Youtube as a political tool

Google's purchase of youtube has resulted in a big investment in the way users interact with the site. Search works, as always, and the Google designers have also brought in some other really strong tools to find compelling content. Most notable of all to me is the marketing voice that has become much more pronounced since Google arrived. Note the "Choose 2008" banner at the top of the page, pointing to the videos related to next year's American Election. Google seems to recognize and embrace its role as a channel for ideas and candidates to reach voters.

If 2000 was the year the web fund raising came of age, 2004 was the year of grassroots communities like Meetup. 2008 will certainly be the youtube year.

We got a sneak preview of this over the last few weeks as a low-level Obama contributor created a very amusing juxtaposition of Hilary Clinton, Big Brother and, just to keep things interesting, Apple Computer (the source material, in a way). People were "outraged," and the media class talked about how youtube will be an attack ad venue for politicians going forward.

What interests me most is that the politicians and their powerful supporter and donors don't really know what to make of this part of the Internet. Maybe just maybe in this vacuum we can see constructive grassroots democracy thrive. Maybe just this one campaign cycle, before the status quo extends to youtube. Wouldn't that be interesting?