WhiteHouse.gov Redesigned

Whoa, that was quick. At 12 noon EST, the exact time at which law dictates Barack Obama became President of the United States, WhiteHouse.gov switched over to a totally new design. It’s even got a blog.

The site’s copyright policy is also definite improvement over that of Obama’s transition site, Change.gov: all government-produced content is public domain as required by law, while all user-submitted content goes under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license.

New media posers can spout all the trendy rhetoric they want — but investing the resources to keep your web site up to date on all levels (technology, content, design, licensing) is a sure sign that you’re serious about your online efforts. The instant switchover of WhiteHouse.gov sends a clear and unmistakable message: Obama is serious about harnessing the Internet as a tool for governance.

Obama’s Inauguration Live

US President Barack Obama started his campaign with an online video. His fans campaigned through online video. He announced his victory through online video. He addresses the nation weekly through online video. Now his inauguration comes to you live through online video.