WASHINGTON — Call it Round Two of the news conference, with an Internet twist. United States President Barack Obama took questions from White House press corps on Tuesday in a primetime session that represented the most time-honoured of President-and-reporter interactions.
Last night (11.30pm Singapore time), he took to the same room for another public grilling — this time by regular folks armed with questions submitted via the Internet and in person, as part of a political strategy to engage Americans directly.
"It's a way for the President to do what he enjoys doing out on the road, but saves on gas," press secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters.
Mr Obama used the Web to build a movement that delivered the presidency and raised unheard-of money. Now, he is using the same unfiltered online network and style.
The President has already taken that tactic on the road, spending two days at town hall-style meetings and on Jay Leno's talk show. It offered easier questions and a chance to get his message to the widest audience.
"It is an alternative way to get out the message, in this case on the budget, targeted toward a different audience," said Mr Morley Winograd, a former adviser to Mr Al Gore. AP
From TODAY, World
Friday, 27-March-2009
0 comments:
Post a Comment