Colbert Causes Wikipedia VP Lockdown

Wikipedia banned new users from editing the pages of close to a dozen of Mitt Romney's potential running mates after Stephen Colbert urged his viewers to get edit-happy. Colbert was responding to a report that suggested edits could hint at Romney's choice, reports the Hill. A tech analyst noted earlier this week that in the days before Joe Biden and Sarah Palin were unveiled as VP picks in 2008, their pages saw dozens of changes, many more than any other contenders.

"So, nation, let your voice be heard in this historic decision," Colbert told his viewers. "Go on Wikipedia, and make as many edits as possible to your favorite VP contender." The pages locked down include those of Tim Pawlenty, Chris Christie, Condoleezza Rice, Paul Ryan, David Petraeus, and even Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum. But edit-counting may still offer clues to Romney's pick, notes Politico. Wikipedia users with accounts older than four days who have made more than 10 edits can still edit the pages in question—so anybody on Romney's staff with an account will be able to clean up the page of the chosen candidate. (More vice presidential candidate stories.)