Against the Grain: Obama's BlackBerry against the rules
Geoffrey Blain
Issue date: 12/2/08 Section: Technology
Barack Obama wants his BlackBerry back. And rightfully so.
At 47, Barack Obama has, to an extent much larger than any of his predecessors, grown accustomed to using technology. Anyone who has ever browsed through a gallery of photos of the President-elect has likely come across a few of the incoming president lost in his BlackBerry, which he uses to stay in contact with everyone from family to advisors.
White House staff have told Obama he will not be able to use his BlackBerry once he takes office due to safety concerns. Historically, the president forgoes his cell phone and personal e-mail accounts when they enter the Oval Office; however, it is likely Obama will be the first President to have a laptop on his desk.
Not long after the Nov. 4 election, Verizon employees hacked into Obama's records, which many used as evidence the no-technology rule is a good one.
The Presidential Records Act is also being used to force Obama away from his phone. The Act provides that any communications or correspondence by the president is owned by the public and is subject to historical review.
"One of the things that I'm going to have to work through is how to break through the isolation, the bubble that exists around the president," Obama said during an interview with Barbara Walters. "And I'm in the process of negotiating with the Secret Service, with lawyers, with White House staff [...] to figure out how can I get information from outside of the 10 or 12 people who surround my office in the White House. Because one of the worst things I think that can happen to a president is losing touch with the struggles that people are going through every day."
Obama has a strong case for keeping his BlackBerry. It would help him stay in touch with other leaders, advisors and would reduce the amount of time it takes to get information to the commander in chief.
Not to mention that eventually this rule is going to have to be lifted. There is no way that a future president, perhaps someone just in university now, is going to be told they can't use technology. To be a 20-something today is to be dependant on using technology not just to stay in touch, but for everything.
At 47, Barack Obama has, to an extent much larger than any of his predecessors, grown accustomed to using technology. Anyone who has ever browsed through a gallery of photos of the President-elect has likely come across a few of the incoming president lost in his BlackBerry, which he uses to stay in contact with everyone from family to advisors.
White House staff have told Obama he will not be able to use his BlackBerry once he takes office due to safety concerns. Historically, the president forgoes his cell phone and personal e-mail accounts when they enter the Oval Office; however, it is likely Obama will be the first President to have a laptop on his desk.
Not long after the Nov. 4 election, Verizon employees hacked into Obama's records, which many used as evidence the no-technology rule is a good one.
The Presidential Records Act is also being used to force Obama away from his phone. The Act provides that any communications or correspondence by the president is owned by the public and is subject to historical review.
"One of the things that I'm going to have to work through is how to break through the isolation, the bubble that exists around the president," Obama said during an interview with Barbara Walters. "And I'm in the process of negotiating with the Secret Service, with lawyers, with White House staff [...] to figure out how can I get information from outside of the 10 or 12 people who surround my office in the White House. Because one of the worst things I think that can happen to a president is losing touch with the struggles that people are going through every day."
Obama has a strong case for keeping his BlackBerry. It would help him stay in touch with other leaders, advisors and would reduce the amount of time it takes to get information to the commander in chief.
Not to mention that eventually this rule is going to have to be lifted. There is no way that a future president, perhaps someone just in university now, is going to be told they can't use technology. To be a 20-something today is to be dependant on using technology not just to stay in touch, but for everything.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
John Sin
posted 12/04/08 @ 7:54 PM EST
Not enough commas.....
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