The White House has always been a strong symbol for the country that is the United States of America, but what kind of significance does it hold for the American citizen? For the average American, the White House is where the President and his (or perhaps in the future, her) family lives, as well as the office and home of government operations, but that’s all. A connection between the White House and American citizen is lacking. During his time in office, however, President Barack Obama plans on changing the image of what the White House and the President represent for the American people.
With a concert performed by Stevie Wonder, and another performance by the band Earth, Wind, and Fire, the past six weeks at the White House sound like anything but ordinary. The livelier feel to the White House is not for the simple purpose of fun and games; President Obama, along with his wife Michelle, is being careful to craft an identity for his family that will both fit his political agenda and connect his family with the rest of America. Everyone knows the history that was made with the election of Obama as president, and the Obama family is working hard to represent the racial history, youth, and shift in leadership that came with the most recent election. The open-door policy is a great start for Obama. Throughout his campaign, Obama pushed for connectivity with the younger generation of this country. Now, in the White House, President Obama is not willing to take his foot off the pedal.
A figure like the White House or the President of the United States should play an important role in the everyday lives of the American people. However, in recent years, this has not been the case. People were not able to connect with George Bush or the government under his presidency, and many people found themselves not trusting the government or, even worse, not caring. President Obama understands the impact that the White House can have; there are no boundaries if used correctly. That is why he has invited everyone from mayors and governors, to sports celebrities and musical icons, to the president of the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and a young 16 year old aspiring pianist with dreadlocks, to the White House. That is why Michelle Obama has put the residence staff on full display instead of hiding them in the back, invited culinary students to tour the White House kitchen and meet with the president, and asked Stephen Rochon, the first African-American to hold the position of Chief White House usher, to speak on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The White House has a more “personable” feel to it now. Gone are the days of the White House being an off-limits, government-only political landmark. The Obamas are creating a new image for the White House and the position of President, which is extremely important in our society that, right now, is stressing both racial and generational changes. With these changes, Obama will be able to connect with the public on a completely other level than his predecessors did. The only problem is the worry that Obama could become more of a celebrity and less of a President in the eyes of the public. While a connection is nice, it would not be smart for Obama to exchange his title of “President Obama” for one of “Celebrity Obama.” He must be careful to keep this distinction intact.
8 comments:
After reading this post, I was surprised to see just how much President Obama is changing the way the White House is portrayed to the American public. When I think of the White House, I do not think of concerts, or anything fun and exciting. Instead, I think of history, tours, and high security. I like the thought of President Obama and his family making it friendlier to the American public. By doing so, the new administration is showing how they are changing America, especially in the public light. It seems as if the Obama administration is making the U.S. government more welcoming and trustworthy than the Bush administration of the past 8 years.
In addition, I like the idea that during the Obama administration, the government and the White House will be more welcoming and open for the American public to see. I feel that if the government has less covert operations and tries to be less secretive, the American public will once again begin to trust the government and view it in a more positive light. By opening up the White House and focusing on introducing his family to the American public, President Obama is creating a more unified country and people will be able to identify more with elected officials, and in turn, grow to trust them more in all aspects of government and personal life.
I agree with what both of you have said, however, the Obama administration must not become distracted from other political issues while trying to increase the attractiveness of the White House. While this is a very good idea, it would be catastrophic to have this distract Obama from some of the severe issues at hand, such as our nation’s economy. I am all-for this idea, unless it starts to distract from some of the goals of the Obama administration in politics. It is also important to note the important line that needs to be made between President and Celebrity. It seems as if Obama is teetering on this line, so he needs to watch his step not to step over this line.
When one thinks of the White House, as Melanie said, they would immediately think of boring tours, old people, and high security. Changing the “image” of the White House would be another great way for Obama to connect with the younger generation, which we all know was quintessential in his success in the election of 2008. Making the White House more people-friendly can be a very effective decision for Obama, but it can also be a decision that causes much peril for the Obama administration if not handled right. There definitely needs to be a priority list put into play to make sure this goal does not put off other goals of the Obama administration. Obama must also make sure he stays in the “President” category rather than falling into the “Celebrity” category. This is a very optimistic idea by the Obama administration and if everything plays out as expected, Obama will seal his place in history as the president who was able to connect himself to the American public.
The points you are making about what Obama is doing and how it is changing the image of the White House are accurate. Yes, holding concerts is going to make the White House appear more approachable to the general public. Is that what we want though, should the White House take on an almost common or nonchalant image?
I say no. The White House is not a place for basketball games or concerts. You guys are accusing the White House of being all about our history. Well yes, you are right. The White House is about tradition. Obama should concentrate on the situation our nation is in right now, not who the next performer is going to be. Whether the White House is personable is not going to change the state of our economy.
I know many of you are going to argue about how the people need to trust and connect to the government. However, this doesn't require the changes that Obama is making. As an example, look at England. The government there is very traditional, however the people are the most loyal citizens there are.
Ultimately, citizens should like Obama for what he is doing for our country, not his celebrity status.
