Obama's Transparent Presidency: Weekly YouTube Addresses

President-elect Obama's office gave the media a new way to present him as Franklin Roosevelt 2.0 by announcing Friday that it will be posting weekly addresses - fireside chats for the web generation - on YouTube.

The first address will appear on Change.gov this Saturday, after it airs in audio. An Obama spokesperson says that this innovation is just the beginning of the digital, transparent presidency. The plan appears to be in the mold of what the campaign did with videos like "Four Days in Denver" and Campaign Manager David Plouffe's conversations on the state of the race. These videos allowed supporters to feel like they had a direct connection to the campaign, a connection that bypassed the media. Already, the Obama team has made good on the post-election plan. It posted a video from Valerie Jarrett, one of Obama's transition chairs, discussing plans for the new administration. Watch it here:

Can the Obama team use the tools they built during the campaign to drum up support for complicated government initiatives? With a campaign, there were clear goals: raise money, organize, get out the vote. With a presidency, you have over 305 million Americans to motivate. We will be watching, texting, commenting, twittering, and of course, blogging the results.

Comments

[AbsolutionDouble0]

Fire-side chats, anyone?

[nikky]

I LOOK FORWARD

[Hickok]

I can almost hear the Repubs. saying............YouTube? What's a YouTube? I think I have one of those in my tires.

[TLV]

I like Bob Cesca's words for it - "The Intertubes."

[dubstyleenation]

"On the innanet"

[eXcommunicate]

The internets are a series of tubes.

[plooger]

Posting podcasts doesn't a transparent government make. The content will determine the value of the addresses.

Bush could have posted daily vodcasts but I really doubt we'd have known anything more about what he was up to.

[TLV]

Right. Bush could have said anything he wanted to as often as he wanted to but we'd have known whether or not it was for real. Just as we always knew pretty much everything he said was a lie - didn't we?

This will feel different, I'm sure of it.

[Sammy00400]

I think it was weekly, but Bush did have Saturday radio broadcasts. However these days radio broadcasts are boring and podcasts are sure to get Obama's face and message in the news. Of course anyone with an iPod will probably be able to download it right along with "Ask A Ninja". I can foresee an "Ask Obama" podcast.

[kkg58]

It will be different because of the accessibility to bloggers -- can you imagine any radio chat or tv press conference (in the past) having thousands of bloggers from every walk of life weigh in? that, in itself, will increase transparency.

[TLV]

Looks like the lie machines will be out of their jobs! All right!!!!!

[snruB]

Sweet!

Now I can be politically engaged while I watch porno!

[PCRX]

LMAO!!!

[pjlawrence81]

This is genius. Simple and plain. How often does a politician speak directly to us? He's gonna let us know what's going on and what to look forward to, and we don't have to worry about any right- or left-wing media spin.

[speakyourmind]

I'm loving this administration already. How refreshing to have a President who is knowledgeable and CURRENT! He understands and utilizes today's technology. So glad to see this.

[wendylyn]

I feel the same way!

[hackerblaster]

I totally agree! This is going to be one wonderful administration! I think we finally got a genuine honest politician to lead our country. I think he really does care about us.

[fiberoptimist]

Great idea. Look forward to watching!

[schicklett3]

I'm there!!!!!

[NOLIESPLEASE]

This is a brillant man!!! What better way then to deal directly with the public. The MSM will not be able to spin around this presidency nor will the Obama camp allow the media to put undo stresses on his cabinet.

This was not just a move to keep us informed, this was intended for us to look into the Presidents eyes as he speeks to the nation. This President is leeps and bounds ahead of the game. Now we realize why he is hated by the right. Obama is from the streets or better put, one of us!!! Up to date with what is happening in this world, up to date with how we communicate and up to date as to how we feel about the world and our nation.

This technoligy has been available for years now. If Obama is the only one who has the forthsight to use this medieum then he truely deserves to lead this nation into the 21st century.

I have followed politics for years. This man is the "GAME CHANGER" . The Tiger Woods of politics....
BARACK OBAMA.

Barack the "GAME CHANGER" ......ARE YOU READY ???

[CindyKay]

YES WE ARE !

[w&cheneysuck]

http://www.obamapresident.org/2008/11/beginning-countdown-to-inauguration-day.html

[susierr]

I finally feel like a real part of this country, not just a bystander. Finally!

OBAMA 08

[jakie]

THIS PRIEST SHOULD BE THROWN OUT OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH I AM A CATHOLIC BUT NO PRIES WILL EVER TELL ME HOW TO VOTE

[dubstyleenation]

huh???

[TLV]

We're with you...on the other thread.

[plooger]

Chuckle!

[Proud2BIndy]

Oh, that's just SO 21st Century. Oh, wait, we're IN the 21st Century. Man, after eight years of the Dark Ages redux, I'd totally forgotten.

[MrsPlear]

LOL

[Chapmanp2]

This is the first politician in my life time that every thing I hear just keeps making me happier & happier with my decision to back him. This is so beyond brilliant. The fact that he is choosing to completely bypass the media on this makes me happy to no end. It's a direct slap in their face which is well deserved for their handling of "news". Bypassing the editors & Corporate schills in order to speak directly to we the people will ensure that he's able to explain himself in full context. I Love it...

[MrsPlear]

I totally agree. I just jumped out of my chair for joy when I read this. My coworkers are looking at me crazily now. But I am so excited that O keeps making me feel like I made the right decision.