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President Obama Will Kibbitz With YouTube Stars

Posted by timothy on from the actual-state-of-the-union dept.

theodp (442580) writes "For better or worse, YouTube stars are a big deal these days. Last December, Microsoft and Code.org turned to YouTube Stars iJustine and The Fine Brothers to help recruit the nation's K-12 schookids for the Hour of Code. And next week, in what the White House is touting as the State of the YOUnion , President Obama will turn to a trio of YouTube Stars for advice on the issues of day following his State of the Union Address. "We're inviting a handful of YouTube creators to the White House to talk with the President in person," explains the White House Blog, "and you can watch it all live on Thursday, January 22. YouTube creators Bethany Mota, GloZell, and Hank Green will interview President Obama about the issues care they most about and what they're hearing from their audiences." Commenting on the choice of the YouTube interviewers, CNN's David Acosta asked (confused) WH Press Secretary Josh Earnest, "I'm just curious, was 'Charlie Bit My Finger' or 'David After Dentist' not available?" So, how long until the U.S. is redistricted into YouTube Channels?"

61 of 105 comments (clear)

  1. James Taylor in Paris by HBI · · Score: 1

    About as effectual as that.

    --
    HBI's Law: Frequency of calling others Nazis is directly correlated with the likelihood of the accuser being Communist.
  2. Thank you, President Obama! by PapayaSF · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Thank you for having dealt with all the other more pressing problems, domestic and foreign, so that now you have extra time for these folks! I'm sure they'll have lots of informed, trenchant, challenging questions for you, the answers to which will be informative and enlightening. It'll be the adversarial press speaking truth to power!

    --
    Q: What does the "B." in Benoit B. Mandelbrot stand for? A: Benoit B. Mandelbrot
    1. Re:Thank you, President Obama! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      I don't mind politicians trying something new, but this really does bring down the class and dignity of the presidency. Going on the late night comedy shows was awkward enough (at best), but this is downright distasteful. With this administration, though, this is just par for the course.

    2. Re: Thank you, President Obama! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I'd actually prefer the President meet with people like this than the establishment types of convenientional media. At least these have a chance at breaking away from the corporate ranks than whatever over-stylized enunciator is sitting behind a big desk on network news.

      Heck, I wish there was a lottery where ten random Americans could have time with the President every week.

    3. Re:Thank you, President Obama! by Darinbob · · Score: 4, Informative

      He's golfed a lot less than most recent presidents, he has catching up to do.

      But what sorts of morons honestly think the president either has to stay in the white house all the time, or who think that the president when not in DC does not actually do any work?

    4. Re:Thank you, President Obama! by Darinbob · · Score: 2

      Which is worse, meeting with unknown D list celebrities, versus meeting with Halliburton execs?

    5. Re:Thank you, President Obama! by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 1

      I don't mind politicians trying something new, but this really does bring down the class and dignity of the presidency. Going on the late night comedy shows was awkward enough (at best), but this is downright distasteful. With this administration, though, this is just par for the course.

      You haven't seen it yet, so why be so quick to judge? Also, pundits were saying that Bill Clinton's appearance playing sax on The Arsenio Hall Show was a mistake, but look what happened:.

      Clinton's saxophone-playing appearance on "The Arsenio Hall Show" in June, though, was widely mocked at the time by many members of the we-know-everything gang covering national politics.

      It wasn't dignified. It demeaned presidential politics. It "coarsened" the discourse of democracy, to use the language that syndicated columnist George Will seems to use to describe anything that isn't white, male and borrowed from ancient Rome or Greece. Clinton was dubbed the "Elvis candidate," in part because he was playing (or rather gamely trying to play) Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel."

      --
      "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
    6. Re:Thank you, President Obama! by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      They already bring it down with the journalists they let in the press room. Perhaps a national lottery for access to the press room would be better. But complaining over the class of journalists is elitist and undemocratic.

