Position Paper #3 Social Media

 American Bridge 21st Century PAC

    Political campaigns involved in social media have been around for years. This election is no different. This election between Biden and Trump has I believed been the most involved in social media than past elections. It could be due to the fact what this generation and our advancements in technology leading to social media have done. As said before no generation has entailed social media with politics as this generation has. The power of social media holds a lot of ground in politics nowadays. For each candidate this election, social media has been the driving force of their campaigns. Both candidates execute social media to their advantage. The forces that have really have used social media for their benefit are the organizations or groups that support each candidate. These special groups don't directly donate to their campaigns but their influence is catered to a specific candidate. 

    The groups or organizations I am talking about are Super PACs.  Technically known as independent expenditure-only committees, super PACs may raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, associations and individuals, then spend unlimited sums to overtly advocate for or against political candidates. Unlike traditional PACs, super PACs are prohibited from donating money directly to political candidates, and their spending must not be coordinated with that of the candidates they benefit. Super PACs are required to report their donors to the Federal Election Commission on a monthly or semiannual basis – the super PAC's choice – in off-years, and monthly in the year of an election (Open Secrets). 

    Many Super PACS endorse or support by influencing corporations and big businesses to donate. Super PACS are not directly behind the money put into the candidate but they play a huge role in getting the corporations and businesses to be funded for a specific candidate. There are thousands of Super PACs that support Biden or Trump. The few to support Trump are America First Nation, Preserve America PAC, and Tea Party Patriots Citizens Fund. The ones that support Biden are Independence USA PAC, American Bridge 21st Century, and Pacronym. I will only be analyzing one Super PAC that supports Joe Biden. American Bridge 21st Century is the second highest Super PAC that supports Biden's campaign. American Bridge 21st Century has raised approximately $73,320,492. American Bridge 21st Century or AB PAC is a liberal American Super PAC that supports Democratic candidates and opposes Republican candidates. It was founded by David Brock in 2010 and is associated with Media Matters for America. It is an opposition research hub for the Democratic Party. The group physically tracks and monitors Republican candidates and officials and uses social media to deploy its findings (AB PAC Wiki). With this type of organization that is heavily involved with social media. Let's dive into how they use social media for the benefit of Democratic Party. To start off their official website showcases like a FBI database. It informs you they are very top secret on their scoops. As you browse their page, you come across a sub-heading that is named media. These videos are supposed to expose the lies of Republican Party. 

    Their website presents a lot of caught in the cookie jar moments to set up Republican for a takedown. Also, provided on their website is a whole catalog dedicated to Trump's research book. When clicking on the link, it takes you another tab providing all the information on Trump so far in his term. It has subjects about his handle on coronavirus, his staff, and other things. American Bridge 21st century website supplies critical and deep insight information on the Republican Party and what they are doing wrong. Ad created by American Bridge 21st Century, shows how Americans feel betrayed by Trump for not telling them about the virus sooner. The ad features a story of a young woman whose dad contracted the virus and passed away. 

    Overall, American Bridge 21st century website provides video for every information to gather on the Republican Party you can think of. Such as Congress, states and their electors, and coronavirus. When browsing their Facebook page, they use more comedic ways in highlighting the actions of Republicans. Such as using memes and cartoon comic relief on Facebook. Facebook takes a more humiliating route than their website. Their website just showcases the Republicans being accountable for their actions in a professional matter whereas on their Facebook they still expose them but in a more joking way. Their Facebook takes excerpts of sayings of Republicans and gives their take on it. Now on their Twitter page, they provide both comedic satire humor and mostly targeting all Republicans. Their Twitter page retweets everything Democratic and that leads to the failure of Republicans. Even though under 100k followers, they cater to their audience to provide scoops on Republicans. Their Twitter is their most active social media updated around the clock as we speak. Their Twitter mostly provides links to articles and videos about Republicans. Also their twitter page is heavily in favor of Biden in this election. Their Twitter page is the most filled with support for Biden. 

    This is because Twitter is really the market for politics and all things social media. So the American Bridge 21st century capitalizes on that and uses Biden profusely on Twitter where most people will be online. Showing disdain for Republicans on Facebook and their official website, their Twitter shows their approval of Biden and boost his status and popularity among Twitter. Their Twitter ad presents famous actor Michael Keaton Douglas and why you should elect Joe Biden for president. Their Instagram features more funny memes and quotes from Republicans and Democrats. Last but not least is their YouTube channel. Their YouTube channel reports some of American Bridge 21st Century own ads and interviews with the American people on Republicans. American Bridge 21st Century updated at least 5 videos in one day. Overall when it comes to shaming and calling out Republicans, American Bridge 21st Century are there. Most would say that it can come off as too biased or derogatory to Republicans. At the end of the day, it is a Democratic/Liberal organization and their sole purpose is to expose or criticize the other party.