Change you can give your personal information for
posted at 6:50 pm on November 6, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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I decided to take a look at the website for the incoming Barack Obama administration, The Office of the President-Elect — and it looks an awful lot like a campaign site. It announces that “change has come to America”, even though Obama is still more than two months from taking the oath of office. It’s replete with campaign slogans on Iraq, the economy, and other issues. None of this is terribly new, and it all looks like it got transplanted from BarackObama.com.
However, this site has a .gov top-level domain (change.gov). That is reserved for “qualified government organizations and programs”. The incoming administration technically has no status as a government organization or program until January 20, 2009. The “Office of the President-Elect” doesn’t exist within the government. Furthermore, the use seen at the site is clearly promotional for Barack Obama and Joe Biden, and should have been kept at their own campaign domain rather than set up as an official US government site.
And why are they using a .gov site to compile mailing lists?
Why does the government need to collect e-mails and addresses from citizens in order to share their stories with the President-Elect? What purpose does the OPE have for this information? Are they hoping to build a list to sell to political allies, or perhaps just to telemarketers to help pay off the deficit? Since this is hosted as a government site, I think they need to explain what official use they will make of this information.
If we’re going to have a perpetual campaign in the next administration, they could at least have the decency to use their private-sector domain name.
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Email alerts to the faithful when some dems balk at implementing one of the messiah’s plans.
Vashta.Nerada on November 6, 2008 at 6:53 PM
Overreach begins.
We need to start compiling a list.
RushBaby on November 6, 2008 at 6:53 PM
Kind of shocking it doesn’t have a snitch link. You know, give us the names and addresses of the 55 million people who didn’t vote for us.
myrenovations on November 6, 2008 at 6:54 PM
Why am I not at all suprised by this?
Passed on November 6, 2008 at 6:54 PM
Haha – you said decency and next administration in the same sentence.
Vashta.Nerada on November 6, 2008 at 6:54 PM
And so the government-backed propaganda begins. Don’t be surprised if this stays up as a pro-Obama site throughout his term.
Is it legal for Obama to collect email addresses in an official capacity and then use them for re-election efforts?
amerpundit on November 6, 2008 at 6:54 PM
Bizarre. Just please tell me the Obama logo isn’t going to find its way onto official documents.
kc8ukw on November 6, 2008 at 6:55 PM
Did you see the “Jobs” section?
Does he really expect people working at the Oval Office apply for jobs online? That is so weird.
terryannonline on November 6, 2008 at 6:56 PM
If I sign up how much change will they give me?
In what denominations?
aquaviva on November 6, 2008 at 6:56 PM
Is it legal to allow people to contribute over $2300 to a campaign? Is it legal to allow foreign contributions? These are all good questions that should be only whispered, lest you be overheard.
Vashta.Nerada on November 6, 2008 at 6:56 PM
copied from the web site. That sums up so many of The One’s programs: Needs content. Once the teleprompter has been turned off, what will he do to fill in the blanks?
Mallard T. Drake on November 6, 2008 at 6:57 PM
In addition to needing to ask Bill Clinton for help on the economy, looks like he needs help from everyone. Apparently, he is a dufus. :P
lorien1973 on November 6, 2008 at 6:58 PM
Marxism.gov. Signup today so your dictator-in-waiting can track you down.
kevinkristy on November 6, 2008 at 6:58 PM
I think when the Anti-christ comes around. He’ll use the Obama campaign for HIS model on how to take over the world.
Mojave Mark on November 6, 2008 at 6:58 PM
I can’t wait to hear Doodad Pro’s American Moment story.
hoosiermama on November 6, 2008 at 6:58 PM
Obama is crooked, plain and simple. And priority number one for the next four years is to ensure another four years in office. Bend the rules, break the law – par for the course; remember, it’s the ends, not the means.
Not to change the subject, but regarding Obama’s campaign failing to pay it’s workers in Indiana – pay special attention to the form of payment….pre-paid credit cards.
I don’t know the whole story, but if that doesn’t sound like he’s paying people under the table, I don’t know what does. (http://www.wthr.com/global/story.asp?s=9299280)
dugan on November 6, 2008 at 6:59 PM
In his service agenda, change.gov accuses Bush of squandering the opportunity to recruit volunteers after 9/11…
then when you click “Service Plan” OR “Find A Way to Serve” on the bottom menu at my.change.gov you get…. blank!
ElRonaldo on November 6, 2008 at 6:59 PM
The Left went looney-tunes ballistic over the thought of the Bush Administration sending official emails through private channels.
