Obama will take to Internet as Roosevelt took to radio

[DogPoundPup]

Source: YahooTech / AFP

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Barack Obama's Internet-savvy campaign team will revolutionize White House communications like late president Franklin Roosevelt (FDR) did with the radio, according to NDN think tank president Simon Rosenberg.

"Senator Obama just ran the first true campaign of the 21st Century using these internet tools to help organize his supporters and fight on a new battlefied of modern politics, said the veteran of former president Bill Clinton's 1992 election campaing.

~snip
"FDR was using the radio in a very powerful way to establish his power in his country. In the US, now, every Saturday morning the president does a radio address.

"My assumption is that it will now be a Youtube address that will be translated in the principal languages of the world: Spanish, French, Arabic, Farsi and others.

"This way (the president) will be adressing not only his own citizens but the citizens of the world.

Read more: http://tech.yahoo.com/news/afp/20081109/tc_afp/uspoliti...

[EconomicLiberal]

1. How awesome would it be for Obama to have his own blog? n/t

[tom_paine]

2. He's got more pressing important shit to do than blog.

But it would be quite cool.

[Salviati]

3. I think that a blog could be very important...

A modern day "fireside chat" sort of thing. Such a thing could help pull the US back to realizing that it is actually center-left on the issues, once we get past the right-wing brainwashing.

[tom_paine]

31. That's quite a fine point you've made there. Hmmm.....

I do believe you've got something there.

Changed my mind a bit on this one.

Thanks.

[daninthemoon]

5. He's going to have a press secretary, and that secretary will have

a staff. I'm sure the internet will be a tool the administration will use frequently, perhaps regularly. State of the Union speeches and press conferences will remain traditional.

[EconomicLiberal]

7. Were there more important things to do in 1933 than Fireside Chats? n/t

[daninthemoon]

8. Communication is vital to good leadership. I am so looking forward

to hearing Obama speak as President, after the last eight years of ear twisting lies and stutters.

[4lbs]

12. The Fireside Chats were important in the 1930s because it gave people hope and helped them not to be

overcome with fear.

Remember, the "only thing we have to fear, is fear itself".

[EconomicLiberal]

14. I think a blog would accomplish the same thing. n/t

[jwirr]

17. Even today when there is a tape of FDR's voice I can feel the hope.

We need to hear the leaders voice and equate it with security.

[4lbs]

19. The spoken word is often more powerful to the human psyche than the written one.

n/t

[Vidar]

23. Precisely correct & exactly why this is a great idea. Obama has

created hope where there has been none for 8 years, & has fostered considerable good will both here & abroad. An internet blog, or something similar could fan the flame of hope.

[KakistocracyHater]

29. also Hearst-owned newspapers weren't honest

& were trying to demonize FDR & twisted everything he said, as well as lying about the economy & didn't warn the people about the mess on Wall Street. They are correct to have the President directly talk to Americans without any media 'filters'.

[jwirr]

16. Since there was a widespread distrust of the market in 1932 just like

there is now those fireside chats were the driving force of the recovery. When the people started working again they felt safe enough to start buying - I argue that without the fireside chats that secure feeling would never have developed.

When I talked with my parents and grandparents about their feelings for FDR the chats were one of the first things mentioned. He talked to them - he made them understand what he was trying to accomplish and he did it without talking down to them. If Obama wants the country to support his measures there is nothing more important for him to do than explain them to us. He cannot trust others to get the message to the people.

[Bear down under]

25. The President of Iran has a blog

Though he hasn't updated it for nearly a year. (http://www.ahmadinejad.ir /)

So it wouldn't be unprecedented for the President of the US to have one.

[benh57]

18. Already up: http:// change.gov/newsroom/blog/

http://change.gov/newsroom/blog/

[endless october]

28. very awesome.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. I can see this happening

and, by doing so, his message will get out to more people.

[liberalmuse]

6. Good!

My mom keeps telling me that she hopes Obama will start up 'fireside' chats like FDR used to do when she was a kid.

Also, he'll be able to get people from different districts motivated to contact their Congresspersons to help pass a bill. Sadly, it's hard to get Congressperson's to pay you any mind if you aren't one of their constituents.

[Egnever]

9. Duh

It has been in his tech platform for over a year. It's news now how?

Dumb ass media.

[movonne]

10. Wow....

[HopeFor2006]

11. Exciting, positive new direction for the leaders of our country...

[Historic NY]

13. As long as he doesn't do the JC sweater talks.

[Dem2theMax]

15. Does this mean we have to go back to calling it the 'Internet?'

I'm so fond of Internets and Innertubes.

[dflprincess]

20. There are people without internet access

while Youtube messages will be cool - I hope he'll continue the radio messages.

[PFunk]

21. Good. Looks like he's trying to do a bypass around the MSM.

Even though a lot of folks still don't have internet this seems a great way to get your message past a hostile RW media (liberal media my ass).

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

22. Oooo...

I detect the hand of Eric Schmidt in this.

[TexasLady]

24. Idon't wanna argue, I just want a President I can

BELIEVE in, again.And I do, And we Deserve This. Finally. This man has got his SHIT together.

that is all....

[Festivito]

26. I hope he incorporates historical data and perspectives as well.

Along with a Rural Internetification from sea to shining sea.

I love that word: internetification.

[llmart]

27. As opposed to McLame......

who didn't know how to send an email.

[customerserviceguy]

30. Hey, lay off him

he's getting a papyrus ready to send to his supporters right now, as soon as he finds his quill...

[Odin2005]

32. It's F-ing official, Obama is the next FDR!

"Business and financial monopoly… class antagonism… war profiteering We know now that Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob. Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me – and I welcome their hatred."

--Franklin Roosevelt