What Obama is doing in the White House could not be better for a country that is severely lacking a nationalism that is so important in rough times. He is once again making the government one that the people can trust and relate to. When I toured the White House during the Bush administration, it had an eerily similar feeling of a museum, not the place that our nation revolves around. I believe that if Obama lightens the mood of the White House, this will once again give Americans a needed positive symbol they can hold as their own.
At the same time, this situation has caused me (along with others) to question Obama’s work ethic towards the goals of our country. However, Obama has worked diligently to pass many bills he promised the country he would, the stimulus package being the main example. This shows that he is capable of getting business done while remaining a family man most of us can relate to.
President Obama’s steps to make the White House seem more “personable” is certainly welcome. The country is in a state of economic crisis and people look to the president for guidance and assurance. It is definitely easier for the citizens of the United States to relate to and thereby trust Barack Obama if he portrays himself and the White House on a personal level. This is not to say that the president is acting without dignity; he is simply allowing the people of the United States to connect with him.
His actions currently appear to be appropriate. However, there needs to be a definite balance. There are some boundaries that he should not (and has thus far not) crossed. It must remain clear that he is the chief executive of our country. He is in one of the most powerful positions in the world and cannot afford for people to lose respect for him. It seems probable that he is both intelligent and charismatic enough to avoid any missteps related to his “celebrity.”
The problem I see with Obama trying so hard to change the image of the White House and the President in order to connect with public is that it could take away from actually getting work done. You mention something along the lines of this at the end of your post, about how Obama must be careful not to become celebrity first and president second. I think it's a good idea to connect to the public because it shows a sense of caring and it generally leads to the public liking the president more. But if connecting with the public is his top priority during these rough times, I have to question his approach. In these times, Obama should focus on how to do whatever he can to fix the economy and all the other problems we have. He should be building foundations for the programs that will hopefully lead to solving our economic woes. Changing the image of the White House and President should be secondary to such a task. Is it really worth it to receive a higher public approval rating than to help fix our economy? In my mind, it's not even close. I feel like taking steps to fix the economy will help him connect with the public because they will support their president for helping them out. He already became somewhat of a celebrity during the election, so all this work to connect with the public seems a bit overdone.
Obama’s vision is rather idealistic- he has oversimplified the office of the President and has compared the White House to nothing more than another home in the neighborhood that is open to the people.
In time, the significance of President Obama’s achievement as the first black American President will wear off its shine as the economic woes continue, as people see rhetoric as just that, hopes & dreams without substance or solutions, and that the world is still a dangerous place. There will continue to be problems in the Middle East. The US has not changed in the eyes of its enemies because a new face with an engaging smile now lives in the White House. President Obama should be given high marks for his present open-door policy.
Youth is full of excitement and hope for positive change. But what is perceived as a Utopia has been proven throughout history to be just a dream when the reality of world politics and diverse cultures begin to take grasp. The United States has made its share of poor decisions with regard to the world community, but very few in comparison to other leading nations of the world. It has continually reached out with a generous, caring hand. In the words of President Reagan, the US still is the “shining city on a hill”.
Teddy Roosevelt respected other nations and celebrated their uniqueness with visits which were geared to the grass roots level, not just the elite. But he also recognized the role of the United States and all that is symbolized by the White House and presidency. “Walk softly and carry a big stick”.
The office of the US President carries great responsibility. Obama is not only the leader of the free world, but also the most powerful man in the world. He wields the greatest economy and military might on earth. He is a special person in a special place in time. He needs to be a role model and not a friend to the people. Good intentions and a smile will not usually harvest good results.
President Obama has a mandate for change. But change for the sake of change without regard for tough decisions and disciplines is only symbolic. He must look back at the history of this nation and the White House. With too much openness, his presidency will squander this great historical moment and a great opportunity for success.
First of all, I would just like to say that the point of this post was not to undermine the importance of all the other problems in this country, most notably the state of the economy. I was not trying to make the point that Obama's appearance with the public is more important than his work as President. I am sure Obama knows his priorities, and it would be foolish to think that he puts his image in front of everything else. Just because he is trying to promote his image as well as that of the White House does not mean he is putting everything else on the back-burner. For example, in regards to Emily's response, I do not think Obama is giving the White House a "nonchalant" image. I would say that Obama knows where to draw the line. Kevin's example is a perfect way to show how Obama is changing his office for the better. The White House should not feel like a museum; I'm not saying there should be concerts and shows put on every weekend, but the place should feel a little lively every now and then.
One thing I do agree with is that many of you said you aren't sure if Obama is going about this the right way. I do not think that he is putting everything else behind promoting himself, but I do believe that he might have done all of this a little too early for the simple reason that people might think he isn't doing his job. However, Obama would not be doing all of this if he didn't think it would help the country. I still say that this is a smart thing to do on Obama's part. While it may seem like he is just trying to promote himself, trust and a connection with the government and our president can only improve the country. More trust would improve the country's moral, as well as improved faith and pride in this country for its citizens. All in all, it will be interesting to see how this new strategy resonates with the American people. As we can see here, there are going to be people on both sides of the fence, but hopefully it will be a positive force in our country.
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