#WhatwasIthinking: Presidential Candidates Discover That New Media Can Backfire. Hard.

Using new media to campaign for elective office, especially for President of the United States, is not as easy as, well, using new media.

Consumers/voters are an obstreperous lot - and they have been known to be, um, unkind. Brand managers in the private sector who read this will probably just nod their heads in sorrow. JL 

Caitlin MacNeal reports in TPM:

"How long did it take Jesus to write the Constitution?" #AskBobby

"If you're not a scientist when it comes to global warming how are you a doctor when it comes to women's reproductive systems?" #AskBobby.

Ahead of a town hall event in Iowa on Tuesday, presidential candidate and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) asked for questions on Twitter with the #AskBobby hashtag, and the move predictably backfired on the presidential candidate.
The Believe Again PAC indicated that Jindal would answer some of the questions at the town hall event, but it was not clear on Wednesday morning whether the governor addressed any of the questions asked on Twitter.

Twitter users took the opportunity to ask Jindal ridiculous questions about dinosaurs and "Duck Dynasty" and mock his political positions.

Sean D. Illing @sean_illing

#AskBobby How long did it take Jesus to write the constitution? @BobbyJindal

tellthetruth @truthtotweet

#AskBobby How many Robertsons will serve in your WH cabinet and will you start pardoning ducks instead of turkeys at Thanksgiving time?

Matthew Thomas Hall @MatthewHallKDM

#AskBobby What's your all-time favorite exorcism? Why?

Gary Reinhardt @garyreinhardt

#askbobby if you get to disband #SCOTUS b/c you disagree w/ a decision, will the #Koch brothers buy you a new one?

Zora Neale Thirstin @CarefreeBlkGirl

Which spice girl is your favorite and if you had a chance, what laws would you pass to oppress them for having a uterus? #AskBobby

Larry @LarryLarmeu

If you're going to spend 5 days a week in Iowa can we put the gov mansion on AirBnB & make up some of the deficit you've created? #AskBobby

Zack Kopplin @ZackKopplin

.@BobbyJindal if I sail too far will I fall off the edge of the Earth? #AskBobby

Corner Goblin @TheTaurenGhost

#AskBobby I'm have a hard time deciding which #SCOTUS rulings I should ignore/selectively be outraged by. Can you help?

Jodzio Jonz @Jodzio

#AskBobby #AskPiyush When did God create the Dinosaurs?

PoliticalGroove @PoliticalGroove

If you're not a scientist when it comes to global warming how are you a doctor when it comes to women's reproductive systems? #AskBobby

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) also had a question and answer session backfire on him last week. He answered bizarre questions about living with bears and the meaning of life.