Democrats to crowd-source opposition research

The Democratic National Committee opened a new website Tuesday to collect damaging recordings of Republican candidates in hopes of capturing another "Macaca" moment like the one that sank then-Sen. George Allen (R-Va.)'s re-election campaign in 2006.

The Accountability Project is designed to allow the public to upload embarrassing or politically damaging audio and video recordings of Republican candidates as well as information on their schedules, attack ads, mailers and public events. A video of Allen referring to an Indian-American Democratic staffer as a "Macaca" is widely credited for Allen's loss to Democrat Jim Webb in the 2006 election.

"For too long, our politics has been poisoned with misinformation, lies and double-speak," the site's home page states. "The most powerful way to combat these tactics is to drag them into the light of public scrutiny."

A DNC official will screen the video and audio clips to ensure the content is authentic and appropriate for the public. Videos posted to the site will also be able for download; the DNC is hopeful they will be used by journalists and other members of the media.

DNC research director Shauna Daly sent an email to supporters Tuesday announcing the project and directly referencing the Macaca incident.

“It was just one moment," Daly writes. "Who knows what else is being said when the cameras aren’t running? We don’t — but I sure wish we did.”