House Republicans plan online community, to find a voice and set the tone

House Republicans will unveil today a Web site they will use to solicit policy ideas from the public, the first step in the development of a platform that they will present to voters this fall.

Called "America Speaking Out," the site borrows from the approaches of popular Web sites such as Wikipedia and Amazon.com. Starting this week, people will be able to go to the site, submit ideas, rate those of others, and post their comments on Facebook and Twitter through the site. The most prominent users will earn "badges," though the GOP has not yet determined what rewards people could get. House Republicans also will go on the site and interact with users. Up to a dozen staff members will be monitoring the Web site, party aides said, both to keep it running properly and to filter out inappropriate messages. The Web site formally starts the GOP's process of touting its own vision and policies to voters, after spending most of the last 16 months bashing President Obama and congressional Democrats.