When You're The President-Elect, People Watch Your Website Closely

from the you-can't-just-rewrite-history dept

There's been plenty of coverage about President-Elect Obama's change.gov website, which we recently mentioned as well. However, there's already some controversy brewing, as some folks have noticed that when the site launched, it had full versions of various policy initiatives. Over the weekend, though, many of those initiatives disappeared completely. Of course, it wasn't that completely, since plenty of folks were able to dig up copied versions of them and repost them.

Chances are that this is nothing more than a similar flare up a couple months ago, when Obama's campaign moved some of the content on his campaign website around, pushing more of the policy details into PDFs rather than in the main HTML. In fact, the campaign has suggested just that, by saying that the policy section is being "retooled." However, it should be a clear reminder to folks working on the website that people are watching every move extremely closely, and they're not going to be able to make changes and hope no one notices.
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Filed Under: barack obama, policy, website


Reader Comments

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  1. identicon
    Shohat, 11 Nov 2008 @ 5:33am

    Fun Challenge

    If someone manages to hack it, it'll be the pwn of the decade.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  2. identicon
    Shohat, 11 Nov 2008 @ 5:35am

    Re: Fun Challenge

    Better name...

    WeWereJustKiddingAbouTheWholeChangeThing.gov

    link to this | view in thread ]

  3. identicon
    MrMe, 11 Nov 2008 @ 5:40am

    The same thing happened to Reagan...

    link to this | view in thread ]

  4. identicon
    jonnyq, 11 Nov 2008 @ 6:17am

    Part of the issue was the content - content about requiring everyone to perform public service.

    Also, move content from HTML to PDF? Move to a less accessible format that's more annoying to read? Why, again?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  5. identicon
    John Doe, 11 Nov 2008 @ 6:27am

    Re:

    To obscure the liberal agenda of course.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  6. identicon
    duh, 11 Nov 2008 @ 6:35am

    Re:

    Because this is the government we're talking about.

    No, but really, it could have something to do with not wanting people to google the policies

    link to this | view in thread ]

  7. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 11 Nov 2008 @ 6:46am

    Likely being retooled and redrafted since its content was merely a copy of the campaign site. Noteworthy, though, is that at least one "policy" concerning public service went from a mandate to a "goal". Hopefully the same will happen for many of the other policies that appeared on the campaign site. Even better, perhaps some will be renunciated.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  8. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 11 Nov 2008 @ 6:47am

    Re: Re:

    Google reads .pdf...even converts to html

    link to this | view in thread ]

  9. identicon
    Ajax 4Hire, 11 Nov 2008 @ 6:57am

    We want your change

    and dollars too.
    It is patriotic to give your excess income for the good of the people.

    I can't help but think that this sounds like communism but it can't be.
    Yes, I guess you can tell that I actually work for a living, I have an income.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  10. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 11 Nov 2008 @ 6:57am

    did every1 forget that whats said during election campaigns and what actually happens during the term being served (regardless if its presidential or not) are seldom related?

    This guy made history already.

    - Youngest US Pres.
    - 1st Black US Pres.
    I think he was 1st black man to be on the senate as well (but don't quote me on this)

    the only thing left for him to do is boost the US economy after all isn't that what democrats usually do?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  11. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 11 Nov 2008 @ 7:04am

    Re:

    Not the youngest president. Kennedy was 43 when he took office, Obama is 47.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  12. identicon
    Xagyg, 11 Nov 2008 @ 7:14am

    Not even close. First black man in the Senate was in 1870. http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/First_African_American_Senator.htm

    link to this | view in thread ]

  13. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 11 Nov 2008 @ 7:25am

    Re:

    jackass. obama, go f.uck a goat

    link to this | view in thread ]

  14. identicon
    NoWonderWereInTrouble, 11 Nov 2008 @ 7:30am

    Post #10 by A/C

    You must be one of those no-knowledge voters who supported Obama. You don't have to know anything, you just have to believe in hopenchange.

    The youngest President was Teddy Roosevelt at 42, and second-youngest was JFK at 43. The first Black Senator was named Hiram Revels, and he was elected in 1870.

    Do a little research before spouting nonsense masquerading as "fact".

    link to this | view in thread ]

  15. identicon
    Bob, 11 Nov 2008 @ 7:31am

    Freedom and Ability

    The Obama Presidency Slogan

    From each according to their ability, to each according to their need.

    Or

    Arbeit Macht Frie

    link to this | view in thread ]

  16. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 11 Nov 2008 @ 7:34am

    Re: Re:

    Teddy Roosevelt was 42 when he became president after McKinley's assassination. JFK was they youngest person to be elected president, as TR was "promoted" less than one year into the term.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  17. identicon
    Shohat, 11 Nov 2008 @ 7:48am

    Re:

    by Anonymous Coward on Nov 11th, 2008 @ 6:57am

    Is probably Sarah Palin.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  18. identicon
    Urban, 11 Nov 2008 @ 7:52am

    Re: Re: Fun Challenge

    Change doesn't take much.
    Either you are too old and grumpy to give a shit, or you are too young to realize that the last eight years has been a significant change in domestic politics.

