He’s Got a Database, and He’s Gonna Use It

There’s been a lot of speculation about how Obama is going to use the networks established during the campaign and use them for governance. David Carr writes,

As a result, when he arrives at 1600 Pennsylvania, Mr. Obama will have
not just a political base, but a database, millions of names of
supporters who can be engaged almost instantly. And there’s every
reason to believe that he will use the network not just to campaign,
but to govern. His e-mail message to supporters on Tuesday night
included the line, “We have a lot of work to do to get our country back
on track, and I’ll be in touch soon about what comes next.” The
incoming administration is already open for business on the Web at Change.gov, a digital gateway for the transition.

This
is huge. A president with direct access to the people, with the latest
technology could upend business as usual in Washington. Maybe for the
better. Maybe not for the better. Carr continues,

Special-interest groups and lobbyists will now contend with an
environment of transparency and a president who owes them nothing. The
news media will now contend with an administration that can take its
case directly to its base without even booking time on the networks.

It
could undermine the party system and limit the ability of Congress to
check the president. Yes, you may like this president and willingly
hand him the power of your inbox, but you might not be so happy about
it if we get President Palin.