On the slight chance that this blog rant will be read by a social media Democratic campaign fundraiser, here's some tips for you from a progressive who is getting irritated at your current tactics.
My wife and I already have given quite a bit of money to Obama for America, the Congressional Democratic campaign committees, and some individual candidates like Elizabeth Warren. Plus, we've donated in support of Oregon Dems.
We're more inclined to give when we feel that campaigns are doing the best they can, with energy and enthusiasm, to defeat Republican efforts to return us to the not-good-old George Bush days. You know, the whole cut taxes, slash social programs, increase defense spending, hope for the 1% to create jobs thing.
Avid poll watcher and political junkie that I am, I was feeling pretty damn good about Democrats until... you know when. Last Wednesday. The first Obama-Romney debate. I thought Obama did pretty well, but clearly most of the rest of the country didn't.
So now Obama's national lead has disappeared, or at least is much diminished. There's no way to deny it. Most people who watched the debate thought Obama sucked. I agree, stylistically. Substantively, he scored some points, but emotionally and body-language-wise Obama looked weak and uncertain.
Acknowledging this evident fact would make Democratic fundraising emails more honest and appealing to me. Instead, my inbox is filled with crap like this.
We could hardly sleep last night. Have you seen this poll?
GALLUP:
Obama - 47
Romney - 47
We've got one month left until the election, and it's clearer than ever: we will win or lose based on turnout and how well we can respond to the Republican attacks on the air.
Wow. Democrats are going to win or lose based on turnout? Sure, that's partly true, but if the polls keep cratering for Obama, a majority of those turning out are going to be voting for Romney. Here's a suggested rewrite of your first sentence:
We could hardly sleep last night. We've been worrying about the effect of Obama's poor debate performance on the polls. Then we saw this one.
Dem fundraisers also should be reassuring me that Obama realizes how poorly he did in the view of most debate watchers, and that he'll come out swinging and fighting in the next debates rather than cower in his corner. Biden needs to do this also, of course.
This emailed appeal was irritating for the same reason.
Brian — BREAKING: Today’s political report tells us that we’re on track to lose the Senate majority by one single seat. Take a look at the latest polling numbers:
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***Polling Update*** |
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Virginia: |
Kaine (D)-44 |
Allen (R)-44 |
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Nevada: |
Berkley (D)-45 |
Heller (R)-45 |
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Connecticut: |
Murphy (D)-47 |
McMahon (R)-48 |
Mitt’s polling surge could boost Republican candidates across the country, and they could take an insurmountable lead in the next 48 hours.
If you care about President Obama’s agenda—fighting for the right to choose, marriage equality, and access to health care—you can’t let Republicans take over the Senate and repeal everything we’ve accomplished.
There is absolutely no time left. We must fight back immediately--today.
Hey, my wife and I have been donating money to fight for Democrats all year. We weren't standing on the stage next to Mitt Romney, failing to respond passionately and vigorously to his ridiculous, fact-free blathering.
Obama had the chance to get the Democratic message across to a national audience of about 60 million people. Cost-free! Courtesy of the networks and cable channels. He blew his opportunity. So now you guys want more money to repair the political damage caused by his screw-up.
I did send $20 off to the Obama campaign after the debate, just to show them that I'm still supporting them. But I'll feel a heck of a lot better if Biden does great in his Thursday debate, and if Obama bounces back strongly a week from tomorrow in his second bout with Romney.
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