Web-Savvy Obama Team Hits Unexpected Bumps

CBS ^ | 3/2/09 | Jose Vargas

[anniegetyourgun]

The team that ran the most technologically advanced presidential campaign in modern history is finding it difficult to adapt that model to government. WhiteHouse.gov, envisioned as the primary vehicle for President Obama to communicate with the online masses, has been overwhelmed by challenges that staffers did not foresee and technological problems they have yet to solve.

Obama, for example, would like to send out mass e-mail updates on presidential initiatives, but the White House does not have the technology in place to do so. The same goes for text messaging, another campaign staple.

[madison10]

*Looking for violin*

[2ndDivisionVet]

I could’ve beat Senator John McCain with a (D) behind my name, and so could’ve you. The Republican nominee was doomed, especially after the September economic collapse and McCain's stupid reaction to it. Governor Palin as running mate just made it a loss, rather than a debacle.

[OneWingedShark]

...And they’ve never heard of a mail-list?

[anniegetyourgun]

Sigh....just part and parcel of his endless campaign....

[mylife]

You mean these whiz kids dont really know what they are doing?

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

Well I guess we’ll just have to start up 435 local Town Halls live and in person to DEBATE these ideas the old-fashioned way.

Anybody want to help me with this project?

[mylife]

Look for these idiots to breach the Gov firewall sending out mass emails and text.

[muawiyah]

Reading through the whole piece and the various comments on the WarshPost site (where this originally appeared) it would seem that Obama's staff think the best deal is to use the internet to UPDATE previously sent Obama messages.

Think that one through ~ they want a system in place that will change what's already been sent.

Not that Obama intends to send entirely new and different messages ~ just to change the old ones!

This is a 1984 "memory hole" item that should not pass by unnoticed. Frankly I doubt anyone working close to Obama even understands the reference although they seem to understand Big Brother's basic idea.

[goodnesswins]

What’s he gonna do....get EVERY email in the US and email us his every thought? Talk about over-saturation....even my normally not political husband now thinks he’s a weird narcissistic crazy....and, if WE get an email from the Whitehouse......our spam guard will take care of it...LOL.

[exist]

Technology-savvy compares to the McCain. Ok then.

[muawiyah]

What happened in September was not really an economic collapse compared to the ones we've had since November 4.

All of this could have been avoided you know.

[LibFreeOrDie]

the Obama administration will run the most accessible, transparent, Web-savvy government in history.

Apparently Joe ("What's the number of the Web site?) Biden didn't get the memo...

[txroadkill]

It's good to see another great piece of hard hitting journalism from CBS. I'm sure glad they aren't reporting those ‘puff pieces’ about cabinet officials who owe back taxes.

[Tex Pete]

I think this is an excuse as to why Obama has put up very little useful information on whitehouse.gov. They want us to be kept in the dark.

[mass55th]

"Obama, for example, would like to send out mass e-mail updates on presidential initiatives, but the White House does not have the technology in place to do so. "

Look for an earmark to cover this in the next stimulus Bill.

[Syncro]

He should get his BlackBarry back.

[txroadkill]

been trying to manage high expectations that the Obama administration will run the most accessible, transparent, Web-savvy government in history.

I'm guessing "Turbo-Tax" isn't in their software resume either.

[MaxMax]

Is using taxpayer funds legal to use for campaign promotion?