Obama To Tape Weekly Radio Addresses For YouTube

[babylonsister]

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2008/11/tube-side_chat_obama_takes_rad.php

Tube-side chat? Obama taking weekly presidential radio address to YouTube

ANN SANNER
AP News

Nov 14, 2008 08:36 EST


The traditional White House radio address is going virtual.

President-elect Barack Obama is taping Saturday's weekly Democratic address not just for listeners, but for YouTube viewers, his office said Friday. And he plans to keep videotaping the radio addresses after taking the oath of office on Jan. 20.

Before then, the videos will be posted on Obama's transition Web site, http://www.change.gov.

Obama is turning the radio address into a "multimedia opportunity" to communicate directly with the American people, his transition team said in a statement.

The modern era's Saturday radio addresses were initiated by President Ronald Reagan and have evolved into a weekly fixture of the presidency, accompanied by a response from the party out of power.

The broadcasts owe a debt to President Franklin Roosevelt, who seized on the new technology that was all the rage in the 1930s for his "fireside chats," famously reassuring through times of Depression and war.

YouTube, the video-sharing Web site embraced by Obama, didn't exist when George W. Bush was elected president. Bush does put the audio of his radio addresses online, at http://www.whitehouse.gov.

[Joanne98]

1. That's a GREAT idea! K&R

[grannie4peace]

2. sweet!!!! i love our new prez!!!!

[Kdillard]

3. Nice. :)

[Labors of Hercules]

4. why not video???

[babylonsister]

9. 'Cause maybe he wants to stay in his jammies on Saturday?

;)

[Labors of Hercules]

14. so, why can't he give a video address in his Jammies every Saturday?!

I'd love it!! :party:

[Alter Ego]

5. Ladies and gentlemen, we just elected our first geek President.

Next he'll be inviting constituents to go on WoW raids with him.

"My fellow Americans, if you would all connect to the Argent Dawn server, I will port you to Blackwing Lair."

[gmoney]

8. Colbert did a cute thing with his new Spider-Man comic cover last night...

He signed it, and had the guy from Marvel sign it, and is using this "one of a kind collectible comic" as bait to get Obama to come on the show.

[Egnever]

6. I love this guy

This is going to be an outstanding 4 years

[YOY]

7. I love this man.

Modern day version of fireside chats. Thinking forward. Using available technology.

Even if you voted against him you have to call it a good move.

[Frances]

10. Super idea

I never listen to the radio addresses, but would watch him on Youtube (I'd get the link here on DU!).

[RufusEarl]

11. Another smart move, keep'em coming sir...

Peace!

[Not the Only One]

12. awesome idea.

Welcome to tomorrow.

[AyanEva]

13. WOOT!

Yay! I'll actually pay attention to the darn things now.


Radio is useless to me. I don't own a radio nor do I have any idea what station the addresses are on or even if it's AM or FM.