Barack Obama's Fireside Chats

[Reverend Joe]

This is an e-mail I received just recently from Barack Obama.

Joseph --

Today, I signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law.

This is a historic step -- the first of many as we work together to climb out of this crisis -- and I want to thank you for your resolve and your support.

You organized thousands of house meetings. You shared your ideas and personal stories. And you informed your friends and neighbors about the need for immediate action. You continue to be a powerful voice for change throughout the country.

The recovery plan will create or save 3.5 million jobs, provide tax cuts for working and middle-class families, and invest in health care and clean energy.

It's a bold plan to address a huge problem, and it will require my vigilance and yours to make sure it's done right.

I've assigned a team of managers to oversee the implementation of the recovery act. We are committed to making sure no dollar is wasted. But accountability begins with you.

That's why my administration has created Recovery.gov, a new website where citizens can track every dollar spent and every job created. We'll invite you and your neighbors to weigh in with comments and questions.

Our progress will also be measured by the tens of thousands of personal stories submitted by people who are struggling to make ends meet. If you haven't already, you can read stories from families all across the country:

http://my.barackobama.com/yourstories

Your stories are the heart of this recovery plan, and that's what I'll focus on every day as President.

With your continued support, we'll emerge a stronger and more prosperous nation.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

Following, is a recording of a fireside chat by Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jt9f-MZX-58

Love or hate what you see (and maybe hear,) I find a remarkable similarity in the two. They both attempt to communicate on an unusually personal level with the average citizen about what is happening with the government, and they both try to make everyone feel involved in what is happening with the country.

Any thoughts? Anyone think this may actually be effective propaganda that, if the ends justify the means, may mobilize people to actually do some good?

[CountArach]

A more visible President is probably a good thing at a time like this, if only for moral purposes. And educating the citizenry is always a good thing, even if it is only in his particular version of the truth.

[Scurvy]

I don't like the personalisation myself (I find it condescending), but one of the governments most important functions is communication with the electorate, and if Obama thinks the best way to communicate is through it, then so be it.

:2thumbsup:

[Odin]

If we are going to wax poetic with this guy already 2 weeks in then we must be prudent and point out that the generator of the "fireside chats" was a catalyst for the necessity for Mr Obama's email. But hey, in all new romances the glow lasts a while, i mean it wasnt until the early 70's that we knew Roosevelts entitilement programs would create massive deficits and a larger burden for future generations.

heh, at least when Mr Obama is printing out the new money for this "stimulus" we'll be going in knowing we dont have the revenue base to cover it. Does that spice up the romance for you though? Wasnt his charisma comparissons to kennedy enough? (lets hope a mistress or 2 dosent appear from the shaodows eh?).

Im willing to give this guy a fair shot, but enough of the historical comparissons already.

[Husar]

Well, if Merkel wrote me a letter, I'd hover just below the ceiling of my room, finish uni in two days and become a millionaire within a week through my own hard work. So yes, I think it works, or at least it works better than having the president sitting in a bunker proclaiming this and that and having the press explain the rest, if they want.
I wouldn't mind getting newsletters from Merkel, Ahmadinejad, Chavez, Putin and Obama every week. They'd all just leave a small footprint in my inbox anyway, unless they would send huge viruses as attachments.

[KukriKhan]

Any thoughts? Anyone think this may actually be effective propaganda that, if the ends justify the means, may mobilize people to actually do some good?

It's a brilliant move, to engage and keep the attention of the part of the population that is e-savvy, and less likely to rely on TV/radio news shows for info.

I wonder who writes his "chats"?

[Odin]

Well, if Merkel wrote me a letter, I'd hover just below the ceiling of my room, finish uni in two days and become a millionaire within a week through my own hard work. So yes, I think it works, or at least it works better than having the president sitting in a bunker proclaiming this and that and having the press explain the rest, if they want.
I wouldn't mind getting newsletters from Merkel, Ahmadinejad, Chavez, Putin and Obama every week. They'd all just leave a small footprint in my inbox anyway, unless they would send huge viruses as attachments.

