The Price of the Presidency
In the wake of the Presidential election, it’s natural that Obama should be elated and excited to begin his next step which he spent 2+ years pursuing. But as with every major life change, the Presidency of the United States comes with a cost: Obama will likely have to give up his Blackberry. Giving up email and cell phones is by no means an unusual practice for our modern Commanders in Chief. George W. Bush signed off before he took office in 2000 and again in 2004 with a brief message to friends. I remember reading an old interview (I think it was in People magazine) where Bush confessed that he is really looking forward to emailing his friends once again.
While it seems silly to put a communications cap on the president, it might actually be for the best. In addition to security concerns, every president faces the Presidential Records Act which makes all correspondence during his (or one day, her) time in office—personal and professional—public knowledge. After Sarah Palin’s email account was hacked, Americans learned that our politicians in the spotlight can never be too careful.
By all accounts, Obama is quite attached to his Blackberry; indeed, he’s literally joined at the hip to the device. During important campaign meetings he has been known to surrender it to the middle of the table, sneaking a furtive glance when he sees he’s gotten messages or reminders. Aides say his messages are always correctly spelled and free of internet jargon. Would you expect anything less from the President Elect?
Even without his Blackberry, Obama isn’t going to be thrown into the dark ages. He seems intent on being the first president to have a laptop computer in the Oval Office so he can receive read-only emails. He’s also taking a very unique step and has promised to create a YouTube video version of the traditional Presidential radio address. Obama is reaching out to America on new media and hosting a modern-day Fireside Chat.
Interestingly, these videos will not only feature Obama, but will also make political stars out of policy advisors and Cabinet members as Obama seeks to go around the mainstream media and bring politics back to the people. He has promised these YouTube videos since early in his campaign. This promise—and any resulting videos—will be a great example of the changing face of the politics-media relationship in the face of viral media. Obama’s YouTube chats will have the advantage of being interactive and convenient for the audience. Obama will be able to control the flow of information and answer questions he’s not posed by reporters from traditional media. Moreover, these videos are something as yet unseen and untried by the President; they’ll likely be exciting and entertaining for this reason alone.
Given that Obama’s use of the internet was highly influential in the success of his campaign, his move to bring YouTube to the White House is unsurprising. Between the money he raised on myBO and making his name known through YouTube videos, Obama is clearly a candidate comfortable with the technology of the youth of America (who voted overwhelmingly for him). While giving up his Blackberry might be difficult for Obama, he won’t be incommunicado—he’s putting himself at the fingertips of America through YouTube.
Perhaps he really is a candidate of change after all.
While it seems silly to put a communications cap on the president, it might actually be for the best. In addition to security concerns, every president faces the Presidential Records Act which makes all correspondence during his (or one day, her) time in office—personal and professional—public knowledge. After Sarah Palin’s email account was hacked, Americans learned that our politicians in the spotlight can never be too careful.
By all accounts, Obama is quite attached to his Blackberry; indeed, he’s literally joined at the hip to the device. During important campaign meetings he has been known to surrender it to the middle of the table, sneaking a furtive glance when he sees he’s gotten messages or reminders. Aides say his messages are always correctly spelled and free of internet jargon. Would you expect anything less from the President Elect?
Even without his Blackberry, Obama isn’t going to be thrown into the dark ages. He seems intent on being the first president to have a laptop computer in the Oval Office so he can receive read-only emails. He’s also taking a very unique step and has promised to create a YouTube video version of the traditional Presidential radio address. Obama is reaching out to America on new media and hosting a modern-day Fireside Chat.
Interestingly, these videos will not only feature Obama, but will also make political stars out of policy advisors and Cabinet members as Obama seeks to go around the mainstream media and bring politics back to the people. He has promised these YouTube videos since early in his campaign. This promise—and any resulting videos—will be a great example of the changing face of the politics-media relationship in the face of viral media. Obama’s YouTube chats will have the advantage of being interactive and convenient for the audience. Obama will be able to control the flow of information and answer questions he’s not posed by reporters from traditional media. Moreover, these videos are something as yet unseen and untried by the President; they’ll likely be exciting and entertaining for this reason alone.
