In a digital, interactive iteration of his predecessor, President FDR’s Fireside Chats, President Obama spent nearly 45 minutes hanging-out in the White House's first-ever Google+ video chat last night, answering questions submitted via YouTube, and interacting live with a chosen few from Texas, Detroit, California, Illinois and New Jersey. Topics ranged from the economy, to foreign policy, education and SOPA.
Other than a 2-1/2 minute delay starting, due to technical difficulties, where moderator, Google+'s Steve Grove, said to the president, "Can you hear me? You can't hear me, guys, you need the speaker on." Obama's voice then came through, "Now I can," the Hangout went smoothly.
The number one most popular question of the 135,000, posted on YouTube was from user jeepersmedia of Connecticut, about British student Richard O'Dwyer, charged with violating U.S. copyright law and facing extradition to the U.S. where he could serve ten years in prison, and what Obama was doing about it.
The President’s response, "I'm not personally doing anything. The president doesn't get involved in ... extradition decisions. It’s a Justice Department decision, not mine.”
A woman from Fort Worth opined that her college-educated husband, a semiconductor engineer, could not find work. Obama was surprised as his sources tell him workers skilled in high-tech are in demand and her husband "should be able to find something right away," eventually saying, “if you send me your husband's resume, I'd be interested in finding out exactly what's happening right there."
An Occupy Wall Street protester in a YouTube video said she’d been unemployed for five years. "I need help. I'm 53. What am I going to do?" Obama’s answer, "The most important thing I can do for folks who are out of work right now is grow the economy… and build more ladders of opportunity for everybody."
A question about civilians being killed by drone strikes in Iraq received a strong reply that attacks were precise against Al Qaeda compounds and being used judiciously. "This thing is kept on a very tight leash," said Obama.
The heated issue of SOPA and PIPA elicited a response just short of Obama saying he opposes the legislation; it would bring "too much censorship on the Internet...I think that it's going to be possible for us" to find a solution that protects Hollywood's interests without "affecting the fundamental integrity of the Internet as an open, transparent system. What I've suggested is that both sides — the content side and the server side — come together and work with us to create a system where there are strong protections in place."
One questioner, a children’s book author and mom with three children who appeared at the end for a moment to wave hello to the President, asked about creating “a new narrative for kids” to better understand the economic situation, to which Obama responded, “I have two girls at home and we discuss it at the dinner table. I tell them that previous generations had even tougher times than these, and always came out on top.” His plan in part is “empowering kids to be smart consumers, and know before you owe.”
One thing not mentioned was the imminent Republican primary in Florida, and no questions were asked about the presidential race.
The 45 minute chat fulfilled the promise of America’s President hanging-out in a social media forum, and ended on a light note with a moment of comedic impersonation of Obama to which he responded, “Well that comedian has no gray hair. He should update his act. Comedy and satire about people in power makes our country stronger.”
And last night…so did social media.
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