Yes but this is largely due to your optomistic view of the world I suspect based on incomplete compatable expirences. If you have ever been given something before, and then later found out the personal cost to you would be higher over time you might have a different view of the situation.

Besides, Merkel wouldnt write you a letter. :thumbsup:

[Husar]

Besides, Merkel wouldnt write you a letter. :thumbsup:

It was a hypothetical case I was talking about, FYI, I wouldn't finish uni in two days either, the thing about hovering was serious though.

[Reverend Joe]

If we are going to wax poetic with this guy already 2 weeks in then we must be prudent and point out that the generator of the "fireside chats" was a catalyst for the necessity for Mr Obama's email. But hey, in all new romances the glow lasts a while, i mean it wasnt until the early 70's that we knew Roosevelts entitilement programs would create massive deficits and a larger burden for future generations.

heh, at least when Mr Obama is printing out the new money for this "stimulus" we'll be going in knowing we dont have the revenue base to cover it. Does that spice up the romance for you though? Wasnt his charisma comparissons to kennedy enough? (lets hope a mistress or 2 dosent appear from the shaodows eh?).

Im willing to give this guy a fair shot, but enough of the historical comparissons already.

I'm not "waxing poetic." And I'm not making a comparison to anything beyond the fireside chats. I just found it to be an interesting shift in the public relations department, from a president who basically firewalled himself from the public to one who has speechwriters sending people personal e-mails.

On the other hand, they do bother me a little in the fact that Roosevelt actually read the fireside chats, even if he didn't write them (did he? Does anybody know anything about this?) Obama's involvement in the e-mails, on the other hand, is questionable. I do hope he at least takes a minute to read and approve them before they are sent out, but I am still vexed by the fact that a lot of people will feel they are closer to Barack Obama, when in fact they are not all that much closer; Roosevelt's chats were a much more personal action on his part, since he took time out of his day to do them.

Unfortunately, doing something as similar as the fireside chats is probably out of the question for Obama, since TV and radio will never feel as personal to people, even if it means that Obama would actually be communicating with them. If he actually wrote the e-mails, that would more than make up for this loss, but there's no way of knowing if he actually does. And anyhow, maybe it's the thought that counts.

And Odin, don't read all sorts of crap into stuff that people write just because you don't like them. I was trying to make an honest compare-and-contrast to something minor, yet notable, that I feel deserves to be examined for a moment.

[Odin]

And Odin, don't read all sorts of crap into stuff that people write just because you don't like them. I was trying to make an honest compare-and-contrast to something minor, yet notable, that I feel deserves to be examined for a moment.

To be blunt I come here so infrequently now I think I will do what I want, when I want and how I want. Exactly how i have for the last 5 years. If at anytime that scenario isnt to your liking you have multiple options.

1. Dont read my posts now that you know my disposition.

2. complain to a mod. (I'd reccomend Banquo)

3. Put me on ignore.

Have a nice day ! :drama2:

[Odin]

It was a hypothetical case I was talking about, FYI, I wouldn't finish uni in two days either, the thing about hovering was serious though.

You werent serious? You really have changed in the 6 months or so I have been away. Your using sarcasm ! (wait werent you before). Congrats Husar, next step is to get off of IRC and find a female your on the road to a brighter future!

BTW you will be able to get news letters from Obama every week, its the latest thing I call it "Hyper conformist New Dawn thinking for the socialized elite" Better known as form letter emails. :toilet:

[Seamus Fermanagh]

As each new medium has come to change mass communications, the first President to truly get a "handle" on the style/communicative approach to that medium has gone down in history as a compelling leader.

Obama = internet
Kennedy = TV
FDR = Radio & Newsreel
TR = moving pictures

Newspapers predated the presidency, so we can't realy establish a winner with that medium.

[Romanus]

I quite like it. It has a feel good factor about it and makes you feel involved.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

You werent serious? You really have changed in the 6 months or so I have been away. Your using sarcasm ! (wait werent you before). Congrats Husar, next step is to get off of IRC and find a female your on the road to a brighter future! :

This seems a bit close to personal attack -- though perhaps I misunderstand the humor. If so, forgive the intrusion.

