A Generation of the Mobile-Based Perception

In correlation with the idea of micro-blogging, the debate on whether or not President Obama should be allowed to keep his BlackBerry in the white house has everything to do with the new generation of media and communications. Eight years ago, there was no issue. “George W. Bush gave up personal e-mail upon entering office, fearing he would create a public record with every touch of the ‘send’ button and Bill Clinton has been reported to avoid e-mail even today,” said Christi Parsons and Jim Puzzanghera in their Chicago Times article “In Barack Obama's White House, his BlackBerry is VIP.”

“With all due respect to Presidents Clinton and Bush, they didn't really grow up with these mobile devices,” Roger Entner, a telecommunications analyst with the Nielsen Company, said of portable e-mail devices.” “President Obama is like so many others of his generation—this is the device that helps determine how he perceives the rest of the world.” (Chicago Times) Due to his persistence, Obama’s security team has been working hard to determine the guidelines of his personal BlackBerry’s security measures. As discussed in earlier postings, the new communications model of credibility led by the ‘Average Joe’ is why Obama won his election. If he were to put himself in a Washington Bubble now, it would discredit his popularity. “The device could preserve for Obama some of what his job automatically precludes: direct contact with the workday world. Even if he isn't scanning his own groceries or buying his own milk—former President George H.W. Bush was portrayed as out of touch with those markers of American life—he may be in casual contact with friends who are. And he'll be doing so as do millions of other Americans, by way of thumbs on a keypad.” (Chicago Times)

When Robert Gibbs, White House press secretary, announced the issue to reporters they immediately sent their reports throughout Washington via their PDAs. This proves the general usage of mobile devices whether personal or work-related. In fact, Gibbs said he receives emails from the president that range from business matters to "Why did my football team perform so miserably?"