by James Oliphant
So, want a back-channel into the new White House?
You could try being Ron Klain's Facebook friend.
Klain is the incoming chief of staff to vice-president elect Joe Biden. Perhaps nothing epitomizes the new administration's 21st century outlook than the fact that the COS to the VPOTUS can be your virtual BFF.
Klain is a longtime Washington lawyer and Democratic Party insider, so social networking probably is second nature to him. But will Klain keep his foothold in cyberspace in an administration in which the president-elect will have to surrender his trusted BlackBerry? It seems unlikely.
But Klain's page remains up and running for now. And it's hot. Klain now has more than 1,000 Facebook friends. And he is still making them.His Wall is filled with greetings from well wishers about his new assignment.
And if you don't know what I'm talking about, you are probably better off. You might even be reading a book or something.
(By the way, your correspondent has leveled off at about 300 friends. Loser.)
Hard to--no, make it impossible--to imagine anyone who worked in the notoriously secretive office of Vice President Dick Cheney hanging out online. Anyone want to "poke" Scooter Libby or David Addington? Didn't think so. Nor do they want to poke you.
After all, look at all the trouble Patrick Fitzgerald had to go through just to talk to them.
Comments
Dem insider Ron Klain "has more than 1,000 Facebook friends."
990 of them reporters.
Posted by: Change You Can Beieve In | November 25, 2008 5:41 PM
Whoever had November 25th in the first post-election sighting of Joe Biden, come and claim your winnings.
Posted by: Terry | November 25, 2008 8:43 PM
If you want to work in the Obama/Biden administration you must answer a question about Facebook participation, or any other potentially embarrassing on-line escapades. The idea that any adult might ask if they can be someone's BFF on-line sounds like an embarrassing act in itself. Why not a meeting or two, some discussions and thinking, then a handshake? Adults BFFing seem anxious. I 'd trust the people with the fewest friends--more sincere, less superficial and none of that buckshot everything and nothing appeal. I would bet that Biden does not participate in Facebook.
Posted by: Vivian | November 26, 2008 12:12 PM