A general reminder to all: Play the ball, not the person.

Thank you.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

A more visible President is probably a good thing at a time like this, if only for moral purposes. And educating the citizenry is always a good thing, even if it is only in his particular version of the truth.

Um, seriously?

Did you read that last bit after you wrote it?

Um...

[Lemur]

Um, seriously?
You would prefer a President not communicate?

[Sasaki Kojiro]

You would prefer a President not communicate?

This is the bit ATPG (the original ATPG, lol) was referring to:


And educating the citizenry is always a good thing, even if it is only in his particular version of the truth.

Obviously, telling the citizenry things that aren't true wouldn't be good.

[CountArach]

Um, seriously?

Did you read that last bit after you wrote it?

Um...
Yep and I did expect that response form someone, but that's just how I see it. At least he is talking to the people. As a politician I wouldn't expect him to tell us all how it is without any spin - that would be an unrealistic expectation. After listening to him, its up to other people to fact check him and educate people in what he lied about.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

It's just such a broad and silly statement. There are so many things the president shouldn't be "educating" us on (should I just Godwin this right now?) that what you said is just wrong, CA. Now, what I think you meant is you appreciate the President explaining his side of things, but that's a different (and less Orwellian) kettle of fish.

[Reverend Joe]

I think CA's problem is (if he listened to the Roosevelt clip) that he is mixing Obama up with Roosevelt a bit. Obama is just communicating much more than the usual president. Roosevelt, int he clip I gave, actually tried to explain a bit how the banking system worked at a time when people basically didn't know anything about how it worked, such as the concept of reinvestment. Of course, this wasn't really "education" either, because he was using it as motivation to try to get the people to work with the government and banks to fulfill his goal of ending the recession.

[Strike For The South]

Yep and I did expect that response form someone, but that's just how I see it. At least he is talking to the people. As a politician I wouldn't expect him to tell us all how it is without any spin - that would be an unrealistic expectation. After listening to him, its up to other people to fact check him and educate people in what he lied about.

Hitler. There. I invoked it.

[Devastatin Dave]

Dear Leader.
I guess if you're going to work hard to have the government "take" care of you from Pampers to Depends, then its nice to have a letter from Pappa Obama explaining life to you since he obviously feels he knows more than all the peasantry he currently lords over. 3.5 million new jobs? I wonder which camp I'm going to get sent to?

If Bush had sent something like this, you guys would be going ape sh##....

[Strike For The South]

Dear Leader.
I guess if you're going to work hard to have the government "take" care of you from Pampers to Depends, then its nice to have a letter from Pappa Obama explaining life to you since he obviously feels he knows more than all the peasantry he currently lords over. 3.5 million new jobs? I wonder which camp I'm going to get sent to?

If Bush had sent something like this, you guys would be going ape sh##....

The same rules don't apply. When Bush gave his version of the truth he was being lying and deceitful. When Obama does it he is merely educating.

Politicians are supposed to put there slogans over truth. My God. Don't you know anything?

[CountArach]

It's just such a broad and silly statement. There are so many things the president shouldn't be "educating" us on (should I just Godwin this right now?) that what you said is just wrong, CA. Now, what I think you meant is you appreciate the President explaining his side of things, but that's a different (and less Orwellian) kettle of fish.
That is indeed what I meant.

[Xiahou]

Where's the "education"? It's a form letter thanking supporters and asking them to give personal stories they can use for propaganda. There's nothing wrong with that- but I don't see what's laudable about it either. :shrug:

[Major Robert Dump]

If we are going to wax poetic with this guy already 2 weeks in then we must be prudent and point out that the generator of the "fireside chats" was a catalyst for the necessity for Mr Obama's email. But hey, in all new romances the glow lasts a while, i mean it wasnt until the early 70's that we knew Roosevelts entitilement programs would create massive deficits and a larger burden for future generations.

heh, at least when Mr Obama is printing out the new money for this "stimulus" we'll be going in knowing we dont have the revenue base to cover it. Does that spice up the romance for you though? Wasnt his charisma comparissons to kennedy enough? (lets hope a mistress or 2 dosent appear from the shaodows eh?).

