Obama doesn't intend to give up independent communication on his mobile

The future US president Barack Obama indicated in an interview with TV journalist Barbara Walters that he doesn't intend to enter into the information bubble that usually surrounds a US president. Obama told the ABC presenter "I'm in the process of negotiating with the Secret Service, with lawyers, with White House staff to figure out how can I get information from outside – and not just from the ten or twelve people who surround my office in the White House and form the 'information bubble'".

One of the topics of negotiation is the use of mobile communication devices, like the Blackberry Obama says he would like to keep. Obama said in the interview, which was repeatedly broadcast on ABC last Wednesday, that during the election campaign, he used it for direct contact with hundreds of citizens. The future US president reportedly often also requested reports and information in electronic form rather than on paper from his advisors, so he could read them on his smartphone.

Obama said "One of the worst things I think that could happen to a president is losing touch with what people are going through day to day ,". "I want to make sure that I keep my finger on the pulse of the struggles that people are going through every day." Whether Obama will be able to keep his smartphone in use after 20th January 2009, when he will be inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States of America, remains doubtful. While the US Secret Service considers it a substantial security risk, regulations also require that any written communication by the holder of the highest office in the United States be minuted and archived.

(lghp)