The Money Pit

Remember when you were 11 years old, and the greatest feeling in the world was getting your own personal piece of mail delivered to you? There was a thrill knowing that someone, somewhere cared enough that you existed to write a note, address an envelope, lick a stamp, and walk all the way to the red, white and blue mailbox on the corner. And the anticipation of ripping that envelope open, hoping that there was money inside! There was nothing quite like that exhilaration. Well, we have come full circle in the 21st century. Marra has received so many electronic mail solicitations asking for money, that she has asked to be removed from a mailing list. Money doesn't show up in the mail anymore. The mail asks for you to give up some of your money. Let me explain:

Marra and I were reviewing candidate websites several weeks ago. During a search of John Edwards' site, Marra asked permission to sign a petition (or a survey) or something, using her own email address as the entry fee. I figured, OK, at least the emails won't be pornographic or vulgar, so enjoy the democratic process, Internet style. Sign away, I said. Be part of the process. That's when the emails started coming. Now Marra was only signed up on the Edwards' site, so the volume into her inbox was relatively light. But it was regular enough to drive my daughter to shout "Enough!" and ask to be removed from the mailing list.

I don't mean to blame or indict John Edwards for going overboard here. He is not alone. As those who have read past entries may recall, I signed up to receive regular emails from 6 candidates, 3 Democrats and 3 Republicans (Clinton, Obama, Edwards - Guiliani, Romney, McCain), and I have been buried with requests for dollars. Here is what you've been missing:

Hillary actually held a lottery - if you contributed to her campaign before a specified deadline, your name was entered into a drawing to have a private lunch with her and Bill in their DC townhouse. I wonder if she would be baking the cookies herself...

Edwards is in the middle of a variation of Hillary's contest. Contribute before Sept. 30th (reporting deadline for 3rd quarter fundraising results), and five lucky supporters, randomly chosen, will join John and Elizabeth in New Orleans, presumably to see some of the actual poor people that Edwards will help once elected.

Obama is running a match contribution program. He has people already committed to match the contribution amount that you sign up to give. Clever. Now you only need to give his campaign half as much and feel twice as good.

Romney's contest is called "Hit the Trail with Mitt". Three contributors between now and September 30th will be chosen to campaign shoulder to shoulder with Mitt. Win the contest, and get put to work. There is no free lunch with this Republican, huh?

McCain is the most straight forward. His solicitations review his poll numbers, show the "surge" in support, and beg you to help keep his candidacy viable. The man needs the good news to continue, and right now, fundraising expectations for John are probably low. We'll see how his results are eventually spun.

Guiliani is giving one lucky contributor the job of Yankee manager for next season, right after George cans Joe Torre for not winning the World Series. Apparently, Rudy has that kind of influence. Rudy is running a National House Party Night, in an attempt to collect donations neighborhood to neighborhood. His email requests haven't been near as desperate sounding as the other candidate emails.

So can we start talking about public financing of campaigns? The money race is so over overwhelming the candidate messages that even an 11 year old has stopped the mail. By next fall, I am sure she'll want me to turn off the TV and the radio, too.

JS