Debt limit debate key players: Social media

As the bill hiking the nation's debt ceiling was put together, millions of Americans used social media to make their voices heard - as did many members of Congress and their aides.

It was, CNET TV Executive Editor Molly Wood reported on "The Early Show" Tuesday, just the latest example of the growing importance of Twitter, Facebook and other outlets in the goings-on in Washington.

Special Section: America's debt battle

Moments before Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords appeared on the House floor to participate in the debate, Twitter users already knew she was there - she tweeted, "the #capitol looks beautiful and i am honored to be at work tonight."

It was Giffords' first time back at work since she was shot in January, and word of her arrival quickly spread across the Internet, showing once again that social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook continue to be increasingly important for congressional members - and their constituents -- to get their messages across.

"Imagine polling from years ago being instantaneous," says Personal Democracy Forum founder Andrew Rasiej. "That's what social media, Twitter and Facebook, allows candidates or congressmen and citizens to do with each other."

Mathew Lira, director of new media for House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, gave CBS News the first look at how Cantor's office monitors social media sites, in real time,

"It's a sea change from, say, two years ago. ... If you're not following it on Twitter, you're out of the loop and behind the curve."

On Friday, even President Obama asked Americans to join the debate on Twitter -- urging his more than 9 million followers to ask their representatives "to support a bipartisan solution."

In eight hours that followed, the president's message had spread to 36 million Twitter users, according to NM Incite, as voters vented their frustration over the deadlock at the time.

"Obama," says Rasiej, "is trying to use social media to create a 21st century fireside chat -- the difference is, when we were sitting at home in the Great Depression we couldn't talk back to the radio. Now, everybody gets to talk back."

White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer tweeted that he believes "e-mails and tweets helped Congress to act."