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

[pir anha]

i am not easily impressed and i don't like kool-aid, but so far what obama is doing strikes me as very smart -- he built an enormous ground game during the campaign, which got many new people interested and involved in politics, and now he's reaching out to the population at large to keep them involved. from up here in canada, that looks like an extremely good thing for a democracy, since ironically, the more mature a democracy is, the more people rest on their accomplishments and don't invest themselves. whatever a government leader can do to get people excited and involved is bound to improve the democratic process.

i'm starting to get envious. :)

[Scarllatti]

Hi there, I have more room for you in the US. Come on down. LOL. You are welcome!!

[fiorastar]

It's so nice to know that, for once, a Canadian is envious of the US rather than the other way around. ;)

And of course, you also just avoided a huge influx of new immigrants last Wednesday--we were ready with our passports and our tank filled.

Now let's get to work on some relief for the poor ancient forests both in Canada and the US that are being completely decimated by multi-national forestry companies in a global rotation of clear cutting.

[Harmony1812]

I love Obamade! Gimme more!

[Geranium]

"FDR 2"?? I thought the consensus was that it was going to be "Camelot 2"???

[starboymikey]

I had a feeling he was going to do something like this. I think it's a great idea. He will be getting a lot of resistance to many of his initiatives. Anyone else remember the propaganda commercials against Hillary's health care initiative? Do you seriously think the right won't try this again?

Obama needs to explain his plans directly to the voters, and in the Youtube age, this is a great, cost efficient way of doing it.

You go, big guy!

[KindMisica]

I just subscribed to changedotgov on youtube. Looking forward for future broadcasts.

[jmbrtief]

I just went on youtube and couldn't find a way to subscribe to changedotgov. I'm fairlly computer illiterate. Help!

[dubstyleenation]

go here: http://www.youtube.com/user/changedotgov
hit the big subscribe button. You have to be logged into your youtube account first.

[BlueZoo]

What a contrast with the Republican candidate who not only didn't know how to use a computer but didn't want to learn! It is imperative that our President and his staff access all available means of communication with "we the people" and this is an extremely good step in the right direction. Bravo!

[weatherwaxx]

When your constituents don't believe in evolution, change for the better is scary.

[Mister X]

Seriously. This is moving forward. Computer, digital-friendly government. Smart.

[Harmony1812]

LOL McCain can't use a computer - guess he's out of luck!

[dubstyleenation]

The media is always playing clips from Bush's weekly radio address. I for one have never heard any of these addresses. They are a myth for all I'm concerned. Having Obama address youtube in his weekly address makes it that much more accessible. Good for him and for us.

[BlueZoo]

Trust me. The Bush radio addresses were dry as dirt. He never said anything the MSM even repeated that day in news broadcasts. Even Reagan was better!

[roshni]

I confess I got into the habit of changing the channel or putting the radio on mute every time Bush appeared on spoke. He was always an embarassment.
I actually look for Obama speeches and video clips. Can't get enough.

[Pupadup4oBama]

ME TOO!

[MANK]

The world will be tuned in!

[wak84]

This is awesome! I came to support Obama over two years ago, before he announced, by listening to his podcasts done for his Illinois constituency. I listened to his well-reasoned rhetoric while on the eliptical at the Y. Alas, after the campaign got rolling, those podcasts stopped and I really missed them.

btw--I'm a 46 year old mom. He and his staff are so tech saavy that they will command the topics and set the agenda for the nation by using YouTube and iTunes....­a fantastic way to start a durable Democratic majority well into the future (thanks, Karl Rove!)

[trebo12]

You and me both. I loved listening to them and was so disappointed when they stopped but I knew he was gettting ready for his destiny as President of The United States. I'm from Illinois and I knew when he got elected to the Senate, that he would just be 'passing through'. I am so happy to hear he's back with his transparent messages. It almost made me shed a tear - I missed those podcasts so much!

