Trump's Orlando tweets tell story of modern politics
As people woke to news of the horrific shootings in Orlando and waited for more developments, a parallel waiting game was going on: What would Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump tweet?
Forget the prepared statement. Some who view every event through the lens of political theater were practically aching for the first candidate tweet.
Many of the rest of us were waiting, as well, though perhaps with more dread than fervor. We knew it was coming because now, it always does.
As it happened, particularly in the case of Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, we were again reminded that just because someone has access to a powerful megaphone that doesn’t mean a person should switch it on, turn up the volume and use it right away. He tweeted a couple of remarks, including, “Horrific incident in FL. Praying for all the victims & their families. When will this stop? When will we get tough, smart & vigilant?”
If you follow Trump’s Twitter feed — 32.3 million people do — you know that this sounded like the kind of thing he might say, particularly the end, but only a little. It wasn’t the full-on Trump Twitter treatment.
That came next.
“Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism, I don’t want congrats, I want toughness & vigilance. We must be smart!”
Now that’s what we were expecting. Critics immediately pounced on Trump for making the tragedy about himself, as if it were a surprise. He has built a successful campaign on doing just that.
The shootings at an Orlando gay club took the lives of 49 victims, killed the shooter and wounded 53 in the early hours Sunday. Federal officials have identified the suspect as Omar Mateen, 29, of Fort Pierce, Fla., a U.S. citizen who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in phone calls during the attack.
Clinton, the presumptive Democratic nominee, went the more expected route, as she often does: “Woke to hear the devastating news from FL,” she tweeted. “As we wait for more information, my thoughts are with those affected by this horrific act. –H.”
Should all this matter?
Should presidential candidates or their surrogates spend time and energy on 140-character responses and statements on something that would have seemed unseemly just an election or two ago?
Absolutely.
Things change, and social media’s importance is one of them. It’s not just accepted in the political universe, it’s expected.
What seems strange eventually can become the norm.
Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first presidential candidate to make an acceptance speech in person. Now the acceptance speech is the centerpiece of a political convention.
This doesn’t mean that tweets should or will equal something like that in value, just that they are now an essential part of a campaign.
Used poorly, the effect can be devastating. Used well and and it's an effective tool to help one get elected.
Clinton and Trump already have engaged in a back-and-forth social media bickering. Last week after President Obama endorsed her, Trump referred to her as “Crooked Hillary.”
She responded with, “Delete your account,” an insult with particular resonance to the online community, which responded with raves.
Sunday’s tragedy is another example of the growing power of social media and its continued acceptance among mainstream candidates and their followers. The bottom line is this: You better come quickly with your tweets, and you better be correct.
The world is waiting.
Follow Bill Goodykoontz on Twitter: @goodyk