Im willing to give this guy a fair shot, but enough of the historical comparissons already.

When did we ever have the revenue base to cover all the money? Like him or hate him, he's doing the same thing every president before him has done since the federal reserve came around. Unless one didn't cash last years "stimulus check" really one has no room to whine.

Back to topic, I don't mine the personalization, but I do see right through it. But at least he's using the media tools available to communicate with people, which is more than I can say for most politicians who are stuck in the 50s, think people revolve life around TV and have no understanding of the interweb tubes.

[KukriKhan]

Where's the "education"? It's a form letter thanking supporters and asking them to give personal stories they can use for propaganda. There's nothing wrong with that- but I don't see what's laudable about it either. :shrug:

Yeah, but: you're only looking at content there, not medium. (I know: content is king; true. But that's to we netizens who've been contenting to and among each other for decades. We're still a tiny portion of the electorate). This missive - and more of the same to come, certainly - points to a new way (for a poli) to 'get the word out' to voters/citizens/supporters.) They're learning... or at least Obama is/has... that a good email list not only brings in extra "grass roots" campaign money, but can also be wielded to promote policy.

Love the man, or hate him, or in-between, ya gotta hand it to him: he has adopted the 'new' communications technique relatively early (how old were Movies when TR used them? Radio, when FDR went live? TV when JFK used it?, as Seamus-san points out?).

Somebody, somewhere, employed by POTUS Obama, got his ear and convinced him that a 'net newsletter (personalized, no less) would be a good idea. And he bought it. And directed somebody else, somewhere else, to write that/those newsletter(s).

That's cool, IMO.

On the down-side: look for fed-provided or -ordered broadband internet access to every address in the US to become law in the next 4 years, as an entitlement, like electricity, water, and trash removal.

After all: the ability of the government to communicate with the citizeny is paramount. So quoth B. Franklin, when establishing the national postal system, way back when.

Too bad (for me, too) that americans have abandoned the hard copy paradigm for the "good enough" electronic one.

[Major Robert Dump]

You're right. JFK was really the first president to use television at its full capacity and court the press corps and allow them access to him. I think the comparisons are valid in that context. Prior to JFK Ike was the first to use TV and cartoon characters in campaigning (imagine the backlash of using Mickey Mouse in a campaign these days haha, tbh that was a little unfair) but pretty much abandoned the media when he got elected, in part thanks to his scumbag VP who would later kick the press corps out when he too became president, which is why he had such a hard act to follow with JFK.

The historical context is interesting and will probably be something discussed in campaign strategy and history in the far future, much like we do the Nixon/JFK televised debate now. And speaking of comparisons, check out Nixon's "checkers" speech and compare it to Clinton's "this is a family matter" speech.

I wasn't around the org for the election and pretty much missed most of the campaigning, but from what I did see McCain ran his campaign in the stone ages and the best they came up with was calling us "my friends", and did not attempt to reach new voters and instead focused on people who were already going to vote for him, which completely and totally defeats the purpose of a political campaign. Obama was almost the exact opposite, except I can think of a million people in a certain demographic who would have voted for him no matter what, which is what McCain should have been focusing on.

I still don't think the older politicians understand the power of the internet, and I don't think they will. Al Gore, Rumsfield, Ed Kennedy, the retard Jack Webb in Va. beat (maccaca guy), these guys say time and time again they did or didn't say something and 3 hours later theres a video up on the net showing they are frickin liars.

But since I missed the campaign, can someone tell me did anyone use the video occasions of Obama speaking to the Senate back in the day and saying that less regulation in banking was working great (LOL) and that easy, risky credit was the only way to get poor people to own homes (LOLX2)

[KukriKhan]

You're right...

I treasure those words, having never seen them before here, or heard them before in my house.

Bless you, my new-found son. Have your lawyers contact my lawyers, and we shall make beautiful patrilineal music together.

:laugh4:

[Major Robert Dump]

I've only heard those words from my wife once, and thats when I told her I was wrong.