Texan wires in the public on health care reform

By SUZANNE GAMBOA Associated Press Writer © 2009 The Associated Press

Nov. 4, 2009, 3:59PM

— WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. John Culberson had reporters in the room, conferenced on the phone, and his constituents watching by Webcast, Twitter and Facebook when he complained that the GOP has been shut out of writing the health care reform bill.

Culberson and four other Houston-area House Republicans used the "multi-platform" news conference to criticize the House Democrats' bill and promote the GOP option that was rolled out Wednesday but that has little chance of passing.

The many communication tools can be useful for disseminating talking points in these days of dwindling Washington news bureaus.

While the other House members picked apart the Democrats' bill, Culberson sat before the 40-inch flat screen connected to his computer to post and watch for comments on Twitter and Facebook.

"The health care bill was crafted behind closed doors and the American people were shut out of the process," Culberson said in an e-mailed statement. "Through the Internet and social media, I can help bring them back into the process."

The multimedia news conference was his first, but Culberson has held "town halls" the same way for about a year, spokeswoman Megan Mitchell said. "It often looks like Mission Control in here," she said.

Despite all the formats, it appears only a few people tweeted on his news conference and the public already had to be connected to Culberson to see his Facebook posts