Under Obama, Web Would Be the Way: Unprecedented Online Outreach Expected

[DeepModem Mom]

WP: Under Obama, Web Would Be the Way
Unprecedented Online Outreach Expected
By Shailagh Murray and Matthew Mosk
Washington Post Staff Writers
Monday, November 10, 2008; A02

CHICAGO -- Armed with millions of e-mail addresses and a political operation that harnessed the Internet like no campaign before it, Barack Obama will enter the White House with the opportunity to create the first truly "wired" presidency.

Obama aides and allies are preparing a major expansion of the White House communications operation, enabling them to reach out directly to the supporters they have collected over 21 months without having to go through the mainstream media.

Just as John F. Kennedy mastered television as a medium for taking his message to the public, Obama is poised to transform the art of political communication once again, said Joe Trippi, a Democratic strategist who first helped integrate the Internet into campaigning four years ago. "He's going to be the first president to be connected in this way, directly, with millions of Americans," Trippi said.

The nucleus of that effort is an e-mail database of more than 10 million supporters....

***

(T)he president-elect's http://www.change.gov transition Web site features a blog and a suggestion form, signaling the kinds of direct and instantaneous interaction that the Obama administration will encourage, perhaps with an eye toward turning its following into the biggest special-interest group in Washington.

Once Obama is sworn in, those backers may be summoned to push reluctant members of Congress to support legislation, to offer feedback on initiatives and to enlist in administration-supported causes in local communities. Obama would also be positioned to ask his supporters to back his favored candidates with fundraising and turnout support in the 2010 midterm elections....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/10/AR2008111000013_pf.html

[pinto]

1. This will be really interesting to watch develop.

:thumbsup:

[DeepModem Mom]

2. Absolutely! If supporters in large numbers could be activated to support legislation...

candidates, etc., that would be really valuable going forward.

[pinto]

3. Yeah, and *utilizing* the thing keeps it in place. We'll see how it plays out.

[DrToast]

5. This is why 60 senators may not be as crucial as thought

Look at a state like Iowa, which Obama won by 9 points. What happens if their Republican senator opposes Obama and his office gets flooded with calls telling him they want him to support the legislation.

[DrToast]

4. As his campaign was revolutionary, so will his Presidency be

Obama is going to blow the lid of this thing.