President Obama's Wednesday-night address to Congress yielded a wide range of responses, but few demonstrated the unique gift for rhetoric possessed by Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele.
"Send a virtual post card[sic] to Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid and let them know you won't tolerate their socialist power grab," Steele exhorted RNC donors in a Thursday fundraising e-mail obtained by the Huffington Post.
The fundraising letter characterizes Obama's proposed incremental reforms as "an unprecedented assault against the principles upon which America was built."
"Once again, President Obama stepped in front of the prime time TV cameras to attempt to sell the Democrats' leftist health care scheme to legislators and anyone else who might still be paying attention," the e-mail reads, in one of the few sentences without any bolded or italicized words. "You can feel the rising mood of freedom-loving Americans across this country. Not afraid, but incensed and determined, that their government not be a menace to our hard-earned liberty and prosperity."
The letter was accompanied by this graphic:
The full letter appears below:
Dear XX,Once again, President Obama stepped in front of the prime time TV cameras to attempt to sell the Democrats' leftist health care scheme to legislators and anyone else who might still be paying attention.
The charm offensive isn't working. Americans no longer feel the need to give Barack Obama the benefit of the doubt.
They have seen through the hype and media adoration to understand that the Obama Democrats are determined to push their far-left agenda on our country whether the American people like it or not.
You can feel the rising mood of freedom-loving Americans across this country. Not afraid, but incensed and determined, that their government not be a menace to our hard-earned liberty and prosperity.
They are extremely concerned that the President and his congressional allies are launching an unprecedented assault against the principles upon which America was built.
At town hall meetings, Tea Party protests, and countless other gatherings of concerned patriots, Americans are saying enough is enough. Enough taxes. Enough spending. Enough debt. Enough entitlement. And enough arrogance. Enough.
Those running the Administration and Congress have never seen this kind of public outpouring of dissent. They alone who have the right to protest. They who "know best." They are wrong.
Our government is of the people, by the people, and for the people. Those aren't just fancy words. They are the bedrock upon which our republic was founded. Whether power hungry officials in the White House and on Capitol Hill like it or not, they are to serve the interests of the people -- not the other way around.
Well, the town halls are over, and Congress is back in session. That's why you still need to show your support for the principled position of fiscal restraint, personal responsibility, and unfettered liberty as opposed to the Obama Democrats in Washington who are trying to force leftist "change" upon our country.
Send a personalized e-postcard, your own "Declaration of Independence," to Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid who lead the elitist, "progressive" Democrats.
Let them know enough is enough -- you won't stand idly by while they threaten our livelihoods and liberty with their outrageous Washington power grab.
And when you send your virtual postcard, I hope you will also take this opportunity to make a secure online contribution of $25, $50, $100 or whatever you can to the RNC today to help fund our efforts to recruit and support effective, principled Republican candidates who will know who they work for when they defeat the Democrats this fall and in 2010.
Let's hold the Obama Democrats accountable for their opportunistic, selfish power grab. Please send a strong message to the Obama Democrats today.
Sincerely,
Michael Steele
Chairman, Republican National CommitteeP.S. XX, you can make the Obama Democrats in Washington know you mean business -- send them an e-card today. And when you do, please take this opportunity to make a secure online contribution of $25, $50, $100 or more to the RNC to support and elect Republicans who believe in the conservative principles America was founded on. Thank you.