Obama meets with technology CEOs

As part of his efforts to advocate for the passage of the so-called "stimulus" bill, President Obama met with a number of chief executives from the technology sector and other industries on Wednesday to discuss the economy.

Tech company leaders present at the meeting included IBM's Sam Palmisano, Google's Eric Schmidt, Applied Materials' Mike Splinter, Motorola's Greg Brown, and Micron's Steve Appleton.

Obama called it a "sober" meeting but said the economic package moving its way through Congress will create more jobs and lay a foundation for long-term growth.

"It will invest in broadband and emerging technologies, like the ones imagined and introduced to the world by people like... so many of the CEOs here today," he said, "because that's how America will retain and regain its competitive edge in the 21st century."

The House of Representatives approved the $819 billion economic package on Wednesday, with no Republicans voting for the bill.

The CEOs at Wednesday's meeting came out in support of the legislation.

"At the heart of this debate over the economy is the question (of) whether America will be the preferred destination for businesses to operate, entrepreneurs to start ventures, investors to make their financial bets, and high-skilled workers to continue their careers," Motorola's Brown said in a statement. "President Obama understands that our economic policy must be geared toward strengthening U.S. competitiveness for the long term."

[FutureGuy]

Hope Obama keeps this in mind, technology is the only thing that US still produces that the rest of the world is willing to pay for. Well that and war gear, I prefer we focus more on technology, how about using some of the "bailout" money to help fund technology startups?

[pentest]

"war gear" is technology.

Too bad the US educational system rewards lazy students and thus discourages students going it to the fields that actually matter: mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science, and engineering.

[Commander_Spock]

Re: "[....how about using some of the "bailout" money to help fund technology startups?...]" Why spend money to re-invent the wheel.... so, here is a better suggestion: How about spending some of that "stimulus cash" for American scientists, engineers, technologists, technicians.... to come up with a quieter engine for "The Concorde"; and, in a few months time since the United States of America will be depending on the Russian OS/2 Powered Operating system to get its astronauts to and from the International Space Station... then why not spend more of that "Stimulus Cash" on an upgrade for the OS/2 Operating System to allow "troubled home owners and banks" - "To Go Where None Has Gone Before"; so, the questions that would be asked after this is all done would be - Troubled U. S. Economy!!! What Troubled U. S. Economy!!!; and, "How Goes The State Of The Union"; then, the answer Would Be "The State Of The Union Is Strong - Very Strong. Wow!

Live Long And Prosper!

[MD_Willington]

Hardly.. the Georgians barely put US war implements to task... Good ol Chinese and Russian AKs are hard currency... and they work.

[TomMariner]

FutureGuy is absolutely right!

Where else can you spend money that will give us a product that not only makes us more efficient, but can bring in hard currency?

To me it is significant that our new President understands how powerful techology is -- He won an election with the help of it and is the most techie guy we have had in the Oval Office. But it is a mystery to me why there isn't a gigundo piece of the "stimulus" going in the tech direction rather than some of the other areas where I find it difficult to believe the expenditure of that breathtaking money will do benefit anyone other than the folks who get the funds. My cynical side says, "one man one vote" and if we create folks who pay no taxes or have great jobs at the Fed's expense, they willo vote for the guy who gave it to them.

But regarless -- at least our President understands the power of tech.

[Len Bullard]

No, FutureGuy, they buy our entertainment. In fact, as Jon Taplin pointed out, one bad side effect of the Global War On Terror was a reduction in overseas sales of entertainment. It's been a big boon for Bollywood.

Don't overfocus on tech to save us. In an economic downturn, deferring buying technology is one thing you can count on.

[Commander_Spock]

Believe it or not - "Technology Rule The World"; and, quite possible - were it not for the H1-B Visa type then the United States of America might have been loosing it's once unstoppable technological edge over all other countries faster than it is now doing. So, yes, there must be a laser beam focus on high tech unless you wish to live in a third world country.

[mayflower2020]

I hope Obama's effort results in a net gain of tech jobs in US. Unfortunately, the CEOs he is meeting with may have hidden agenda. For one, IBM's Sam Palmisano has quietly reducing IBMs US payroll while outsourcing many more IT jobs to india. IBM has increased jobs in india from 9000 in 2003 to 74000 in 2007 while Sam Palmisano's leaded IBM secretly reduced US IT jobs by thousands (see articule by Jordan Robertson of the Associated Press: http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2009-01-28-ibm-job-cuts_N.htm). Maybe Obama should find some other tech CEOs as advisors who both publically and privately share his visions. CEOs like Sam Palmisano have two faces and will end up compromising Obama's effort.

[Commander_Spock]

Does anyone knows where in the world is the IBM's PC Company!!!

[Commander_Spock]

This should have read: "You should have added - Does anyone knows where in the world is the IBM's PC Company and the IBM OS/2 Warp Operating System that was previously jointly developed between IBM and the Microsoft Corporation!!!"