88-Year-Old Member Of Congress Probably The Best Person On Twitter
"Staff has now informed me of what a Kardashian is. I'm only left with more questions."
The longest serving member of Congress is better on Twitter than all of us. Rep. John Dingell, the 88-year-old Michigan Democrat first elected in 1955, has quickly solidified himself as the best politician on Twitter.
With the rise of social media, most politicians have clumsily used social media as just another means of self-promotion or extended press releases. Most posts by politicians on social media take the form of a congratulatory note after a meeting, a sort of digital thank you card to groups with whom they meet.
Excited to hear Lowe's is bringing a new customer support center to Indy. Nice to see #IN05 attracting new jobs!
Susan W. Brooks @SusanWBrooksFollow
Excited to hear Lowe's is bringing a new customer support center to Indy. Nice to see #IN05 attracting new jobs!
11:49 AM - 22 Jul 14RetweetFavorite
Honoring some of the winners of the #Delco Senior Games at Maris Grove in Glen Mills yesterday
Patrick Meehan@RepMeehanFollow
Honoring some of the winners of the #Delco Senior Games at Maris Grove in Glen Mills yesterday
11:50 AM - 22 Jul 14RetweetFavorite
Dingell, however, is a member of select class of lawmakers who have used social media to engage positively in the hyper-obsessive Washington, D.C., political Twitter environment.
On Monday night and Tuesday morning for instance, Dingell easily had the best reaction to an accidental tweet from whoever runs an EPA Twitter feed with a score from the Kardashian game (here's the EPA tweet before it deleted):
And Dingell's response:
I'm the last original author of the Clean Water Act, but I have no idea who/what a Kardashian is and I rarely play games. You OK, @EPAwater?
John Dingell@john_dingellFollow
I'm the last original author of the Clean Water Act, but I have no idea who/what a Kardashian is and I rarely play games. You OK, @EPAwater?
11:37 PM - 21 Jul 14RetweetFavorite
He followed up Monday morning with:
Staff has now informed me of what a Kardashian is. I'm only left with more questions.
Staff has now informed me of what a Kardashian is.
I'm only left with more questions.
10:13 AM - 22 Jul 14RetweetFavorite
Last week, he parodied LeBron James' essay about returning to Cleveland:
With the House adjourned for the week, I'm taking my talents back to Michigan to spend time with constituents. #MI12
With the House adjourned for the week, I'm taking my talents back to Michigan to spend time with constituents. #MI12
2:45 PM - 18 Jul 14RetweetFavorite
He also has been know to take shots at his own age:
Working on speech to an auditorium full of Congressional Interns tomorrow. Staff advises it should be less A, more B.
Working on speech to an auditorium full of Congressional Interns tomorrow. Staff advises it should be less A, more B.
4:56 PM - 15 Jul 14RetweetFavorite
I've met 14 U.S. Presidents. #HowOldAreYou
I've met 14 U.S. Presidents. #HowOldAreYou
10:58 PM - 27 Mar 14RetweetFavorite
Surely a question that has plagued mankind for decades. RT @USATODAY: Why John Dingell is one degree from Kevin Bacon http://t.co/5ItjtYxnWF
Surely a question that has plagued mankind for decades. RT @USATODAY: Why John Dingell is one degree from Kevin Bacon http://t.co/5ItjtYxnWF
11:54 AM - 08 Jul 14RetweetFavorite
We have to catch you up with the times, David. RT @DavidCornDC: Hey @AOL can you tell me why my AOL email account is not working? #annoyed
We have to catch you up with the times, David. RT @DavidCornDC: Hey @AOL can you tell me why my AOL email account is not working? #annoyed
2:41 PM - 26 Apr 14RetweetFavorite
In fact, there really isn't any aspect of social media where Dingell isn't completely killing it.
46yrs ago today, I helped get the Public Broadcasting Act of 67 signed into law. You're welcome, Cookie Monster. #tbt
46yrs ago today, I helped get the Public Broadcasting Act of 67 signed into law. You're welcome, Cookie Monster. #tbt
5:13 PM - 07 Nov 13RetweetFavorite
In honor of @30for30, here I am welcoming '89 World Champ #BadBoys to DC. Yes, in a Dumars tee. #tbt
In honor of @30for30, here I am welcoming '89 World Champ #BadBoys to DC. Yes, in a Dumars tee. #tbt
9:53 PM - 17 Apr 14RetweetFavorite
Few can say they've ever spent the day in a duck blind with @billclinton. #tbt #throwbackthursday
Few can say they've ever spent the day in a duck blind with @billclinton. #tbt #throwbackthursday
3:03 PM - 26 Sep 13RetweetFavorite
Cosign. RT @espn: Tim Howard. So money.
Cosign. RT @espn: Tim Howard. So money.
5:18 PM - 01 Jul 14RetweetFavorite
That is now the second time I've tweeted or retweeted the #TurnDownForWhat hashtag. That said, go @tigers! #BlessYouBoys
That is now the second time I've tweeted or retweeted the #TurnDownForWhat hashtag. That said, go @tigers! #BlessYouBoys
9:28 PM - 01 Jul 14RetweetFavorite
MIGGY. BEING. MIGGY.
MIGGY. BEING. MIGGY.
8:38 PM - 15 Jul 14RetweetFavorite
Cosign. RT @blessyouboys: MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY
Cosign. RT @blessyouboys: MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY
8:40 PM - 15 Jul 14RetweetFavorite
Ha! Good work. http://t.co/De99kogRo2 RT @AshleyCodianni: @john_dingell why won't you join @Snapchat cc @bennyjohnson
Ha! Good work. http://t.co/De99kogRo2 RT @AshleyCodianni: @john_dingell why won't you join @Snapchat cc @bennyjohnson
2:24 PM - 16 Apr 14RetweetFavorite
Twitter now supports GIFs? Well, alright. http://t.co/4W1gUF6uZP
Twitter now supports GIFs? Well, alright. http://t.co/4W1gUF6uZP
1:12 PM - 18 Jun 14RetweetFavorite
@TheFix I've been known to use some colorful language at times, but "amazeballs" is certainly a new one, friend.
@TheFix I've been known to use some colorful language at times, but "amazeballs" is certainly a new one, friend.
9:21 AM - 21 Jun 13RetweetFavorite
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Andrew Kaczynski is a political reporter for BuzzFeed News and is based in New York.
Contact Andrew Kaczynski at andrew.kaczynski@buzzfeed.com.
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