WASHINGTON (CNN) – It’s likely to be the most exclusive e-mail list in the world: Just who will rate access to the presidential smartphone?
“The president has a BlackBerry,” White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Thursday, clearing up weeks of speculation about whether President Obama would be able to hold on to a cherished method of communicating.
Watch: Obama gets a special PDA
The decision to allow Obama to carry a smartphone is “a compromise that allows him to stay in touch with senior staff and a small group of personal friends,” Gibbs told the media in his first press conference since inauguration.
“Use will be limited and the security is enhanced to ensure his ability to communicate but to do so effectively,” Gibbs also said. “And to do so in a way that is protected.”
Gibbs said the 44th president’s e-mail traffic will – with some exceptions – be preserved for historical purposes.
“The presumption regarding those e-mails is that they’re all be subject to the Presidential Records Act,” said Gibbs, who added there are “some narrow exemptions” in the law for “strictly personal communications.”
The press secretary refused to provide any more details about the new president’s use of his new PDA, already being referred to as the “BarackBerry.”
Although Gibbs specifically mentioned the BlackBerry, Obama’s device is reportedly a Sectera Edge, a model from General Dynamics that is capable of encrypting top secret voice conversations and classified documents.
From CNN Politics
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Who could not find him if they really wanted to. Technology is a tool no more or less. Some are craftsmen some are hack. If he is a craftsman and they can keep it secure more power to him. We have more inportant things to discuss.
Right now Chris Matthews is praying to a God he doesn't believe in that he gets to be on Obama's list. Sitting there drawing hearts around his picture of Obama, setting his email auto-signature to Mrs. Chris Obama, listening to Luther Vandross and starring gleefully at his feed from the White House.
What is the president trying to hide? What do you mean "some exceptions" on what will be availabe for archives?? Why is this man allowed to skirt the protocols of the highest office??? What about national security!!? This is an outra-. Oh, it's Obama, not Bush?
Never mind. It's ok then.
Wonder what "with some exceptions" means? Doesn't the law say ALL presidential communications must be preserved?
Man! This nust be one heck of a black berry.
Good – he needs to be reachable by his family at all times. Those little girls love their daddy.
That's fine... our President should be able to communicate with today's technology. President Obama is brilliant enough to know that he has to be careful about what he does on his blackberry. It's NOT that serious, everyone (meaning the media, and those Obama haters) as usual, will continue to blow this matter out of control just like they are doing with the Caroline Kennedy issue.
Give me a break. That address will be on the internet within 30 days. It will become Target No. 1 for hackers worldwide.
Obama doesn't realize this because he is NAIVE!
I wonder what the exceptions are in regards to the Presidential Records Act. And who gets to decide what is an exception? And who gets to know about the exceptions?
I'm sure of you Obamaniacs are saying, duh, the exceptions are anything personal. Yet my questions are still valid. Something obvious from the Bush years is there must be oversight, trust but verify and all presidents should be held to the same standard; it shouldn't make a difference if we like one better than another.
Also, can we get over these stupid made up words like barackberry.
This is the good news forAmerica for Obama to keep his blackberry because he will be in touch with really world above all and really ordinary folks.
Ofcourse with technology today Mr. Prez could carry a berry to keep intouch with a limited amount of people including his direct family. I'm for it....
AMERICA, advancing to the 21st Century.
PRESIDENT WITH A HIGH DEGREE OF INTELLIGENCE . . . LONG OVERDUE!
This is a sign that he is going to move technology to the forefront like it should be.
Steele Curtain – hmm. You must be from Pittsburgh.
Yes, he is naive. Can you believe he actually said, "The fundamentals of the economy are strong." during the campaign!?
No wait, that was your guy.
Yes, I'm sure that he'll be exchanging the nucular (that spelling was so that you could understand it) codes on the Blackberry.
If he handed you a million dollars you'd complain it was too heavy.
I think its refreshing to see a President so obviously in touch with technology.
No doubt Obama's fav-five will include: Blago, Rezko, Ayers, Hawaii Dept of Birth Records, and his attorney.
In viewing Wolf's review of the story on TV just now, President Obama was referred to as "Mr." Obama. The story title on screen also read Mr. Obama. I think this is highly disrespectful of our new leader. Let's give him the recognition he deserves. The same as all former presidents.
dear steele Curtian
Your right he should take bush appoach, and live in a bubble, were everyone tells him what they think he needs to know. How that work out ( Oh yeah he did,nt even know gas had hits all time highs at the time).
He is giving BB free promotion...practically endorsing it for FREE lol
.
I'm so glad he's our prez!
Joe from S.F.:
They're called portmanteaus, and no, everything must be coupled with 'Barack' whenever he uses or is involved with said item.
THE MORE YOU HATE THE PRESIDENT. THE HIGHER HE SOARS. SO, PLEASE CONTINUE TO HATE. PEOPLE WILL LOVE HIM MORE AND MORE.
@ John in CA
You're an idiot.
And no one is thinking how this could jeopardize the security of this nation?
