Bill Clinton Thinks He Can Ban Twitter, Facebook & Live Blogging From Event [Updated]

from the yeah,-that's-not-going-to-work dept

Wed, Nov 17th 2010 1:21pm — Mike Masnick

A couple years ago, we were surprised by reports that former Vice President Al Gore had alerted attendees at an RSA conference where he was set to speak that no press were allowed, and that no one should report on what happened. It appears that his former boss, Bill Clinton, is doing something similar as PR handlers for his keynote at a Salesforce.com event have warned attendees not to report, tweet, Facebook or live blog during the event:

"PLEASE NOTE: President Clinton's representatives have mandated that there be absolutely no reporting during his session. That includes live blogging, Tweeting, Facebook posting or use of any other social media. We understand the inconvenience this may present, but greatly appreciate your compliance. Thank you."

It's difficult to think of a request that is more out of touch with what is happening in the world today. It's quite normal for people to communicate via such social media methods and shutting them off entirely (which won't actually work) just seems petty.

Update: And... the inevitable backing down. Clinton's people now claim that it was all a misunderstanding, and they simply said that the speech would not be open to the press. They claim that the PR agency misinterpreted that to mean no live blogging, tweeting or Facebooking, but they're actually fine with it. Of course, again it makes you wonder why you have such a "no press" policy in the first place...

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Filed Under: bill clinton, journalism, live blogging, social media, twitter
Companies: facebook, salesforce.com, twitter

41 Comments

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SLK8ne, 17 Nov 2010 @ 1:42pm

Yeah...good luck with that
Methinks the man is deluded. (But, then all politicians are)
In this day and age, good luck with telling people to not post.

Then again, he's also "Slick Willy" so maybe this is a deliberate attempt at reverse psychology to get people to tweet, FB etc.
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Whatis42? (profile), 17 Nov 2010 @ 1:45pm

Is it at all possible that he simply wants the courtesy of people paying attention to him, and more importantly the totality of his message? I think using social media DURING a presentation is asking for people to take it out of context - just a thought.
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Chris ODonnell (profile), 17 Nov 2010 @ 1:50pm

That's not a request, it's a challenge. A challenge I hope many attendees are up to.
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Cipher-0, 17 Nov 2010 @ 1:50pm

Re:
Is it at all possible that he simply wants the courtesy of people paying attention to him, and more importantly the totality of his message?
What he wants is entirely irrelevant. If he asked for people not to take handwritten notes we wouldn't even be having this conversation.
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Nov 2010 @ 1:55pm

Re: Re:
To be fair, hand written notes are not published, they're usually highlights that are formalized into a cohesive expression. Given the absurdity of the political climate.. I can understand his motive. I doubt he'll be able to suppress expression, even for the duration though. Actually, wait - if the people in attendance are employees... they could loose their jobs right?
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Designerfx (profile), 17 Nov 2010 @ 2:09pm

Re:
there's nothing to say for that people's attention overall is affected by whether or not people have cellphones or other devices with them, that, you know, can tweet/facebook/blog.

this is probably about publicity rights or something along the lines of "those gosh darn people who can record what I say and make $$ off it" even if it doesn't always work that way.
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Bjorn, 17 Nov 2010 @ 2:10pm

Having people typing away on internet devices while trying to watch a speech detracts from the experience for everyone. I for one think this is great, he isn't saying they can't report afterward, just asking them not to be rude during. I recently went to a folk music show where the tickets said no flash photography right on them, but the two dumb girls sitting in front of me had their bright lcd screened cameras out throughout the show flashbulbs going off every 15 seconds even though we were 80-90 feet from the stage. I only wish the venue had jackbooted ushers. Speakers ought to have a right to say to people who want to come hear them that they need to not be disruptive, and tweeting at an event like this is a distracting/disruptive activity. I bet that clearing brush with a chainsaw is also not allowed...
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Nov 2010 @ 2:15pm

I can see already many cellphones sending data away and other people listening and making live transcriptions of it all :)

I don't think he realizes what he is asking.

