President Elect Obama's FireWire Chats: Transparency Redefined?
Yesterday, President Elect Obama's transition team announced the weekly Democratic address will be posted on YouTube. Today we saw the first of these fireside chats go live on the new video wire (video embedded below).
It's clear that Obama and his team are extremely competent when it comes to the social Web, but it might be useful to examine some of the reasons behind his phenomenal success online, and look at a potential misconception.
The Internet is Now Mainstream
While the Obama campaign is the first to utilize the Internet in such an expert way, it also needs to be pointed out that he is the first president going into office at a time when the Internet and Web are considered mainstream, and the tools for social media are freely available.
In the eight years since President Bush was sworn in, Internet usage has grown by almost 300% to a now staggering 1.46 billion users worldwide, with 73.6 percent penetration in the United States.
Image: Internet World Stats
The Web: What it Can and What it Can't Do
Certainly, the tools used in this presidential campaign were never an option for earlier presidents as they only came into existence over the past five years; MySpace (2003), YouTube (2004), FaceBook (2004), Twitter (2006).
But by utilizing these tools, it's almost as if Obama really cares whether the next generation has a connection to what he's doing, and given officials have said that Obama's goal in using YouTube is to put a face on the government, it's clearly a noble intent.
The issue however, is in this statement to the Washington Post by Jen Psaki:
"This is just one of many ways that he will communicate directly with the American people and make the White House and the political process more transparent."
As pointed out by John Dickerson over at Slate, using new technology is not akin to being more transparent:
"Finding new ways to sell your message is not the same as making yourself more transparent. In fact, obscuring the message with shiny distractions may actually undermine the cause of transparency."
Obama's Web omnipresence clearly relies on many tools, and certainly he should continue using them, but equating Web tools with transparency may not be such a great idea this early in the game, particularly with so many scrutinizing his every word.
Earlier this month, TG Daily went through Obama's recent speeches, and put together a list of their expectations from our tech-savvy president elect. On the flip side, there are those who are concerned that by selecting Joe Biden as a running mate, Obama has selected a politician with a mixed record on technology.
Time will tell, and if nothing else, today's FireWire chat showed us that Obama has kept to his promise of last year to have the fireside chats on video.
Watch the three and a half minute video below, or read the transcript of the President-elects first address
Thanks Renian for FireWire
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interesting video thanks for sharing.
Interesting article but the links you suggest do not work!
thx
Well, the Russian president has started doing this 1 month ago already. However, they have the same problem. At least Russians are not using YouTube to create an illusion of an open dialogue...
See more at http://blogs.waytorussia.net/item/161
But, is it right that Obama is using YouTube? Isn't he promoting YouTube? Is it fair to other video sharing sites? Think about that.
The video fireside chat thing is a good idea. But, I think he should just post the vids on Change.gov using a free flash video player. Just saying. That way things are fair and it look more professional.
Point well made. Given the availability of the transcript, though, maybe it would be fun to at least wordle it and compare how the weightings change from week to week: http://manyeyes.alphaworks.ibm.com/manyeyes/visualizations/obama-first-weekly-chat-wordle
Dotty – oops – sorry about that – fixed now Thanks for pointing it out!
Dmitry, it is good to see world leaders using the Web as a communications channel; I just hope they inspire the business world to consider it as a viable option
Th13rteen – good point! Although why Flash and why not Silverlight? ;)
Bomee – excellent idea! I didn’t think to do that – thank you. Just checked your link, seems that there is an error in the visualization. :(
What about the auto manufactures approaching the oil giants for a bridgre loan? The American auto manufactures had been a great provider in building gas consuming vehicles. What not ask for a pay back. ?
T.
Interesting article but the links you suggest do not work!
If there was ever a time for change...NOW is it. How can we allow the UAW to decide whether or not the auto industry fails? This is ridiculous. If they are not willing to make the concessions that the Senate wants, then it will be their fault if the auto makers go under. The UAW needs to go. I served my country for 21 years including tours to Iraq and Kuwait. I own to GM automobiles and I am as pro-American as a person can get. I will not buy a vehicle from any of the Big 3 if they receive a bailout/loan. I will do my best to urge everyone else to do the same. Why ask the country what they want...by letting our elected officials do their job, and then dismiss their decision? If Paulson or the President gives them money, thaat exactly what we will be doing. These are the problems with this country. I am tired of hearing the terms "bridge loan", "shoring up". Shoring does not even imply that we are trying to fix anything.