Is it Normal to be berated into donating to a campaign?

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Friday July 03, 2020 · 1:00 PM PDT

2020/07/03 · 13:00

I admit I know little about fundraising, but is it a good idea to scold and berate your potential donors?

I ask because I am, for some reason, on the Trump campaign list of potential donors. I get 3-5 emails a day, usually from the current occupant of the White House’s yuckiest spawn, Eric (though sometimes I merit attention from Don, Jr., hooray). I get many fundraising appeals from Democrats as well, so I’m used to the aspirational appeal (be part of our movement!) and the desperate (our opponent is flooding the airwaves with negative ads!) and the urgent (our deadline is soon!), but this is my first experience being scolded, even shamed, for not getting my act together and sending in some cash.

The subject line was “Where were you? We needed you!” Kinda pathetic sounding.

Eric informs me, the dishonest media will stop at nothing “to demean, harass, and slander” his poor, put upon dad, which is why “we were really disappointed to see that you neglected to help us reach our End-of-Quarter Goal.”

And, “It’s going to take EVERY Patriot stepping up if we want to CRUSH Sleepy Joe’s dreams of turning America into a BIG GOVERNMENT SOCIALIST Nation.”

Which is why he “convinced” his father to extend my personal match opportunity for another hour (woo hoo). But, “We won’t extend your match offer again, Jessica. Don’t let the President down!”

Wtf is this? I know fundraising appeals are not generally nuanced and subtle, but is this level of passive agressiveness normal or is it just the weirdness of the Trump campaign?

At least I can enjoy the feeling of having disappointed Eric.

Some of the most surreal moments from this campaign

ZoBai

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Tuesday October 11, 2016 · 10:49 AM PDT

2016/10/11 · 10:49

There are a lot of moments in this campaign that have caused me to question my very faith in humanity, and some that have been inspiring. But there have also been a large number of things that have been, well, just weird. Some of these things are more serious than others, but all of them contribute to the sense that this campaign has been a dream – perhaps, as John Oliver has suggested, “the dream of a racist teenager who fell asleep while masturbating to internet porn.”

Here is my list of some of the things about this campaign that seem most ridiculous, in no particular order:

1. Not once, but twice during this campaign, a candy company has felt compelled to put out a statement distancing itself from the Republican candidate for president.

2. The New York Times keeps a running list of “People, Places, and Things” that the Republican candidate for president has insulted on Twitter. The list includes a podium in the Oval office and “people,” and when last updated on Oct. 5, listed 273 separate targets.

3. The editor of a web site catering to white supremacists is one of the top two officials running the campaign of a major party presidential candidate. No one seems to care.

4. During a debate, in response to a question about his tax returns, the Republican candidate for president attacked America’s airports.

5. David Fahrenthold of the Washington Post spent months tirelessly investigating Donald Trump and his crooked foundation. Fahrenthold seems to have driven the final nail into the coffin of the Trump campaign because someone sent him a video from Access Hollywood.

6. Paula Jones is back in our lives.

7. Three white supremacist leaders held a press conference in the nation’s capital talking about how excited they were that Donald Trump might become president, and as far as I can tell, only one major news outlet (the Washington Post) even noticed.

8. As a direct result of revelations about the Republican candidate for president, I had multiple conversations with friends about the experience of being groped. Many other women have participated in similar conversations in real life, on Twitter, and on this site.

9. A man got suspended from his job hosting the third hour of the Today Show for joking about sexual assault on tape with the man who is still the Republican candidate for president.

10. This

Screen_Shot_2016-10-10_at_6.42.24_PM.png

So that’s my definitely not exhaustive list. With all the breaking news, I’m not sure how long this diary will stick around and how many people will see it, but if you are reading, I’d love to hear what you find surreal about this weird, weird campaign.

Could we ease up on the fat shaming - even if the target is evil.

ZoBai

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Sunday October 02, 2016 · 8:28 AM PDT

2016/10/02 · 08:28

One of my favorite features on Daily Kos is the Abbreviated Pundit Round Up. I deeply appreciate the time and effort that goes into the feature, and love that I can keep up on what is being said without having to do any real leg work. I consider it a public service.

Today, following a summary of a piece by Frank Bruni about Chris Christie being pathetic, this was thrown in:

“Did he also smell of Big Macs, because, you know ...”

Now I am aware, as everyone is, that Chris Christie is fat. And I can hear the arguments in my head now that he deserves it, because he is evil. But are there not enough unflattering things to say about Chris Christie? Relevant things — like he’s a liar?

And certainly this is not even close to the only example of criticizing fatness on Daily Kos — many people here have made fun of Chris Christie’s weight, and the weight of other Trump supporters, and general people they disagree with. I am not referring here to pointing out people’s hypocrisy — such as noting that Donald Trump has no business making fun of someone’s weight. But that is not the same as making simple fat jokes. I’d like to make a few points about that practice:

First, it’s not that funny. Saying a person who is overweight must eat Big Macs is the kind of insult fourth graders hurl at their classmates. And I know, because I was a fat fourth grader.

