In an interview with Barbara Walters, president elect Barack Obama admits he is in negotiation to keep his BlackBerry:
Courtesy: ABC News.
WALTERS: How are you going to get along without your Blackberry?
OBAMA: (Laughs). This is a problem. I, you know, one of the things that I’m going to have to work through is how to break through the isolation … the bubble that exists around the president. And I’m in the process of negotiating with the Secret Service, with lawyers, with White House staff …
WALTERS: You might have a Blackberry?
OBAMA: Well, I’m, I’m negotiating to figure out how can I get information from outside of the 10 or 12 people who surround my office in the White House. Because, 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.
WALTERS: There are a lot of people concerned about your safety, are you concerned about your safety?
OBAMA: No. I don’t think about it, partly because I’ve got this pretty terrific crew of Secret Service guys that follow me every where I go. But, also because, you know, I have a deep religious faith, and a faith in people that, you know, carries me through the day. And, my job is just to make sure I’m doing my job, and if I do I can’t worry about that kind of stuff.
To see the rest of the interview just check it at ABC News.
Nikolaus Not Registered
Posted: November 26, 2008 at 10:54 AM EST from my BlackBerry 8320
I would like to know which model he has. I’m shocked no one had posted that yet. Maybe RIM should make a one just for him :p
avremele Not Registered
Posted: December 2, 2008 at 12:23 AM EST from my BlackBerry 8330
It’s perfectly understandable that POTUS should NOT be carrying a portable communication device of any sort. Cellphone or laptop running on a wireless connection. Too easy to hack.
Shawn Not Registered
Posted: January 8, 2009 at 11:08 AM EST
It’s just amazing that we can’t figure out how to put together a secure blackberry–we can certainly do secure phone lines. Maybe they could set up a USB cord to an acoustic coupler to a phone line that travels with him..
It’s also outrageous that the president can’t use email, for legal and personal reasons. Maybe we should give the president greater protection on this one.
I’m also very curious to know which model he uses.
Finally, could he not use a bberry for incoming messages only, with the understanding that people shouldn’t put the nuclear codes in the emails they sen dhim?