The Town Hall Reimagined: President Obama In 140 Characters Or Less

So, humanity's first "Twitter town hall" is now in the books. Was it everything you hoped it would be? My wish is that if we all agree to behave ourselves, there won't be any more of these things. As someone who grew up thrilling to history lessons on subjects like the Lincoln-Douglas debates, I just sort of feel bad for the future America in which school children will be taught about that time President Barack Obama responded to a tweet from @schnaps.

But, this Twitter town hall was nevertheless a thing that happened today. As with any time social media gets knit up into the world of politics and the media, the actual platform was little more than part of the scenery. Tweets appeared on a screen, and Jack Dorsey (a.k.a. @jack, the Guy From Twitter), read the questions aloud, much in the same way CNN has been doing ever since they discovered Twitter. President Obama then provided lengthy extemporaeous answers to those questions. Aside from a tweet Obama himself sent at the outset, soliciting suggestions for what programs should be cut or preserved in the debt ceiling debate (cue the RNC making fun of this -- "Obama seeks help on Twitter for how to do his job"), there was hardly any tweeting involved. The questions may have well been pulled from a hat, or carried into the room via pigeon, or even just asked, in real time, by people standing right there!

At one point, Obama quipped that he understood that on Twitter, answers should be brief. And that got us thinking: What if Obama also have to confine himself to answering each question with only 140 characters? The town hall would have been much shorter in duration, for one thing! But would the answers have been as revealing or as substantive? Well, we took our best shot at answering that question, by condensing Obama's town hall answers into tweet-sized responses.

One day, we will all communicate like this. And then: extinction!

Below, some of our favorite tweeted questions and what we think President Obama's response would have been if he'd had but one tweet.

@DrewHampshire asks: What mistakes have you made in handling this recession and what would you do differently? #askObama

@BarackObama: After 5 right things I did right, we should have talked more, America. #mybad

@dmscott asks: #AskObama Tech & knowledge industries are thriving, yet jobs discussion always centers on manufacturing. Why not be realistic about jobs?

@BarackObama: Srsly, Steve Jobs should let iPads be manufactured in American sweatshops instead of Chinese ones. #alsogreenjobs

@dwhite105 asks: Higher ed. is necessary for a stronger economy, but for some middle class Americans it's becoming too expensive. What can be done? #askobama

@BarackObama: We are sending more kids to college, w/ more Pell Grants, etc. (They should stay there til recession is over.)

@_RenegadeNerd_ asks: #AskObama Mr. President, will you issue an executive order to raise the debt ceiling pursuant to section 4 of the 14th amendment?

@BarackObama: Quick econ explanation: If debt limit isn't raised, world will make fun of us...bet @_renegadenerd_ didn't know that!

@pmglynn asks: Mr. President, In several states we have seen people lose their collective bargaining rights. Do you have a plan to rectify this? #AskObama

@BarackObama: Without collective bargaining, GOP will kill weekends....maybe.

@johnboehner (Speaker of the House John Boehner) asks: After embarking on a record spending binge that’s left us deeper in debt, where are the jobs? #AskObama

@BarackObama: I CAN HAZ MOAR INFRASTRUCTURE STIMULUS, PLS?

@pedsnursemarcia asks: @AssignmentDesk1 #AskObama Public Edu here in CA falling apart. Not grad enough skilled workers or smart citizens. Privitization looming?

@BarackObama: More interwebs in schools (less rats.)

@ModeledBehavior asks: So will you raise taxes on the middle class at least to W Bush levels @askObama @townhall

@BarackObama: But I cut taxes! Just remember that, okay? But yeah, can I instill some Clinton-era nostalgia in rich people, pls?.

@MostlyModerate says: @whitehouse Cut subsidies to industries which are no longer in crisis or are unsuccessful: Cotton Oil Corn subsidies for ethanol

@BarackObama: Wood chip & algae energy>corn ethanol...but do they come in kettle roasted flavors?

@Ron says: Now that the space shuttle is gone, where does America stand in space exploration?

@BarackObama: AHHA! But w/o tax cuts millionaires & billionaires won't be able to afford space vacations will they, @GOPleader?

@BarackObama: But srsly: WE HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED THE ASTEROID YET. #marsbitches

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Comments

[Marie Russell-Barker]

05:04 PM on 07/07/2011

I rather enjoyed watching the President answer questions on twitter, of course they had to hand pick the ones that the President answered. They left mine out because it was not in the form of a question but a plea.

