It's part of the reelection campaign

But the idea that you may be able to push an issue through the government is not a bad idea. Of course,  it's pie in the sky but on WhiteHouse.gov/WeThePeople (how's that for a patriotic name?) you'll find this:

Throughout our history Americans have used petitions to unite around issues they care about. We the People provides you with a new way to petition the federal government to take action on a range of issues. And if your petition attracts enough support, White House staff will review it, ensure it is sent to the appropriate policy experts, and issue an official response.

You need only 5,000 signatures to get a White House review. Not a bad gimmick.