President Obama: 'I have never used Twitter'

More than 2.6 million people follow President Obama on Twitter -- or so they thought. The president told a youth audience in Shanghai on Sunday that he has never used Twitter.

The @BarackObama Twitter account was a wildly successful campaign tool in Obama's run-up to the presidency last year, which staffers used to promote their candidate. Since being elected, the account is believed to have been taken over by the Democratic National Committee.

“I have never used Twitter, but I’m an advocate of technology and not restricting Internet access," Obama said during the town hall. "My thumbs are too clumsy to type in things on the phone."

The latter statement elicited laughs from the crowd. Perhaps because Twitter is not solely a phone application. Or maybe some recall this photo (right) from the campaign showing Obama's professed tech-savviness.

But we should point out that Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Obama's opponent in the election, has somehow managed to write cohesive sentences on his  Twitter page here using his war-mangled fingers -- well, either that or a staffer relays his tweets for him.

Ahh! We don't know anymore!

Now knowing that the tweets don't actually come from Obama himself, followers have expressed disappointment. "I have never used" was a trending topic on Twitter this morning (meaning many people tweeted messages with the phrase) as users reacted to the news.

"Humbled," which was @BarackObama's one-word reaction to news of being selected as a Nobel Peace Prize winner, carries a lot less weight with the new knowledge. Who's humbled? Some rep at the DNC?

The White House maintains its own Twitter profile. The page, @WhiteHouse, has gained significant popularity of its own, with 1.5 million followers, in a relatively short amount of time.

But Obama -- err, whoever is typing messages under his guise -- still reaches a million more people.

-- Mark Milian

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Photo credit: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times; Associated Press (Candidate Obama using his clumsy thumbs pretty deftly on his beloved BlackBerry).

Comments

[Twitter Applications]

Please. Obama's got no time to Twitter. He's too busy securing his right to perform warrantless wiretaps with his beloved Patriot Act and sending troops to bomb innocent civilians in the Middle East and giving money to the banking lobby to bother talking to his constituents on the Internet. He'll talk directly to Oprah and George Clooney, but not the American peole- that's beneath him.

[Sesli Sohbet]

Please. Obama's got no time to Twitter. He's too busy securing his right to perform warrantless wiretaps with his beloved Patriot Act and sending troops to bomb innocent civilians in the Middle East and giving money to the banking lobby to bother talking to his constituents on the Internet. He'll talk directly to Oprah and George Clooney, but not the American peole- that's beneath him.

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you are so kind , the picturese real nice , like it so much ...

[Watch Anime Online]

Please. Obama's got no time to Twitter. He's too busy securing his right to perform warrantless wiretaps with his beloved Patriot Act and sending troops to bomb innocent civilians in the Middle East and giving money to the banking lobby to bother talking to his constituents on the Internet. He'll talk directly to Oprah and George Clooney, but not the American peole- that's beneath him.

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Comparing President Obamas Twittering architecture to that of silly, Britnet Spears makes you complete like an idiot! Perhaps a added absoluteness based archetype of Twitter signing agreement ability accept been a bigger choice. Ranking on Pres. Obama because he alone doesn't Tweet sounds maybe you don't accept abundant to do with your time. I adore your blog but this could accept been an absorbing commodity but it turns out its just silly.

[Mensagens para Orkut]

“Admit” sounds as though he was accused of something and/or is owning up to doing or not doing something that is looked at in a negative light.
Unless he’s ever went on record and said it was him actually tweeting or purposefully led people to think it was him tweeting, then I’m not sure “admit” is the right word here.
Yeah, I’m splitting hairs. Having said that, it is kind of disappointing to know it’s not him.

[frases para orkut]

I am impress with obama said "I am a big believer in technology and I'm a big believer in openness when it comes to the flow of information," he said. "I think that the more freely information flows, the stronger the society becomes, because then citizens of countries around the world can hold their own governments accountable."

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Now knowing that the tweets don't actually come from Obama himself, followers have expressed disappointment. "I have never used" was a trending topic on Twitter this morning (meaning many people tweeted messages with the phrase) as users reacted to the news.

[Emergency Locksmith]

Well true it would have come as a shock with obama's statement. but liked his opinion on technology.