Google accused of collaborating with … Republicans ?!?
Posted by Fred on February 19, 2008
Clarification: Doc Searls says I misunderstood his point, and I agree that I was less than clear. See more below.
On Friday, the GOP named Google its Official Innovation Provider, in a press release clearly written for the sole purpose of attracting the attention that all press releases mentioning Google get. Says the GOP:
Embracing technology that will propel the 2008 Republican National Convention to the forefront of the digital age, the GOP today announced that Google Inc. will serve as the Republican National Convention’s Official Innovation Provider. Convention President and Chief Executive Officer Maria Cino made the announcement in a unique video posted to the convention’s new YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/gopconvention2008). The video is also showcased on the convention’s website (www.GOPConvention2008.com), and highlights Google’s cutting-edge, computer-generated SketchUp graphics of the Xcel Energy Center, where the convention will be held.
That’s notable mostly for stating the obvious (convention stuff is on a YouTube channel) and for creating yet another meaningless title (Official Innovation Provider) which bears no resemblance to reality (Google is innovative, sure, but there’s no sign they’re doing any actual innovating between now and September 1st). Nevertheless, the announcement drove some people insane. Literally insane. Marc Cantor proposes boycotting Google for “helping” Republicans (he also gets McCain’s actual record almost 100% wrong, but that’s another story). Doc Searls compares the Republicans to the Chinese government, implying that selling services to the GOP is doing evil. What the hell? Disagree with Republican policies all you want, but to suggest that an American technology company should refuse to do business with an American political party is really just insane. There is an argument that Google should refuse to do business in China (it’s not a particularly persuasive argument, but it’s a legitimate argument). Refusing to do business with the GOP would simply be crazy, and Google’s not particularly likely to seek out retribution from American politicians. What is it about the Republicans that drives people so crazy?
In the comments, Doc says he wasn’t saying that it was evil for Google to do business with the GOP, but that “[w]hether one likes or dislikes Google’s engagement with China, or the GOP, at least it’s engaged. For some things it may be in a better position to make a positive difference than if it were not engaged.” This is a good point regarding China, and closely tracks my own view. What struck me about Doc’s post was that he appears to be suggesting that doing business with the Republicans has more in common with doing business with the Chinese government than with, say, Walking Tree Travel (which uses Google Apps Team Edition) or Clemson University (Google Apps Education Edition) or Holiday Home Rental (Google Custom Search Business Edition) or Proctor & Gamble (Google Apps Premier Edition). That Doc thinks it notable that Google is providing services to the Republican Party, that the GOP is an organization with which Google should be “engaged” in order to “make a positive difference” is telling. Doc does say he’d say the same thing if it were the Democrats. In my view, it’s no more notable that Google has a contract with the GOP than it is that they have one with P&G (and I’m not a registered Republican either).
February 20, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Here’s what I wrote:
“Whether one likes or dislikes Google’s engagement with China, or the GOP, at least it’s engaged. For some things it may be in a better position to make a positive difference than if it were not engaged.”
That’s different than “implying that selling services to the GOP is doing evil”.
My post was in response to Marc Canter’s, and began this way: “Is Google selling out to the GOP… or is the GOP just buying stuff from Google and bragging about it?” I thought I clearly supported the latter, but maybe I wasn’t clear about that. If so, the fault is mine.
For what it’s worth, if the Democratic party had bought something from Google, and bragged about it the same way as the GOP did, the same questions would be raised, and I’d respond the same way.
As for what it is about either (or any) political party that drives opposing partisans crazy… well, that seems to be the nature of politics.
Also for what it’s worth, I’m a registered Independent, and likely to stay that way.