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PEBO@ addictedtomyblackberry.com
January 09, 2009 9:15 PM
Sunlen Miller reports:
President-elect Obama is still hooked on his BlackBerry.
At a press conference today in Washington, D.C., Obama made passing reference to sending an e-mail -- almost certainly on that device -- to one of his Secret Service agents whose son had played in a winning football game.
"I've sent him an e-mail telling him congratulations," the president-elect said.
Obama’s BlackBerry was a mainstay on the campaign trail. He often wore the device on his hip when not at campaign events, and spoke about how one of the best ways to stay in touch with family and friends was by sending a quick e-mail message.
But in just 11 days, the president-elect's prized possession will likely be taken away -- largely for legal reasons. A president leaving an electronic paper trail of correspondence isn't the wisest of courses.
But the BBerry sacrifice won't come without a fight first from the future president.
"This is a problem," Obama joked with ABC’s Barbara Walters about having to give up his BlackBerry, in an interview right after he was elected. "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. And I'm in the process of negotiating with the Secret Service, with lawyers, with White House staff."
Obama said that the worst thing that could happen to a president would be to lose touch with family and friends and only be able to communicate with the 10 or 12 people who surround a president in his office in the White House on a daily basis.
This week, in an interview on CNBC, Obama joked about his impending fate. "I'm still clinging to my BlackBerry. They're going to pry it out of my hands," he said. While still not giving up the idea of him being electronically connected to the outside world, he added, "I think I'm going to be able to get access to a computer somewhere. It may not be right in the Oval Office. The second thing I'm hoping to do is to see if there's some way that we can arrange for me to continue to have access to a BlackBerry."
The New York Times had an interesting take this morning -- wondering how much an Obama endorsement of BlackBerry could rake in -- quoting marketing experts between $25 and $50 million.
- Sunlen Miller
January 9, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (16)
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the President-Elect should get a Palm Trio. he uses a laptop, so he knows how to use a computer. i'm sure he will have one in the Oval Office.
Posted by: Paul Wall | Jan 10, 2009 11:35:30 AM
I think the "Founding Fathers" would have approved the "open mike" approach to access to Potus. Since both parties to these "Blackberry" messages are aware "the whole world is watching and listening" there is absolutely no security problem ! As far as I know, there are no real constitutional issues here except "good taste'! "Congratulations Mr. President-to-be on your recent 'grade-level' update !"
Yukio YANO
Posted by: yukio YANO | Jan 10, 2009 11:11:17 AM
"Hmmm -- can Obama use a PHONE? You know, pick up a phone and call people?"
Amen! (And I don't say that too often! LOL) Of course, he might not be allowed to use that Borg implant thing that's so popular. He won't know how to hold a PHONE to his ear!
And you're also right about the contact with the common people.
Posted by: Laughing Cynic | Jan 10, 2009 9:07:24 AM
Can't they just give the poor dude a fake that appears to do everything a real BB does? Just take out the SIM card or something. Better than watching the next president choke back tears over consumer electronics.
Posted by: matt | Jan 10, 2009 8:29:25 AM
"PEBO@addictedtomyblackberry.com"
OMG, that should be his new e-mail address! :)
Posted by: Jaylah | Jan 10, 2009 6:45:05 AM
Hmmmm! Still using his Blackberry.
Posted by: anonymous | Jan 10, 2009 5:58:10 AM
I'm sick and tired of Obama and he is not even in office yet.
Posted by: Sandy | Jan 10, 2009 1:30:29 AM
He does use email but it is difficult for him since he has arm pain.
It was a disgusting ageist attack ad. And now we find out it was irrelevant.
Second behind Obama working to get his opponents divorce records unsealed. Classy.
Posted by: BertieW | Jan 10, 2009 1:06:38 AM
"So Obama's "OMG McCain doesnt use email" ad is ironic since that is not part of the job. "
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
McCain readily admitted to not using the Internet or email, and that his wife was the one who used the computer. That's not a good position to maintain when you look at factors like the defense and weapons systems being computer dependent. And as Obama clearly said, he doesn't want to be out of touch with the rest of the world. Most of us who are used to our PCs would be very reluctant not to have access to them.
Posted by: kat | Jan 10, 2009 12:40:11 AM
A/The President doesnt have a computer in the Oval Office and doesnt have time to be using it all day.
Instead he is in and out of meetings and tells people what to do.
So Obama's "OMG McCain doesnt use email" ad is ironic since that is not part of the job.
Posted by: BertieW | Jan 10, 2009 12:16:46 AM
Hmmm -- can Obama use a PHONE? You know, pick up a phone and call people?
Here's an idea. If he's so darned concerned he'll lose touch with us common folk, he could schedule a townhall meeting once a month, with NO screening first as to who comes in. Then he'll get to talk to regular people and hear what they think.
He needs to grow up, this infantile president elect of ours. There are all kinds of ways of staying in touch with common people -- if he wants to, that is. He clearly does not.
Posted by: Liz | Jan 9, 2009 11:49:17 PM
Bertie w - What? Where in this article did you read that the President-Elect doesn't know how to use a computer? It doesn't say that!
Posted by: janklo | Jan 9, 2009 11:17:52 PM
Obama is resourceful enough to work around his lack of access to the Internet, Blackberry and computers. He's far too determined not to be in an isolated bubble to not access the world outside the WH.
Posted by: kat | Jan 9, 2009 10:53:28 PM
BertieW - POTUS not using email is not news. That has been common knowledge for years. Unfortunately, it is just one more thing that the media was able to spin during this election cycle... when everyone should have known that fact all along.
Posted by: ellsbells930 | Jan 9, 2009 10:19:20 PM
Puleez, he'll do exactly what he wants, have exactly what he wants, and Change anything that doesn't suit him.
That's about the only thing that's changing, though.
But hey, he's PEBO. Soon to be PBO (doesn't roll off the tongue quite as easily). Everything's gonna be fiiiiine now!
Posted by: Laughing Cynic | Jan 9, 2009 10:00:20 PM
The Blackberry NOC really isnt secure. And its in Canada.
""I think I'm going to be able to get access to a computer somewhere. It may not be right in the Oval Office."
Whaaaa. But one of the few actual positions Obama took during the campaign was that McCain was unqualified because he didnt do email. Now we find out that the POTUS doesnt even us a computer. Oh the cruel irony!
Posted by: BertieW | Jan 9, 2009 9:23:39 PM
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