Twitter-clueless Rep. Hoekstra is the new Ted Stevens

The tweet that shall live in infamy.

(Credit: Twitter)

You can't make this stuff up: Rep. Peter Hoekstra, a Republican from Michigan, set off a political-blog firestorm when he posted to his Twitter account on Wednesday that "Iranian twitter activity (is) similar to what we did in House last year when Republicans were shut down in the House."

Presumably he was talking about rallying in the face of adversity. But, um, really? The U.S. congressional elections might be rife with mildly nefarious characters on both sides of the party line, but the current upheaval in Iran deals with a totalitarian regime, media blackouts, and mass protests with casualties. Talk about a gaffe. Rep. Hoekstra has said he will not seek re-election and is reportedly considering a run for governor; I'm sure his potential opponents are taking note here.

Anyway, somebody brilliant (I learned this is, unsurprisingly, Ben Huh of I Can Has Cheezburger fame) seized the opportunity and created a hilarious blog called "Pete Hoekstra is a Meme," devoted to photo captions much like the perennial "lolcats" craze. "To Hoekstra is to whine using grandiose exaggerations and comparisons," the site explains. Each "Hoekstra is a Meme" caption illustrates a similar, though generally more offensive claim.

(Credit: hoekstraisameme.com)

It gets better. This is the same Rep. Peter Hoekstra who, you might recall, Twittered his secret trip to Iraq back in February. This guy is just comedy gold. I'm sure he's a fine public servant to the good people of Michigan (Is he? Michiganders, please weigh in!), but when it comes to Twitter, you'd almost think he had been planted by the writers for The Daily Show.

And while some might say Rep. Hoekstra's staffers ought to gently prevent him from Twittering, in the future, I say keep 'em coming. It's been a while: Politicians have been getting awfully digital-savvy for the past few years. Back in 2006, we were guaranteed loads of hilarity whenever Ted Stevens tried to explain the Internet, Robert Wexler wasn't aware that his Colbert Report joke about being a cocaine fiend would be mixed and remixed all over the Web, or George Allen mouthed off in the presence of YouTube-ready cameras.

These days, however, we're stuck with far too many Beltway types who are woefully adept at Twittering, like former Bush strategist Karl Rove.

And honestly, that's just no fun.

This post was updated at 11:33 p.m. PT.

[saintseminole]

We elect these people. We should be ashamed.

[FellowConspirator]

You can't elect people that don't run. The best and the brightest don't run because, let's face it, working in an actual cesspool is both more pleasant and more respectable than working in the cesspool called Washington, D.C.

Since a majority of people are honest, and half of them are above average, why not just assign a random individual to a term in office? It'd be like jury duty, but longer, and rather than sit quietly you get to yell hysterically at people and be rude to lobbyists. Throw in free wi-fi and a line of credit with the Shoney's breakfast bar and I'm in.

[terminalblue]

we dont elect people to use twitter. at least i dont.

[why do i need a name?]

better than Sec of State Clinton who today said that "she doesn't know the difference between a twitter and a tweeter"

really, anyone older than 50 probably doesn't have a clue, nor do they care.

[ssalava]

To FellowConspirator:
Loved your reply!

[e1000sn]

NEWSFLASH: Somebody posts a poorly formed microblog on the twitter service! Stop the press because we must report every hyperbole spouted by a lawmaker.

[abcdevos]

What a twit!

[alexandermh]

"These days, however, we're stuck with far too many Beltway types who are woefully adept at Twittering, like former Bush strategist Karl Rove." - seriously? You just couldn't help yourself taking a jab at him - pathetic. He is an excellent Twitter user.

[caroline.mccarthy]

That was the point. Rove is an exemplary Twitter user and really gets the medium, which means that those of us who think it's hilarious when politicians screw up are very disappointed.

[stevicus]

I think the writer agrees with you that he is an excellent twitter user... "adept"

[sportav]

I think the other writer was referring to the gratuitous jab at Karl Rove, which was kinda pathetic.

[jchanski21]

I'm from Michigan, and yes he's a decent rep. from what I know of him. However... whether he's a good politician or a total dumbarse has no bearing on how ridiculous this "story" is. Politicians say much, much stupider things than this on a daily basis. But yet, because this was said in the newest 140-character fad format, it's newsworthy?