The entire place will be filled with bugs(cellphones). That is a f'ing nightmare to try and stop :)
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darryl, 17 Nov 2010 @ 2:20pm

Common Courtesy
Have you ever tried to give a talk with people punching buttons, and texting? its not easy... And you would think those people would have enough common courtesy to do the right thing, just as its annoying to have someone next to you talking or texting on a phone in a movie.. You pay you're money so you wont get interruptions..

Do you know how much it cost for a ticket to go see Clinton ? he is one if not, THE most highly paid public speaker in the US.

Its not unusual to pay $10,000 to see him speak, as well as being the only president in modern times that was able to pull the US out of a deficit, for bush to blow..

So if you pay $10,000 to listen to a talk, you dont want to see the person next to you steaming that talk on the internet as well.

You did not pay that money to go to a public talk, you pay $10,000 its private.. you paid for that right.

And ofcourse Clinton can make any demands he likes before he talks, if they are not met he will not talk.. as is his right..

He has the right to talk to a group of paying people and not have that talk made public..

No one there has any copyright, or rights over his speech.. so its illegal for you to copy it..
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darryl, 17 Nov 2010 @ 2:24pm

HE does make a bit..
Six years out of power, Bill Clinton can still raise huge sums with a personal appearance. He made a staggering $450,000 for a single September speech in London, at a Fortune Forum event, as well as $200,000 for an April appearance in the Bahamas to speak to IBM, and another $200,000 for a New York speech to General Motors.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8POP8F00&show_article=1
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Lawrence D'Oliveiro, 17 Nov 2010 @ 2:29pm

�President�??
He�s not President any more. Is he?
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lux (profile), 17 Nov 2010 @ 2:32pm

It's a private event - they can do whatever they want. If they ask everyone to leave their cellphones at the coat check, then so be it.
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Nov 2010 @ 2:33pm

Re: �President�??
All former President's are referred to as President. It's part of their title. In fact, even dead ones are referred to as President as well.
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darryl, 17 Nov 2010 @ 2:38pm

only 1 pres elect, many pres (ret), or Presidents (dec).
they still maintain their "rank" as president, therefore you actually do have more than one president, except one is the president elect, and the others are presidents 'ret' or presidents 'deceased'.

But you are not asked at school to name all the 'ex-presidents'.

You only have one commander in chief though, usually the president elect. but not necesarily..
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Nov 2010 @ 2:40pm

Zombie President Washingon...
...would never stop slapping us. Also, he would refuse to eat our brains.
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The Mighty Buzzard (profile), 17 Nov 2010 @ 2:44pm

Re:
Yes, because touchscreens and tiny phone keyboards are easily as loud and distracting as a chainsaw.
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The Mighty Buzzard (profile), 17 Nov 2010 @ 2:48pm

Re: Common Courtesy
No one there has any copyright, or rights over his speech.. so its illegal for you to copy it..

The word "newsworthy" is obviously not in your vocabulary or you would know how horribly wrong you are.
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The Infamous Joe (profile), 17 Nov 2010 @ 2:50pm

Re: Common Courtesy
You still bring nothing to the table.
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The Infamous Joe (profile), 17 Nov 2010 @ 2:53pm

Re:
So, what you're saying is: Because you think it takes away from the experience, it shouldn't be allowed, but if I feel it adds to my experience, I should just suck it up?
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Nov 2010 @ 2:54pm

This is news? Must be a slow day.
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Dark Helmet (profile), 17 Nov 2010 @ 2:56pm

Re: Zombie President Washingon...
What brains?
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lux (profile), 17 Nov 2010 @ 3:23pm

Re: Re:
Yes. You nailed it.

So just because I can handle a heroine buzz well, it should be legalized? I mean, come on, I can handle my high, why can't you handle yours. You're clearly ruining my good time.

The law/rule isn't for the people who can handle it, clearly, it's for the people who can't. Just use some god-given logic and you might actually arrive at the right answer.
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Mike Masnick (profile), 17 Nov 2010 @ 3:25pm

Re: Common Courtesy
Have you ever tried to give a talk with people punching buttons, and texting? its not easy...

