No BlackBerry for Obama

Like many of us, President-Elect Barack Obama is addicted to his BlackBerry but before he arrives at the White House he will probably be forced to sign off.  In addition to concerns about keeping his e-mails secure, he faces the Presidential Records act.  In the act his correspondence are the official record and ultimately up for public review, and the threat of subpoenas.  

For all the privileges and power afforded to the president, the chief executive of the United States is essentially deprived by law and culture of some the tools that the other chief executives depend on to thrive and survive.  

Obama is hoping  to bring the White House into the 21st century by having a laptop computer in the Oval Office at his desk, he would be the first president to do so.  On Saturday as he broadcast the weekly Democratic radio address he was videotaped and put on YouTube for all to see.  Obama is using technologies that were innovative a few years back and by doing so taking another step forward in history.  

A final decision has not been made of whether he could go against precedent to become the first e-mailing president, but many believe that hope is doubtful.  

We will have to wait on see on January 20th if he still has his Blackberry at his side, I am sure many college students wouldn't know what to do if there were faced with giving theirs up.

-Carly Youngren