Thursday, May 13, 2010

They Just Want Your Money

A person I know received a 2010 Congressional District Census commissioned by the Republican Party much like this one that came out last February.

Strengthening our Party for the 2010 elections is going to take a massive grassroots efforts all across America.

Have a look at the definition of grassroots and you'll find it's "People or society at a local level rather than at the center of major political activity." A letter from the Republican National Committee would not fit within the definition of a grassroots effort.

Your registered Census is one of a select few being mailed into Washington's 5th Congressional District.

Because of your high level of political involvement and steadfast commitment to the Republican Party, your personal input on the questions presented in your Census Document is critical to our Party's future.


Hmmm, one of a select few who happened to participate in the 2008 Democratic Party caucuses. That's pretty select.

Your completing and returning this Census today is central to our Party's ability to devise a winning Republican strategy in your area -- especially as we take on the Democrats in the fight for the future of our nation. It is absolutely critical that we act immediately to build a state-of--the-art grassroots organization in every district around the country.

Apparently Michael Steele is not aware that Cathy McMorris Rodgers is a safe re-election bet. And there's that top-down grassroots thing again.

And when you send back you completed Census, I urge you to also demonstrate your committment to the Republican Party by including a generous donation of $25, $50, $100, $250 -- or even $500.

Or even? Now we're cutting to the chase. The letter asks for money three times. The so-called Census Document asks for money twice and even includes a craven option. They ask that you enclose $15 to help defray the cost of processing the Census Document. It's like they're an unregulated financial institution or something.

Your opinions will represent literally thousands of Republicans in your Congressional District...

According to the Washington Secretary of State web site, (Excel spreadsheet dated Mar 2010) there are 389,781 registered voters in the 5th Congressional District.

It's difficult to say exactly how many voters are Republican so I'm going by the election results for Cathy McMorris Rodgers which have ranged between 56 and 65 percent. So let's say 60 percent of the 389,781 registered voters are Republican. That gives us 233,869 Republican voters in the 5th District.

So if this one person represents thousands of Republicans, then the RNC mailed this to, what, maybe 100 people in the entire 5th District? I think the meter just red lined.

4 comments:

Lise said...

I received one of those mailings and read as far as the "generous donation" pitch before throwing it away. I didn't think the RNC was really interested in my views since I've never voted Republican in my life.

Anonymous said...

What are you new?

Political parties and candidates ask for money, no exceptions.

Just another example of creating a controversy where none exists.

The democrats do the same thing.

Hank Greer said...

Anon,

Political parties and candidates do ask for money. The point is this request is misleading and dishonest.

Anonymous said...

And this is news to you?

I think you would gain credibility as an objective observer of what is right and wrong in our political system if you would dispense of your obvious partisanship.

Both sides are "misleading and dishonest" in how they approach the American people for votes.

To continually paint the republicans as evil while ignoring the sins of the democrats is "misleading and dishonest" in and of itself.

So, are you above petty partisanship or not?

I have seen no evidence you are not.

The bottom line: What's right is right and what's wrong is wrong. No exceptions.