Maybe I'm just hypersensitive to these things now that I work in public affairs, but I can't get over the complete stupidity of this stunt. It'd be a frightening experience even for those who hadn't lived through the horror of 9/11. All this for a photo-op with Air Force One? Perhaps the FAA had security reasons for not notifying the public, but why was it that the White House, the Pentagon, the DOT, and Mayor Bloomberg weren't even in the loop? I have two words for you, FAA: PhotoShop and FAIL.

Side note: In an age when technology allows us to disseminate information instantaneously around the globe, six-plus hours is no longer an acceptable amount of time to issue a crisis-response statement. White House press office: FAIL. 

Politics aside, I've marveled for months at Obama's ability to harness emerging technology to run an effective--better yet, groundbreaking--campaign. From the YouTube videos to the viral marketing via Facebook status messages to his own channel on satellite TV, there simply was no medium where Barack was not present. And I'm not even getting into the more traditional tactics, i.e. the excellent graphic design used in campaign materials and even his wardrobe choices. AdAge even named Obama marketer of the year. (The magazine also ran an excellent article exploring the marketing tactics used in his campaign, but it's no longer available to read for free online.) As a communications professional, I'm convinced that these tactics were one of the keys--if not THE key--to his success (though it also sure didn't hurt that everybody was so fed up with Bush's politics). In the future of these United States, nothing can and will unite us more than technology; Obama has already proven his ability to organize and unite people this way.

And now, there's this, a new blog on whitehouse.gov, where the Obama camp promises the following:

"Communication -- Americans are eager for information about the state of the economy, national security and a host of other issues. This site will feature timely and in-depth content meant to keep everyone up-to-date and educated. Check out the briefing room, keep tabs on the blog (RSS feed) and take a moment to sign up for e-mail updates from the President and his administration so you can be sure to know about major announcements and decisions.

Transparency -- President Obama has committed to making his administration the most open and transparent in history, and WhiteHouse.gov will play a major role in delivering on that promise. The President's executive orders and proclamations will be published for everyone to review, and that’s just the beginning of our efforts to provide a window for all Americans into the business of the government. You can also learn about some of the senior leadership in the new administration and about the President’s policy priorities.

Participation -- President Obama started his career as a community organizer on the South Side of Chicago, where he saw firsthand what people can do when they come together for a common cause. Citizen participation will be a priority for the Administration, and the internet will play an important role in that. One significant addition to WhiteHouse.gov reflects a campaign promise from the President: we will publish all non-emergency legislation to the website for five days, and allow the public to review and comment before the President signs it."

From a public relations standpoint, this blog is a brilliant and necessary move for a president operating in an increasingly web-driven world where corporate transparency and two-way communications are bywords. Now, I seriously doubt Obama is going to read every single comment left on the site in response to pending legislation--and God forbid we ever start texting in our votes for the next legislative American Idol--but I do believe that technology such as this will redefine and rejuvenate democracy. How? The White House will be delivering real-time information to the people--and information is power. And you can bet I'll be reading--via my RSS reader, natch.