[Jenababy]

I lived in Illinois when he was getting started in his political career. I knew the first time I heard him speaking to workers at a Maytag factory in Galesburg, Il., who were loosing their jobs, he was destined for great things. I thought then that here was a man that had charisma, who touched people. I was thrilled to vote for him as President,, since I have moved out to CA. now. He is the real deal, he's going to make us all proud we voted for him. I'd love to see a forum where we could submit questions, that he might answer on his web cast. It would be fantastic if we could actually voice our opinions or ideas and hear him reply online.

[Scarllatti]

Thank you folks from Illinois for giving America a real President!!! Barack Obama!!!!

[Harmony1812]

And the whole world can watch!

[Giada]

I sooo happy to hear this ...

I read the 10M data base would continue to receive weekly emails, and Gov spending will be posted on the Net.

HBO is producing a 7 part special on the Obama campaign.

[STEVE-OC]

Is this like Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro's weekly report? All your going to hear is BS.

[ScoutandBuckGoodDogs]

Cram it.

[dubstyleenation]

so bitter.

[6bd]

Just wait......­.......whe­ther you like it or not......t­he world around you will improve...­...take note, and be certain to thank Obama when your circumstances improve.

[starboymikey]

Is this like Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro's weekly report? All your going to hear is BS.
__________­__________­__________­__________­__________­__________­__________­_

And you're out to provide us with some practice in hearing it?

[meemu]

RotFLMAO

[pgurlatl]

I don't know how Obama balances being incredibly intelligent and highly intellectual but still be someone who listens to musical artists from Jay-Z to Miles Davis, teases his daughters about the Jonas brothers, kisses his wife all the time in public, and is still forgiving of those who seek to destroy him.

The man has an incredible knack for outreach. Absolutely incredible.

[weatherwaxx]

We're looking at an intelligent, self-aware grown-up. Isn't it a lovely change?

[roshni]

And the man can cook Indian food.
Could he get any better?

[Pupadup4oBama]

he is a special person.
I am a lot like him according to our Keirsey report survey...:­). - Idealist.
I'm honored.

[Harmony1812]

He's smart, tender, compassionate, sexy - but he's still tough and commanding. Amazing. And we get Michelle in the bargain!

[whitestripes]

I wondered if he would take his strategies he used in his campaign and use them as a way to govern. I think he is brilliant for going this route. Imagine a president who you actually feel connected with and who will inspire you to get involved? It's such an awesome thing and exactly what our nation needs.

[ChicagoDMT]

BRILLIANT!

[Bronxcutie]

This is awesome! I am so proud of him. He has changed my life. He has made me want to become a public servant. If it's God's will for me to be elected in the New York State Senate or Assembly, or the U.S. House of Reps, I owe it all to Barack Obama.

I will continue to pray for Barack and Joe. They are competent, but they are inheriting the devastating trail of an incompetent and law-breaking administration.

[roshni]

Follow your dreams and work hard. That's what I've been telling my daughter.

[tobyjack]

Now if only the Obama campaign in Elbert County Colorado would return the laptop I loaned them before the election. Our campaign Co-ordinator, Gagan Gupta from North Carolina personally promised me that it would be returned. Now, no one answwers the phone, the office is closed, the Chair of the Elbert County Democrats will not respond to my emails or calls and I am out a $2000 laptop. Is that transparent or not?

[pgurlatl]

I am sorry about that. I am sure it was a misunderstanding. Have you tried contacting the Chicago home office?

[ScoutandBuckGoodDogs]

Honestly this issue of the laptop has nothing to do with Obama. It's not like HE took it. Why don't you file a police report? Did you have a written agreement with them? Any way to prove that it's yours? Go that route, but don't behave as if Obama himself ran up to you and yanked it out of your arms and then ran off. This article is about something totally different. Air your grievances about your laptop in a more appropriate forum.

[tobyjack]

I never said President Elect Obama took it. I campaigned fiercly for his election. I am just trying to express my frustration with being ripped off by the campaign office in this county!

[Tavat]

Dude, that sucks.