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The influential Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has posed "ads" in support of healthcare reform that users can post on their Twitter feeds.

Though one of Twitter's co-founders last month said the site has no ads, the union has posted Twitter ad links on healthcare-related items on the liberal DailyKos blog. The ads allow readers to click a button to tweet a canned message in support of healthcare reform legislation using their feed.

Says PC World: 

If you're like me, you've been losing sleep at night, worrying that third-party companies haven't been able to effectively leverage the Twitter platform for their advertising benefit. Have no fear! Check out the admittedly clever ad above from the Service Employees International Union.

Here is an example of an ad: 

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) took to Twitter to share a political comic he found "hilarious," which compares President Barack Obama to the "balloon boy" saga which captured the nation's attention last week. 

Last Thursday, a balloon thought to be carrying a six-year-old boy floated for several minutes then crashed near Fy. Collins, Colo. The boy was found to not be inside the balloon and was safe at home. In a television interview, the boy suggested that his father did it "for show" sparking a police investigation.

Many people were beholden by the story, which took over cable news during the day. One member of Congress even tweeted prayers for the boy during the incident. Some portrayed the incident as a grand hoax.

The top Republican on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, however, tweeted Tuesday:

Hilarious editorial cartoon: http://pic.gd/f9bd6d #tcot

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) took to her new Twitter account on Tuesday to say she will meet with Defense Department officials regarding the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy regarding gays in the military. 

Gillibrand has long supported a repeal of the policy, saying it it is unjust and hurts the military by excluding valuable service members, such as Arabic and Farsi translators.

She tweeted:

I look forward to meeting with Dept of Defense officials today to discuss the latest with DADT policy.

About two weeks ago, Gillibrand said that the Senate Armed Services Committee would hold hearings on the policy this fall. Though she does not sit on the panel, she has had discussions with its chairman Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) about holding the hearings.

Some lawmakers have requested that the Pentagon offer their recommendation on what to do with the policy before acting.

In an interview, the former congresswoman appointed to take the seat of now-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that she believed Congress has the votes to repeal the measure.

Gillibrand also made one of her first tweets count. Her new Twitter account is run through her Senate campaign and currently has 116 followers. She has made two tweets, her first one coming yesterday. 

Cross-posted to the Briefing Room

Earlier this afternoon, Gov. Jon Corzine's campaign (D-N.J.) took to Twitter to "live-tweet" a campaign event at which Vice President Joe Biden's spoke on the incumbent's behalf. 

Corzine's campaign and his Republican opponent Chris Christie's campaign have been very active on Twitter throughout the competitive race.

Here are some of the messages Corzine's campaign tweeted during the event:

http://twitpic.com/m4vhy - Crowd is fired up and ready to go!

Rabbi's for #njgov Corzine! http://twitpic.com/m4z4d

http://twitpic.com/m599z - #njgov Corzine: "Christie does not share New Jersey's values"

http://twitpic.com/m5bns - @joebiden: "I am proud to stand with Barack's partner and my friend, Jon Corzine"

AP: Christie's Ritz-Carlton stay in Orlando cost taxpayers $287, more than 2X govt allowance. Orlando has ~450 hotels http://bit.ly/tssRN

Corzine keyed in on recent attacks on Christie, which involve alleged overbilling on trips during his time as a U.S. Attorney. Christie is holding onto a narrow lead in the polls, but Corzine has picked up momentum recently.

Later today, Biden is attending an event for Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) who is facing a 2010 primary challenge from Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.)

Christie did not directly address the rally on his campaign's Twitter feed.

New initiative will create better jobs - Sec. Hilda Solis (Labor Dept.)
A better way forward in Sudan - White House
Health insurers are misleading you - Barack Obama (DNC)
More ACORN shenanigans - Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.)
What's the difference? - Rep. Bill Posey (R-Fla.)
Launching text alerts - Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.)
High taxes under Corzine - Chris Christie (R-N.J.)
Christie's travel follies - Gov. Jon Corzine (D-N.J.)
Talking about health reform's impact on seniors - Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.)
Service members deserve better student loans - Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.)
 
