A guy who is not even important enough to get a seat on the google plane, won’t influence the US vote that much.
harhar!
So you guys basically sold out! - do not try to sugar coat it…you sold out plain and simple - McCain is the worst thing that can happen to our country, (except Clinton, Obama, Huckabee, Ghouliani, and Romney) great pick fascist slaves!
keep up the good work!
Daniel - heh.
Peteremcc - “You’re saying is that because no one plans on voting for him, and because YOU don’t like some of his policies, he didn’t win the endorsement.” yeah, exactly.
Michael, you missed my point again.
The disappointing part wasn’t that you picked McCain. it was that YOU picked McCain when people were under the impression it was a vote.
Mccain was the one that wanted to restrict freedom of speech on the internet just two years ago : http://thinkprogress.org/2006/.....-on-blogs/
And the more the FCC stays away from the internet the better!
“You’ve got to remember that even though Paul is a force online, no one is really planning on voting for him”
Apparently, I, along with another few million people, are reduced to the the tile of ‘no one’.
This is supposed to be a Tech site and you [i]WANT[/i] government regulation of the Internet???
Yes Monopolies can be bad, but Government Monopolies are always worse. Nothing like the Government deciding what constitutes “neutral”.
If you don’t agree with their manner of regulation it’s just tough, no switching to a provider with different policies, you’re just screwed. Nice.
I can’t believe that anyone would think ANY government is capable of benefiting technical endeavors by getting involved.
So you endorse one candidate that is such an intellectual lightweight it’s shockingly apparent the emperor has no clothes. The other candidate you endorse says the word “change” ad nauseum, but is totally devoid of substance and talks in vague generalities. What a sad state of affairs you fell for rhetoric.
peteremcc - the polling definitely came into consideration in choosing McCain over Romney, huckabee or paul. You’ve got to rememeber that even though Paul is a force online, no one is really planning on voting for him. And some of his policies on net neutrality and 700 mghz, and education, are just not good for the country.
Sir, with all due respect, you could not be more wrong. Plenty of people have already voted for Ron Paul. Despite a near total media blackout, he currently stands in 4th place in total votes for republicans.
I personally know about 500 friends, family and acquaintances who plan to vote for Ron Paul in their upcoming primaries, and I convert at least one new person to the freedom train every day.
Apparently, you think the nanny state is a good thing and that everything needs direction and control from the federal government. Ron Paul wants We the People to have freedom. He trusts us and thinks we’re intelligent enough to run our own lives without the nanny state. In essence, you are saying that you don’t think we have sense enough to manage our lives, our pocketbooks, ourselves, the internet or how our children are educated without Big Brother intervening.
In case you haven’t noticed, our economy is tanking. Maybe it doesn’t matter to you, maybe you’re extremely wealthy and insulated from the inflation most of us middle class type folks have been feeling for a long time. Maybe you don’t care about the fact that, according to David Walker of the GAO, we currently have a $50+ trillion unfunded debt for entitlement programs covering social security, medicare and so on. Ron Paul has REAL answers to fix those problems: cut spending overseas and take care of things at home. He believes in America and Americans FIRST. Check out his impeccable voting record; he’s been saying this for many, many years.
Contrast that with McCain’s: amnesty, no tax breaks, more spending war, war, war. How are we going to pay for all that? Who is going to fight those wars? (hint: Ron Paul has received more donations from the military than any other candidate, Obama is second). I sure hope you’re not 42 or under or you’ll be eligible for the draft. Legislation is already on the table.
You’re certainly free to endorse whomever you please but sincerely don’t hope I have to say, “I told you so” in the next couple of years.
Michael, A year ago McCain introduced legislation that would have ruined blogs like TechCrunch and you endorse him as the most tech friendly Republican? Do some research my friend…
http://www.news.com/SenatorIll.....=nefd.lede
Good endorsements, and a good explanation of you’re reasoning behind them.
Don’t let the Ronbots get to you, naturally they’ve put this all over their forums and you’re going to get flamed for picking McCain over Ron Paul… but most of these people are ignorant about the issues and even though it’s obvious that SOME government regulation is necessary for maintaining a healthy tech sector… Ronbots think that anything the government touches will turn to ash.
@ M Arrington
A bit of wisdom for you. Unless you write a political blog on a daily basis, don’t play politics. Unless you’re a man of the cloth, don’t play the religion card. Backroomm deals with the good ole boy network wont work for you here at TC. I’d say an apology is in order for misleading your faithful readers.
“The problems stem from Republicans’ general rule to “let the market decide,” which appeals to my libertarian leanings but can cause real problems in a monopoly-type markets.”
This sentence contains a few misunderstandings. First, “let the market decide” is no longer a Republican rule, but that of Ron Paul. He stands against the statism that pervades both parties, and evidently TechCrunch too. Second, the “real problems” you see in “monopoly type markets” displays a) a deep, but understandable, ignorance of economics, and b) a position on net neutrality that I find very wrong. The internet is the one great hope for the future freedom of humanity. Any and all governmental interference can only serve the interests of the government, and not those of the people. Shame on you!
I just want to make this clear.
I’m not one of the “Ronbots”.
I didn’t come here from one of their forums.
I’m a techcrunch reader who is disappointed with the method, not Michael’s personal politics.
“The time for Obama is now. …….He’s not just a positive role model for disenchanted youth, he’s a unifying leader with logical plans to move the US forward.”
Please post the details of Obama’s “LOGICAL plans”; because he sure hasn’t.
Also, please refrain from stating things like: “Faith in the audacity of hope for dreams of the future realization of tomorrows vision today renewing confidence in the aspiring revelations of the youth’s strength in the power of the passion for compassion revitalizing our unity in togetherness for the children of the future and the basking in the light of the best in all of us..” of any of the other nonsense (non-logical “ideas”) that Obama likes to talk up.
Dugg. Just search for Obama (or Obama and Techcrunch) (or Obama and McCain) at Digg… Show some Techcrunch love…
Are you guys insane?? An endorsement from a publication or TV channel ALWAYS represents the editorial viewpoint of said outlet. The same applies on the web.
The reader poll, on the other hand, was exactly that: a poll of readers. The results stand without argument. But readers of a site do NOT become the site itself, any more than I become a part of the New York Times, no matter how many clever letters to the editors (i.e., feedback comments) I submit!
Michael was exactly right to present these endorsements as the official opinion of his website.
Name of thei article should be, “How to lose business and an election in one column”.
That’s fine Jack, but then he should have said that was what it was.
I say Obama and Mitt Romney. The Techcrunch endorsement’s arguments leaves me hungry. Bad analysis. One more reason why journalism as we know it would never fail, Quality of arguments my friend is Gold and techcrunch remains just a technological-determinist blog
I guess I’m no one then shit head. cus I’m voting ron paul on feb 5th. boy this author has some fucking ego trip huh?
Michael,
seriously, if you are not going to consider what 73% of your readers think at least provide some decent argument that supports your position.
If I recall correctly, you pointed out that Ron Paul has flawed technology policies - not the least of which is that he is staunchly against net neutrality, and doesn’t want the FCC to get too involved with spectrum allocation rules.
I don’t think you quite read/understood his positions. He is against Government regulation of the inrnet becuase he believees that No government should have the power to decide what you should read or not read, see and not see, he wantes the internet free.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogx-16xpzAg
In 2006, a “Technology voter guide” by CNET awarded Paul a score of 80%, the highest score out of both houses of Congress. He believes the internet should be free from government regulation and taxation and opposes internet gambling restrictions and net neutrality.
How’s that a bad technology policy?