Live from Obama's Citizen Town Hall at The White House

The White House, Washington, D.C. -- President Barack Obama convened his first online town hall here on Thursday, fielding a few popular questions from the web about the economy.

Over about an hour and twenty minutes, Obama took six questions from the Internet and five queries from a small audience gathered in the East Room, the majestic, gold-curtained gathering spot for presidential press conferences and White House "message events." While the town hall event may feel like a minor and measured step, Presidents do not usually answer questions from citizens in the White House who have not been carefully vetted, pre-screened and gathered to present a top-down message from the government.

Obama faced few "hardballs," as several reporters complained after the event in the White House press area, but he did field topics that went beyond the traditional fare at press conferences -- including a passing reference to pot legalization -- and policy priorities that Obama's aides do not share, such as single-payer health care reform.

"I just saw a lot of marijuana questions," said Linda Bock, a 58-year-old Maryland nurse, when recounting her experience visiting the White House website. But Bock was able to ask about health care today, when the President called on her in the crowd. "I just put my hand up," she told me, stressing that she had no other contact with the White House other than being invited to the event by her union, SEIU.

Another live questioner, 27-year old consultant Sergio Salmeron, said that while it was "brave" of Obama to do these kind of events, the President "didn't address" his question about the underlying moral and philosophical principles that have led to a flawed health care system in the U.S.

The White House said about 67,000 people watched a live stream of the town hall in person. I'm headed off to the White House press briefing now, where I'll try to question Robert Gibbs on whether the citizen town hall will be a regular feature in the Obama White House.

Comments (37)

1. Shall I predict....

   a stream of right-wing posters claiming it wasn't a "REAL town hall"....

   with memories that seem to have only started on noon January 20th,2009???

   heheh

   Posted by Mask at 03/26/2009 @ 1:54pm

2. MELBER: The White House said about 67,000 people watched a live stream of the town hall in person....

   Rush mentioned this in his show today......if nothing else, our President is certainly doing his best to keep the media employed everywhere....no wonder he can't help Geithner staff up the Treasury. This just might explain why the MSM went bonkers over The Man from Chicago.

   Posted by Happy at 03/26/2009 @ 1:55pm

3. Posted by Happy at 03/26/2009 @ 1:55pm

   You know I'm willing to bet even Limbaugh made more sense in his attack than HAPP just did.

   LOL

   Posted by Mask at 03/26/2009 @ 1:59pm

4. Notice that Mask's first entry is not about the 2 topics where Obama went against leftist desires-surely worthy of debate, but whether conservatives would attack his forum as not being a true townhall meeting.

   I mean, that wasn't even in my thought considerations.

   Posted by antisocialist at 03/26/2009 @ 2:14pm

5. Posted by Happy at 03/26/2009 @ 1:55pm

   Rush is just pissed that Obama is keeping his promise to be open with the American people about what his adminstration is doing. It sets a bad precedent. OMG a President that is actually open about what his administration is doing and want the publics feedback. Sure is a change from Cheney's secret meetings with oil companies to plan America's energy policies.

   Posted by Extraneous at 03/26/2009 @ 2:15pm

6. Posted by antisocialist at 03/26/2009 @ 2:14pm

   Which two topics?

   Posted by crabwalk at 03/26/2009 @ 2:31pm

7. Town hall laughed at the number one question us voters most wanted to be answered, which was for the legalization of Marijuana. Reporters are already mocking this question as being "high expectations" for our president.

   Marijuana is a multi billion dollar industry. We can only begin to speculate how much revenue it actually makes since most "drug dealers" don't pay taxes on their product. Northern California's infamous Emerald Triangle accumulates an estimated $1 billion a year. The Marijuana herb is legal in this county and therefore is taxed as it should be. I can guarantee you that the feds will NEVER be able to stop production and sales of illegal Marijuana, or the culture that has been so secretly hidden from our societies for too long. To answer the president's question about the "online audience," and what it says about them, users are just afraid to speak up publicly. Asking this question online keeps it anonymous. This is why it was the most popular question.

   Needless to say, our economy needs money right now. Our society needs to be further educated on the benefits of Medical Marijuana and the Hemp plant. For thousands of years Hemp has been grown and used in ways that were more than, "just to get high." Its fibers which are in the branches and trunk are very strong. There are countless industrial uses for this product which is also easy to harvest.

