It was an amazing piece of of cyber-theatre. The President of the United States “streaming” on my computer. He was answering questions from thousands of Americans who Emailed the White House with their queries.
A Cyber-Town-Hall meeting.
Sort of reminded me of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “fireside chats” on radio that helped America through some pretty tough times.
Mr. Obama made it a point to “get out from behind the podium”, to meander around the room, filled with adoring subjects…uh…audience members. Very media savvy, I thought. Maybe a bit staged.
I glanced through the questions that were posted on the White House web site. Most looked pretty normal. There were lots of people watching. Plenty of hits for the White house web site.
But wait.
As I drilled into questions about “Financial Security”, and “Jobs”, and even “Health Care Reform”, there were questions about the legalization of marijuana.
We all knew the economy had gone to pot, but now the President’s Town Hall Meeting had apparently done the same thing.
And just when I thought the Town Meeting could not get more scripted, the Cyber POTUS (President Of The United States) actually mentioned all the questions about pot. Kudos, Mr. President. This event was not as staged at all.
“I don’t know what that says about the online audience,” as the President responded to the question about legalizing marijuana and whether it be a way to revitalize the economy.
Politico.com is reporting that the organization, NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) somehow got a bunch of ringers together to submit questions about legalizing pot.
But Mr. President, just remember what F.D.R. did during his first 100 days.
F.D.R. sent a stack of bills to Congress that dealt with the depression. While many of the bills dealt directly with the economy, there was one that asked congress to repeal prohibition. Perhaps NORML was hoping that our Cyber POTUS would follow F.D.R.’s lead. Send a bill to Congress that would make pot legal as part of an economic recovery package.
Hey, what’s the buzz about the new economic stimulus package? Would the high court find it unconstitutional? And what would really happen at a joint session of congress.
“The answer is no, I don’t think that is a good strategy to grow our economy,” the president told a snickering audience.
So NORML made a political statement, but remember it was the White House that got a few extra hits.
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