In a Web video, Obama senior advisor Valerie Jarrett called the initiative "an unprecedented process for public engagement in policymaking" and urged citizens to brainstorm ideas and discuss the most promising ones. On the front lines of the effort are Vivek Kundra, OMB administrator for e-government, and a team at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy led by federal CTO Aneesh Chopra, who was approved by the Senate late Thursday to serve as OSTP's associate director. The confirmation of another tech player, Larry Strickling, who would head the National Telecommunications and Information Administration stalled when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid failed to get unanimous consent, a Reid aide said.

Sunlight Foundation Executive Director Ellen Miller called the open government site "fascinating" and Data.gov "path-breaking." She said the initiatives represent "a dramatic demonstration of the administration's intent to use technology to create a more transparent and collaborative government." But others like OMB Watch Executive Director Gary Bass tempered their excitement with skepticism. He worries the open government brainstorming phase that ends next week and the mid-June timeline for drafting recommendations for Obama is too fast. He is also concerned that questions the White House posed to spur the online dialogue are too basic and letting Internet users vote on the best ideas will let "cool" but ultimately flawed concepts prevail.