Experts: Obama's Only Begun To Use The Web

He's Expected To Harness Its Power To Help Him Govern Just As He Did To Help Him Get Elected, Reports Daniel Sieberg

(CBS)  Barack Obama is widely seen as the first presidential candidate to make the Internet a powerful tool in his campaign.

And now, reports CBS News Science and Technology Correspondent Daniel Sieberg, the Web will likely be just as important to the president-elect when he takes office.

Obama used the Web to get his message out, especially to young voters, Sieberg noted on The Early Show Friday.

This election cycle, Sieberg observed, the online push went further than the candidates' personal Web sites, as both Mr. Obama and John McCain tapped into the newest forms of social interaction, from Facebook to MySpace, even text messages. Obama employed the Web to raise record amounts of money for a presidential campaign.

"A lot of elections have been won because of television appearances," Doug Jaeger, a Web designer for thehappycorp.com, told Sieberg. "How people are appearing on the Internet is becoming more and more important."

Mr. Obama must now shift from campaign mode to governing mode with his cyber-supporters, Sieberg points out.

"The Internet has changed the game dramatically," says Andrew Rasiej, founder of TechPresident.com. "It's as if, in 2004, the Internet was allowed into the conference room of politics; in 2006, it was allowed to sit at the table; but in 2008, it's sitting at the head of the table, holding the agenda."

Mr. Obama has said he'd like to appoint a chief technology officer, perhaps at the cabinet level, and he's made it clear he will embrace new technologies in office -- technologies such as Skype, a video tool Sieberg used to get this quote from John Tedesco, a Virginia Tech political communications professor: "(Mr.) Obama recognized that young voters are using social networking sites and social networking software, and he brought his campaign to the young voters online."

Ultimately, according to tech experts, the most important part of Mr. Obama's future strategy is to ensure his digital followers continue to feel empowered.

Says Rasiej, "We're going to see this online community become really the special interest of the Obama presidency. Not the lobbyists, not the people who've traditionally give money, but the people who actually know how to use these tools to make sure that their voices are heard."

Think of it, suggest Sieberg, as the 21st century equivalent of giving power to the people.

And, Sieberg says, there's a sense that people are going to become more deeply involved in local politics, from school boards to running for office themselves, as a result of this online empowerment.

[shimano35]

Obamas knows how to use the internet, wow what a start to his next 4, I wonder if hes good at pac-man!!!

[incog-nito]

shimano35: Let me guess: You''re 93 years old.

[shimano35]

Incog-nito---Let me guess--your 10.

[oldanalyst]

I wish you had a triteness meter which would reject many of the comments you publish.

An administration that knows how to use modern communication is poised to make a huge difference in the way this country is run. One implication is that we will have to bring a large segment of our population on board with internet capabilities.

Having a cabinet level position would probably allow us to enjoy the positive aspects and keep us out of the pitfalls of the internet.

I strongly endorse the move. I''m 72 and have been using the internet since it was first developed. No, I don''t play PacMan since the two are not related.

[irmcvet97]

Obamas knows how to use the internet, wow what a start to his next 4, I wonder if hes good at pac-man!!!

Posted by shimano35 at 11:03 AM : Nov 07, 2008

Since YOU obviously was NOT involved in or belonged to the Winning side this time, maybe you should find out about this! Only an IDIOT would see Obama raise all the money he did and develop a following of over 3 MILLION donors and NOT want to know how. IF he does NOT use the Internet, if he does NOT talk directly to us, the People, then the Limbaugh''s and O''Riley''s of this world will be TELLING those with feeble minds what he means what he wants to do. What became PAINFULLY clear to the Reich in this election was that their LIES, Rumors, distortion and Mud Slinging was of LITTLE Value when WE the PEOPLE can talk to each other!! WE can, MUST, be successful and I believe this YOUNG VERY INTELLIGENT American can LEAD us there.

[cbscrash072]

Great now it won''t be enough to just unplug my TV. I was really hoping to tune out for next couple years.

[aster6]

For a president to use the power of the internet to directly communicate with the people is unprecedented and amazing! If he actually chose to once in a while respond himself to a blog would be outstanding! No other power on earth would allow this, and no other leader. Can you imagine a president that would actully keep people informed this way and listen too????
He will indeed make history again if he does!

[oscarez]

cbscrash072 - I''m sure no one is going to miss you while you are gone!!!

[socialismsux]

Indeed, one of the anti-Christ'' main methods of controlling the world''s population will be modern day internet technology

[socialismsux]

Obamas knows how to use the internet, wow what a start to his next 4, I wonder if hes good at pac-man!!!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by shimano35 at 11:03 AM : Nov 07, 2008


LOL!