      --
      Learn to love Alaska
    7. Re: Thank you, President Obama! by TWX · · Score: 4, Interesting

      President Obama already did meet with Youtubers once; Hannah Hart, who came to prominence for My Drunk Kitchen and later started producing videos on the challenges of being homosexual was among them.

      I get Hank Green to an extent, he's a little goofy, but his videos seem to be more in the manner of Bill Nye crossed with Andy Rooney, plus his status has been elevated through his collaborations with his brother, but I'm not sure about the other two. I hadn't heard of them before, and when I pulled up their channels from the article summary I was greeted with opening presentations that didn't really make me want to watch their videos. There may be something deeper about what they do, but it wasn't instantly obvious to me as a new viewer.

      It should be interesting, to see what the topics of the conversation actually are. Youtube today seems to have replaced what livejournal and blogger and other web log sites did fifteen years ago, so perhaps this is an attempt to engage the upcoming generation on their own terms, but by letting that generation bring their media to prominence rather than attempting to co-opt their media and failing at it badly.

      --
      Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
    8. Re:Thank you, President Obama! by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 3, Informative

      President Obama is closing in on his 200th round. That's more than President George W. Bush (24). He's well behind Clinton (400+ by his own admission), but behind all other Presidents going back to Eisenhower.

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      Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    9. Re: Thank you, President Obama! by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 1

      Nero had his fiddle. History rhymes.

      --
      My God, it's Full of Source!
      OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
    10. Re:Thank you, President Obama! by techno-vampire · · Score: 1

      He's well behind Clinton (400+ by his own admission)...

      That works out to just under once a week. I've never been a fan of either Clinton or Obama, but that's not unreasonable at all when you break it down that way. And, if they don't use a golf cart, it's good exercise.

      --
      Good, inexpensive web hosting
    11. Re:Thank you, President Obama! by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      You're right. It's total days of vacation that Obama is behind on, that used to be the talking points meme. I guess when the fact checking disproved that it switched over to golf? Vacation is good, as long as it's not golf?

    12. Re:Thank you, President Obama! by Bing+Tsher+E · · Score: 1

      All Presidents have always taken the time to meet with big Business Executives. Television entertainers? Not so much.

      Not sure why you separate out Haliburton. General Electric has Obama's nuts in a vice.

    13. Re:Thank you, President Obama! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Bush hardly had time to play golf, with almost 900 days of non-golfing vacation stopping him from getting on the green.

    14. Re:Thank you, President Obama! by Vintermann · · Score: 1

      Oh to hell with "class and dignity". It would be nice if this was actually what it pretends to be, but here are some questions Obama will never be asked:

      - Mr. President, you've prosecuted more people under the espionage act than all previous presidents combined. Why do you think that is?

      - Mr. President, the only person in jail over torture at the CIA is the person who blew the whistle on it, John Kiriakou. Why is that?

      He never answers such questions in person, only if he absolutely has to does he even let his PR people defend him. When he's going so "folksy" and talking to youtube hosts now, it's because he wants to invite those too into the sphere respectability - the sphere where such questions aren't asked.

      Right now youtube is a sphere of the media with a huge audience, but where the media's notions of respectability doesn't exist, the regular rules you have to follow to get ahead don't really apply. They want to nip that in the bud, with a carrot rather than a stick. Want to play with the big guys? Then fall in line!

      --
      xkcd is not in the sudoers file. This incident will be reported.
    15. Re:Thank you, President Obama! by dfenstrate · · Score: 3, Insightful

      He's golfed a lot less than most recent presidents, he has catching up to do.

      Bush stopped golfing shortly after 9/11, because he didn't want to appear... well, as Obama does now. Perhaps you mean Clinton?

      --
      Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be the name of a store, not a government agency.
    16. Re:Thank you, President Obama! by Vintermann · · Score: 1

      Oh, I'm sure he does that too. And when he does, he probably listen and cares about what they want rather than view it as a PR opportunity.

