November 16, 2009
Posted: November 16th, 2009 12:30 PM ET

From
Obama: I've never used Twitter.
Obama: I've never used Twitter.

Washington (CNN) – President Obama admitted to never using Twitter during his trip to China on Monday.

"Let me say that I have never used Twitter," Obama said in response to a question from a Chinese student about using Twitter freely in China. Obama continued: "I noticed that young people - they're very busy with all these electronics.  My thumbs are too clumsy to type in things on the phone."

During the presidential campaign, techies and news organizations all noted the Obama campaign's use of social networking. "Barack Obama dominates Twitter" read one summer headline on CNET.com.

Obama has his name on one Twitter account, @BarackObama, which was started in April 2007 and is now run by Organizing for America (Obama's political arm operated out of the Democratic National Committee). The other account is @WhiteHouse, which was first set up to send out news about H1N1. @BarackObama has close to 2.7 million followers and @WhiteHouse has over 1.4 million followers.


Matt Lewis, a conservative blogger with Politics Daily, thought Obama seemed "out of touch" in his comments about young people and electronics, considering during the campaign there was an effort made to make Obama look hip and tech savvy. "There were a lot of people during the campaign who were critical of John McCain, that he was not technologically cutting edge," Lewis told CNN.

MG Siegler of TechCrunch, a non-partisan blog that reports on social media, wrote today, "Obviously, he had a killer team around him that was able to embrace the web...Still, it's somewhat surprising that he never sent any of his own tweets during the primaries."

Ari Melber, a liberal correspondent for The Nation who followed Obama's digital steps during the campaign, didn't seem fazed by the Obama comments. He said, "In legal terms, what would a reasonable Twitter user think?" Ask Rachel Sklar, a prolific tweeter and Editor-at-Large of Mediaite.com: "I never thought he did [tweet]. He's a little busy."

Filed under: President Obama • Twitter


Tim   November 16th, 2009 2:53 pm ET

And he's never met a foreign leader he hasn't apologized to.

Anthony   November 16th, 2009 2:51 pm ET

My kind of man! Obviously he has better things to do with his time, like clean up the Bush/Cheney mess.

Neighbor in Russia   November 16th, 2009 2:48 pm ET

Thank goodness! I'd be beyond disappointed with the President if he wa son twitter.

Jamie   November 16th, 2009 2:45 pm ET

I have never used Twitter either, or Facebook, American is exhibitionist enough. I don't see that's a fault, especially with how much technology Obama and has implemented into transparent government. Actually, maybe if more Republicans tweeted less they would have more effective things to say than 'You lie'!

Pee Wee   November 16th, 2009 2:44 pm ET

Oops! bad cut and paste!

"Let me say that I have never used Twitter,"

What a waste of cyber-space.

"Let me say that I have never used Twitter," ...

or run a company, or held a private sector job, or had any executive experience, or ever served in a diplomatic role, or ever been in the military. But, I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night!

HJA   November 16th, 2009 2:42 pm ET

I don't use Twitter. I don't text. Ther are people in a class I am taking that whine how hard the class is. During the lecture they are on Facebook or texting under their desk. Technology has it's uses. I don't need it so I don't use it. If you can't call on the phone or email me.....we don't need to talk. Some people just can't shut up for a minute.

Pee Wee   November 16th, 2009 2:38 pm ET

Once again, showing he's the figurehead and is controlled by the "man behind the curtain".

J.P.   November 16th, 2009 2:38 pm ET

Nope, you just Twitter with our nation's prosperity.

But whatever you do, please push for more programs that keep people poor, stupid and voting for democrats. The more people you have dependent upon government for their very existence, the more Democrat voters you have.

will   November 16th, 2009 2:26 pm ET

"My thumbs are too clumsy to type in things on the phone."

I thought he was "addicted" to his blackberry?

Jane/Seattle   November 16th, 2009 2:22 pm ET

And this is important HOW?

terry,va   November 16th, 2009 2:20 pm ET

If you don't want to twitter, how about giving us your decision on Afghan etc. by your blackberry. This isn't the Senate. You have to come out of the coat closet and vote yes or no; not present.

A. Smith, Oregon   November 16th, 2009 2:16 pm ET

I greatly admire President Obama, however on this question by Chinese students, he dropped the ball. When asked about internet censorship, he seemed to be on notice in regards to the likely hood of being asked that question.

The 'do you use Twitter' question was a typical Chinese subtle inquiry to let Obama open the discussion into the harsh internet censorship by China.

The vast American majority doesn't realize how plugged in many of America's black project agency's are into the internet practices of law abiding American citizens. Tracking their internet usage, reading their emails, using backdoor entry's into the Windows operating system to read various files on your personal computer are all ROUTINE operations that are conducted without any approval, warrant nor evidence of any wrong doing prior to such searches.

Which country's practices are more intrusive? Is America's routine intrusive practices upon its own citizens any less intrusive than those of China in the post Bush-Cheney era?

