October 29, 2009
Posted: October 29th, 2009 05:12 PM ET

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'WhipCast' is a new BlackBerry application launched Thursday by the Office of the House Republican Whip.
'WhipCast' is a new BlackBerry application launched Thursday by the Office of the House Republican Whip.

Washington (CNN) - A new BlackBerry application released Thursday by the office of House Minority Whip Eric Cantor is the latest technology upgrade for Republicans.

The new "WhipCast" application is "designed to directly communicate with users in real-time," Cantor's office said in an e-mail.

"Today's launch of the WhipCast BlackBerry app is the latest demonstration of our commitment to modernize the way we communicate with Americans from coast-to-coast," Cantor said in an accompanying statement.

The new application - which was tested by Cantor's new media team before its public rollout - will deliver text, audio, image and video updates to users, according to Cantor's office. "WhipCast" also gives users access to Republican talking points, policy discussions, polling information, and floor schedule updates.

The new application's rollout hit an early speed bump Thursday when users had trouble downloading the program. A House Republican staffer blamed the intermittent accessibility of the Web page where the application is available on House Democrats, who released a nearly 2,000-page health care reform bill for download earlier in the day.

Earlier this month, the Republican National Committee debuted a revamped GOP.com - but the effort was mocked online by Democrats and Republicans alike. And House Republicans have also organized a New Media Caucus to identify and share technological practices.

Matt Lira, Cantor's new media strategist, said the BlackBerry application is "part of the same spirit" that animates the House GOP New Media Caucus.

Related: RNC must adopt Obama's online model, young conservatives say

Filed under: Eric Cantor • GOP • House


Gary Cloud   October 30th, 2009 8:12 am ET

I am a Contractor. My Blacberry is a tool to help me pay my Private Health Care Premiums that have gone throughj the roof. I don't have the time to watchdog politicians.

Ted Tartaglia   October 29th, 2009 10:08 pm ET

If the Republican'ts had anything to communicate this would be great,however, they have two problems. They have nothing to communicate except empty space and most of their audience is incapable of operating a BlackBerry.

Aaron   October 29th, 2009 9:57 pm ET

At least the Repubs have a new device to get the lies and nonsense out lickety split! That should take some of the pressure off of Fox.

Willsooooon!!!   October 29th, 2009 9:45 pm ET

Awesome!

We now have better means of calling you out Cantor.

Taylor   October 29th, 2009 9:32 pm ET

Mr. Cantor .Will the republican health care plan be available for reading?

Liberals are Hypocrites (but OF COURSE CNN won't print this!   October 29th, 2009 9:22 pm ET

Whatever you can do to expose the Obama lie, Cantor - DO IT!

Carnell From The Motor City!   October 29th, 2009 9:21 pm ET

Congressman Eric Cantor R-Virginia aka. The House Minority Whipping Boy! aka. The Gymp! ...Seriously, Is This A Real Story?

DJ   October 29th, 2009 8:25 pm ET

Oh goodie...now he can play games and check messages again at the next Obama State of the Union, while his neo-conferderate nuts shout.

tom owens   October 29th, 2009 8:24 pm ET

More talking loud and saying nothing.

Peter s   October 29th, 2009 8:12 pm ET

You don't have to copy President Obama! please, continue mounting deer horns on your trucks! thats the conservatives innovations!!.

SOUTHERN HOTTIE   October 29th, 2009 7:43 pm ET

Old, rich, white dudes don't know what you're babbling about, Cantor.

Sorry. Try again. Maybe with an abacus?

Deuce   October 29th, 2009 7:31 pm ET

As Soon As! ASA... In other words this should be given free to all Pensioners.... Heart Problems????

m smith   October 29th, 2009 7:26 pm ET

oh great just what we need from the repos. What kind of shuck and jive will they have on their website now,Does anyone want to get to their website anyway. Are they sending out instruction manuale for the ol farts to learn from. ?

Suzan   October 29th, 2009 7:21 pm ET

Get off your Blackberries and do something for the good of this country.........more of the Blame Game on the Democrats for their lack of technology......come on people is this all you know how to do......Blame your failures on the other side

GI Joe   October 29th, 2009 7:20 pm ET

RIP GOP = and take Lou Dobbs, Sarah Palin, Glen Beck, Rush Limbaugh, et al with you straight to hell. Oh, and the orange man Boehner too.

lasvegasrose   October 29th, 2009 7:17 pm ET

I BET ole Cantor likes anything with the word "WHIP" in it. hahaha

luan isuffi   October 29th, 2009 7:13 pm ET

+Those GOP morons should try to spend their time more productivly trying to do some good for the country.
So far they failing miserably.

Jim Doyle   October 29th, 2009 7:11 pm ET

Oh goody! A new way to spread lies and hate!

notfooledtx   October 29th, 2009 6:26 pm ET

Yeah, give him two days and he'll lose interest in this too – just like all the other proposals he's made and disregarded. Can'tor = failure.

They call me "tater salad"   October 29th, 2009 6:18 pm ET

See?........... It's all about "image" with the Republicans! They seem to put all of their focus and energy on winning elections and thats where it ends for them! All "show", and no "go"! Typical!

John Kelley   October 29th, 2009 6:16 pm ET

So happy I have an iPhone. John from Virginia.

Sniffit   October 29th, 2009 6:14 pm ET

Well, that settles it. He had time for this nonsense. I don't want to hear from this buffoon that he didn't have time to read the health care reform bill.

jonathan Estrella   October 29th, 2009 6:01 pm ET

WhimpCast

Maryland Democrat   October 29th, 2009 5:56 pm ET

I enjoy that they blamed the democrats for the download difficulty. And why was that? Because the democrats put up their healthcare bill so that people could download it.

Whether or not the availability of the healthcare bill to download affected the ability of the Whipcast application download, you'd think it would be a good think that the healthcare bill was actually accessible for anyone in the public to read

IMHO, it might be that Congress's website needs an upgrade to handle greater traffic and bandwidth.

D. Tree   October 29th, 2009 5:49 pm ET

This guy Cantor spends too much time on his Blackberry and going to Britney Spears concerts.

Ever hear of actual WORK, Mr. Cantor? You are a do-nothing!

What????   October 29th, 2009 5:46 pm ET

I'm sorry, this provides health care to Americans how?

Judy from PA   October 29th, 2009 5:43 pm ET

Don't worry, the White House will squash this. You are not allowed to have opposing views to Obama and you certainly cannot communicate them to others, don't you get it??

and in the spirit of the GOP   October 29th, 2009 5:42 pm ET

every rich person that uses it is is entitled to pay no taxes, get free health care and ravage our national parks

if you use the application and donate to the GOP, you are entitled to beat one poor person

Gorbashov - Long Beach, Ca.   October 29th, 2009 5:36 pm ET

It's not how you say it, it what you wingnuts are saying!

What an intellectually bankrupt lot!

C. Farrell, Houston, Tx   October 29th, 2009 5:33 pm ET

The young Republicans squeezing out the old Republicans with all this new technology which they can't grasp. Interesting.

NVa Native   October 29th, 2009 5:29 pm ET

"gives users access to Republican talking points, policy discussions, polling information, and floor schedule updates" – so what will Fox media and hate radio do now?

Sheryl   October 29th, 2009 5:26 pm ET

Who cares!!! Release your Health Care Plan!!!!

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