Has anyone else received an email from the Edwards campaign today with the subject "Urgent message from New Hampshire"?
Normally I wouldn't give it a second thought since I'm on all the candidates' mailing lists, but a friend of mine isn't on his list and got this email anyhow. So I looked into it and recognized the address the Edwards campaign had used was one I'd only ever used in one place: the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC).
I've got a domain name with a catch-all email address so that I can use individual email addresses for each list I'm signed up for. For example, I might use dkos@mydomain.com to filter all email regarding my dKos account. In this case, I used dscc@mydomain.com -- and that's the address the Edwards campaign used.
I am not able to fully explore the ramifications of this spam campaign since I can't find my tinfoil hat, but this has got to be a violation of the DSCC's privacy policy -- and since the DSCC is part of the Democratic Party, shouldn't they be careful not to favor one candidate over another?
Both the DSCC and the Edwards campaign appear to be using the same service (GetActive Software) for emailing to their lists.
I know my blood will start boiling about this later, so I want to get this out there so other people can be on the lookout for it.
Here's the email, and it seems clear it was written to a general audience and not to Edwards supporters:
Dear Fellow Democrats,
You and I have at least one thing in common: we both want George Bush out of the White House by this time next year. Simply put, our country cannot stand another four years of this administration.
We've lost nearly 3 million jobs since George Bush took office. George Bush has turned a $5 trillion dollar surplus into a nearly $5 trillion dollar deficit. And we have 43 million men, women and children without health care.
I have a plan to change this country and I believe that I am our best shot to unseat George W. Bush. But I will need your help!
I have not spent my career in politics and as an "outsider," I can attract many swing voters. I've been in Washington long enough to have learned how to get things done, but not so long that I am an entrenched part of the establishment.
I come from the South, and that gives me a real advantage against George Bush. We have never elected a Democratic President in this country who didn't carry at least 5 Southern states. Not only can I win in the South, but I can challenge Bush and make him fight to defend those Southern states that traditionally vote Republican.
I have never taken a dime from Washington lobbyists and I have a plan to clean up Washington that would ban lobbyist contributions to the President or members of congress. Imagine the contrast that would provide against George Bush, who never makes any decisions without first checking with his fat-cat, special interest friends.
And as I'm sure you've noticed, my campaign is growing stronger by the day. The voters in Iowa catapulted me from single-digits to 32% of the vote in their caucuses Monday night. And in New Hampshire the momentum continues to grow. You can help me finish strong there on my way to South Carolina, where I WILL win.
If you are serious about getting rid of George Bush, please contribute to my campaign today. Your contribution of $25, $50 or $100 will go a long way toward helping us spread the word and keep our momentum growing. I truly appreciate your support.
Together, we can take back the White House.
Sincerely,
John Edwards
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Paid for by Edwards For President.
Contributions to Edwards For President are not tax deductible for federal income tax purposes.
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