Political Debate in the Internet Age

None by KCPW

Website Pushes a New Paradigm in Debating

Politicians and political junkies alike are struggling to figure out just how the internet can play a big role in political campaigns. Howard Dean's Presidential Campaign in 2004 revolutionized one piece of the puzzle, but it's still unclear how the political discussion can move online.

A new company - Politics 2.0 - aims to change that with a new online model for the political debate - allowing web users to submit questions and vote on which questions should be posed to candidates. Organizers say that will eliminate the bias by traditional media and allow a more honest discussion between voters and candidates.

That new model gets a work out at the Salt Lake Library tonight. Politics 2.0 is sponsoring an online debate with four candidates for Salt Lake City mayor. Matt Moon is the Chief Political Officer for Politics 2.0. Moon was a candidate for the state legislature in Alaska. He tells KCPW's Bryan Schott he would welcome this new style of political communication, and thinks other candidates will as well.

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