The Obama Transition As Reality TV
By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Barack, Good Decisions, Technology, Transparency, VideoOne very smart thing Obama’s team is doing is documenting what is going on behind the scenes so if the American public wants to find out more, they can.
First, take a look at this piece about the environment and energy team…
Note how they’re talking about how their policies will help create jobs, but still be bi-partisanship. And this consistent messaging makes me believe that it isn’t just lip service. I genuinely believe that Obama and the people who are working for him want to unify this country in a way I’ve never experience in my lifetime.
Now check out this video where somebody from Obama’s energy team actually answers questions that people submitted to the Change.gov website…
It’s pretty clear to me that Obama is completely changing the game by using social technologies like YouTube and blogs and comments to make Americans feel like they’re really included in this presidency and that we’re united by a common purpose to make this country better. It’s as if nearly everybody can have a seat at the table if they want to be included. All they have to do is add their voice at Change.gov and they can be part of the conversation.
And after 8 years of a historically secretive administration, this level of transparency is not just refreshing…it’s imperative to restoring people’s faith in government.
This entry was posted on Saturday, November 22nd, 2008 and is filed under Barack, Good Decisions, Technology, Transparency, Video. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
November 22nd, 2008 at 4:05 pm
As I recall, the consistent messaging coming from the Bush administration was referred to as Rove’s “Talking Points.” The mindless repetition of the same repeated phrases coming from the blogosphere was the “wingnut echo chamber”. But this is different now. It’s on YouTube.
As always when dealing with politicians - it’s not the talk, it’s the walk.
Even if the talk is on YouTube.
November 22nd, 2008 at 4:28 pm
My name’s link is a quick satire on the reality TV aspects of things like this.
It’s as if nearly everybody can have a seat at the table if they want to be included. All they have to do is add their voice at Change.gov and they can be part of the conversation.
No one can be that delusional, right? Of course, the weasel word there is “almost”; those who would point out all the ways BHO is incredibly wrong would either be ignored, investigated, or shouted down via the megaphone BHO has but his opponents don’t have.
Expect a lot of “honest conversations” ahead:
http://24ahead.com/blog/archives/007603.html
November 22nd, 2008 at 4:44 pm
There’s a difference between partisan talking points meant to make the other side look like the enemy and consistent messaging about bi-partisanship and pragmatic policy.
Also, by showcasing their meetings on YouTube and answering questions submitted by Americans, this is putting Obama’s “talk” of unity into action. So what you’re seeing is “walk.”
November 22nd, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Indeed. The difference is almost completely attributable to whether the person doing the listening agrees with the person doing the talking.
We’ll see the walk when we see the bills in Congress and the executive orders out of the Oval Office. Until then, it’s talk.
November 22nd, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Mike, your first comment was about the idea that there’s no difference between what Obama’s team is saying and what Rove and the blogosphere have said…just that I’m characterizing them differently. Well, if you watch the video, they’re talking specifically about bi-partisanship, while Rove and the wingnut/moonbat blogosphere were never talking about those things. So that’s not a matter of opinion nor semantics.
Also, your definition of “walk” is much more narrow and limiting then I think is appropriate, but this is obviously a personal preference. However, I’d argue that what you see here should count since they’re actively posting their meetings online and answering Americans questions. That’s transparency in action, and we haven’t seen that before from any President.
November 23rd, 2008 at 6:51 pm
[...] I highlighted this yesterday, and today NBC takes a look at how Obama is using the internet to get his message out as the President elect. [...]
November 24th, 2008 at 7:19 am
This is hysterical. Folks, this isn’t transparency. It’s simply a politician using some newer channels of communication to promote an image. Social media is still media, and it’s as susceptible to manipulation as any other communication channel. But because it “feels” more truthy, we react differently to it than we would, say, a TV commercial. We assume that social media is honest. Careful with that.
November 24th, 2008 at 8:12 am
Exactly.
November 24th, 2008 at 8:15 am
Now wait a second, EI…there’s a big difference between a politician pushing talking points through a pundit show and this. These are people who would usually stay exclusively behind the scenes, but we’re seeing a more unvarnished view. Yes, of course it’s still tape and people understand that they’re being taped, but it doesn’t make it false.
And nobody is saying that just because it’s social media it’s honest. Still, tell me how it’s dishonest. Until you can prove that, giving these people the benefit of the doubt is appropriate.
November 24th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Justin, you can’t convince a cynic, much less a cynic whose ideology predisposes them against a candidate. Just remember that they’re all crooks and liars and you’ll be fine.
November 24th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Justin,
Sorry, but what about that “meeting” makes you think that it wasn’t staged for the camera ?
November 25th, 2008 at 6:56 am
[...] analysis of Obama’s Change.gov website and the new President-Elect’s use of YouTube. “It’s as if nearly everybody can have a seat at the table if they want to be included. All [...]
November 25th, 2008 at 11:52 am
[...] has a Youtube channel where it posts videos from different offices about what they are working on. Donkelephant says it’s like Obama and his team are a reality show playing out in front of the nation via [...]