Just two days after holding a presidential news conference seen by more than 40 million viewers, President Barack Obama took his economic message directly to the people -- kicking off a first-of-its-kind Internet town hall meeting at the White House.
Over the course of an hour, the President answered a variety of questions that were emailed, posted on YouTube and posed in person by a audience of invited guests.
SOUNDBITE: U.S. President Barack Obama saying (English):
"I don't think that we've lost all the jobs we're going to lose in this recession.
SOUNDBITE: U.S. President Barack Obama saying (English):
"I actually want a universal health care system; that is our goal."
SOUNDBITE: U.S. President Barack Obama saying (English):
"We need to preserve a U.S. auto industry."
The President even answered one of the most popular questions emailed to the White House-- whether legalizing marijuana would improve the economy.
SOUNDBITE: U.S. President Barack Obama saying (English):
"The answer is, no, I don't think that is a good strategy -- (laughter) -- to grow our economy."
Thursday's virtual Town Hall is the latest in a slew of media appearances by President Obama aimed at getting public support for his $3.6 trillion budget blueprint.
Boston University's Tobe Berkovitz.
SOUNDBITE: Tobe Berkovitz, Associate Dean, Boston University College of Communication. saying (English): 12:31:40-:54
"I think it's quite clear that the White House's research is showing, no, the public still has an appetite to hear from Obama, to interact with Obama. So I think the strategy is probably working."
And that strategy -- in which the White House utilizes technology to sell the President's message-- could pay some political dividends.
SOUNDBITE: Tobe Berkovitz, Associate Dean, Boston University College of Communication. saying (English): 12:34:52-:02
"It shows that he's modern. He technologically savvy, in touch with the public, and also the mainstream media really eats this up."
The White House says 64,000 people tuned in to WhiteHouse.gov during the event but hundreds of thousands more watched the event live on cable television the latest example of efforts by the Obama White House to replicate its creative use of the Internet during the presidential campaign.
Over the course of an hour, the President answered a variety of questions that were emailed, posted on YouTube and posed in person by a audience of invited guests.
SOUNDBITE: U.S. President Barack Obama saying (English):
"I don't think that we've lost all the jobs we're going to lose in this recession.
SOUNDBITE: U.S. President Barack Obama saying (English):
"I actually want a universal health care system; that is our goal."
SOUNDBITE: U.S. President Barack Obama saying (English):
"We need to preserve a U.S. auto industry."
The President even answered one of the most popular questions emailed to the White House-- whether legalizing marijuana would improve the economy.
SOUNDBITE: U.S. President Barack Obama saying (English):
"The answer is, no, I don't think that is a good strategy -- (laughter) -- to grow our economy."
Thursday's virtual Town Hall is the latest in a slew of media appearances by President Obama aimed at getting public support for his $3.6 trillion budget blueprint.
Boston University's Tobe Berkovitz.
SOUNDBITE: Tobe Berkovitz, Associate Dean, Boston University College of Communication. saying (English): 12:31:40-:54
"I think it's quite clear that the White House's research is showing, no, the public still has an appetite to hear from Obama, to interact with Obama. So I think the strategy is probably working."
And that strategy -- in which the White House utilizes technology to sell the President's message-- could pay some political dividends.
SOUNDBITE: Tobe Berkovitz, Associate Dean, Boston University College of Communication. saying (English): 12:34:52-:02
"It shows that he's modern. He technologically savvy, in touch with the public, and also the mainstream media really eats this up."
The White House says 64,000 people tuned in to WhiteHouse.gov during the event but hundreds of thousands more watched the event live on cable television the latest example of efforts by the Obama White House to replicate its creative use of the Internet during the presidential campaign.
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