I think it gave the American a chance to at least be able to contact their President even if their questions was not chosen.

The Republican really should stop trying to capitalize on everything that the President do. Some things they need to try to copy like get another song to sing except NO Tax Cuts, or Smaller Government The People do not want any more taxes, instead of saying my rich friends do not want us to raise taxes these are the American People you are speaking of not the citizens. Then we the people can understand with out looking around for that person who do not want their taxes raised or a smaller government.

This way we would know who they are like, the Oil and Gas Co. Big Businesses Bankers and please don't for get about our friends the Koch Brothers how do that grab you Mr Speaker. You have not done one thing to help bring jobs to America and you have the guts to tweet where are the jobs oh please give us a break.

[Ron666wood]

12:49 PM on 07/07/2011

If you think Obama is in trouble for his re-election.....LQQK at what the republican­s have...the perennial presidenti­al candidate Paul, the "stormin Mormon" mother of Obamacare, Mitt, or the "Obama Mormom, Huntzman, the refugee from St. Olaf's, Bachmann, the man from Aquila, Herman Cain, "Mr. Excitement­, "T-Paw, the "280 million jobs" man, Santorum, and a reptile, Newt!!! But wait...WAI­T...we have MR. SECESSION himself...­ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A PALIN....P­ERRY!!!”

[norkas]

09:40 AM on 07/07/2011

Discourse and blind ignorance from smart people is often used in comments here.

Many people who blog here are Obama supporters and will often disagree with him and all you have to do is read the comments carefully.

Using the word liberal as a talking point for nay conservatives here that have not woken up to the fact that Democrats want a balanced budget just as Republican voters but is only the question of how.

Many Republicans who blog here like to live a poisoned life of strife and please beat me up more but do not reflect the thoughts of my many conservative friends who want to see the rich taxed and big corporations who are not paying their fair share taxes.

The extreme right wing wants small government yet they can NEVER DEFINE what the hell they are talking about when you ask them what they would cut.

We can agree on so much it is unreal as voters of both parties but politicians have hooked us to divide big time because it is a big business.

[essbird]

10:07 AM on 07/07/2011

In spite of the word salad, I get you and fave this.

[Ron666wood]

01:00 PM on 07/07/2011

What both sides need to realize is that we, dems, reps, inds and even t-p'ers are in this together. What is done or isn't done is going to affect all of us...equally. Politicians are working for their next election cycle...not their constituents and not for the other 98%. The republicans haven't even attempted to create any jobs because if the economy improves so does Obama's chances to retain the Presidency...that's not my opinion...it's straight from the mouth of Mitch McConnell. The republicans NUMBER ONE priority isn't the budget crisis, isn't the economy, isn't jobs it's getting the country back from Obama.

[4farms]

09:22 AM on 07/07/2011

Who is the dweeb on the left, looks like he stepped out of the 1950's - is that Jack Dorsey, if so he should be called Jack Dorkey

[Spilford1]

09:30 AM on 07/07/2011

he is no relation to PeeWee Herman

[cschoenen]

09:07 AM on 07/07/2011

"What could have been", "No B@lls", "Bought and paid for by Big corporate".......just a few things that come to mind in 140 words or less....

[MUDPUPPY]

08:59 AM on 07/07/2011

I was always taught that if I said I would do something and did not do it, it was the same as lying and I would lose trust. I have a hard time believing anything that Obama says. He is too irresponsible in making promises that he can't keep and making statements about what will happen that do not pan put.

[essbird]

10:42 AM on 07/07/2011

And that makes him unusual among politicians, especially Presidents? I have my gripes with Obama's leadership, but none of us really know what it's like up there, especially with the Republicans behaving like white faced hornets.

If you'd like to see a running tally of his promises, look at www.politifact.com, the Obameter.

The Obameter Scorecard

Promise Kept 137

Compromise 40

Promise Broken 43

Stalled 69

In the Works 217

Not yet rated 2

[GEORGE W TUSH]

08:59 AM on 07/07/2011

REPORT: At 3 PM tomorrow, President Obama will Skype with the entire country while playing Angry Birds with us.

[Moses the Raven]

08:42 AM on 07/07/2011

we're gonna nail holder first, then we'll get ba mmy

[Ron666wood]

02:08 PM on 07/07/2011

How?

