The "Perfect Storm" for Gaffes

From Gerald Ford's assertion that Poland wasn't under the domination of the Soviet Union -- to Jesse Jackson's "hymies" reference -- to Howard Dean's "I have a scream" speech -- political gaffes have always been around.But the recent round of gaffes seem different to me. It seems we've entered a new generation of gaffes. So what accounts for the change? I think we've entered a "perfect storm." Here are three big possibilities:

1. New Media: This isn't an original concept, but it is important to note that we now have three cable news networks -- and the internet. We've got to feed the beast. Things that would have been previously ignored are now considered news. Things that would have been barely mentioned in the past, are now major news stories ...

2. Technology: The internet, digital cameras, blogs, and now, YouTube, have conspired to make it easy -- and affordable -- to catch (and promote) gaffes. Venues that were once thought to be "safe" are now more public. Politicians will have to adjust to this.

3. Culture Gap: There is a growing gap between the consumers of news and the news-makers. For people under 35, surfing the net has replaced the coffee (or smoke) break at work. Emailing and surfing websites is a regular part of most people's regular work day. Politicians, who may have never had a desk job like this (or, if they did, it was before the internet), don't really grasp the audience. In addition, they don't get the viral effect or "stickiness" of the internet, such as when a joke or video gets forwarded to thousands of friends. Sure, they understand it intellectually, but they don't "get it." Additionally, there may be an age gap. Whether you consider the new standards appropriate -- or merely political correctness run amok -- it's fair to say that the standards of appropriate discourse have evolved. When you consider that most politicians are older, it makes sense that there would be a sensitivity lag.

There you have it. Sure, there are other reasons (some more sinister). But these are the three new things that have combined to create a new world of gaffes.