A Penny for My Thoughts
Steve Bucknum
In today’s mail, the non-profit Republican National Committee send me a very official looking letter. I know this is a non-profit group, because the stamp printed on the envelope said so. The same font and style was used as with official US Government mailers like what I get from the IRS and from Social Security. Inside, there was a 25 question long poll. Well, I think to myself, word has gotten out on my Blue Oregon piece on the Bellwether Democrats of Crook County! That must be why they want my humble opinion. Here is a sample of some of the questions: "Should Republicans do everything they can to prevent Liberal Democrats from repealing the USA Patriot Act and other important laws that help our intelligence agencies protect Americans?" "Should we do everything we can to stop Democrats from repealing critical border and port security legislation?" "Should Republicans oppose Senator Clinton’s one size fits all, government-run healthcare plan?" "Do you think US Troops should have to serve under United Nations commanders?" "Should Republicans fight Democrat efforts to impose Clinton-era cuts in the Pentagon’s budget?" Obvious to any informed reader, this is a push poll. Not only do many of the noted pieces of legislation not exist, the rest is just spin and misrepresentation. The poll ended with a request for funds. I think I’m going to send in one cent. Not only does this symbolize "a penny for a thought", but the face on that cent, Lincoln, was an ethical Republican. We need to hope that he wasn’t the last one. (Note: This is my second attempt to post this, the first attempt having some odd cut and past issues created by Typepad. Sorry if that messed up any responses!)
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5:17 p.m.
Jan 23, '08
here's a tip: if they included a BRE, they are liable for all postage. So I suggest being more generous than a penny. How about 300 of them? Or if you're short on pennies lately, how about washers? Or fishing ballast? Be creative--it's on the RNC!
Jan 23, '08
I can top that.
I was appointed estate administrator for a 92 year old woman.
It took a while for paperwork to be prepared and filed and during those weeks the nursing home where she lived kept her mail before I could (a) pick it up and (b) put in a change of address form for her.
I could not believe the deluge of right wing, Republican, Christian solicitations she received. Hundreds over the course of a couple of months.
All envelopes had "Dire Warnings", "Save Social Security", "Stop Hilary" messages on the outside and unbelievable material on the inside -- "polls", dire predictions and, most amazing, cash. Sometimes a quarter, sometimes a dollar.
Just the kinds of enticements and fears a 92 year old largely immobile edging-towards delusional woman would (and apparently did) respond to.
Vance Packard
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vance_Packard
might have been appalled, but he wouldn't have been surprised.
[I have no idea how to create a link, so cut-n-paste the wiki link if you would.]
Randy2
Jan 23, '08
The RNC (and the DNC for that matter) are allowed to send mail at the "nonprofit standard rate" under the rules set up by the USPS... it's a little strange seeing mail sent at a rate that usually comes from more traditional nonprofits (i.e. 501(c)(3) public charities for you tax law wonks out there) coming from organizations that are really 527s, but that's the way the rules are set up. State committees of political parties can do this as well, so don't be surprised if you see an Oregon Dems or Oregon GOP mailer sent via nonprofit standard rate as well sometime this year. For the truly dedicated nonprofit law curious, I covered this topic in this week's Nonprofit Law Podcast.
6:57 p.m.
Jan 23, '08
Was there any actual positive idea, or legitimate option, in the poll at all?
Amazing that the Republicans can continue to sway folks more by what they're against than by what they're for.
One thing I sorely wish we'd see in the national media today is a more detailed survey on congress though. I've seen a whole year of polls now where the President's job approval rating is countered by the job approval rating of "congress." Wait a second - what exactly is it that folks don't like about congress? Could it be precisely the Republican obstructionism that's bothering folks?
I think there would be a way to get this information without it being a push-poll. Just ask folks whose ideas in congress they'd like to see gain more ground, Democrats' ideas or Republicans' ideas. Or poll on specific issues: should congress be forcing an end to the war in Iraq, should it let the President's policy continue, or should it escalate the war. I have a feeling those kinds of questions would take a lot of wind out of the "low approval of congress" push-poll that's dominated our national media pretty much from the day the Democrats gained control.
7:39 p.m.
Jan 23, '08
I got the same letter. I intend to return it so that the RNC will have to pay the return postage.
At the same time I do not think that the questions are terribly different in level of bias than the Democratic party versions, just a different ideology. They are intended to raise funds, not educate.
8:19 p.m.
Jan 23, '08
What, no question about "gay marriage?!"
Jan 23, '08
My spouse, who is a registered Republican, got the same thing (three times since congress changed majority parties) that was labeled "Republican Census".
The first time, after we almost died laughing, we cut all the identifying info off the "Census" and mailed what was left to Kari at Mandate Media.
Having someone in your household that is a registered elephant can be very entertaining. The best by far was Bill Sizemore's desperate mailing right before the jury verdict came in. A sheaf of 7 different petitions for various wacko right wing causes accompanied by a letter begging for money to defend him from the evil union empire that was trying deprive him of his "rights".
Gordon Smith's mailings to Republicans are also a lot of fun too.
9:19 p.m.
Jan 23, '08
My husband is a registered R, and I never cease to get a kick out of the emails, calls, and letters we get.
