David read this article in the Dallas Morning News yesterday about another novel use for Twitter: as a play-by-play of what’s happening in Congress with the Republican uprising against Democratic leaders:

Online “tweets” blasted out every few minutes by Rep. John Culberson of Houston, House Minority Leader John Boehner and other prominent Republicans offer updates about blog posts, radio appearances, quotes and real-time descriptions of the action.

“I just took a big group of Americans into the gallery to see this historic day on the House floor,” a Culberson tweet said Friday.

“By using this new technology, I am able to shine sunlight into the deepest corners of Congress,” said Mr. Culberson, who had the idea to use Twitter to “cover” the protest after C-Span cameras were shut down and the reporters were shuffled out of the chamber. “I’m convinced that new media will revolutionize the way elected officials represent their constituents.”

Mr. Culberson is pushing the leadership to authorize Twitter and other tools, such as cellphone video, in the House’s rules, which are currently ambiguous on the subject. But he’s getting blowback from leaders who want to limit their use to only approved communications, he said.

“I’m operating in a twilight zone of the rules because they don’t know how to deal with me,” he said. “I’m a threat. Social media’s a threat.”

Read the full article here