I’m looking forward to their shrieks of horror at this commingling as well.
JohnTant on November 6, 2008 at 7:00 PM
And if only the current President had had even a modest campaign in his.
Hawkins1701 on November 6, 2008 at 7:01 PM
These guys are not going to play by the rules!
Why should they? Look what gentlemanly conduct did for the the GOP. Obama in 1996, the Senate race, against Hillary and in the general election used every dirty trick in the book to win.
Do you really think they are going to stop using a tactic that has brought them everything they want?
How stupid do you think they are?
sharrukin on November 6, 2008 at 7:02 PM
Where’s the ‘Report Dissent’ button?
Urban Infidel on November 6, 2008 at 7:02 PM
I’m off topic and I’m sorry but this site seems like as good a place as any to ask.
Does anyone know of any good books that discuss the principles of conservatism in detail? I have winter break coming up and I figured I’d educate myself instead of vegitate for a month. I’m going to read Common Sense by Thomas Paine as well. If anyone has any suggestions I’d much appreciate it.
niuhuskie2009 on November 6, 2008 at 7:03 PM
rush talked about this today. just like the email list & the text messages, obama will use this for mob rule.
is some conservative democrat senator not falling in line to be part of a filibuster-breaking 60 senators? (Pryor in Arkansas, for example?)
Well guess what? Obama sends out a massive email/text saying “DEM SEN. PRYOR IS BLOCKING YOUR HEALTH CARE! LET HIM KNOW – EMAIL HIM AT XXXXX@SENATE.GOV, CALL @ 1-800-XXX-XXXX”. THen, Obama send another text out to those in the DC area that says “RALLY AGAINST SENATOR PRYOR, OUTSIDE SENATE OFFICE BUILDING IN 30 MINUTES! BRING VIDEO CAMERAS, ALERT LOCAL BLOGGERS, CALL MEDIA CONTACTS!”
Within an hour, the harassment on 1 dem holdout senator is national news, and gets a blurb on cnn’s “situation room”. Chris Matthews & KeithO do segments on this ‘turncoat senator’, and Huffpo has various screeds against this “backstabbing racist Christianist”. later that night Daily Show/Colbert skewer this guy, and run old clips of pryor in that bill maher movie talking about Jesus.
In the end, sen, pryor must cave into media pressure or face continued humiliation. DailyKos starts a fundraising drive to raise money for liberal arkasnas dems (like Ned Lamont), and a primary challenger for Pryor ensues. The local GOP doesnt like it because pryor is a ‘good’ dem, but they realize they might be able to beat the ned lamont-type dem, so they move out of the way while Kos does their thing.
End result: a conservative, non-Obama Democrat is destroyed.
Saul Alinksy tactics, circa 2008
battleoflepanto1571 on November 6, 2008 at 7:04 PM
I hear Road to Serfdom is good, but I’ve never read it.
Personally, I’d read anything by thomas sowell.
Atlas shrugged is a great novel – and eerily prescient.
lorien1973 on November 6, 2008 at 7:05 PM
Win.
Hannibal Smith on November 6, 2008 at 7:05 PM
change.com is much better
BobH on November 6, 2008 at 7:06 PM
This is getting downright scary, creepy, and whatever else you want to call it!
“Office of the President-Elect”??
I’ve never heard of that?
.Gov?
Are you shitting me?
Dale in Atlanta on November 6, 2008 at 7:06 PM
Hm.
I tried to do a whois search and color me surprised…you can’t do those on .gov websites.
It hasn’t even been a week yet and already I’m Hoping for Change from this clown.
JohnTant on November 6, 2008 at 7:06 PM
Dammit if I’m going to have a thug running things the least he can be is a competent thug.
Am I gonna have to ask Rahm to break my thumbs when I dissent?
jjshaka on November 6, 2008 at 7:08 PM
So would change.gov email addresses be subject to FOIA requests? I still say that there are some ethics slaps on the wrist for this and some copyright issues with the transition org claiming copyright for material that is already copyrighted by the Obama campaign.
rw on November 6, 2008 at 7:08 PM
Currently, CHANGE.GOV is not available for registration.
CHANGE.GOV
General Services Administration
General Services Adminstration
Domain Name: CHANGE.GOV
Status: Active
Technical POC:
703-605-9124
Domain servers in listed order:
DNS.GSA.GOV 159.142.148.200
DNS2.GSA.GOV 159.142.148.210
dns3.gsa.gov 209.225.2.109
dns4.gsa.gov 159.142.67.158
dns5.gsa.gov 159.142.119.252
dns6.gsa.gov 159.142.90.245
rw on November 6, 2008 at 7:09 PM
This is just the start. “Liberals” whining about Bushitler were insane. He just wanted to take away rights from those we’re at war with. Well, I guess Obama does too – except he’s at war with non radical leftists.
