We have never had an emailing President.
The New York Times reports today that Obama is addicted to his BlackBerry, but will be forced to give it up as President. It has served as
…a singular conduit to the outside world as the bubble around him grew tighter and tighter throughout his campaign.
“How about that?” Mr. Obama replied to a friend’s congratulatory e-mail message on the night of his victory.
But before he arrives at the White House, he will probably be forced to sign off. In addition to concerns about e-mail security, he faces the Presidential Records Act, which puts his correspondence in the official record and ultimately up for public review, and the threat of subpoenas. A decision has not been made on whether he could become the first e-mailing president, but aides said that seemed doubtful.
I say, don’t give it up. Use it differently.
Be not only the first emailing president, be the first to make all of your email instantly public.
Post the output of your Blackberry to a web page.
Obviously, this will change what you can use email for and how you can use it, but imagine the power inherent in making your electronic communication something you share with the world. The leverage of having each word spread so much further than the individuals on the To: line.
Be the most transparent and authentic leader the world has ever seen.
Dale Larson 