   We can't all agree on this issue, however what we can agree on is an immediate necessity to better our current economic status. If there is tax money to be had, then we need to legalize Marijuana now. Get real people. Stop buying your pot from Mexico and let's legalize to help our own economy!

   Posted by roodog at 03/26/2009 @ 2:32pm

8. If there is tax money to be had, then we need to legalize Marijuana now. Get real people. Stop buying your pot from Mexico and let's legalize to help our own economy!

   Posted by roodog at 03/26/2009 @ 2:32pm

   Nice comment, I believe both the declaration of independence and the constitution were written on hep paper. My only disagreement is that I just don't think it would generate as much tax dollars as you think. People would stop buying pot from Mexico and start growing it at home.

   Posted by Extraneous at 03/26/2009 @ 2:38pm

9. *hemp paper*

   Posted by Extraneous at 03/26/2009 @ 2:39pm

10. roodog, I think you may be surprised at how much consensus there is on this topic. The problem is that the status quo rules, and as you point out, fear is the key obstacle to trashing the failed, and dangerous, drug war.

    For instance, I can't think of many topics that DARLA and ANTI agree on, but they agree on this one, and I am right with both of them.

    It would be fine if people did not pay as much tax as might be projected. If they grow their own they know where it comes from, they don't pay hardened criminals or support drug cartels. I find little bad about a reasonable, enlightened drug policy that leaves it up to the individual. Of course, humans is not too bright and many will abuse, but that is the case now, with far worse detriments to society derived from the illegal status of Gods grass.

    Posted by crabwalk at 03/26/2009 @ 2:49pm

11. ....a President that is actually open about what his administration is doing and want the publics feedback....

    Posted by Extraneous at 03/26/2009 @ 2:15pm

    Is that a fact or more likely, your blue colored glasses?

    Did the public's feedback prevent Geithner's nomination? Did the feedback of steadily lower approval of his policies and proposals do anything to prevent earmarks? The list is long.....and I won't rehash all the broken promises made when he was more Magical.

    You don't believe me? Scroll through The Nation's past weeks' blog posts for a reality, and that's only from the left side.

    Posted by Happy at 03/26/2009 @ 2:55pm

12. John Nichols' most timely....just for Extraneous...time to take off them glasses!

    Shouldn't Congress Hold the Pentagon to Account?

    posted by John Nichols on 03/26/2009 @ 2:51pm

    Members of Congress who actually care about crafting a budget that keeps America secure at home and abroad are beginning to express frustration with the Obama administration's plan to hike the Pentagon's already bloated budget by four percent....

    Posted by Happy at 03/26/2009 @ 2:58pm

13. Posted by antisocialist at 03/26/2009 @ 2:14pm

    Okay, Larry, why don't YOU explain HAPPY's first post???

    Posted by Mask at 03/26/2009 @ 2:59pm

14. More reality check, from the Left:

    The American presidency

    Learning the hard way

    Mar 26th 2009

    Barack Obama may at last be getting a grip. But he still needs to show more leadership, at home and abroad

    HILLARY CLINTON'S most effective quip, in her long struggle with Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination last year, was that the Oval Office is no place for on-the-job training. It went to the heart of the nagging worry about the silver-tongued young senator from Illinois: that he lacked even the slightest executive experience, and that in his brief career he had never really stood up to powerful interests, whether in his home city of Chicago or in the wider world. Might Mrs Clinton have been right about her foe?

    ...at home Mr Obama has had a difficult start. His performance has been weaker than those who endorsed his candidacy, including this newspaper, had hoped. Many of his strongest supporters...have started to question him. As for those not so beholden, polls show that independent voters again prefer Republicans to Democrats, a startling reversal of fortune in just a few weeks....Despite...the obvious goodwill of the bulk of the electorate, Mr Obama has seemed curiously feeble.

    Empty posts, weak policies

    There are two main reasons...first is Mr Obama's failure to grapple as fast and as single-mindedly with the economy...His stimulus package, though huge, was subcontracted to Congress, which did a mediocre job: too much of the money will arrive too late to be of help in the crisis....And he has taken too long to produce his plan for dealing with the trillions of dollars of toxic assets which fester on banks' balance-sheets.

    The failure to staff the Treasury is a shocking illustration of administrative drift. There are 23 slots....

    Posted by Happy at 03/26/2009 @ 3:23pm

15. The previous commentary is from The Economist....sorry for the omission!

    Posted by Happy at 03/26/2009 @ 3:25pm

16. Okay, Larry, why don't YOU explain HAPPY's first post???

    Posted by Mask at 03/26/2009 @ 2:59pm

    Happy has to answer for himself.

