O n Monday, Jan. 30, Google+ hosted a hangout entitled “Your Interview with the President” with
President Barack Obama on YouTube and Google+ for almost an hour.
A “hangout” is Google+’s version of a video conference call with one or more person, but
unlike Skype with these capabilities, it is completely free. The video consisted of Steve Grove,
who served as the moderator from Google, President Obama, as well as five other individuals
from around the country in a live video conference call. This was the the first time this type
of interview occurred using social media and allowing typical American people to have the
opportunity to talk with the President.
The interview started with five pre-taped questions from individuals on YouTube.
A homeless veteran asked Obama why we are sending money to places like Pakistan who are
known to support terrorism. There was also a question from an Occupy protester in Portland.
One classroom asked a question pertinent to each college student, “How do you plan to help
students pay off student loans?”
After Obama finished responding to the pre-taped videos, the five people within the conference
call were given the ability not only to ask questions of Obama but also to be able to converse
with him face-to-face.
Obama reinforced plans outlined in the State of the Union Address, delivered the week before
on Jan. 24. He talked about the importance of focusing on our internal economy through
reforms designed to create more jobs, and he also discussed the importance of clean,
renewable, cheap energy. He mentioned certain companies using “insourcing”, or returning
some of the manufacturing jobs that had gone overseas back to the American people.
In response to the SOPA/PIPA, the controversial Internet censorship bill, clarify briefly what this
bill is, Obama said, “Broadly, we want to make sure intellectual property is protected and we
want to make sure that the creative works of people in this country aren’t expropriated, but we
want to do it in a way that is consistent with Internet freedom.”
The conversation offered all viewers a perspective on what Obama is like away from the
cameras and big speeches such as the State of the Union address.
President Obama even mentioned how much he appreciates comedians such as those from
Saturday Night Live making fun of him. He said having a laugh proves the strength of the
American democracy.
The video ended with Obama being asked to sing or dance, and Obama also told a mom’s three
children to “stay in school and do whatever your mom tells you.”
To watch the video visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeTj5qMGTAI or search “Your
Interview with the President – 2012” on YouTube.
