Obama's Blackberry

[FayeW]

I am watching the Barbara Walter's interview with Barack Obama, and they are talking about his blackberry. Can someone explain to me why he has to give it up after the inauguration? I don't really understand why he can't use a blackberry in office.

 

[MickeySP]

I imagine because it can be easily hacked.

 

[Michelle67]

Security.

 

[schmitty]

No, its because its law that all the presidents email has to be monitored but he can access it with his BB so he could do stuff without other people knowing.

 

[Buckalew11]

Probably a little of both, don't you think? My DH isn't allowed to take his phone to work. If he got caught with his cellphone or anything of the sort it would be immediate dismissal from his job. So security definitely pops in my mind but schmitty's makes a whole lot of sense also.

 

[djm99]

Isn't it some kind of law that prohibits Presidents from using emails? I thought I read that somewhere a week or so ago.

 

[SplshMtn99]

Well the military has a ban on all portable usb type devices from being connected to the network currently because of their lack of security & not encrypted. I don't know if this is a government wide ban.

Can you imagine if he had something really important on there & lost it.

 

[JARNJ3]

Isn't it some kind of law that prohibits Presidents from using emails? I thought I read that somewhere a week or so ago.

I don't think there's a law that prohibits email - there's a law that says every email must be saved and cannot be destroyed. I think they'd have to find a way to save all the communication he initiates from the blackberry........

 

[djm99]

I don't think there's a law that prohibits email - there's a law that says every email must be saved and cannot be destroyed. I think they'd have to find a way to save all the communication he initiates from the blackberry........

I just googled it, the Presidential Records Act, according to one of the those articles would prohibit Obama from using it. I'm sure he'll work to change that once he's President. Didn't Verizon employees recently get in trouble for looking at Obama's phone records?

 

[CarlaKay]

Isn't it some kind of law that prohibits Presidents from using emails? I thought I read that somewhere a week or so ago.

No, there is no such law. If a President does use e-mails, then such e-mails need to be preserved as part of the Presidential records. President Elect Obama will be the first POTUS to have a computer on his desk. I expect that this means that President Elect Obama will be able to send and read e-mails that will probably be limited to e-mails orignating inside the White House or which are screened in advanced.

 

[CarlaKay]

I just googled it, the Presidential Records Act, according to one of the those articles would prohibit Obama from using it. I'm sure he'll work to change that once he's President. Didn't Verizon employees recently get in trouble for looking at Obama's phone records?

You are correct on both accounts. The Presidential Records Act does not prohibit e-mails but requires that these e-mails are preserved and someone did get access to the cell phone records of President Elect Obama for a cell phone that he used during the campaign.

 

[sarasotamom]

This is just stupid. Who really cares!!

 

[Acklander]

If he uses e-mail as a means for communication, does that mean he has to save all the spams as part of the records?

 

[Acklander]

This is just stupid. Who really cares!!

I care.

 

[golfgal]

Most people have their emails monitored at work, they just don't know it. I work in an industry where every one of our emails are read, it isn't a big deal. If you send something to more then 4 or so people or with an attached file then it gets quarantined until it can be read, the rest are stored in a file someplace and read daily. I am sure there is a similar system for the President. As for spam, there are probably filters on the server that eliminates spam. I don't ever get spam at home so I am sure the White House can block that as well.

Our work software doesn't support Blackberry so I can't use mine for work either--it is a pain but when I can renew I can get a Palm that does work on our system. Blackberry doesn't have the security features needed for our work and I am assuming it is the same for Obama.

 

[Bobbles]

This is just stupid. Who really cares!!

Deep.

 

[ckay87]

This is just stupid. Who really cares!!

I care.

 

[Buckalew11]

Places with high security track keystrokes and everything. I can't imagine how tight security would be in the White House. It is amazing what they can do.

 

[Disney Doll]

This is just stupid. Who really cares!!

I can think of any number of people who would care.

 

[CarlaKay]

This is just stupid. Who really cares!!

Addiction to one's blackberry is a very serious issue. There is a reason why blackberrys are often referred to as crackberrys. President Elect Obama is going to suffer some withdrawal pains when he gives up his blackberry.