    But my point remains. You didn't begin with a response to the Townhall. You began with your common, "wait til the righties...."

    Posted by antisocialist at 03/26/2009 @ 4:02pm

17. For instance, I can't think of many topics that DARLA and ANTI agree on, but they agree on this one, and I am right with both of them.

    It would be fine if people did not pay as much tax as might be projected. If they grow their own they know where it comes from, they don't pay hardened criminals or support drug cartels. I find little bad about a reasonable, enlightened drug policy that leaves it up to the individual. Of course, humans is not too bright and many will abuse, but that is the case now, with far worse detriments to society derived from the illegal status of Gods grass.

    Posted by crabwalk at 03/26/2009 @ 2:49pm

    Thanks for that acknowledgement Crab. And I also agree with Extraneous that tax revenue would not be as much as some like to project.

    Posted by antisocialist at 03/26/2009 @ 4:16pm

18. Posted by Happy at 03/26/2009 @ 1:55pm

    You know I'm willing to bet even Limbaugh made more sense in his attack than HAPP just did.

    Posted by Mask at 03/26/2009 @ 1:59pm

    Okay, Larry, why don't YOU explain HAPPY's first post???

    Posted by Mask at 03/26/2009 @ 2:59pm

    Happy has to answer for himself.

    Posted by antisocialist at 03/26/2009 @ 4:02pm

    Alright, MASK, you're out on bail and I see the chain.

    First of all, Rush meticulously went through the list of Magic's last week-and-half's media events: Leno followed by the next day's full-blown MSM `analysis'...then 60 Minutes, blah, blah, blah....then the Press Conference, blah, blah, blah....today's Town Hall blah, blah, blah.

    My comment on the Full Employment intent of Obama is not what Rush said...at least not during the time I was listening.....just my comment on how media-centric Magic is....but then, he's a Rock Star, with his own `Hitler Youth Group' out drumming up votes for his Budget...isn't he?

    Posted by Happy at 03/26/2009 @ 4:42pm

19. Is that a fact or more likely, your blue colored glasses?

    Did the public's feedback prevent Geithner's nomination? Did the feedback of steadily lower approval of his policies and proposals do anything to prevent earmarks? The list is long..... Posted by Happy at 03/26/2009 @ 2:55pm

    Your ignoring the fact that so far Obama has been attempting to have a more transparent administration than any other in my memory and that he is trying to hear voices outside his own cabinent. A drastic change from the last administration. He even reads newspapers... wow! Your point is a little silly implying that he would let public sentiment guide all of his decisions.

    Posted by Extraneous at 03/26/2009 @ 4:54pm

20. Your point is a little silly implying that he would let public sentiment guide all of his decisions.

    Posted by Extraneous at 03/26/2009 @ 4:54pm

    Did GW Bush abandon just about ALL of his campaign promises within two months of his Presidency?

    The average person, even in my own case, don't give a damn about "transparency" if the power-that-be, do what they promised to do......don't know if you have kids, but if my kids are bringing home As & Bs, as I asked and they promised, I don't care how or where they are doing their home work & studying even if I don't ever see them doing any work!

    If Magic ever brings in Bin Laden, dead or alive, that might be different....it probably would be made into an action/suspense movie someday.

    Transparency is overrated....how transparent was the Pork Bill? What happened to the promised public review periods?

    Those of you on the Left that has any integrity, better start showing more of it!

    Posted by Happy at 03/26/2009 @ 6:22pm

21. Alright, MASK, you're out on bail and I see the chain.----Posted by Happy at 03/26/2009 @ 4:42pm

    I think my prediction was "less than two weeks...tops!"

    Then your curiosity (and the fact I'd be saying things "behind your back") would get the better of you.

    BTW, any further threats of Ignore will be taken with the same seriousness...keep it in mind.

    LOL

    Posted by Mask at 03/26/2009 @ 8:14pm

22. Sorry...I'm gonna bust if I don't say it...That Repub Budget was truly spectacular...the only number is a 10% (from 35 to 25) reduction in the top tax bracket...whew. Fantastic...seriously...This party is going places...