I'm so completely sick of Twitter already - 1 out of every 5 articles (hyperbole, but you get the point) on cnet seems to be about it since the Oprah adoption. Please stop reporting on meaningless "news" simply because it is somehow tied to Twitter.

[sodapop2k9]

Exactly. You could fill half the internet with Biden gaffs.

[bigjohn333]

i just followed him to see what he'd say next! (i've never done that for a twitter user before)

[jclingan]

cnet has moved their reporting politically left, when it shouldn't be political at all. This is the primary reason I don't read cnet anymore. Unluckily, I ran across this post. I simply prefer politics be left off technology news sites. Leave the politics to the politico's of the world.

[RambunctiousKids]

I don't think it's going to be avoidable much longer. increasingly technology and poltics are mixing it up. The White House is available on twitter, myspace, and facebook. Even flickr. Heck, Obama even appointed Chief Technology and Information Officers. Technology and politics are going to keep blending in.

How could technlogy news site not report on things like the switch to digital for example?

What jclingan means is that cnet has moved their reporting politically left, when it shouldn't lean politically at all. And jclingan is right. It's bad enough that cnet found this story more newsworthy than a ton of gaffs by Democrats such as Joe Biden. It's worse that cnet has nothing but praise for the idiotic response of Rep. Hoekstra's opponents. Caroline McCarthy, when someone starts a blog childishly ridiculing YOU, I bet you don't call it "brilliant".

[jedisurfer]

The part that seems to be missing in the article is that fact that comparing him to the Iranian rally is really not that far off. Have you seen the way congress is abusing the constitution and the people of the United States by taking control of everything they can get their hands on regardless of the will of the people. It is sure starting to look similar. Sorry for the political opinion on a site that should be focused on facts, but the article begged for it.

[starrigavan]

Yes it is really that far off. It is really, really that far off. If you think being a US congressman is anything like being an Iranian protester you obviously aren't paying attention. We held elections last fall. Hoekstra's party lost. Fairly and legally. There is NO COMPARISON to be made between being the minority party in the US congress and dying on the street in Tehran. NONE.

Although I am glad you're finally paying attention to what's happening in Washington. You missed the whole torture, illegal wiretapping, secret kidnappings and secret trials of the last administration though

[Tansho]

It just goes to show you that politicians are oh so stupid. I live in Michigan, and thankfully never voted for this asshat.

[spoonyfork]

Is Hoekstra a good rep? He's a Republican in Michigan. What this means to a Michigander is the Democrats claim to be trying to do something but don't get anything done whereas the Republicans don't do anything and blame the Democrats for screwing things up. Either way we're screwed.

[sodapop2k9]

Wow, what a lame effort to ridicule a person. So his analogy is not the best. You people live to cultivate hate.

[sbwinn]

I think the word "hate" is being used so often it is losing its meaning, but other than that I agree with you. There is entirely too much division in society. Those in power inflate small differences and use them to set one group against another. Everyone is so afraid that "the crazies" on the other side will get their way that they will accept compromise solutions that result in a loss of freedom. Then everyone breathes a sigh of relief because they believe it could have been much worse. But it is getting worse, not by upheaval or revolution, but steadily, inexorably, and bureaucratically.

So don't take the bait. Don't buy into false crises or divisive rhetoric. Be nice to people. Be civil. Expect others to behave the same way. Admonish them when they don't. You don't have to abandon your principles to understand someone else's. Try to work out your differences with others and find common ground. That's the best way I can think of to save the world.

[mchinsky]

Typical cnet san francisco /Manhattanite liberal writer. No wonder cnet is almost bankrupt.

He didn't imply that the Iranian situation is equal in gravity to be shut down in congress. While you are at it where is your anger at Obama. At least this guy is trying to support the Iranian people. Obama is telling them, 'tough luck, your on your own, we don't take sides in freedom vs. tyranny...'. All our dead soldiers who fought over the years are turning over in their graves with this bozo

[bpai99]

Sent an embarrassing Email that made me look like an idiot to a couple of people. Now I know how Pete Hoekstra feels.

[gefitz]

Twitter is for people who are sufficiently deluded to think that anyone actually cares what they are doing on a minute to minute basis.

[walwebster]

This is no itme to be picking on the children (and the childish) ...

[starrigavan]

I think Bill Maher is right. CNET hasn't moved left. The Democrats have moved right and the Republicans have moved into a mental institution.