Barack Obama hosts an AMA on Reddit.

[Reece]

President Barack Obama, currently on the campaign trail ahead of the upcoming November elections, made a brief virtual appearance on Reddit, a popular online discussion site, on Wednesday.

The president appeared on a forum entitled "I am Barack Obama, President of the United States -- AMA." He appeared under the site's "ask me anything" format, where a popular figure fields random questions from Reddit users, for about 30 minutes, answering questions from users about money in politics, the space program, support for small businesses, and beer at the White House.

Obama's forum had over 22,500 comments on it 15 hours after he appeared, compared to the hundreds of comments on other front-page topics on the site.

"Internet freedom is something I know you all care passionately about; I do too. We will fight hard to make sure that the internet remains the open forum for everybody -- from those who are expressing an idea to those to want to start a business," he said in a response to one query.

Reddit, which is known for supporting liberal causes, was temporarily inaccessible due to a surge of page views while he was answering questions, according to user comments.

Obama offered his condolences to victims of Hurricane Isaac, and said his toughest decision has been to increase the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, saying it had been effective but "knowing of the heroes that have fallen is something you never forget." He also answered lighter questions about his favorite basketball player -- Michael Jordan -- and balancing family life with his presidential responsibilities.

Question-and-answer forums on the site typically ask for proof of the speaker's identity, and Obama posted a message on his official Twitter account, as well as a picture of him hunched over an Apple laptop, apparently answering questions.

The campaign, which is relying heavily on grassroots online funding, set up a registration page for users of the site, titled "Redditors for Obama."

Obama said he participated in the forum after a campaign rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Reddit consists of a vast collection of forums on different topics. Registered users vote and comment on subjects and entries they find interesting, and the most popular items rise to the front page.

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/261643/obama_makes_appearance_on_reddit_briefly_crashes_site.html

http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/z1c9z/i_am_barack_obama_president_of_the_united_states/

[Zaila]

Pretty awesome to be honest that the US president actually take time to answer questions on the internet.

[–]karlfranks 1373 poäng 17 timmar sen

Who's your favourite Basketball player?

[–]PresidentObamaObama 1557 poäng 17 timmar sen

Jordan - I'm a Bulls guy.

[–]ivanvzm 2003 poäng 17 timmar sen*

damn right you are

edit: ...sir.

Lol'ed pretty hard at that.

[Reece]

Pretty awesome to be honest that the US president actually take time to answer questions on the internet.

Lol'ed pretty hard at that.

Some of the answers beat around the bush though, but, yes, for a president, it's

[[WS]Jacob]

I doubt Cameron would do this. Boris might.

[Ragdoll]

Lol'd at the guy casually admitting drug usage to Obama.

[[SE]Dr_Pepper27]

[]gobearss 1394 points 1 day ago

How do you balance family life and hobbies with, well, being the POTUS?


[]PresidentObamaObama[] 2194 points 1 day ago

It's hard - truthfully the main thing other than work is just making sure that I'm spending enough time with michelle and the girls. The big advantage I have is that I live above the store - so I have no commute! So we make sure that when I'm in DC I never miss dinner with them at 6:30 pm - even if I have to go back down to the Oval for work later in the evening. I do work out every morning as well, and try to get a basketball or golf game in on the weekends just to get out of the bubble. Speaking of balance, though, I need to get going so I'm back in DC in time for dinner. But I want to thank everybody at reddit for participating - this is an example of how technology and the internet can empower the sorts of conversations that strengthen our democracy over the long run. AND REMEMBER TO VOTE IN NOVEMBER - if you need to know how to register, go to Gottaregister.com. By the way, if you want to know what I think about this whole reddit experience - NOT BAD!


[]Camusforyou 2135 points 1 day ago

The meme has become self aware.



[]bad_german 1407 points 23 hours ago

/reddit

WE'RE DONE HERE.


[]senorsandman 616 points 21 hours ago

Pack it up people, our job is done.


[]TisJokar 279 points 20 hours ago

We had a good run, but its time to move on.

[ElMartu]

huge pr campaign

[Woka]

There shiiiiiiting on obama at the RNC (Rebulican national convention,an event held every four years that basically endorses the rebulican running for office(mitt romneyin this case)),just miles this year from where i live.

I think obama might loose 

[Teddy]

Lol'd at the guy casually admitting drug usage to Obama.

Nothing wrong with it. Obama isn't part of law enforcement so he technically do anything :P

Obama is the most "technologically" advanced president we've had thus far. This doesn't really surprise me, but fairly cool he is doing this. Inb4 Mitt tries to do this and notices just how much he sucks once the global community gets the message to him :P Then again he'll be changing his mind every other question so maybe not  :conf:
 

[[WS]Jacob]

I think that's why Obama is so popular. Because he is different to other Presidents. Yes he has a serious side but also a jokey one and can connect with people a lot more. He's got the balance right - between knowing when to joke or not.

[Alsatian]

huge pr campaign

yeah but it's still pretty awesome

[Mikal]

Dat Obama....

[[WS]Jacob]

huge pr campaign

Who wouldn't use his power to win votes?  :roll:

[ElMartu]

yeah but it's still pretty awesome

his answers are really bland and he's just replying stuff that earns him more votes, if it's even him at all - a spokesperson could write just as well, because no questions are personal at all except for the basketball one which replies with Jordan, probably the most common answer you could give

[Reece]

if it's even him at all - a spokesperson could write just as well