The Internet President
Hallelujah. We have a president who understands the Internet. There was a ray of hope when Bill Clinton was elected, but the e-highway was largely detoured – except maybe when Al Gore supposedly claimed he “invented the Internet.”
But witness Barack Obama’s online acumen. It is widely acknowledged that his presidential campaign made the best use of websites, email, online advertising, and social media of any presidential candidate. “My Barack Obama” had all the characteristics of best-in-class social networking, including nifty tools volunteers could use to connect with each other as well as help the campaign. And let’s not forget the spontaneous Wil.I.Am “Yes We Can” viral video that created an Internet sensation:
One of newly elected President Obama’s early challenges was what to do about his Blackberry. No previous president was allowed to use external email – the national security risks of communicating electronically were considered too high. Everything was paper-based instead. But Obama found a way around it so he could stay at least partially connected to the outside world.
At his first press conference, Obama broke precedent by calling on a reporter from an Internet-only publication, The Huffington Post. This immediately legitimized the Internet press corps and may have indirectly helped drive a few more nails in the coffin of traditional newspapers. At his second press conference, the president recognized a reporter from Politico.
When the recovery package was finally approved, Obama wasted no time in making the plan available for all to see at www.recovery.gov. His administration promised “accountability and transparency,” offering Americans the ability to track “how, when, and where your tax dollars are being spent” online.
And then came the president’s most audacious event to date – an unprecedented virtual town hall, conducted live at www.whitehouse.gov on March 25. The site received over 100,000 questions in advance and the event was attended by just as many online participants. No, it wasn’t a populist president’s dream – that would have taken millions of citizens – but it was a bold experiment nonetheless.
So whether you agree with the president’s politics or the way he is trying to repair the ailing economy, you have to give Barack Obama and his team credit for being Internet-savvy. At least we now have a leader who truly knows the power and potential of online communication.
——————
Barry Silverstein is a freelance writer/marketing consultant and co-author of the McGraw-Hill book, The Breakaway Brand.
-
http://www.rhinofish.com Pat Grady
-
http://www.get-in2.com Mike Hyland
-
http://www.ebranchoffice.com eBranchOffice.com
