'What Up?' RNC Changes the Name of Widely Mocked Blog to 'Change the Game,' Ditches Floating Steele Character

Posted by Amanda Terkel, Think Progress at 8:31 AM on October 14, 2009.

The Republican National Committee (RNC) had a rough day yesterday as it tried to launch the new GOP.com. Visitors noticed telling gaps on the site (such as an empty “Future Leaders” section), significant distortions (like naming baseball legend and registered independent Jackie Robinson a “great Republican“), the accidental disclosure of RNC passwords and files, and constant outages. But one of the most widely mocked parts of the site was Chairman Michael Steele’s blog called “What Up?”

After facing a day of ridicule, the RNC has quietly switched the name of the blog to “Change the Game.” It also ditched the floating Steele figure that would start walking and talking onto your screen. Robinson, however, is still listed as a Republican, and there are still no GOP accomplishments listed after 2004. Despite yesterday’s missteps, Steele said that he was happy about yesterday’s roll-out — especially when the site crashed and no one could access it. “This thing has exploded off the blocks,” Steele insisted. “It’s a good thing when you get another email from [RNC New Media Director Todd Herman] saying, ‘It’s down again.’” Hot Air’s Allahpundit disagreed, however, noting the universal ridicule the site engendered yesterday: “Way to score an own goal, pal, completely needlessly and amateurishly.”

Tagged as: gop, rnc, michael steele

Amanda Terkel is Deputy Research Director at the Center for American Progress and serves as Deputy Editor for The Progress Report and ThinkProgress.org at the Center for American Progress.