      --
      xkcd is not in the sudoers file. This incident will be reported.
    17. Re:Thank you, President Obama! by operagost · · Score: 2

      The State of the Union address would be far more entertaining if Grumpy Cat provided the post-speech response.

      --

      Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
    18. Re:Thank you, President Obama! by operagost · · Score: 1, Interesting

      I don't see any problem with how many days of vacation he has. I have a problem with the EXPENSES RUN UP BY HIS WIFE. She's the one jet-setting for 12 weeks a year, costing the taxpayers millions.

      --

      Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
    19. Re:Thank you, President Obama! by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      I admitted earlier that I got the golf vs vacation wrong, but your point is confusing. How does Obama appear now? Are presidents not allowed to golf? Can they smile now and then? What exactly is wrong with getting in some small recreation while multitasking? The president golfing is not shameful, however it is shameful that so many voters are being tricked into thinking this is a scandal.

  3. Woah...There are YouTube stars? by Todd+Palin · · Score: 1

    I need to get out more.

    1. Re:Woah...There are YouTube stars? by dreamchaser · · Score: 2

      Only in their own minds, really. The only ones who are really 'stars' are the ones that land gigs other than YouTube using the latter as a springboard.

      Eww...that makes Bieber a YOUTUBE STAR!!!

    2. Re:Woah...There are YouTube stars? by TWX · · Score: 2

      I expect that many of them make as much money doing Youtube videos as many local TV newscasters, reporters, and Radio DJs do, if they've been smart about how they do things. They certainly could do a lot worse for themselves.

      It's pretty clear that old-media isn't quite sure what to make of new-media. Jerry Seinfeld's show Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee exemplified this by bringing Miranda Sings on as one of the comedians- it was one of the few that I simply couldn't watch and ended up turning off. I did not find her in-character schtick to be funny, and it seemed like quite a step down compared to Carl Reiner and Jay Leno.

      --
      Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
    3. Re:Woah...There are YouTube stars? by EdwardFurlong · · Score: 1

      My SO's kids talk all the time about "famous youtubers". They don't watch TV or listen to the radio, social media and things like youtube are where they get their information. I think they are delusional thinking they are going to someday make it rich on youtube.

  4. DFTBA. by RyuuzakiTetsuya · · Score: 1

    Just glad to see Hank Green doing stuff. Glad he's got this great opportunity!

    --
    Non impediti ratione cogitationus.
  5. State of the YOUnion by AnotherBrian · · Score: 3, Funny

    Wow, I really want to slap the person who came up with that State of the YOUnion buzzword.

  6. The "After Dentist" kid by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    Frankly that "After Dentist" kid is exactly how I feel about five minutes into any president's State Of the Union speech...

    It would be great to see the wigged out kid and the biting baby / sibling behind the president as he gave the speech though. I can hear the young britsih accent now, faintly from the back... "Charlie, that man is really boring".

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:The "After Dentist" kid by Qzukk · · Score: 1

      After the fucking the internet has gotten by the NSA during this and the previous administration, I think it'd be more appropriate if Obama was to "kibbitz" with youporn stars.

      --
      If I have been able to see further than others, it is because I bought a pair of binoculars.
  7. Probably Not by Guy+From+V · · Score: 1

    Is the pres gonna plink with Hickok45 at his "backyard range"?

  8. Re:I'm glad we have nothing else to worry about by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Since it's not like an evil worldwide ideology is on the rampage or anything, plenty of time and resources for important things like this :)

    Many of us know the US is involved in lots of aggression around the world, but I think
    when you call it "worldwide" you are exaggerating rather severely.

  9. Not going after you by Enry · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If you don't know who those people are (and I'll admit I don't) then this isn't for you. It's about getting younger people involved and voting. Older people already vote more regularly, with people in their teens and 20s not voting with much regularity (see 2014). If Obama can reach those voters and get them interested in the process, then he's laying a base for Democrats going forward.

    As for the 'all other problems being solved' nonsense, take a look at the schedule for Congress over the past few years and see what tough issues they spent their time working on.