[1ConservativeTexasLady]

08:42 AM on 07/07/2011

Don't tell me!!! This is the "intellectual curiosity" that the left is always bragging about, right?


hahahahah~

[rp75]

04:29 PM on 07/07/2011

Coming from someone whos partys spirit traded in william buckley for sarah palin this really is hilarious. Incidentally, we have the success of liberalism to thank for abolition, womens sufferage and the civil rights movement, wrt your mini bio. Thanks for playing.

[Robgrut]

08:37 AM on 07/07/2011

Snip:

The President's own Council of Economic Advisers admits Obama made things worse:

Furthermore, the council reports that, as of two quarters ago, the “stimulus” had added or saved just under 2.7 million jobs — or 288,000 more than it has now. In other words, over the past six months, the economy would have added or saved more jobs without the “stimulus” than it has with it. In comparison to how things would otherwise have been, the “stimulus” has been working in reverse over the past six months, causing the economy to shed jobs.

[bobbyO]

09:25 AM on 07/07/2011

But wasn't the bush tax cuts supposed to stimulate Jobs? If we give more money to big business they will trickle down jobs? Oh and ask GM if the stimulus worked.

[Robgrut]

09:28 AM on 07/07/2011

Obama is the last President to sign a tax relief bill. So you should refer to them as the Obama tax cuts.

[essbird]

09:34 AM on 07/07/2011

The bulk of those shedded jobs have been public sector ones due to local, state, and federal budget cuts. Teachers, firefighters, police, park and rec staff, state workers. Many more related to public works projects like road maintenance. Just like you wanted, eh? So he's doing a great job in your book?

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_16/b4224026297176.htm

[runforfun54]

08:22 AM on 07/07/2011

The twitterverse is alive with ppl laughing at the fact that Boehner "got his question" about jobs into Potus' Town Hall. Well, for starters - do we not find it a little ironic when the GOP campaigned 100% on jobs jobs jobs for the 2010 elections? (But of course, they've been way too busy taking away women's rights) Secondly, do they REALLY think that it was just like that that Boehner's q'ion was asked? And would any Republican allow the reverse? Not a prayer.

[TVMVT]

08:34 AM on 07/07/2011

Aside from your hatred of republicans, the point you are trying to make is......?

[GrandmaG]

08:53 AM on 07/07/2011

Geeze, too bad you don't get it.

[LINDA MCC IN WISCONSIN]

08:34 AM on 07/07/2011

Agreed. Boehner's statement "If we lose 250,000 government jobs, so be it!" will come back to haunt him.

[Sha Zam]

08:21 AM on 07/07/2011

@America

http://www­.scribd.co­m/doc/5812­3701/Al-Ho­dges-6-17-­2011

[TVMVT]

08:16 AM on 07/07/2011

After seeing the Obama tweets, this country is in big trouble. Whether it's war policy or job creation, the man doesn't have a clue. I'm beginning to doubt his grasp on reality.

[runforfun54]

08:23 AM on 07/07/2011

What is your problem?

[TVMVT]

08:27 AM on 07/07/2011

No acceptance for diversity of opinion, liberal? Sounds like you're the one with the problem.

[Robgrut]

08:40 AM on 07/07/2011

He is out of touch for sure. His intelligence has also been completely overestimated. He is of average intellect at best. Just witness him off the teleprompter. It is kind of embarrassing and painful to watch.

[Elderlady]

08:16 AM on 07/07/2011

I don't tweet, and don't plan to start.

IMHO......Using Twitter, and calling it a "town hall" ..... is a really screwed up way...... to run a country.

[TVMVT]

08:23 AM on 07/07/2011

Twitter is the latest and greatest impersonal form of communication and Obama is all about political manipulation. But you're right, calling a "twitter fest" a "town hall" shows a complete lack of class.

[runforfun54]

08:23 AM on 07/07/2011

Well, if you don't use Twitter, then you wouldn't understand, but it is the way that young people - who will hold the key to the next election -- communicate and a valid way for a leader to reach new people.

[LINDA MCC IN WISCONSIN]

08:37 AM on 07/07/2011

f/f! Agree totally. Young people don't read a newspaper or watch nightly news. They get their news via twitter, facebook, and other internet sites.

[1ConservativeTexasLady]

08:39 AM on 07/07/2011

Don't count your chickens before the hatch. Young people aren't fired up about Obama like they were last election. Many have graduated and can't find job in Obama's recession. He isn't too popular with the young people right now~

[Moses the Raven]

08:13 AM on 07/07/2011

Saving the world economy from Gaddafi - Gold Dinar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PLJu0X14vmg