Thursday, February 9, 2012

RNC Readies For Web-Based Revolt

June 30, 2009

todd_herman_conf09.jpgRepublican National Committee New Media Director Todd Herman stood before an auditorium full of technology experts on Tuesday, many of them left leaning, with the message that the Grand Old Party is preparing for a Web-based revolution. Tech-savvy conservatives have finished licking their campaign 2008 wounds and are ready to take advantage of the same kinds of Internet innovations that helped President Obama win his bid for the White House. "We'd be fools to not admit what happened," Herman told the Personal Democracy Forum's annual conference. The GOP was slow to rally Web supporters and got spanked on Election Day.

"I can tell you that's changing. Conservatives online are dying to organize," said Herman, who previously served as MSNBC's video evangelist. For starters, the RNC plans to re-launch GOP.com in about 45 days. While he refused to offer details on the new site's features, he said RNC Chairman Michael Steele told him to "take the lid off" when it comes to the party's Internet strategy. A memo Herman posted on GOP.com promises "[a] new look and a more enjoyable, modern, open and participatory way to share our ideals with the country." "The Web site you see today is difficult to update, hard to use, and locked in a Web 1.0 environment. It is also stale. It is in need of a massive spring clean," he wrote.

Join the Discussion

The National Journal Group has the right (but not the obligation) to monitor the comments and to remove any materials it deems inappropriate.

Comments powered by Disqus

 

Archives

Monthly Archives

Categories

Recent Posts

Recent Comments


Contributors

Juliana Gruenwald

Tech Writer

E-Mail: jgruenwald@nationaljournal.com.


Juliana Gruenwald has been covering tech and telecom issues for more than a decade for National Journal, Interactive Week, BNA and Congressional Quarterly. This is her second stint with National Journal. She was recruited by NJ in 1998 to help launch its first tech policy publication, Technology Daily. She left in 2000 to cover international tech and telecom issues for Ziff Davis Media's Interactive Week magazine. She started her career at United Press International as the wire service's first Helen Thomas Intern. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota. A Minneapolis native, she misses the lakes but not the cold.


Josh Smith

Tech Reporter

E-Mail: joshsmith@nationaljournal.com.


Josh Smith covers technology policy as a staff reporter for National Journal. He previously interned at National Journal Daily, a Senate press office, and the Deseret News in Salt Lake City where he covered the state legislature, courts, and crime. In 2009 he graduated with honors from Southern Utah University after managing an award-winning student newspaper as editor-in-chief. Josh has received state, regional and national awards for his political and policy reporting, including first place in CapitolBeat’s 2009 Best of Statehouse Reporting college competition. A native of drop-dead-gorgeous Utah, Josh lives in Virginia with his wife, Amber.