Remember how taboo and controversial MTV used to be? Back in the day groups like the Moral Majority used the sex, drugs and rock and roll regularly appearing on Music Television to demonize youth culture and scare the bejeezus out of easily excitable parents. Hell, Madonna’s "Like a Prayer" video caused a complete and total nationwide hissy fit, with its burning crosses, heaving bosoms and black Jesuses. Man, Madonna was hot back then. Mmmmm…

Oops, sorry… I digress. The death knell of MTV’s rebellious reputation really rang in 1992. Candidates in the Democratic primary, still several years away from the proliferation of 24-hour news channels and desperate for any sort of national attention they could get, looked to MTV as a way to reach out to young voters .

Of course, no one used MTV to greater effect than Bill Clinton, who would later be derisively called the “MTV President” by conservative pundits and saxophone fans alike. After coming out of nowhere to win the Democratic nomination, Clinton was the first candidate from any party to go on MTV and field questions from “viewers” in an hour-long town hall style format. Fielding questions ranging from the hard-hitting (“what are your opinions on abortion rights?”) to the not-so-hard-hitting (“Boxers or briefs?”), it was a format that Clinton was born to take part in. After his eventual victory, many political scientists pointed to Clinton’s MTV appearances as a major factor in his electoral success.

Thus, the formula to reach young voters ever since has been to visit MTV early and often. This holds true especially for Democrats, who don’t have to worry as much about turning off stodgy old coots (who aren’t going to vote for them anyway) by appearing in such a skin and sin-friendly environment. Some Republicans, on the other hand, see it as beneath them. Frankly, who can blame them? This is the same network that brought us My Super Sweet 16. For that alone I’d have reservations about appearing on the network and I’m a liberal Democrat from San Francisco. And don't even get me started on subjecting us to Bam Margera. Assholes. Anyway, MTV ceased to become relevant 10 years ago, so there’s no reason politicians need to keep bowing down at the Moonman altar, right?

Tell that to John Edwards. And Hillary Clinton. And Rudy Giuliani. And John McCain. And Chris Dodd. And Barack Obama. And Duncan Hunter (who actually is a presidential candidate too. Really, I looked him up!) They are among a total of 11 presidential candidates from both sides of the aisle who have signed up to participate in Presidential Candidate Dialogues with MTV. This being the internet age, MTV is co-sponsoring these Dialogues with that other twin tower of youth culture erosion: Myspace.com. Be afraid, people. Be very afraid.

Yep, that’s right. Tomorrow at noon EST, MySpace users will be able to see former Senator John Edwards grapple with questions they themselves submitted both prior to the event and live via instant messaging. I personally cannot wait to find out who Edwards plans on putting in his Top 8 should he get elected (I say Bill and Hillary yes, John Kerry no) and whether he would have sex with the candidate above him. Of course, there are also the pressing matters of how many illegal immigrants he’ll have on his friends list and whether he’d like to see my grindcore/emo band, Tears Rusting My Skate Trucks, at Bubba’s Crab House in Ypsilanti next Tuesday. I’m stoked, dude, here’s our flyer.

The candidates, however, may not be so stoked about the, uh… interesting interactive voting system these Dialogues will employ.

Should be an adventure. I’d like to add the “Full of bull” rating as a friend!


Subrosa feels old.