    1. Re:Not going after you by gman003 · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Because the Republican offering is still going to be worse.

    2. Re:Not going after you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      You actually want Youtubers to vote? Have you ever read the comments there? There's no stronger argument against Democracy than a five minutes talk with a Youtuber.

    3. Re:Not going after you by Osgeld · · Score: 1

      younger voters are stupider voters, see president with youtube "stars" photo op as example

  10. The word is "kibitz". by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    If you don't know how to spell an unusual word with yiddish origin that'll make you look like a pretentious schnook, perhaps you can find a better word?

    1. Re:The word is "kibitz". by Jarik+C-Bol · · Score: 1

      I had to read the summery several times to figure out what the fuck the headline was supposed to mean. But then, there's not really much of a Yiddish population where I live.

      --
      I've decided to Diversify my Holdings. I've divided my cash between my left and right pockets, instead of all in one.
    2. Re:The word is "kibitz". by Dragonslicer · · Score: 1

      If you don't know how to spell an unusual word with yiddish origin that'll make you look like a pretentious schnook, perhaps you can find a better word?

      Yeah, if the submitter/editor used the word, I expected there to be some specific reason for it. Then I got "schookids" and "the issues of day" and realized that it's just plain old stupidity.

    3. Re:The word is "kibitz". by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 1

      Since he's actually being interviewed by them, the spelling is less objectionable than kibitz not being the right word at all. He's involved, not a spectator.

      --
      Your ad here. Ask me how!
  11. Obama by 0123456 · · Score: 2

    He does know he's not campaigning for re-election, right?

    1. Re:Obama by Smidge204 · · Score: 1, Troll

      Wait, if he's not up for re-election... could that mean he's genuinely interested in engaging younger audiences?

      The implications boggle the mind!
      =Smidge=

    2. Re:Obama by houghi · · Score: 1

      His party is. So if he does nice things, it is the party. If it turns bad, it is him taking the blame.

      --
      Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
  12. A publicity stunt to show he's still relevant by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    How pathetic.

  13. Orange? by AndyKron · · Score: 1

    Will the Annoying Orange get invited? Huh? huh? huh? huh?

  14. Really? by LordHugeMongus · · Score: 2

    "about the issues care they most about and what they're hearing"

    care they most??
    really??
    It's not just the summary, that's on whitehouse.gov...
    I am so ashamed to be a citizen of the U.S. right now.

  15. Hank Green is a good choice by Rob+Bos · · Score: 5, Informative

    I've never seen the other two, but Hank Green, and his brother John, are two people who've earned much respect in my view, for their charity work, for their educational series "Crash Course", and for the work they've done supporting other youtube science channels, like Emily Graslie and Animal Wonders.

  16. Pick up artist by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

    The Prez wants to hang with Aurini, because bitches, man.

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
  17. Nice try, Obama. by BitwizeGHC · · Score: 1

    Attempting to turn yourself into an internet meme won't cozy you up to us, not when your administration's policy is that all private communications online should be subject to government snooping.

    --
    N4st0r, trixx0r h0bb1tz0rz! Th3y st0l3 0ur pr3c10uzz!
  18. Bread and circuses by X.25 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Always works well.

  19. That means they're confident... by Vintermann · · Score: 1

    That means they're confident. So confident about these youtubers' ambition and personalities that Obama will never hear any word that might potentially upset him, such as "Kiriakou", "torture", "drone", "kill list", "accountability" or "war criminal".

    --
    xkcd is not in the sudoers file. This incident will be reported.
  20. What the fuck is a Kibbitz? by rebelwarlock · · Score: 2

    At least explain your nonsense if you're going to say it in public.

    1. Re:What the fuck is a Kibbitz? by Xenkar · · Score: 1

      Well a lot of the people who write articles happen to be Jewish and they have a habit of occasionally inserting Yiddish and Hebrew words into their works. This habit of theirs makes it fairly simple to know when a Jewish fellow is posting a comment when the other simple identifiers like defending reducing cities to rubble and firing shells at hospitals during ceasefires are missing.

