As we usher in a new administration in the US, filled with hope and promise for its future, against the backdrop of a severe economic situation, teetering on recession and war, Barack Obama has wasted no time setting new policy. Beginning with freezing salaries for top White House staffers, imposing new ethics rules for his administration, and preparing to meet with economic and foreign policy advisors, his first day in office has begun in full force.
There is no doubt that the new United States President, Barack Obama, is the most techno-savvy of any political candidate at his level, of all time. He did, after all, build a grass-roots Internet effort so unprecedented, that technology pundits are still talking about it, and public relations industry people are studying it. In his own way, President Obama – who has made no secret of his admiration for President Abraham Lincoln, has emancipated the confines of the traditional political campaign, by deploying the most advanced technologically connected network of any political candidate, of all time.
President Obama saw the power of the Internet early on in his campaign, and realized how he could best harness and capture the imagination and engagement of millions of U.S. citizens.
During his candidacy for President, Obama kept in constant contact with friends, through e-mail. He used it as any technologically advanced executive does – even using it for memorandums and briefing books, which were seldom ever printed out. Longer documents were responded to from his laptop computer.
What this brings to light, is the magnitude of how important computer and technology security issues are, in the world today.
Perhaps this will be one of the most important technological targets that the new President will face, explore, confront and handle. The impact of how it will all play out, will be most interesting to watch.