Carlos   November 16th, 2009 2:15 pm ET

And they had made such a big deal about how techie and nerdie he was, another lie.

XrayDean   November 16th, 2009 2:09 pm ET

What a faker. Jeez, does he do anything he says he does? What a puppet of the DNC!

Dominican mama 4 Obama   November 16th, 2009 2:07 pm ET

Let me bask in the glory of finally having a technologically savvy Presidente. You blew the opposition out of the water Mr. President with your e-mail outreach during your campaign. You've brought the WH computer system closer to the 21st century. Let twits like Sarah have twitter.

mjm   November 16th, 2009 2:05 pm ET

"My thumbs are too clumsy to type in things on the phone."

I thought SS got him a special BlackBerry so he could text.....Could it be that Obama is a....LIAR!

Nea   November 16th, 2009 2:00 pm ET

I really like this President wisdom last nite during the Town Hall Meeting someone ask him what was his definition of sucess of something in reference to that and he said that his definition to sucess is not how much money you have or the cars you drive but its helping feed the hungry or teaching a child etc. he said that he didnt have anything against having nice things and that was good to but thats how he view sucess and to me that was remarkable.

James Michael Roberson   November 16th, 2009 1:57 pm ET

I watched the speech and was very impressed. I think he answered some very hard questions. As far as twitter goes I think he was refferring more to texting using a cell phone than twittering on a computer. Maybe he has never twittered, so what he probably doesn't type his own letters either.

jaye   November 16th, 2009 1:54 pm ET

The United States does not need to have the 911 trials in New York....thats the worst idea I've ever heard.
AND, they will be found not guilty because all of them were tortured.
Stop being stupid.....have the trials someplace else.

T'SAH from Virginia   November 16th, 2009 1:52 pm ET

And if YOU did??? You'll be getting my TWEETS!!! Don't worry, not ever TWIT is a TWEETER because a TWEETER is a TWIT!!! LOL

D. Tree   November 16th, 2009 1:35 pm ET

The President doesn't have time to Twitter.

Good, he did I'd be worried.

Silence Dogoode   November 16th, 2009 1:34 pm ET

You would think that a Twit would be an expert at twitter.

I guess he is too busy gallavanting, gutting the constitution, letting his buds the 9/11 terrorists have a crimanial trial instead of a military tribunal and cowardly refuses to call what happened at Ft Hood a terrorist attack. BTW Mr. Trophy Wife of the DNC can we get a decision on Afganistan?

Dominican mama 4 Obama   November 16th, 2009 1:19 pm ET

God bless our President.

Bedtime for Obonzo   November 16th, 2009 1:12 pm ET

Me neither. I finally have one thing in common with the Beloved Leader.

Sea.gem   November 16th, 2009 1:10 pm ET

"My thumbs are too clumsy to type things in on a phone"...guess that is why he demanded and received a ultra-secure bberry account...the man can't help but lie to try and look good....sad, sad politician....

aproudmemberoftheunpatrioticmob   November 16th, 2009 1:09 pm ET

look look.....

he is also a moron and technologically backward – Palin knows how to use Twitter!!

You go girl!!!

Obama Victim   November 16th, 2009 1:08 pm ET

Obozo is a "twit"

SocialismBad   November 16th, 2009 1:05 pm ET

Why would Obama need to use Twitter? The MSM follows him like lap dogs in heat and records his every word and movement. Then publishes the word according to Obama.

Maybe we should all Tweet to his account and tell him to do more work and less campaigning? Things are only getting worse and his only solution seems to be "spend more money we don't have".

Death Assurance Companies   November 16th, 2009 1:00 pm ET

Thats because twitwits are the new nitwits.hahaha

Comments have been closed for this article

subscribe RSS Icon
About The Ticker

The latest political news from CNN's Best Political Team, with campaign coverage, 24-7. Sign up for our twice daily Ticker emails. Got a news tip or feedback? For complete political coverage, bookmark CNNPolitics.com.

CNN=Politics Screensaver

CNN=Politics ScreensaverTap into the power of The Situation Room. Download this powerful new tool that keeps you posted on the latest political news from the campaign trail.
Download (4.1 MB, PC only)

twitter
@KuhnCNN: Great meeting @JackGrayCNN today and seeing @sinderbrandrcnn in NYC! AC Rock Stars! :-)
Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:07:10 -0800
@KuhnCNN: Posted today: Clinton foreign trip first on Twitter. http://bit.ly/9Axuh9 /via @PoliticalTicker
Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:36:14 -0800
@KuhnCNN: RT @octavianasrCNN: MUST-READ// Coaching tomorrow's world leaders, through social networking -- http://bit.ly/9tmW6x
Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:32:51 -0800
@AWMooneyCNN: Metro finally comes and then stops at station for 20 minutes #snoverkill
Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:46:27 -0800
@psteinhauserCNN: I just shoveled two feet of snow off the roof. That was fun!
Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:14:34 -0800
Categories
Powered by WordPress.com VIP