Political War in the Online World

Nov. 2, 2006— -- When Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., made his now infamous joke about Iraq, the Republican National Committee went straight to the voters -- via YouTube.

Republican operatives brought the gaffe to the nation's attention by e-mailing a video of Kerry's remark, which was posted on the popular online hub YouTube. It was re-played on computers across the country.

Watch the story on "Nightline" tonight

Today the Republicans sent around another YouTube video -- this time of House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., seemingly struggling to argue how much Democrats love tax cuts.

You knew things were bound to get weird with the Internet and politics when elected officials started signing up for their own personalized Web sites on Facebook and MySpace in attempts to appeal to young voters. Regardless, the Internet is a force in politics like never before.

Anyone can put almost anything on YouTube.

The equation is a powerful one: A DV camera + You Tube + the opposition doing something stupid = an empowering tool of democracy.

Unless you're the one it's happening to.

In the Montana Senate race, Democrats are constantly putting videos of embattled incumbent Republican Sen. Conrad Burns on YouTube. In one, Burns seems to be falling asleep at a hearing and in another he's claiming he has a secret plan to win the war in Iraq, stating the memorable line, "We're not going to tell you what our plan is, because you'll just go out there and blow it!"

Another YouTube entry shows a report on New York City's WABC-TV detailing a different politico-Web fracas.

Anchor Bill Ritter announced that the founder of the liberal blog bluejersey.com said he had been able to trace several postings attacking Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez to computers at the campaign of his opponent, Tom Kean Jr. The nasty comments were reportedly from Kean's spokeswoman, Jill Hazelbaker.

Eventually, Kean himself was forced to respond to the allegations, stating, "This is obviously silly season. As we know, Jill Hazelbaker does not hide behind blind blogs. If she's got something to say, she'll say it."