      I'm still speculating on whether or not the occasional yiddish and hebrew is intentional or accidental. I could see it being either. "Oops I used one of our words around the gentiles, I hope they don't notice" or "Heh I used one of our words around the gentiles, let's see if they notice"

      The idea that one should be able to read a damned article on an English website without a yiddish dictionary is anti-semitic. Kibbitz apparently means to chat, have small talk.

  21. YouTube Handily Beats CNN by BBCWatcher · · Score: 1

    YouTube has more viewers and gets basic facts wrong less often than CNN. Yet despite CNN's numerous ongoing deficiencies, the President has been quite generous and gracious to the network, appearing for interviews several times -- including a one-on-one interview with Candy Crowley late last month.

  22. Take pics with Tron Guy by Tablizer · · Score: 1

    FoxNews would have a field day

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
  23. South Park was prophetic as always by Jade_Wayfarer · · Score: 1

    Well, it's not as bad as it seems. They could have invited Cartmanbrah.

    --
    Absence of proof != proof of absence.
  24. Bethany Mota© the fashon icon .. by lippydude · · Score: 1

    'Bethany Mota' a very clever way of selling product to kids, under the guise of some Valley girl just hanging in her bedroom with her Youtube 'friends'. Marketing exec: 'We got a contract to shift some .. 'batiste dry shampoo', 'Bumble and Bumble City Swept Finish', 'white eyeliner', 'red lipstick', 'mascara', 'vests from Target', 'skirt from For-ever-21', 'boots from For-ever-21', 'tanktop', 'Blue dress from LX-Fashion', 'White shoes from American Apparel', 'Purse from Clothing Line', 'Overalls from Love Culture', 'American Flag T-shirt from Brandy Melville', 'Backpack from Target', 'White dress from For-ever-21', 'Black-&-White Wedges', 'Headband from Michaels Craftstore'. If you're a teenage girl out there, if you buy all this product, then you can also have Bethanys lifestyle.

    Fourth of July Outfit ideas, DIY Treats + Hair & Makeup!
    ref: Valley Speak

  25. Who is Will Kibbitz? by cs96and · · Score: 1

    Never heard of him!

  26. Re:Let me give you a hand with that by dablow · · Score: 1

    Obama this, Bush that bla bla bla bla....

    Americans waste their time fighting over what is essentially 2 sides of the same coin.

    Republicans and Democrats are both the same thing; Corporatists that serve their corporate overloads. What little differences the 2 parties have on some issues is used to keep the American people fighting over somewhat meaningless issues instead of paying attention to the fact that they are being robbed blind by the 1%.

    But I guess I should not be too hard on Americans, most nations of the West have adopted similar systems.

    I digress....But realistically speaking you guys know that Obama is a HUMAN, and as such requires a little bit of down time and light hearted activities...I mean do you really want the President to burn out while in office? Also a lot of decisions and political maneuvering tend to happen during these so called "waste of time" activities...

  27. Re:"Youtube Star" isn't a thing by GTRacer · · Score: 1

    If you're Jerry, George, Elaine or Kramer, it's $150 to the winner.

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    Defending IP by destroying access to it? That makes sense, RIAA/MPAA. Go to the corner until you can play nice!
  28. Obama: Putting The "Circus"... by Bob9113 · · Score: 1

    ...in Bread and Circuses.

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  29. Wrong word? by alleycat0 · · Score: 1

    "Kibbitz" (or "kibitz") is a Yiddish term meaning, "to offer unsolicited advice". Until very recently, this is the only meaning i'd heard for this term, but lately people appear to be using it to simply mean, "converse" (or perhaps more precisely, "engage in small talk"). I understand that language evolves and word meanings change, but if this is indeed the case with "kibbitz" it would be a real shame, because the word in its original sense is useful for conveying a concept concisely that otherwise cannot be conveyed in English using a single word...

    --
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