 

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) shared a bit of off-beat information with her Twitter followers on Monday; tweeting how U.S. passports are destroyed:

Ever wonder what happens to old passports? A monster machine destroys them. Look! Managed by fmr Marine. Figures. http://yfrog.com/7hmrhj

She even shared a picture of the contraption:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is moving "full speed ahead" in order to allow the Senate pass healthcare reform using a controversial procedural method, said a Republican lawmaker on Monday. 

Rep. John Culberson (R-Texas) targeted the speaker as the proponent behind last Friday's maneuver by the House Ways and Means Committee. The panel, lead by the embattled Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), that changed their version of healthcare reform legislation to allow the Senate to pass it using "reconciliation."

He tweeted:

Friday Ways&Means Comm rebranded healthcarebill so that Senate can now pass the bill with a simple majority vote; Pelosi is full speed ahead

The process would allow the Senate to pass a bill with a simple majority under limited debate, eschewing the 60 votes needed to break a filibuster.

Democratic leaders have said they would like to avoid the divisive measure and pass the bill under normal conditions.

Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.), who is challenging Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) in next year's Senate primary, is taking strongly to Twitter to promote the endorsement of Ned Lamont.

Campaigns usually tweet once about endorsements, but Lamont's backing may hold a special significance for Sestak. The congressman on Monday tweeted four times about Lamont; a tweet-up usually reserved for a special occasion, such as a presidential visit on the trail.

Lamont famously defeated centrist Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) in the 2006 Senate primaries by pressuring him from the left. The former Democrat Lieberman beat Lamont in the general election as an independent.

Sestak is attempting a Lamont-like strategy against Specter, who left the Republican Party in April to become a Democrat. 

Here are Sestak's tweets, which include multiple photos:

Just finished the Stephanie Miller Show, now on the way to Independence Hall with Ned Lamont! #sestak

Sam Durso of Philly For Change introducing Ned Lamont #sestak #p2 http://mypict.me/16lZ7

Ned Lamont endorsing Joe Sestak For Senate and rallying support for change in 2010 #p2 http://mypict.me/16moo

Accepting the endorsement of Ned Lamont with Independence Hall as a backdrop. #sestak #p2 http://mypict.me/16mCp

Sestak's campaign frequently uses the hashtag "#p2," which stands for "progressives 2.0" and is the primary topic indicator for liberal Twitter users.

Is texting and tweeting "too much of a hassle?" Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio) posed the question on Monday using his official Twitter account. 

Latta linked to an article about a new social media site called DailyBooth that allows users to post updates primarily using photos. In light of the new software, Latta asks if social media platforms that require users to type words involve too much effort.

He tweeted:

Texting and Tweeting Too Much of a Hassle? http://amplify.com/u/o12

The tweet links to a Wall Street Journal interview with DailyBooth co-founders Ryan Amos and Jon Wheatley. The duo just secured a venture capital funding for their site.

"Most people are using a Web cam to post pictures of themselves and then following other users. First it was 140 characters and now people are using pictures, because it is easier," said Wheatley.

"People following you get so much more gratification seeing a photo rather than reading a tweet about something," he added.

First-term Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) learned a hard lesson this week about the linguistic limits of 140 characters.

The mishap occurred Wednesday, when the lawmaker tweeted from the floor:

"Minority colleague just said he's glad his dad is gone so he wont see consumer finance reform. Sheesh."

It isn't entirely clear who, exactly, was the subject of Himes' original tweet. And to many voters, it also was not obvious what the congressman meant by "minority colleague" -- a source of confusion that prompted some voters to express concern.

Himes, however, realized his ambiguity by Sunday, and he quickly clarified in another tweet:

"Realized when I referred to 'minority colleague' some thought I meant ethnic minority. In fact, meant Republican. Gotta watch the DC-speak!"