The comment from an anonymous Republican operative on a deceptive Republican National Committee fundraising letter says it all ... or, more to the point, says Republican:
Of course, duping people is the point. ... That's one of the reasons why it works so well.
And what is the dupe du jour?
Officials of both parties are sharply criticizing a fundraising mailing from Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele they say could be confused with official correspondence regarding this year’s Census.
The fundraising letter comes in the form of a "survey," a frequently used device for partisan fundraising, but this one has a twist: calling itself the "Congressional District Census," the letter comes in an envelope starkly printed with the words, "DO NOT DESTROY OFFICIAL DOCUMENT" and describes itself, on the outside of the envelope, as a "census document."
Sounds illegal, doesn't it? But because it doesn't "use the full name of the Census Bureau or the seal of any government agency," it apparently manages to stay just this side of legal.
And naturally, since it's goal is to dupe its supporters, it is expected to be "among the RNC’s most lucrative fundraising initiatives."