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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?"

3 of 105 comments (clear)

  1. 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 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.

  2. 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.