What happened to the agile media to ask how this will effect our security.
Sorry, I remember now Journalism died in 2008.
Does it have lasers pew pew?
How cool to have a "cool" president....one who actually knows what a smartphone is rather than one who refers to "the google".....sweet
Gee. I want one too.
"This is the good news forAmerica for Obama to keep his blackberry because he will be in touch with really world above all and really ordinary folks."
Yes, that's right. In fact, I just sent him an email.
Jon in CA January 22nd, 2009 4:55 pm ET
No doubt Obama's fav-five will include: Blago, Rezko, Ayers, Hawaii Dept of Birth Records, and his attorney.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
California Port-a-John:
Now was that truly necessary? Kind of weak, don't you think? Even you must agree after reading your own post a second time.
There aren't going to be any Victoria's Secret spreads of your heroine in her upcoming book, big guy. You'll need to satisfy your conservative Mother/Victim fantasies urges some other way, pervert.
Only a fool would even attempt to hack the President of the United States Blackberry, or post the email/phone number on the Internet, if one of the privileged few given the information. Come on' folks...he is NOW the President of the United States and therefore very powerful person. Don't be naive!
There are a ton of idiots that leave posts here.
Just wanted to say that ED HENRY SUCKS, IS a Liar and is a sore loser!
Yea this is definately a good thing..... Couldnt be more opposed to supporting someones addiction and habit that could cost this nation some valuable information, but hey it Osama the Messiah, everything he touches turns to gold I hear??
exceptions: who approved those?
Well they don't need the "football "anymore cause everyone loves us now. He needs to carry something.
People with narrow minds will never grow. People with open minds are the ones that revolutionize the world.
Kudos to you Mr. President!.
Arc, Lugano CH,
Get used to it!
After 8 years of liberal Bush-Bashing... us conservatives will GLADLY give it back. Or are you the brand of limp-wristed liberal who gets your f-e-e-l-i-n-g-s hurt if someone quips about your dear messiah?
@ Joe in NJ
Really? You just sent him an email? Enjoy your interrogation.
Who is he going to call ? , terrorist friends? God help us!
Hey!, The CIA is equal ZERO now fo we need a real soldier there and he put a wimp,...Holder is a terrorist advocate,...Geithner is a thief and he is the head of the national treasury?
I do no tabout you but to me this look like a dark nasty conspiracy wide open (paradoxicaly ) to erase this nation from power.
YIKES ! it seems that 'THE TROJAN HORSE' IS RELEASING THE SOLDIERS .
I do not expect nothing good, ...do you ?
Think about this.
Sincerely,
Daniel Cabrera
Merrillville, Indiana
doesnt it increase the likely hood of tampering if the public knows the model of phone? why don't they just publish the phone number too?
Why is this news? In today's technology driven world, it would be news if Obama didn't have a blackberry. Perhaps the problems of the economy and foreign policy are too boring for Obama and this is somehow news for the white-house.
Stop wasting tax-payer money on bailouts and frivolous news and get to solving real problems.
Oh my.. this is the change I voted for.. a president can have a blackberry!
"Gibbs said the 44th president’s e-mail traffic will – with some exceptions – be preserved for historical purposes."
Just like the Republicans used personal email accounts and "lost" emails, I'm sure we'll see more of the same here.
This is great I am glad President Obama is using BlackBerry. That will ensure transparency and everything he sends via his BlackBerry will be public information. I think he is setting a great example. I cannot wait to see what he says to his internal organization. I just hoped no one can hack his BlackBerry. Barack is sooooo cool.
I see we still have some people who haven't realized that the election has been over for some time now and that President Barack Obama is in fact the President of the U.S. so to all those sore losers and rush limbaugh or how ever his last name is spelled the realization is you can say what ever you like but please KNOW THIS, YOU ARE SOOOOOOO IRRELEVANT!!! Please Believe It!!
OBAMA/BIDEN 09/13
President Obama wanted to continue being in touch with people and not isolated in the White House as other presidents have experienced. And they needed a special phone so that he couldn't be tracked when he did email or phone plus the transmission would be secure.
We're in a new world now – a global community with ever evolving technology that connects all of us. President Obama is looking for solutions to every condition and not living in the past. That's how we are going to move ahead and why he was elected.
Good for him for getting this tool which will help him govern more effectively.
party' ...even the president of the united states of america deserves a bit of freedom
What? No camera?!?!
for everybody thinking that people will try to hack the presidents black berry...and for those who think that they might want to try...do just a little research about what happens when you try to hack the pentagon. Anybody responding with obama having a mobile device is a security threat obviously are not in the 21st century with the rest of modern man. People wake up and stop with the hate, common sense will tell you that if you try to hack the device you will go to jail. Just like common sense will tell you if you try to hack the pentagon you will go to jail. I work in IT and there are many...many....let me say it again many ways that you can secure a device to make it have less of a foot print to be available to hack, couple that with the fact that it would probably be considered treason or something like that...i think only idots would try. Who knows, it may take a few numbskulls going to jail for 20 years before everybody gets the message.
