Experts: Obama's Only Begun To Use The Web
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.
Copyright 2009 CBS. All rights reserved. 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.
- Dad Punishes Daughter with Free Babysitter Ad Play Video
- How to stop junk mail - forever
- 'Sex And The City' Premieres Play Video
- Teen's Facebook Sex Scam Play Video
- Legit Work-from-Home Websites - and the Scams
- Best Low-Tech Cell Phones Suitable for Seniors
- "CBS This Morning" debuts Monday Play Video
- Reporter's Anorexia Problem Play Video














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!!
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.
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!!
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!!
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...