I just got an email appeal from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. These incessant appeals, usually whining for money are possibly the most tone-deaf of anything coming from the Blue side.
This one, over the sign off of Senator Michael Bennet, wanted my sig on a statement of support for the President's agenda BEFORE the State of the Union Address. IN ADVANCE.
I had something to say about that... Dive in under the fold..
See the following fot the gist of the email [some personal details removed] I received today. Most of us involved in progressive causes, moveon.org, ActBlue, Obama for Action... have been down this road. We know very well that after you sign the petition, you get handed over to the donations page. DNSC has been tireless in having their hand out. That's annoying enough, but to be asked to toss in without hearing a single word of the Presidents speech is just plain taking my support for granted. It's presumptive, it's arrogant, and it's insulting.
Kurt — The Washington Post called tonight’s speech the most important State of the Union address of the Obama presidency.
In just a few hours, the President will officially propose the most ambitious and important agenda in decades.
Tomorrow, you’ll see the Republicans ferociously attack the President, and every issue you care about and fought for in November — from equal rights to protecting Medicare.
You helped win that election, but it’s day one of a new fight: making this agenda a reality. And like winning the election, it’s not going to happen unless we stick together.
If you support the President, add your name to support this agenda right away — before he takes to the podium! Let’s get 150,000 supporters on board tonight!
We’ve waited so long for this kind of progress to be within our reach. But success will require the same level of intensity as we had in November.
Otherwise the other side will snatch it from our hands.
Please show your support,
Senator Michael Bennet
So I had quite enough at this point, and had
this to say about
that. My response, that I emailed back to
info@dscc.org:
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Dear Senator Bennet
I have been and still am an overall supporter of the President, especially when given the quality and mean-spiritedness of the opposition. But there are a number of Administration policies that I do take exception too, most specifically continuing and in some cases expanding some of the worst abuses of the Bush Administration.
I am prepared to support many of the Presidents 2nd tern goals, especially since many of them will impact this Nation and Planet for generations, and may be critical to human prosperity on the Earth. I have children, Senator, and I care about their future.
But I will NOT blindly sign a petition offering my support sight unseen prior to the SOTU Address. I would much prefer to HEAR and consider and evaluate President Obama's agenda and initiatives first before I'm willing to SIGN A DAMN THING.
I should hope in the future you treat this constituency with more respect. I'd like to think that progressive voters are people capable of critical thinking and making our own decisions. "Show the President you've got his back" To that sentiment, where was the Democrats in the House and Senate during the president's first term? You might try a little of that leading by example thing.
Oh, and the incessant whining for money thing?
NOT TODAY. I used to be middle class, I am working poor now. So not a lot of flex in the budget these days. Thankyouverymuch.
With all due and appropriate sincerity,
Kurt Griffith
Self-Employed Graphic and Web Designer
Progressive Independent Democrat
Nanuet, NY
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'Nuff said.