Daniel Cabrera at 5:40 pm –
From one crazy person to another, medication is supposed to be taken consistently. If you start and stop taking medication and start again, then it allows your brain chemistry to yo-yo even more dangerously than when you were first diagnosed.
I fail to understand even remotely why this is important in the scheme of things !!!!!!!!!!!!!
For the love of pete people...it's a phone. It's not some international tool of terrorism. Still looking for WMD's are we?
In a world where technology is developing and changing rapidly, it's refreshing to have a leader who is willing to be a member of the here and now. I'm so sorry that for 8 years we suffered a president who was so out of touch with reality that it becomes news when Pres. Obama wants to have a blackberry. Pathetic.
Julie January 22nd, 2009 4:53 pm ET
I think its refreshing to see a President so obviously in touch with technology.
-----------
And how is this important in governing the country wisely?
BarackBerry, Barack the Vote, etc.
Did we just elect Batman president?
What's next Barackarangs and the Barackmobile?
-Amused
What about the Out Put??? There are lots of Places I don't have access to... Nor them Me... But?? It is just a bunch of Electronic Components, and a Keyboard..
Mark my words...this will go down as the first really boneheaded moves on the part of our new President. NO network is 100%, 100% foolproof. When he became President, he lost the right to text message his family. Sorry, that's the way it is.
It's too bad that this president does not understand technology enough to know that even having the blackberry turned on betrays his physical location.
Didn't see that particular model in the T-Mobile line-up (they're listed as a carrier for the Sectera Edge on the General Dynamics web site). Why aren't we all protected with the same level of security on our mobile devices? My communications are just as important to me (and with ID theft run rampant, corporate crime, and litigiousness in this country, we deserve equal security).
excellent! barack obama is on top of technology where his predecessor failed miserably. after reading the new administration's plans for cyber security there is no doubt the blackberry will be secure.
You won Obama. You & your black berry. Good for you.
"Sorry, I remember now Journalism died in 2008."
Are any of you old enough to remember the movie "Network"? If not go to netflix, get it, and check the date before viewing it to put things in perspective about just how accurate this portrayal of the fall of the media was.
"Only a fool would even attempt to hack the President of the United States Blackberry, or post the email/phone number on the Internet, if one of the privileged few given the information."
Again, stop thinking everyone is subject to U.S. laws. I'm bettting the Chinese, Russias, several mid-east countries, terrorist groups, etc.. are already planning if not trying. The government has been repeatedly hacked, successfully, at some of the highest levels. The NSA, CIA, and FBI are probably constantly reviewing access to the device and the servers it communicates with to see who is attacking. Probably using the Patriot Act to justify this accesss as well. If you truly believe that only fools will attempt this, you're as just as naive as others are claiming Obama to be.
Then again, you probably believe those Mac commercials that knock Microsoft but fail to say anything about their own systems which by the way require more updates than most Microsoft systems. Electronic espionage is the future of political power, warfare, and criminal activity. The Information security community is rightfully concerned about Mr. Obama's obsession with social networking tools. Disclosure could just as easily be unintended and without malice, but once released used in that manner.
"Daniel Cabrera" (sure thats your name). Grow up!
What are you? A professional blogger? I hope you are being paid well for writing this crazy stuff while using bad grammar. (Have you no shame?)
Daniela Cabrera,
I pity your pessimism. Especially because your last sentence was a question that has already been answered by a vast majority of Americans. Why would the question even be posed. Does anyone know there history? We've never seen this kind of turn out for a president before...so that has to mean 1 of 2 things. (1) Either Obama is very good for as far along as hes come....or ...(2) the previous admin was that bad....either way its pretty tough indictment on those who voted for Mccain and whether frustrated with the loss or otherwise, just cannot seem to get behind and support our current President. It has to reflect a lack of general perspective. I understand what its like to livein a State that is as Red as the "submit comment" button, but I do not let that lack local of perspective or pack mentality influence me...too much. Not just a majority voted for Obama, but a majority of undergrad or grad educated Americans as well....expressed there opinions, and I cant help but wonder.
Who is the more rational right now? The person kicking the can and complaining about how Obama citizenship is British, or those who just happen to read a little history, actually watch both Fox and CNN and a little MSNBC while understanding that this is a democracy (in which the Majority decides on our presidential choice). my suggestion either have something really, well...bullet proof to say....or just quit complaining...for your own sanity.
Gee. CNN you cover everything about the messiah.
Who cares?
So who is he secretly e-mailing....?
I wouldn't worry about his new comm device. You can imagine it talks to secured transmission equipment and is so far advanced from his old device that it only resembles it.
He is so engulfed in our country's problems, he will use it to maximize his private time, whenever he should be so lucky to have some...
#33 Larry said, "... When he became President, he lost the right to text message his family. Sorry, that’s the way it is."
- Actually, he *does* have the right, and he is exercising it. I admire a president with the courage to say "Yes we can," instead of "It will never work."