    Change doesn't take much from the last eight years.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  19. identicon
    Urban, 11 Nov 2008 @ 7:55am

    Re: We want your change

    You should try breathing.
    It allows for oxygen to reach your brain and the end product is (often) valuable words.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  20. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 11 Nov 2008 @ 7:58am

    Re: Post #10 by A/C

    bitch

    link to this | view in thread ]

  21. identicon
    Chris in Utah, 11 Nov 2008 @ 8:10am

    Here's an enlightening article on the issue.

    http://www.infowars.com/?p=5842

    Take a look. Wake up.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  22. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 11 Nov 2008 @ 8:54am

    Re: Post #10 by A/C

    You must be one of those no-knowledge voters who supported Obama. You don't have to know anything, you just have to believe in hopenchange.

    Do a little research before spouting nonsense masquerading as "fact".

    Perhaps you should take a little of your own advice.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  23. identicon
    Potato Head, 11 Nov 2008 @ 9:28am

    Re:

    To his website? You must be losing it too.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  24. identicon
    Guy One, 11 Nov 2008 @ 9:35am

    Re:

    Oh come on, we all know Clinton was the first black president!....

    Who is Willy's father?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  25. identicon
    Al Gore, 11 Nov 2008 @ 9:47am

    I invented the Internet and made millions off of global warming!!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  26. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 11 Nov 2008 @ 9:49am

    Re: Re:

    AC -- grow up! I think you can express your opinion without being juvenile. Obama isn't perfect. John McCain isn't bad. Sarah Palin was a ridiculous pick for VP. What a joke. At least she has foreign policy experience. LOL. I still like to watch that on YouTube...

    link to this | view in thread ]

  27. identicon
    Bill Clinton, 11 Nov 2008 @ 10:04am

    Re: Re:

    Not the first black President either. . . . .I was the first black President. . . . .at least that is what "they" told me!

    Bill Clinton

    link to this | view in thread ]

  28. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 11 Nov 2008 @ 10:22am

    Re: Freedom and Ability

    best use of a quote today award !!!!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  29. identicon
    reply #10, 11 Nov 2008 @ 10:56am

    to all thew ppl who replyed to #10 (that's me)
    1st of all im not American (so no no vote for me) but even you guys don't even agree on the facts.
    2nd i don't support Obama nor MCcain.
    3rd concerning the senate i did say i wasn't sure, concerning age sry i did a mistake.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  30. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 11 Nov 2008 @ 11:13am

    Re:

    PDF *is* an easily accessible format. Except possibly to Mac users.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  31. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 11 Nov 2008 @ 11:50am

    Re: We want your change

    Thats socialism dude. Communism is where the government owns/regulates everything, and to be honest this country could use some demand side economics about now

    link to this | view in thread ]

  32. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 11 Nov 2008 @ 11:59am

    Change?

    "The Change We Need...In Spite of Ourselves."

    The people who voted Obama in wanted change no matter the cost. Remember, he's not the President yet.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  33. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 11 Nov 2008 @ 12:13pm

    Reconstruction Senator? Big Deal...

    Was this a Senator elected in a State that was under occupation of the Union Army at the time? If so then it hardly compares to being elected to office during our lifetimes.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  34. identicon
    cockroach, 11 Nov 2008 @ 12:20pm

    no archive

    this website (change.gov) appears to be unavailable on the wayback machine (archive.org), a.k.a. the internet archive. the site could be too new, i don't know when it was made, or they may have blocked their site from scanning using a robot .txt header in the html. who knows? it's just hard as hell to squeeze any actual information from a politician's website.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  35. identicon
    Rose M. Welch, 11 Nov 2008 @ 2:27pm

    Re:

    I'd rather save a .pdf than have to consult the website every time I want to see it or copy and paste it into Word and then convert it to .pdf format... It'd be nice to have both, though.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  36. identicon
    moil4gold-49, 11 Nov 2008 @ 2:53pm

    Are These The Same?

    Are the people who detected and raised the alert over the policy removal at Change.org the same people who were saying:

    "Who is Obama? We barely know this guy? What are his policies, why won't he tell us? He's just a good speaker followed by Obamaniacs like he's the second coming."

    Funny that the right can both criticize Obama, the author of two autobiographical books, for being a veiled cipher, even as they criticize him for taking down his campaign policy ideas on one of his official websites. I guess now they are finally admitting that he had policies as well as being a great orator, right?

    more...

    He was born in Kenya. He was born in Indonesia.

    He is a muslim. His christian preacher is a wacko.

    I love the way the mud slung at Obama cancels itself out. You guys need to have some pre-meetings on the lies you want to throw up. You would have had more success.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  37. icon
    Crabby (profile), 12 Nov 2008 @ 12:04pm

    Re: Post #10 by A/C

    "Hopenchange" -- isn't that a town in the Netherlands?

    link to this | view in thread ]


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