[socialismsux]

"Since YOU obviously was NOT involved"
posted by Irmcvet97

Nice grammar there MCVet.

Come on now, just for old time''s sake, give us one of your patented "Sieg Heils!!!"

Come on, have you lost your touch?

[ramos937]

Early in the campaign, McCain was asked if what he knew about the internet. His reply was, "nothing". He did not even use e mails.

McCain was beat before he really got started.

[ramos937]

Used in the right way, the net could be used to raise funds for local and state races. This would mean that the only "special interests" a winning candidate would have would be the folks that would send him $25, $40, $50. Obama showed the way, now let''s see if others follow.

[norepubs]

.......Don''t know whose a s s your head has been stuck up,but the real anti-christ will be leaving public office on Jan. 20th.......
Good riddance!!!!!!!
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''


Indeed, one of the anti-Christ'''' main methods of controlling the world''''s population will be modern day internet technology

Posted by SocialismSux

[neo269]

Of course it''s only the beginning. His campaign was nothing but empty promises and propaganda - this is the only way to keep spreading it.

[hawkscreech]

If Obama had taken only public funds for his campaign, as he promised when he began his run, the Internet would not have made that much difference...

[hawkscreech]

This was the first of many, many lies to come...

[velma179]

Ah c''mon,

Are some of you going to lie, cry, moan and groan every day for the next four (and very likely, eight) years? If so, I feel for you -- hatred and anger destroy the ones who carry them inside far more than the ones they try to negate.

You are Americans. We elect leaders to represent us, the majority rules.

The inclusive-to-all-citizens internet plan of the incoming administration is the same concept as John McCain spoke of often -- transparency in government. You liked it then, try to think positive now. Really, put country first -- why don''t ya...

[irmcvet97]

Of course it''''s only the beginning. His campaign was nothing but empty promises and propaganda - this is the only way to keep spreading it.

Posted by Neo269 at 08:58 PM : Nov 07, 2008

You people are SICK! I''m serous! Here is a President who is going to talk to me DIRECTLY, not through some pill taking Talking Head, and YOU find that upsetting! In addition you have no more of an Idea what the American People were looking for in this election than a Man in the Moon! The BIGGEST, the MOST important think the PEOPLE wanted was a CHANGE in COURSE!! For over 70% of us that was NUMBER ONE on their LIST. Now are YOU saying Obama is NOT going to do that? You really should stay away from the Kool Aid there Sparky... Far away!!

[irmcvet97]

Come on now, just for old time''''s sake, give us one of your patented "Sieg Heils!!!"

Come on, have you lost your touch?

Posted by SocialismSux at 03:17 PM : Nov 07, 2008


LOL THAT is all you got out of that post!? No wonder you poor fools still think "Trickle Down" will work!! LOL But what''s even more funny is that YOU poor fools actually think the American People will buy it EVER again!! LOL Yeah you folks have so much to brag about in the Intelligence Area! ROFLMAO NOT!!

[irmcvet97]

If Obama had taken only public funds for his campaign, as he promised when he began his run, the Internet would not have made that much difference...

Posted by hawkscreech at 03:22 PM : Nov 08, 2008

Good grief! Do you poor people believe EVERYTHING the Talking Heads tell you? Now IF you had the ability to THINK for yourself, you would have checked out the LIE, because that''s what it is, and you wouldn''t look STUPID!! WE the PEOPLE... YOU do remember us don''t you? Yeah that''s right Sparky, WE the PEOPLE, wanted him NOT to take it and HE never promised he wouldn''t.... ONLY that he would discuss it!! LOL I know this scares the *** out of you poor "Party" first people but the President is SUPPOSED to represent us.

[irmcvet97]

This was the first of many, many lies to come...

Posted by hawkscreech at 03:23 PM : Nov 08, 2008

YOU consider this a LIE?? Sparky! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?? You want LIES? There are 935 of em'' listed on line. THOSE lies? They nearly bankrupted us AND caused the death of THOUSANDS of our best and brightest! Go look them up... READ them. Then drive through just ANY community in this nation and SEE for yourself what "Trickle Down" has done to WE the PEOPLE. YOU want LIES? Now Sparky THERE are some REAL serious LIES for you!!

[horse3farm]

So our voices will be heard...we''ll see if there is any action. Sounds like another elitist smoke screen to me.

[horse3farm]

The smooth talker will now be a smooth writer.

[bladdy10]

If he read the website, The Benefactor Project he could create 300,000 opportunities for people to get out of poverty with jobs and free houses and he could do it in 60 seconds. Maybe you would like to bring it to his attention?

[downsteamjim]

Good liberals are already getting ready to limit free speech with the ''fairness doctrine''. In liberal talk, fairness means being politically correct. Perhaps they will extend it to the internet.