Welcome to the Obama Book Club.
The Power of Words
Helen Gallagher
There's a new spirit in America. From the day Barack Obama embraced technology in his campaign role, reaching millions of people, inviting opinion, touching us where it matters, we knew this was a new nation.
Hearing Obama speak — and sensing he respects the importance of America's individual contributors to democracy and freedom — our work and labor as writers continues to inspire us.
When Pres. Obama signed his first official document, he said: "I was told not to swipe the pen." I'll bet he was indeed tempted to keep the pen, a souvenir of a life-changing moment. We writers and bloggers live by our pens, keyboards, and internet and never felt more hopeful as an industry of entrepreneurs and freelance writers. The President knows the power of words, the meaning of words, and as an author, he knows the value of literature and media in our nation.
We are moved by Obama's efforts, He moves the country forward, he moves us out of oppression, he changes journalism for the better.
Writers on deadline, choked with emotion, write unbiased reports of Obama, but can't hide their pride.
Someone new is in our corner, someone new cares about us: we the people… we who care so much about this country, our personal freedoms and safety. Journalists are the first to rise up and defend the honor of our country, and our president, as he leads us into a new era of freedom, peace and prosperity.
Comment From the Comments Editor
Christopher Rose
It can only be a matter of time until President Obama or one of his many digital minions turns up to post a comment on Blogcritics in response to one of the many strands of trenchant cultural, social or political pixel life that form the Blogcritics comments space.
That kind of thing is all part of what it means to live in the all new Obama Nation, a conceptual nation that has spread far beyond its Kenya-Hawaii-Chicago roots and out beyond US borders to the world. It's time to wave a not so fond goodbye to the old school, authoritarian, suited and booted ways of the past and enjoy a more inclusive, confident and relaxed style; this is a change of political style even more profound than the change of presidential clothes.
Article comments
1 - Helen Gallagher
Tim - your article is great, and the impact of Obama in the publishing world is staggering.
I could almost see the number climbing higher, since people reading your post will also click to buy those influential books. Great job!
Helen Gallagher
2 - Eric Olsen
agree Helen! Great job to you all! The books numbers are staggering, though
3 - Matthew T. Sussman
Sportsman-in-chief. I demand a new title.
4 - Eric Olsen
for yourself?
5 - charlie doherty
Nice job Matt - and don't forget the other sports connection with Obama he took with him to the White House from the campaign: former Duke b-baller Reggie Love as an assistant political director-now presidential aide. Makes sense since he majored in political science in college.
Also, look at what people are doing with that colorful Obamaicon image - making one for celebrities, bands and other notable politicians. PASTE magazine is promoting it.
6 - charlie doherty
BTW, is it just a coincidence that there's a J CREW ad at the top right side of this page or was that put up there knowing full well that Michelle Obama wears this brand of clothes? Either way, nice touch.
7 - Mongo
Nice comment re: the J Crew Ad. Online ads keep getting smarter all the time. Our president is also definitely the smartest online president ever.
8 - Tan The Man
obamiconme is pretty awesome...
9 - Eric Olsen
very interesting input guys, thanks!
10 - romm
So Obama is a book sales man? He mentions a book he is reading and sales of it go through the roof. He brushes his shoulder like a Jay-Z video and the dumb Americans cheer. He might be a good showman, trained in the art of media appeal, but I see nothing great about him, except the huge praise he gets from the talking heads, he has after all given huge amounts of money to his paymasters.