Copyright 2000 Newsday, Inc.
Newsday (New York, NY)
February 6, 2000, Sunday ALL EDITIONS
SECTION: NEWS; Page A23
LENGTH: 903 words
HEADLINE:
WASHINGTON BRIEF / A WEEKLY REPORT ON PEOPLE AND ISSUES IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL
/ A FINGER ON THE ELECTRONIC PULSE / IN CONGRESS, LOGGING ON TO INTERNET AS
POLITICAL TOOL
BYLINE: By Ellen Yan. WASHINGTON
BUREAU
BODY:
Washington - In the greenish
glare of a computer screen, 50-something Rep. Gary Ackerman recently seemed
transfixed by the Web chat he hosted.
His face was just inches from the
screen. His eyes were flitting up and down. His head moved as he scrolled
through the questions of participants, known by screen names. His fingers did
the answering: hunt, peck, peck, peck, backspace, backspace, peck, peck. mbdm1:
"Hey, Gary, have you ever considered running for president?"
Almost two
minutes and several other Internet savvy "Netizens" later, Ackerman managed a
retort: "I once considered running for Pres, but I took two aspirins and felt
better in the morning."
Live from his House office, Ackerman recently
played late night host to his first cyberspace event. The chat occurred Jan. 27
after President Bill Clinton delivered an 89-minute State of the Union address.
The advantages of computers in politics are obvious: keeping in touch
with voters, collecting information, promoting democracy and even fund-raising.
In Congress, members have begun to consider seriously the advantages of
the Internet as a political tool. Last November, Rep. J.C. Watts of Oklahoma,
head of the House Republican Conference, sent fellow Republicans a "High- Tech
Action Kit," containing a glossary and suggestions on polling, using e-mail to
issue newsletters and holding town hall meetings online.
"It's live,
it's instantaneous," said Ackerman a Democrat whose district covers parts of
Queens, Nassau and Suffolk. "It's an exchange with people who have gone out of
their way because they're interested in the process. It's a very human kind of
media, even though there's distance between people. You can be alone but part of
a group."
Some New York members have launched polls on their Web sites
and issued " blast faxed" e-mails, thanks to computer savvy staffs. Rep. Michael
Forbes (D-Quogue) listens to radio news on his computer in the morning; he says
his blast fax reaches a million people, culled from lists of online users.
The process is not without its downsides, however. Web discussions are
often poorly focused and not easily controlled. The format also does not lend
itself to windy answers preferred by some politicians.
During Ackerman's
experiment, scores of people signed on during the 90-minute Web chat. The
discussion largely centered on Clinton's speech and was set up with help from
Long Island.com, which hosts Web chats and lists local events.
"Moments
later, they're talking to one of the people who was in a room with the
president," Ackerman said. "I think that empowers people. They're not so far
away from the government."
The Web chat took on a frenzied and comical
tone as the conversation jumped from mosquito spraying in New York City to
corned beef and sex-tinged double entendres.
Two cyber chatters,
codenamed DaveG and Boris, held their own mini-debate, arguing over temporary
visas for skilled immigrants after Ackerman ignored or missed a challenge to
defend his vote for such visas.
Another participant had a thing going on
with Hitman71. "I LOVE your name," she typed. "I'm kinda a hit woman myself
verbally though."
"Is anyone reading my messages?" Schdy37 entered more
than once, after her questions about prescription costs and heating oil prices
were repeatedly ignored.
Ackerman barely finished reading one question
before several more exploded onto the screen. "Stop! Stop jumping!" he cried,
referring to the quickly scrolling screen. Through the night, an aide typed most
of his responses because Ackerman is of the hunt-and-peck school.
Six
months ago, Ackerman did not know how to turn on the computer. His wife said her
80-year-old father wanted to send him an e-mail and Ackerman could only respond
lamely, "What?"
Like many other lawmakers, Ackerman's staff had
retrieved policy e-mails from party leaders for him. Now, while no computer wiz,
Ackerman is learning.
Others are too. Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan
(D-N.Y.) may never throw away his trusty typewriter, but he does use e-mail and
has been learning how to use the mouse. "He kept looking at the mouse instead of
looking at the screen," said his spokesman Michael Waterman.
HOW THEY
VOTED
IN THE SENATE
The Senate passed, 83-14, a bill long-sought
by credit-card companies and the nation's largest banks to overhaul bankruptcy
laws, making it more difficult for people to shield themselves from creditors.
The measure included a $ 1 increase in the minimum wage over three years and a
provision to bar those convicted of violence against abortion
clinics from claiming bankruptcy to avoid paying civil fines.
Charles Schumer (D) no
Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D) no
IN
THE HOUSE
The House on Tuesday passed, 341-70, a resolution designed to
strengthen U.S. military ties with Taiwan by encouraging weapon sales to and
military training exchanges with the island that China claims as its own. It
calls for improving communications between both the U.S. military and Taiwan's
forces.
Michael Forbes (D) yes
Rick Lazio (R) yes
Peter
King (R) yes
Carolyn McCarthy(D) yes
Gary Ackerman (D) yes
Gregory Meeks (D) yes
Joseph Crowley (D) yes
Jerrold
Nadler (D) no
Anthony Weiner (D) yes
Nydia Velazquez (D) yes
Carolyn Maloney (D) yes
Charles Rangel (D) yes
Nita
Lowey (D) yes
GRAPHIC: Photo by
Michael Geissinger - Rep. Gary Ackerman hosts a chat room discussion from his
House office. Chart - HOW THEY VOTED
LOAD-DATE:
February 6, 2000 
