A President Gone Viral

On Nov. 14, President-elect Barack Obama uploaded his first weekly address to YouTube.

While he won’t take office for a few months, Obama addressed his hope that Congress will provide aid to those suffering from the economic crisis. He also went so far as to say that if the problem is still there when he took office, it will be his first priority.

The video strikes up an immediate comparison to Roosevelt’s fireside chats in the 1930s. While I doubt families will huddle around the computer with warm cups of cocoa to watch, it is an excellent move on Obama’s part.

If he maintains a regular schedule, he’ll have more than 200 personal discussions with the American public during the next four years. I sincerely hope this happens and doesn’t deteriorate into a situation where Obama is too busy, and the videos are just Malia and Sasha Obama playing with the family dog. Actually, that sounds even better.

There’s something strange about seeing the next president alongside other YouTube videos of sneezing pandas and crying-scene kids, and it slightly cheapens the authority of it all.

YouTube is this era’s equivalent to the radio that Roosevelt used.

This isn’t new for Obama, a man who has whole-heartedly embraced the Internet more than any politician (except for maybe Howard Dean).

Before he was considered for president, Obama had a series of podcasts that detailed his work in the Senate and bills he was working to pass. These updates were enjoyable and held Obama slightly more accountable for what he was doing each week. Considering he hasn’t been in the Senate very long, I wasn’t surprised when the podcasts stopped.

If these YouTube videos are more enduring, it will be a tremendous step towards involving people in the executive process.

What’s been one of Obama’s biggest strengths in the political race was his effort to make Joe Shmoe feel empowered. By comparison, when Bush II spoke to the public, there was a general attitude of “Don’t ask so many questions: We’ve got this under control.

Just sit back and watch me on this week’s ‘Deal or No Deal.’” This not only angered many, but added insult to injury when it became clear that even he didn’t know what was going on.

Bush and Obama contrast clearly in that one talked down to people and the other talked with the people.

When I go to a doctor, I appreciate when he or she goes over the explanations of my ailments and helps me understand why I’m taking the medicine instead of popping in for two minutes to poke and prod me before handing out a vague prescription and leaving. If you prefer not to involve yourselves with the political process, you’ll probably skip over Obama’s YouTube video in favor of “My New Haircut.”

Those who do take the time to use Obama’s new directive will find themselves more confident with how our president works for us.