Political Mailings
As a writer-type person in a political job, I have low tolerance for schmaltz, crap, and blarg in fundraising letters:
Dear Mr. XXXXXX:
I’ve been told you are a principled conservative, much like Ronald Reagan. Will you do me the honor of serving on my Presidential Campaign Advisory Board?…
Would you do me the favor of giving me your answer in the next few days so I can make my plans?…
Since you are a respected community member, it will be a help to my Presidential campaign if I can list your name in some of my campaign ads as an advisor to my campaign….
And when I’m close by, I’ll invite you to special campaign events….
Also, I’ll periodically write you and ask for your opinion on national issues such as taxes, spending, crime, schools, national security, immigration, illegitimacy, and other crucial issues of the day….
Does this crap work on anyone? I’ve got to stop by the RNC sometime and find someone who can answer that question.
I’m afraid the answer will be yes, since this kind of letter goes out…. They study this stuff to the nth degree and wouldn’t waste time on mailings that don’t generate responses. Argh.
I got a letter once from Senator Mitch McConnell–it had a dollar in it. “Mr. XXXXXX, when I told my colleagues that I was sending you this dollar, they told me I was crazy. But I’m confident that you’ll return this dollar to me with a contribution of your own to the National Republican Senatorial Committee to help us win in November….”
Mitch’s confidence proved unfounded. (But the Dr Pepper I bought with his dollar was thirst-quenching.)
I keep getting letters from the RNC telling me that I’m in danger of my membership running out in “these crucial times.” This has gone on for about six years. I’ve never been a member. And my non-existant membership seems to never quite run out.
Comment by Julie — 23 April 2007 @ 07:03 PM
Times are so crucial that they can’t let these valuable non-member memberships expire….
Comment by piggyhastheconch — 23 April 2007 @ 08:46 PM