Obama likely to be forced to surrender his BlackBerry

Sun Nov 16, 2008 6:07PM EST

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And no, he's not getting an iPhone.

President-elect Barack Obama is rarely seen in public without his BlackBerry smart phone, but that's likely to change when he sits down at his desk in the Oval Office come January. And, says the New York Times, he's dreading that moment.

The first e-President is likely to become significantly less connected come January 20 for a variety of reasons. Naturally security is a concern, lest Obama be tricked into clicking on the wrong ad. But the bigger issue is now a legal one: As President, Obama's written correspondence will be subject to the Presidential Records Act, which will all ultimately become part of the official record and subject to review by the public.

The upshot: As tech-savvy as the new prez may be, things will be locked down considerably once he takes office. It's almost hard to believe, but it looks like he won't even be allowed a computer on his desk, much less the ability to idly chat with old friends and supporters via email. It's said that it's unlikely he'll even be allowed to read email on the computer: Presumably his correspondence will be printed out to him and handed over as a hard copy. How's that for progress?

As well, there is no word on how Obama will communicate with former Nigerian princes, nor how he will claim the millions of dollars they have to offer.

POLL: What do you think?

Comments on Obama likely to be forced to surrender his BlackBerry

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  • 1 Posted by vanmo92 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    That seals it. I am never going to be president.

  • 2 Posted by middlenamefrank on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    Every word he says and will say becomes part of the public record. Why be afraid of email? I guess I'm not understanding the dilemma. Just don't say anything stupid in your emails! Any of us would be fools to neglect to do the same.

  • 3 Posted by philtamara on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think the White House needs to realize we are are in 2008, not 1908. This is the world of technology, and the government leaders need to embrace it.

  • 4 Posted by alexgannis on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    Obama and congress want to bail out auto maker which is wrong it the big company that got us into this mess let them fall and it time to make them reform, like palin and McCain wanted to reform are government and yet what are we going to get the same that there no change. America you voted in the wrong President.

  • 5 Posted by agustin2489 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    Somehow, that sort of logic just doesn't work. Security? Please. The lack of convenience could sheck him away from where he could be getting information. Essentially, his aides would be the only people to let him know about the outside world and that's never a good idea.

  • 6 Posted by xeleion on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:52PM EDT Report Abuse

    At the same time, technology is exploitable in ways that paper isn't. Until there is a foolproof way to make sure everything on a computer and the internet is secure, it's better to be safe than sorry. I sympathize with Obama, but his safety supercedes convenience.

  • 7 Posted by gooddayz39 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:11PM EDT Report Abuse

    I hope that rules will be changed while Obama is in office! What insanity the bush admin must have been operating under!! I would never accept all of my news from just one source!! that is sooo pre computer age! What is funny is that tech savy people that have learned to have all of their news from multiple sources zapped right to their mobile devices probably know more about what is going on in the world than our president!! Scary stuff

  • 9 Posted by evelyntaplett@att.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    Sorry, forgot the reason I was here.....I think he should be able to keep his Blackberry. He's smart enough to know how and when to use it!

  • 10 Posted by kanmo@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    let president have some personal space to do once in a while and i think president or anyone who need to have some space and i think some of u agree with that and also its today's modern technology too anyway i think !!!!!

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