    Posted by dekist at 03/26/2009 @ 8:37pm

23. This is a Mike Steele strategy, right...it seems irretievably stupid, but there is a plan...

    Posted by dekist at 03/26/2009 @ 8:39pm

24. Yes, I know...nice spelling...

    Posted by dekist at 03/26/2009 @ 8:40pm

25. Posted by dekist at 03/26/2009 @ 8:37pm |

    They can't offer specifics....any details would kill them in 2010 or be laughed off the stage as "Dubya II: Wrath of John Boehner".

    Posted by Mask at 03/26/2009 @ 8:49pm

26. Posted by Mask at 03/26/2009 @ 8:49pm

    Still waiting for Ponti to post the republican Plan, other than opposing the Commander in Chief while we wage 3 wars, two killing, one economic.

    Posted by crabwalk at 03/26/2009 @ 9:41pm

27. I think my prediction was "less than two weeks...tops!"

    Then your curiosity (and the fact I'd be saying things "behind your back") would get the better of you.

    BTW, any further threats of Ignore will be taken with the same seriousness...keep it in mind.

    LOL

    Posted by Mask at 03/26/2009 @ 8:14pm

    Think I care about your "prediction"?

    No, I am past being curious as to what you post......

    Two reasons you got furloughed: your mentioning me w/LVL and the plain fact that there aren't many Lefties left on this board.....heck, I may even consider crab soon...his sucking state of Michigan, No. 1 for the worst possible reason, is always a lovely subject!

    You "keep in mind".....I don't have the patience of the scjermak or LVL dealing with your pointless, and repeated questions, just to kill (my) time. You probably archive yourself and a couple of clicks later, can serve up platefuls of same garbage.

    Posted by Happy at 03/26/2009 @ 10:38pm

28. Posted by Happy at 03/26/2009 @ 10:38pm

    In other words, when you get stumped, you're going to put me on Ignore.

    Again...ooooooh, I'm shivering!

    Posted by Mask at 03/27/2009 @ 06:26am

29. Happy, peeing in the kitchen again.

    You and your economic theories, desire to reap profit above all other considerations and willingness to throw people out of work to ensure you get your end, made Michigan the mess it is now. We thank you by going on the dole. Make sure you pay, pay, pay, those taxes,because you are part of the reason I lost my job.

    Posted by crabwalk at 03/27/2009 @ 06:29am

30. Posted by crabwalk at 03/27/2009 @ 06:29am

    Actually given his erratic behavior of late, I think HAPP isn't doing too well either.

    My guess is he went heavily for the idea (pre-2008) espoused by Jim Cramer and James Glassman of a "Dow 36,000" and kept saying "Buy! Buy! Buy!"...

    and lost a bundle last fall and is barely recouping even a fraction of it now. But his ideology prevents him from blaming Dubya and his common sense prevents him from trying to blame Obama....so the only person left to blame is...himself.

    And with an ego like his ('I'm the King of All Day Traders!')...it's drivng him nuts.

    Posted by Mask at 03/27/2009 @ 08:31am

31. I think HAPP isn't doing too well either.

    Posted by Mask at 03/27/2009 @ 08:31am

    Not that bad actually....almost evened up for the year-to-date! Appreciate your concerns!

    Posted by Happy at 03/27/2009 @ 11:06am

32. Posted by Happy at 03/27/2009 @ 11:06am

    Good, unlike some on the Right, I'm glad at hearing good news from the Market and people getting back on their feet.

    Posted by Mask at 03/27/2009 @ 11:10am

33. I'm glad at hearing good news from the Market and people getting back on their feet.

    Posted by Mask at 03/27/2009 @ 11:10am

    What a bore you really are nowadays! Dishonest to the core, like your black Messiah!

    Posted by Happy at 03/27/2009 @ 12:26pm

34. :)

    Posted by snowball666 at 03/27/2009 @ 1:07pm

    Back at ya!

    Posted by Happy at 03/27/2009 @ 1:30pm

35. Posted by Happy at 03/27/2009 @ 12:26pm

    Back to "Magic" and the "left out part", HAPP....

    why does it matter if he's a "BLACK Messiah"????

    Posted by Mask at 03/27/2009 @ 1:42pm

36. Barack Obama needs to look at the money that is being lost in the states instead of wasting time on the media.

    Posted by Limus at 03/27/2009 @ 2:56pm

37. why does it matter if he's a "BLACK Messiah"????

    Posted by Mask at 03/27/2009 @ 1:42pm

    If he isn't black, he wouldn't be the POTUS.

    Posted by Happy at 03/27/2009 @ 3:03pm