By Richard A. Lee
A year ago, it was quite common to find New Jersey Governor
Chris Christie and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg mentioned together in news
reports since Zuckerberg had just donated $100 million to the state’s largest
school system.
One year later, the two men once again were in the news at
the same time – Christie because of yet another increase in speculation that he
may run for national office; Zuckerberg because of changes to Facebook that
irked many of the social network’s 800 million active users.
This year’s news stories are about the two distinct topics,
but there is a connection, albeit an indirect one.
Among the Facebook changes are features that provide for
faster sharing of information. This is a sign of the times in which we live. We
want our news and information instantly, whether it’s the White House press
corps reporting on the president or a text message with word that your sister
has just had a healthy baby boy.
It is this environment – one in which information arrives
quickly and unfiltered – that has helped spur interest in a Christie for President candidacy.
Ten years ago, it would have been unthinkable for a man with
his resume to be seriously considered as a candidate for national office. After
all, he has been a governor for less than two years.
But look at the man in the Oval Office today. Barack Obama
was in his first term as a U.S. Senator when he was elected president. And when
the GOP chose Sarah Palin as the party’s 2008 vice presidential candidate, she
had served less than two years as governor of Alaska.
Obama’s use of the Internet and social networks were
critical to his success in quickly becoming a national figure, winning the
Democratic Party’s nomination and emerging victorious in the presidential
election. Palin, despite her slot on a losing ticket in 2008, also has used the
Internet and social networks effectively, building a strong and faithful core
of supporters.
Chris Christie’s national popularity provides another
example of this pattern. He has become a YouTube star, drawing hundreds of
thousands of hits for his lively video exchanges with teachers, journalists and
public employees. But I can’t help but wonder how many of those hopping on the
Christie bandwagon know him primarily from YouTube and have spent little time
actually learning the details and results of his policies.
Regardless of whether one is a supporter or an opponent of Chris
Christie or any other potential candidate for president, we should be basing our
opinion on hard facts – not on two-minute video clips.
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Richard A. Lee
spent more than 30 years as a journalist and government communications
professional in New Jersey. He now is an assistant professor in the Russell J.
Jandoli School of Journalism and Mass Communication at St. Bonaventure
University near Olean, N.Y. Read more of Rich's columns at richleeonline and
follow him at twitter.com/richleeonline.
