Web-Saavy Obama Needs No Party

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama is determined to turn the legions of Facebook friends and Twitter subscribers that got him elected into an effective force for his administration, the New York Times reports. He’s already begun issuing his weekly addresses via YouTube video, rather than radio, and crafted a new group called Organizing for America to coordinate his online efforts. More»

President-elect intends to use grassroots to his advantage

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama hadn’t even given his victory speech when the message went out to supporters: “We have a lot to do,” the email read. “I’ll be in touch.” Obama won’t disband his digitally organized army of volunteers, McClatchy reports. Joe Trippi, who designed Obama’s social-networking machine, thinks Obama will use his net-roots might to overcome congressional resistance to change, forging “one of the most powerful presidencies in American history.” More»

Executive order fingers entities backing Iran, Syria, but could be enlarged

(NEWSER) - If you use technology to help a repressive regime commit human rights abuses, you'll find yourself slapped with US sanctions. That's the message from President Obama, who this morning announced a new executive order specifically targeting those backing Iran and Syria via technology, though it could be expanded to other regimes, reports the Washington Post . The new sanctions will include a US visa ban and financial restrictions on a number of Syrian and Iranian businesses and government agencies, along with a lone Syrian individual. More»

Senior adviser plans to turn Obama's campaign machine into Obama's governing machine

(NEWSER) - The shy middleman who spearheaded Barack Obama's campaign now plans to morph it into a powerful netroots organization, Lisa Taddeo writes in Esquire. Drawing on his unprecedented 13-million-name contact list, David Plouffe says he will soon unveil Organizing for America, a group aimed at drumming up support for policy initiatives. Other Democratic groups fear being left out in the cold. More»

Hollywood VIPs will play role in Election 2012

(NEWSER) - The Obama campaign has released a list of campaign co-chairs, and it includes some big names … from Hollywood. Harold and Kumar actor Kal Penn, who has already spent some time working at the White House , and Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria are both named, Politico reports. "The president’s national co-chairs will be tremendous assets on the ground as we build the biggest grassroots campaign in history," campaign manager Jim Messina said in a statement. "They each share the president’s vision for a future where every American can have a fair shot at success, where hard work pays off, and responsibility is rewarded." More»