Given that Obama’s use of the internet was highly influential in the success of his campaign, his move to bring YouTube to the White House is unsurprising. Between the money he raised on myBO and making his name known through YouTube videos, Obama is clearly a candidate comfortable with the technology of the youth of America (who voted overwhelmingly for him). While giving up his Blackberry might be difficult for Obama, he won’t be incommunicado—he’s putting himself at the fingertips of America through YouTube.
Perhaps he really is a candidate of change after all.
posted by Sarah | 6:36 AM
9 Comments:
I think Obama's idea of using YouTube to communicate to the public is great. As we discussed in class, the site attracts young people and a large audience. Instead of people "YouYubing" sometimes pointless videos on somebody falling, a new music video, or repeats of SNL, people will hopefully start watching Obama's videos and learn more about whats going on in with our country!
Like Obama, I would not know what to do without my phone--we are all attached these days! Going without his Blackberry, hopefully he will feel less stressed. He has a full staff and team that will get all necessary messages to and from him promptly. As far as YouTube, it will be interesting to see how that pans out. YouTube is a great way to reach a specific audience, but I think it is too informal for the President to use for giving out messages.
It should be interesting to see You Tube "fireside chats" with President-Elect Barack Obama. I feel the last few presidents were not too in tune with electronics or expressing the need of votes, updates, etc through cell phone or via internet. For me, the internet is the best way to connect with a large audience or group. I hope individuals tune into his You Tube updates and use this opportunity to get involved with politics. Although technology is often called addictive, and it is, I believe this is a positive outlook on a medium many are still wary of.
That Blackberry is definitely what helped Obama win the presidency. In that article we read in class, it was saying how Obama began text messaging people about his VP candidate and reminding people to vote on November 4th. It would be tough for me to give up such accountable piece of communication. I love the youtube video ideas. I can't wait. So many decisions are made by the president and his cabinet and it will be interesting to literally see how and why these decisions are being made.
The security measure that is being taken by making Senator Obama give up his Blackberry is an important measure of national security. Although he will have to give up sending e-mails and having a cell phone, it is probably a good idea after Governor Palin's account was hacked earlier in the election, because, as you said, politicians can never be too careful. Senator Obama is attached to his Blackberry and even though his use of messaging and the internet might be as professional as it possibly could be, giving it up is still a precaution that needs to be taken. Senator Obama's other uses of technology, such as his proposed use of YouTube for presidential addresses and his cabinet, offers a more updated approach to the typical television address. Senator Obama's use of technology has been important to this campaign and although he will have to give up his Blackberry, his integration of it in other aspects will offer a more technologically advanced way of the presidency.
This is so interesting because I never thought about the president having to give up communicating through e-mail or in Obama's case through his blackberry.
I guess it makes sense though, it is hard to argue when national security and other issues of national importance are at stake.
"When the President does it...it's not illegal!!" ok so not quite the same scenario but I guess I always thought the president did what wanted and got away with it (I mean I have grown up with the Bush administration for the past 8 years...ouch sorry I had to say it!) I just think it is so funny that someone is telling the president what to do...especially controlling his private life and something as arbitrary as his cell phone. It is very telling though...the president after all is the "model citizen" and it is no shocker that we are all addicted to our cell phones especially as they become more of a converged medium. pretty soon they are just going to scan our foreheads like at the checkout counter and bluetooths will come standard on all newborns! I wonder if they would have made Sarah Palin give up her guns and religion upon entry to the oval office(or whatever shape the VP office is) those are particulary dangerous to national security in my opinion ;)
I agree with Caitlin in thinking that Obama's use of YouTube is a good thing for the American public. I believe that, currently, citizens spend too much of their time searching the internet for topics that will only hinder their learning experience, not further it. I think that Obama's use of YouTube for his campaign was a wise choice, since young Americans are often found on the YouTube website and are more likely to see what he, as a presidencial candidate, has to say. I hope that in future elections, American citizens watch media coverage such as YouTube videos more in order to further their understanding of the campaign.
I actually did a political cartoon about this topic and I think that it is astounding that the busiest man in the country does not have the ability to carry around a Blackberry, especially with young children who may need to directly contact their father at times. I understand the policy, however, and would not want to put national security at risk if he were to accidentally slip out information.
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