MattMacD on November 6, 2008 at 7:09 PM
How dare you question THE ONE’s intentions here… He is only looking out for all of us!
gatorboy on November 6, 2008 at 7:10 PM
Tomorrow Belongs To Me.
keep the change on November 6, 2008 at 7:10 PM
I’ll definitely look into that, thanks.
niuhuskie2009 on November 6, 2008 at 7:11 PM
Liberals project upon others what they are doing, or want to do.
They screamed and shouted that Bush was creating a secret database on the American people to use for their ill-gotten ways–with no proof to the claims.
Along comes Obama, right in your face.
Enoxo on November 6, 2008 at 7:11 PM
It will be a continuous campaign. Hence, conservatives need to start preparing for 2010 right now also.
Don’t just gripe about stuff. Call your representatives and e-mail those you like from other states and tell them what issues are important to you. I know they do polling on this crap, but I’ve never been polled on anything. Not once.
Me, I think we can make huge gains on health care. Our national defense trump card is kind of off the table since things have been going so well lately, so we have to make roads on domestic issues.
BadgerHawk on November 6, 2008 at 7:12 PM
Maybe http://www.DearLeader.org was taken?
Texas Rainmaker on November 6, 2008 at 7:12 PM
In defense of this: The Obama team is probably just showing that they are going to be using the internet a lot and try to be more transparent and interactive. Alright. But did they have to make the Web site so cheesy?
terryannonline on November 6, 2008 at 7:12 PM
Ed!?!? He . Is . The . MESSIAH!!! He can do ANYTHING.
Come on Ed, join all the pod people in universal bliss. You won’t have to worry about making your car payment. You won’t have to worry about making your mortgage. Give in.
*siiiiiiiiiggghhhh*
NTropy on November 6, 2008 at 7:13 PM
This aint right…That site is a trap for idiots.
I suppose regulating the internet is off the table if Obama follows this path?
AnthonyK on November 6, 2008 at 7:13 PM
Scary, yet entirely possible, and most likely probable.
BadgerHawk on November 6, 2008 at 7:14 PM
Leftover cards from Soros?
cobrakai99 on November 6, 2008 at 7:15 PM
The creepiest thing about change.gov is that they don’t realize how creepy this is going to seem to average people.
myrenovations on November 6, 2008 at 7:15 PM
change.con would be more accurate.
LegendHasIt on November 6, 2008 at 7:17 PM
Does a chill up my spine mean I’m not ready to get with the program?
midlander on November 6, 2008 at 7:17 PM
Is there anywhere on that site to apply for the job of Union Thug? I’ve been looking for a career change and I just don’t think I have the attention to detail required for Civilian Defense Corps Informer.
trubble on November 6, 2008 at 7:18 PM
The scariest thing on this website is his Orwellian compulsory voluntary service Plan, America Serves.
He has the audacity to begin by saying:
A few paragraphs later choice is no longer part of the bargain:
This is clearly part of his Civilian National Security Corps.
Buy Danish on November 6, 2008 at 7:19 PM
I really worry that someday all these jokes we make about Obama’s ego are going to cease to be funny in a big way.
kc8ukw on November 6, 2008 at 7:19 PM
I’m no computer expert… but I ran a tracert to http://www.change.gov, which returned back an IP address of 69.25.74.162.
According to arin.net, that IP address belongs to Blue State Digital, a private company started by veterans of Howard Dean’s 2004 campaign. Their list of clients appears to me to be very partisan.
Obama Administration. Partisanship We Can Believe In.
malclave on November 6, 2008 at 7:20 PM
I called the POC phone number. It goes to a Rosemary Olson of the GSA…at least, that’s what on her voicemail.
This is insane.
JohnTant on November 6, 2008 at 7:21 PM
Tic-toc……
Stand
Limerick on November 6, 2008 at 7:21 PM
If you thought astroturfing was bad for a political campaign, wait and see the gigantic astroturfing machine Axlerod will build with the full power of the federal government. Just think of the possibilities…they will be able to make anything they want to do appear like something the whole country is clamoring for.
neuquenguy on November 6, 2008 at 7:21 PM
“Free to Choose” and/or Capitalism and Freedom by Milton (and Rose) Friedman.