Second, it appears hypocritical when we criticize people for fat shaming, and then engage in it.

Third, and most importantly, when you fat shame someone, you are not just attacking that person, you are making the argument that being fat in and of itself is a reason to be ridiculed and devalued.

Even if you reject reasons 1 and 2, I would ask you to really think about #3, and reconsider before attacking people based on their weight in deference to the members of this community who may themselves be overweight, or obese, or really obese, but who nevertheless are real people who do not need to come here, to a place they value, and see the idea that they are lesser because of their weight issues reinforced by this community.

I can tell you as a person who has been overweight or obese my entire life except for about 5 glorious years in my late teens and early 20’s that we are not all sitting around eating Big Macs, and though I’ve reached a point in my life where people saying stuff about fat people doesn’t hurt me personally, fat shaming in general is hurtful and harmful and makes the culture more crass and less kind.

ZoBai

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Friday August 24, 2012 · 7:06 PM PDT

2012/08/24 · 19:06

I need to bring a college class on argumentation/writing on a class trip, but have very little in the way of funds, and I was thinking a local political debate would fit the bill. The school is located in central Jersey, toward the shore, but really anywhere in the state would work. Philly area might also or parts of NY might also work. Anyway, I'm having a really tough time finding anything - local newspapers have nothing and the candidates' sites haven't been helpful.

I'd also be open to any other suggestions for potential trips that would be appropriate for students in an argument based writing class.

My Catholic Pastor: Voting for Dems OK

ZoBai

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Sunday October 24, 2004 · 11:51 AM PDT

2004/10/24 · 11:51

I've talked about the pastor at my Roman Catholic parish here before. He's interesting in that he seems to be an out an out lefty on most issues, poverty and peace especially, and he often prays for "people discriminated against on the basis of race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation" during the public part of the prayer of the faithful, and once he faced down a jerk yelling about gay marriage. But he seems to be a one issue Republican voter, that issue being abortion. About a month ago he had this long sermon about how important the war is as an issue, and poverty, but how we needed first to have a "culture of life." It was like watching him struggle with his own personal political demons in public, but he didn't tell us who to vote for. Well, apparently he doesn't like it when other people tell us who to vote for either. Read More

Media Coverage the Day After

ZoBai

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Thursday October 14, 2004 · 5:08 PM PDT

2004/10/14 · 17:08

I'm trying to get a sense of what is being stressed in the media coverage the day after the debate. Basically I want to contact them to register my satisfaction and dissatisfaction, but I was at work most of the day, and can't watch all the shows. So let me know what you saw.

Particularly, regarding the debate, did they cover, or over-cover, the Mary Cheney comment?

Did they cover the president's I never said I didn't care about OBL statement? Read More

Elizabeth Edwards fundraiser/rally

ZoBai

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Monday October 11, 2004 · 6:54 PM PDT

2004/10/11 · 18:54

I saw Elizabeth Edwards in East Brunswick, NJ at a Women for Kerry fundraiser/rally. I've now seen her, her husband, and that guy who is going to be the president. Don't tell anyone, but Elizabeth Edwards was my favorite. It may partly have been because there were a lot less people there - tickets were $300 and $1,000, or $50 for students (another reason to be happy I haven't finished my dissertation and am therefore still a student) so it didn't quite get the same crowds as the free events. Plus I was smart and came early, so I was near the front. But mainly I think I liked it so much because she doesn't really give a speech. I mean, she doesn't just go up there and ramble, but she does seem more like she's just talking. Read More

Black Box Voting and Oprah

ZoBai

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Friday September 10, 2004 · 11:03 AM PDT

2004/09/10 · 11:03

If anyone didn't hear it on Air America this morning, Unfiltered has been encouraging their audience to email Oprah in an attempt to get her to have Bev Harris on her show. I sent an email when Bev was on during the RNC, and I'll probably send another one.

Naturally, if you could email anyone from any media outlet you think might get the word out about this. But Oprah is a particularly good target. Obviously, she has a large audience. But there are other advantages as well. Read More

Stewart on Nightline

ZoBai

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Wednesday September 01, 2004 · 9:38 PM PDT

2004/09/01 · 21:38

Anyone see it? He was incredible. Stewart shot down the "Kerry brought the Swifties on himself" argument Koppel gave -- pointing out the problem is they're lying (duh). Then Koppel argued the "fact vs truth" idea -- it's a fact they made the allegations, therefore it's news and the truth will catch up. And Stewart just killed it. He said the media says the Republicans are winning not because they are better but because they are better at playing the game and the media is being slammed -- the need to take a more active to reform that for the good of the public trust.

Jon Stewart makes me weep with joy.

Something we can DO

ZoBai

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Tuesday August 31, 2004 · 11:55 AM PDT

2004/08/31 · 11:55

This is my first diary, so I hope it's ok.

I know a lot of people on this site write letters to the editor, which is great. It's a way to get your message out to a lot of people. And it's constructive -- sometimes it can be easy to get caught up in hand-wringing about the campaign. The truth is there is little we can do about the campaign, but we can still get our message out. Read More

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