Obama administration to be wired to public

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama is poised to be the first "wired" president, as aides said they'll use the Internet and other e-venues for outreach.

Obama aides and allies are preparing a huge expansion of the White House communications operation, allowing White House officials to reach out directly to supporters without using mainstream media, The Washington Post reported Monday.

"He's going to be the first president to be connected in this way, directly, with millions of Americans," said Joe Trippi, a Democratic strategist who helped integrate the Internet into campaigning four years ago.

The president-elect launched the www.change.gov transition Web site that features a blog and a suggestion form. He also plans to appoint a technology czar called a Chief Technology Officer.

At the core of Obama's wired policy is an e-mail database of more than 10 million supporters, considered so valuable, the Obama camp once offered it as collateral during a cash-flow crunch late in the campaign, even though the campaign didn't need the loan, senior aides told the Post.

Once hooked through a network, "you can't disconnect," said Peter Daou, who ran the Internet operations for the Senate campaign of Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.

But there can be a downside, Daou said.

"People who have helped you reach this historic goal by self-organizing can also organize in opposition to your policies," he said.