Not so much “political conservatism” but rather economic libertarianism and how important that is for individual liberty and prosperity.
Great books.
aquaviva on November 6, 2008 at 7:22 PM
I don’t understand this. All ages? Is this paragraph saying that even me, a 40 year old, must do community service in middle school, high school or college? Do I have to clean chalk boards?
keep the change on November 6, 2008 at 7:22 PM
I once sent an email to Michelle Obama late last fall to complement her on something. I immediately made it into the mass email list. They are quite efficient at collecting your address and using it. Although… they have thanked me for making contributions. I haven’t made any! I promise! I wonder though, if they used my information to hide some illegal contribution or something.
Anyway. This feels like “Big Brother is watching you” type stuff from Orwell’s novels. Obama is creepy. So much about Obama reminds me of Orwell. It’s like he read 1984 in school and said, “Hey that’s what I want to be when I grow up–Totalitarian dictator!”
Oh and before you ask–yes I liked Obama when I first heard him speak… I have since realized the error of my first impression.
petunia on November 6, 2008 at 7:23 PM
Call on? Or else…what?
I plan on offering an outlet for all students to perform community service in my initiative. I won’t require them to do anything but study hard and do well in school…probably the best form of community service ever.
JohnTant on November 6, 2008 at 7:23 PM
Rosemary Olson of the GSA
Okay…I’m stupid tonight.
What is GSA?
God I know I should Know this.
Scoreboard44 on November 6, 2008 at 7:23 PM
-just forget your day job and “volunteer”.
this is scary.
illustr8r on November 6, 2008 at 7:24 PM
Don’t let the Messiah’s feet touch the ground…for every mantle, dismantle. Give him and his NO chance to sink their freakin’ communist claws into our government or economies. Push back at every step taken..let ‘em all know we are watching every fart they float. Get the Conservative Farm Team ready now to run for Congressional seats in 2010. Let’s pick our next P-VP for 2012 next week.
gracie on November 6, 2008 at 7:24 PM
Guess.
OberfeldwebelSchultz on November 6, 2008 at 7:25 PM
HAHAHAHAHA!!! Please tell me they’re that stupid. Requiring high school and college kids to do that will generate a ton of resentment. It will also create a half assed effort and tons of abuse. Watch the organizers start using “mow my lawn” as community service.
trubble on November 6, 2008 at 7:25 PM
Looks like somebody’s been taking lessons from Lenin’s propaganda machine.
Kalifornia Kafir on November 6, 2008 at 7:26 PM
The General Services Administration. http://www.gsa.gov
Most definitely a government agency.
JohnTant on November 6, 2008 at 7:26 PM
Must have been. Shame that.
petunia on November 6, 2008 at 7:26 PM
If it’s still available, buy:
hope.gov
Christien on November 6, 2008 at 7:27 PM
General Services Administration.
MB4 on November 6, 2008 at 7:27 PM
You (or your children) will be required to serve. You will not be able to graduate without doing your time as a serf for the Obama Nation. I predict that Seniors will be told they can’t collect their Social Security stipends unless they “volunteer” to serve.
Of course in 2020, which is his target date for this he would no longer be President, unless he has plans to throw out that Constitution he finds so flawed.
Buy Danish on November 6, 2008 at 7:29 PM
At the bottom of the online “job” application page…
Hmmmm…darn it, I guess they can discriminate against anyone that doesn’t agree with their “vision” and has conservative views.
SassyDarlin on November 6, 2008 at 7:29 PM
Or maybe this?
bhope.gov
Christien on November 6, 2008 at 7:29 PM
This is getting creepier. Check out this from the change.gov website:
Is this an extension of Obama’s “Civilian National Security Force”“?
AnthonyK on November 6, 2008 at 7:30 PM
The seeds of revolution are coated in resentment.
Buy Danish on November 6, 2008 at 7:30 PM
Actually our school district requires about that now. It was a bit hard for my daughter last year before she was fourteen because almost noone wants kids that young to help out. But it’s easier now. Things like Eagle projects and library volunteering count. I think she even got credit for singing in the Messiah at Christmastime.
I don’t think this type of thing is the business of the POTUS however.
petunia on November 6, 2008 at 7:32 PM
Is it odd that I’m too afraid to click on that link?
CookeyD on November 6, 2008 at 7:32 PM
Word on the street is that you just need to plead No Contest, and the judge will cut your required community service hours in half.
/?
Christien on November 6, 2008 at 7:32 PM
In Pennsylvania, high school students already have to do a ‘Senior Project’ which requires 50 hours of work. While its not necessarily ‘community service’ most end up that way.