Yes, actually, I have tried to give talks with people doing that. It's why I make my talks entertaining. I've found that it quickly stops them from punching buttons and gets them to watch.
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Greg G, 17 Nov 2010 @ 3:26pm

Re: Common Courtesy
Have you ever tried to give a talk with people punching buttons, and texting? its not easy... And you would think those people would have enough common courtesy to do the right thing, just as its annoying to have someone next to you talking or texting on a phone in a movie.. You pay you're money so you wont get interruptions..

No, I haven't. I do talk to others that listen to me while texting, but it doesn't detract from the conversation.

Do you know how much it cost for a ticket to go see Clinton ? he is one if not, THE most highly paid public speaker in the US.

Its not unusual to pay $10,000 to see him speak, as well as being the only president in modern times that was able to pull the US out of a deficit, for bush to blow..

If he can command the price, go for it. I, for one, wouldn't go listen to him even if it were free. I had enough of him during the 8 years we had the misfortune of having him as president. He also didn't get us out of the deficit, you delta alpha. No president gets the US out of a deficit. It's congress that does that. Always has been, always will be. It was the 1994 reversal in congress of 40+ years of Liberal Democrat rule when the Conservatives finally got in that turned the deficit around. The president can merely recommend and try to persuade congress.

So if you pay $10,000 to listen to a talk, you dont want to see the person next to you steaming that talk on the internet as well.

How do you "steam" a talk? I know what you mean, so shut it. If I paid $10k to listen, I also paid 10k to do whatever the hell I want while I'm in there, including, but not limited to, streaming, blogging, tweeting, facebooking, texting or A/V-recording the speech. If he doesn't like it, too damn bad. He doesn't have to give the speech.

You did not pay that money to go to a public talk, you pay $10,000 its private.. you paid for that right.

Yep, I paid for that right. That right includes doing whatever I want while I'm there. See previous comment.

And of course Clinton can make any demands he likes before he talks, if they are not met he will not talk.. as is his right..

He has the right to talk to a group of paying people and not have that talk made public..

No one there has any copyright, or rights over his speech.. so its illegal for you to copy it..

Absolutely he can make demands, and if not met, he can refuse to talk. Refund, please. I go home with my money and he goes on the next fleecing and telling of lies.

I paid for the "copyright", I didn't pay to just license it. I, therefore, may do whatever I want with it. Just because I don't have a physical copy of it after I record his speech, doesn't mean I can't get one if I type it up later as I listen to it again (and Oh my God why would you want to??)
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lux (profile), 17 Nov 2010 @ 3:28pm

Re: Re: Common Courtesy
And this proves?
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annon, 17 Nov 2010 @ 3:37pm

I applaud this facebook thing is replacing listening and hearing smart men.
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The Infamous Joe (profile), 17 Nov 2010 @ 3:38pm

Re: Re: Re:
..because tweeting and heroin (no, 'e', friend, unless you meant a female hero) are comparable? Try and stay focused here, druggie. :)

My point was that you can't use the explanation "It makes my experience worse" because the other person can say "It makes my experience better." Who decides whose experience should be catered to, and why?
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lux (profile), 17 Nov 2010 @ 3:51pm

"It's difficult to think of a request that is more out of touch with what is happening in the world today."

Enough with this techie-elitist crap. The man is giving a speech and he requested that folks not tweet, stream or publish anything during his session. End of story.

You are not entitled to do whatever you want, wherever you want. And you sound like a whining child who just got their toy taken away.
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The Infamous Joe (profile), 17 Nov 2010 @ 4:01pm

Re:
Dude, alright, we get it. We're getting off your lawn. Sheesh.
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Mike Masnick (profile), 17 Nov 2010 @ 4:11pm

Re:
Enough with this techie-elitist crap

Um. Sorry, but with over 500 million users on Facebook, I'd argue that we're past the "techie-elitist" stage.

The man is giving a speech and he requested that folks not tweet, stream or publish anything during his session. End of story.