My favorites are when there is something that is religious based on the ballot or they're attempting to get it on the ballot (such as something anti-abortion or anti-gay). There were three voters in our household - my husband and I and an under 25 Dem female.
We'd get lit for those very conservative ballot measures mailed to my husband and I. No mention of my sister.
I figured that this went back to the idea that in many Christian religions that they believe the man makes the decision for the household. So even though I was a registered Dem, surely I must be voting along with him, right? This almost never happens with R candidates or other ballot measures, only those that have some religious tie-in.
Jan 23, '08
Shephanie V. writes, "What, no question about "gay marriage?!"
The 16th question on the page was, "Do you think Congress should pass the Federal Marriage Amendment, protecting marriage as a union between one man and one woman?"
Jan 23, '08
A number of you seem to think that I received this "Republican Census" because there is a Republican in the household. We have lived in this house, and used this address for 18 years. No one here has ever, EVER, been a Republican. They had my name correct down to a rare spelling of my first name and my correct middle initial.
This was obviously sent to me because I'm a Democrat. The questions are not really questions, they are twisted misrepresentations of the positions of Democrats, attempting to convince us to switch parties.
Example: Question # 5 - "Should we make our fight against the Democrat's massive tax hikes a central part of the 2008 campaign?" What? What massive tax hikes are these? There are no massive tax hikes. The temporary tax cuts for the most wealthy Americans will expire if not renewed - but that isn't a "Democrat's massive tax hikes"
Other items about this mailing. It came with a letter from Mike Duncan, Chair; Mitch McConnell, Minority Leader; and John Boehner, Minority Leader. In the letter it repeats the "code" found on the Census survey: Registration # 1978-0725. I first registered to vote in 1970. In 1978 I was a registered voter in Clackamas County. From 1986 to 1990 I was a registered voter in Contra Costa County, California. I arrived in Crook County in 1990. So, 1978? makes no sense. The letter goes on for four pages. It tells me that the questions will be used to form a new blueprint for the Republican Party. It is full of complete B.S. "Our soldiers will be forced to surrender -- lay down their arms..." (if Democrats are elected) What? Lay down their arms!
Every other sentence is a scream out loud, "give me a break" in that letter.
Frankly, I'm surprised that such a complete lack of "truthiness" as what is in this little kit hasn't made the major media like the Oregonian, TV, etc.
I guess what the Republicans are teaching us is that if a whole lot of lies don't work, lie more and more and more. Lie until the truth is completely crushed. Shout the lies from the hilltops, and send the lies out in the mail to each and everyone of us.
And, I'm thinking of sending a lead weight with my one cent, as they will be paying for the return postage.
10:33 p.m.
Jan 23, '08
Actually I get quite pissed off by the Democratic versions of these things. The D schtick is to pretend it's a ballot and your answers actually are going to influence decisions about what the DNC or the DSCC or the DCCC are going to do. But the questions offer choices that are highly limited to timid approaches or tendentious definitions of issues or just slanted so that only one possible answer makes sense of those offered, though that one answer may be a weak or meaninglessly vague one.
It actually is an insult on several levels. It makes me mad that my party is spending money to mail me insults and wants me to pay them for it.
The same thing is true of big liberal lobbying groups that sell political services and call you a "member" but give you no actual say in the formulation of issues and approaches.
And they are also just tedious. I chuck 'em.
Jan 23, '08
Thanks Chris.
It took a lot of effort (phone calls, letters) but I finally got off the DSCC list over a decade ago.
Jan 23, '08
This is a classic strategy. Republicans invented it way back when but everyone does it now. It's the old "you got something for free so now give us something." What's funny is that I, who have never given a red cent to any Republican candidates, get all their crap too. Methinks it's because I subscribe to the Economist.
Jan 24, '08
Everyone seems to be missing Steve's point. Steve contends that this propaganda tool was not aimed at Republicans; it was aimed at Democrats -- probably Democrats in traditionally R-leaning districts that meet certain demographic criteria.
Think about what it means if he's right. During 2006, Dems won in a lot of R-leaning districts. Part of the reason is that these districts contained Dems that voted Republican -- part of the "Reagan Democrats." That group has basically come back to the Democratic party because they see how, well, nuts the Republicans have become.
I have a friend -- also from Central Oregon -- who used to say things like, "I used to vote for Democrats before they the party went so far left that they're practically solcialists. Now I vote for Republicans." Now he says, "We need an independent party because the Republicans are lying, cheating bastards who would kill their own grandmothers for a dollar or a vote."
Those are the voters that Republicans lost in 2006. I think this mail piece is trying to scare them back into the GOP fold.
Jan 24, '08
That is a hoot!! Question? Why don't the dems, when faced with "right to lifers" respond with the question: "How many unwanted US babies have you adopted?" Strange how all the interest is in the unborn - no interest after they are born.
Jan 24, '08
Thanks for the comment Billee - should we tell the readers of Blue Oregon that you are my cousin or not? Probably not.
Of course, abortion was on the list of the 25 questions in the push poll.
"Do you want the Republicans to defend the recently-passed partial birth abortion ban from attacks by the Democrat majority?"
<h2>Note the use of "Democrat" versus "Democratic". Note the use of the loaded word, "attack". They can't ask a straight question to save their lives.</h2>