This prompts
three questions, and not in that order:
The Republican National Committee is tapping into the spirit of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge this week with a new social media campaign designed to pressure GOP voters into going to the polls by Election Day.
With its Voter Challenge Facebook app, described exclusively to POLITICO, Republican supporters will be asked to pledge their support by November and also challenge three friends on their social media network to do the same.
- When you hear "voter challenge" in connection with the RNC, isn't your first thought that they are trying to challenge someone's right to vote, not that they are trying to associate their GOTV operation with the Ice Bucket Challenge?
- Even if your first thought is the Ice Bucket Challenge, doesn't it seem a little tacky (at best) for the GOP to score political points by riding the wave of support for ALS research, especially given that ALS research that wouldn't need viral marketing gimmicks if Republicans weren't working so hard to slash funding for scientific and medical research?
- Is having a Facebook page be "described exclusively" the new standard at Politico for breaking news?
Answer key: 1) Yes. 2) Yes. 3) Yes.