Pent. on November 6, 2008 at 7:33 PM
Uh, that’s not exactly true. It does exist. When the President-elect is determined, the Administrator of the GSA is authorized under statute, to release funds for the Transition Teams. The one coming in is going under the name “Office of the President-Elect.” I know this because I’ve seen the material prepared for the transition. (No, I’m not political, I’m rank-and-file career civil servant.)
GSA is the General Services Administration, the housekeeping, buildings management, and acquisition agent of the Federal government since 1949. Their headquarters is just two blocks west of the White House. One of their jobs is to provide logistical support for presidential transition teams. This would include server space for a website. From the information provided above, this is a legitimate US government website.
manwithblackhat on November 6, 2008 at 7:33 PM
That One or whomever is pulling his strings is very, very creepy.
Will he take the tax returns and compare if we have signed up on his change.gov website? If we haven’t, we’ll get audited?
I do not trust this wrecking ball headed to the White House.
tru2tx on November 6, 2008 at 7:33 PM
I thought you meant the Girls Scouts of America… really I did.
petunia on November 6, 2008 at 7:34 PM
That’s perfect! The Messiah will be so pleased.
Buy Danish on November 6, 2008 at 7:34 PM
JohnTant on November 6, 2008 at 7:26 PM
Thanks. Appreciate it.
This reminds me of “Starship Troopers”
Do you want to be a Citizen? Go here to learn more!
Scoreboard44 on November 6, 2008 at 7:34 PM
No … that’s your danger instinct kicking in. Always listen to it, especially now.
darwin on November 6, 2008 at 7:35 PM
Maybe there will be a waiver for confidential informants who finger others for not doing their required hours of service. Say, turn in three, get off free?
Christien on November 6, 2008 at 7:35 PM
I’m sure many kids just grin and get through it. Y’know, the good kids. The kids I hung around? uh, not so much. There would have been theft and falsifying the proof of hours worked at a minimum. The people requiring it would have become a joke.
trubble on November 6, 2008 at 7:36 PM
It may be a legitimate US Government website, but it’s not a legitimate USE of a US Government website. There’s a handy link to the Hatch Act on the GSA site and it seems to me using a .gov site to host content from one’s campaign website is verboten.
That’s German, by the way…my choice of language was deliberate.
JohnTant on November 6, 2008 at 7:36 PM
Me too I’m already on one of the lists so… I don’t know how much they know about me already. Isn’t that stupid?
petunia on November 6, 2008 at 7:36 PM
How do you say “Bingo” in German?
Buy Danish on November 6, 2008 at 7:36 PM
If so, then that is a draft and is hard to justify any longer in a free country short of a national emergency.
MB4 on November 6, 2008 at 7:37 PM
Oh, come ON!!!
I thought this was some sort of gag. Then I clicked on the link – and I thought I was going to gag. Is this guy for real? The Office of the President-Elect???????
The Obama Army – and so it begins. I’ll send y’all postcards from the gulag.
uncivilized on November 6, 2008 at 7:37 PM
Under Construction
beththebaker on November 6, 2008 at 7:37 PM
For my daughter it was me that fudged a bit. I made her clean out some closets and we took the stuff to Goodwill. I counted about 2 hours for her. They didn’t question it. I guess it really is up to the parents to validate the time and stuff. I didn’t know what I was doing… and she was too young for a lot of things they gave us to check out.
petunia on November 6, 2008 at 7:39 PM
You know….I have always been for the 2nd amendment, but I have never owned a gun.
My dad was a fisherman and not a hunter.
Should I be running out, taking lessons and buying a good 45 caliber weapon about now?
Scoreboard44 on November 6, 2008 at 7:39 PM
Youth voters – ya’ll got punked!
Seixon on November 6, 2008 at 7:41 PM
I wonder if, through all the stress of the office, the POSSOBBHO will smoke 3 packs of cigarettes per day?
carbon_footprint on November 6, 2008 at 7:41 PM
It this Constitutional….?
Sorry, just had to ask, since it will be constantly asked over the next
4…er…8…er, I mean 10 years..Tim Burton on November 6, 2008 at 7:41 PM
You’re assuming this will still be a free country once the Messiah-elect is inaugurated.
Buy Danish on November 6, 2008 at 7:41 PM
It never hurts to have a .45 in the house.
JohnTant on November 6, 2008 at 7:42 PM
Postcards will be strictly Verboten!
DasObamaReich on November 6, 2008 at 7:42 PM
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