I'm sorry, but if you think that's the "end of the story," then I have a serious problem with that. I don't expect anyone to simply bend over when someone requests it.
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lux (profile), 17 Nov 2010 @ 4:29pm

Re: Re:
You're right...why heed the wishes of the world's once most powerful man. Christ, the entitlement of some people.

And I once again must reiterate the point that you sounds like a whining child whose toy was taken away.
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Nov 2010 @ 8:26pm

ive been to many lectures and lessons, and meetings that were totally closed room, ie, no notes, no manuals, you can take NOTHING out of the room, you are forbidden to talk about anything you see or hear in that room, even with other people who were there with you..

and i tis elitist to think that just because there are 500 million facebook users that somehow they have more rights than a normal person.. sorry they dont.. Just because your on the internet or facebook does not give you any elitist rights.

if you go into a supermarket, the terms and condition of entry are that you may have your bag's searched.

If you go into someone hourse there are implied terms of entry, if you go to a talk, if the person putting on that talk specifices certain terms of entry, he has every right to do so.

You have no right to go in violation to his terms of entry, even if you pay the money you have failed to meet your end of the contract..

ie, the contract is clinton will talk, if you do not use texting.. its a two way contract.. and the customer agrees with that contract when he pays his money.

There would be nothing stopping security from throwing out or charging someone who failed to meet their end of the contract..

Just because you are on facebook does not give you any special rights..
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Mike Masnick (profile), 17 Nov 2010 @ 11:35pm

Re: Re: Re:
You're right...why heed the wishes of the world's once most powerful man

If the wishes don't make sense, why heed them? I believe in thinking for myself, but thanks for revealing that you prefer to let others think for you if you think they're "powerful."
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Mike Masnick (profile), 17 Nov 2010 @ 11:36pm

Re: Re: Re: Common Courtesy
And this proves?

That the common courtesy argument is stupid. The responsibility is on the *speaker* to be interesting enough to keep people from wanting to focus on social media. If they can't, it's a weak excuse to say "you can't use those tools while I'm boring you to death."
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Mike Masnick (profile), 17 Nov 2010 @ 11:39pm

Re:
ive been to many lectures and lessons, and meetings that were totally closed room, ie, no notes, no manuals, you can take NOTHING out of the room, you are forbidden to talk about anything you see or hear in that room, even with other people who were there with you..

And you think that's ok?

and i tis elitist to think that just because there are 500 million facebook users that somehow they have more rights than a normal person.. sorry they dont.. Just because your on the internet or facebook does not give you any elitist rights.

This is not about "rights".

* A bunch of irrelevant content about rights snipped*

No one is arguing that he can't put these conditions on this. Just pointing out that it's stupid. You failed to suggest otherwise.

Just because you are on facebook does not give you any special rights..

Again, nor did anyone suggest otherwise.
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Mike Masnick (profile), 18 Nov 2010 @ 5:22am

Updated!
Just updated the post, as Clinton's people have backtracked, claiming the PR firm misinterpreted their instructions...
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Nov 2010 @ 8:11am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Common Courtesy
LMFAO. And there we have it. I think that is closer to the truth than anything else....

Make sure everyone is throughly interested and on the edge of their seats - I demand IT!!!
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Nov 2010 @ 8:32am

Re:
Do you seriously go to lectures and agree not to talk about it to ANYONE? Not even someone else at the lecture, after the lecture?

You agree to that completely? So that afterwards, if somebody mentions a point in the lecture, you would boldly stop them before they went any further, and remind them they're not allowed?

Because, you know, you'd look, and sound, and be... a complete fucking dick. Not that there's anything wrong with YOU being a complete fucking dick. That's fine.

I'm not to keen though.
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Gwiz, 18 Nov 2010 @ 9:46am

Re:
This is a comment? Must be a slow brain cell day.
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Jake, 18 Nov 2010 @ 10:48am

If you had Bill Clinton's history with the news media, you'd want as little to do with 'em as possible too.
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Anonymous Coward, 21 Jan 2012 @ 12:45am

Sexyimage
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