Tech can use Obama's visits for its own ends

[Commentary] Silicon Valley has been a favorite stage for President Barack Obama, a shimmering platform to portray himself as a pragmatic and forward-thinking leader. With each visit comes grumbling that President Obama just uses the tech industry as an ATM machine without delivering much in return. Of course there has been no shortage of ill will between the valley and this Administration in recent years. But I would argue that, particularly in the next two years, these visits are going to help Silicon Valley.

President Obama isn't running for anything anymore and appears willing to use his administrative powers to circumvent the GOP-controlled Congress. This could benefit the tech industry on issues opposed by the GOP, such as immigration reform, where President Obama is more in tune with Silicon Valley's priorities. And tech needs a friend in the White House as its products and services play a bigger part in people's lives, inevitably creating controversy and running into various regulatory issues.