An Open Letter to the Obama People

Dear Obama People,

Even though I've never met any of you, I suppose I like you. I mean, you (or your bosses or minions or whomever) did a damn good job getting the big guy elected. You made me feel as if I was part of a movement when all I actually did was volunteer by phoning Texas for an afternoon or two during the primary, attend a speech by the president-elect at my alma mater which was a commencement address and not a rally, and cut you a check for $75 or whatever it was.

Through the more exciting parts of the primary and actual election calendars, I was as enthralled as anyone, voraciously reading as many blogs as I could, watching Keith Olbermann have his nightly coronary, and occasionally pausing to ponder which foreign country I planned on moving to should BO not win (Canada? Belgium? Costa Rica? Azerbaijan?). All the while you Obama People were right there, sending me emails that kept me in the loop. So what if the emails weren't actually written by Michelle or Barack or David Axelrod? So what if you made almost no attempt to hide the fact that these were incredibly thinly veiled attempts to hit me up for money?

You know what, it worked. I gave and so did many others. You raised how many hundreds of millions of dollars? I -- and probably three million others on that email list -- felt wanted and loved, Obama People, and I remained interested in the two-year-long debacle until the bitter end when I felt as if I'd rather undergo a kidney removal that was performed by monkeys wielding machetes than ever hear the name Cindy McCain again.

But it's now January, Obama People, and I'm way over this thing. Prior to this very minute, it had been damn near two months since I even once thought about Todd Palin. So why, why, why for the love of God are you still sending me emails asking me to give you money? Seriously, I got one on December 30th and January 6th. You guys really want me to donate 25 dollars "to make the inauguration a success?" What on earth does that even mean? 25 bucks will buy maybe three crab cakes at a reception that I'm not invited to and would assuredly be sent to federal prison if I tried to attend, provided I wasn't gunned down first. If you really want my money, Obama People, you're going to need to work a little harder for it. Tell me it will be used to balance the budget, tell me it will get me one chance to move to the front of the breadline when the economy collapses, tell me it will get me 20 class-A shares of some bank you just bought, tell me it will be used to send Dick Cheney to Mars, tell me it will go to Obama for Emperor PAC, I don't care. Just don't tell me it's for the inauguration. What's next, a Maybach for Malia?

This needs to end Obama People. It's not you, it's me. It would be change we can both believe in.

Comments

[ohmygawdwtf]

i don't know how i ended up on his mailing list, but i did and it's just another form of spam asking for money i don't have... and i work two full time jobs.

my boss was so enthralled with obama that he donated $100 through his checking account. the next month he noticed that the campaign took out another $100. he figured it was a glitch, and since it went towards obama he didn't say anything. the next month another $100 was taken out. he was a little concerned, but again, since it was for obama he said nothing. the NEXT month another $100 was deducted and this time he looked into it. turns out that the campaign had him enrolled for a monthly automatic 'donation' even though he didn't authorize it. they figured that if he loved obama so much, he'd bite the bullet and accept it. he did for over a year, he said, and then put a stop to it in november.

he was sorta laughing as he told me this, and i reminded him that had this been the cable or cell phone company, or even a utility, he wouldn't be laughing. he said no, but since it was for obama...

it's amazing what one can get away with if you put the right spin on it...

[tigerlille]

I am right there with you, Abe. I stay on Obama's list serve thinking that maybe eventually I will learn something of interest, but all I get are sleazy appeals for my money. The election is over folks, and now it is time to start implementing some of those campaign promises. I replied to one of the appeals for money to fund parties after the inauguration by describing my poverty, chronic illness, and responsibility to provide for a young child. Some smart ass responded by giving me directions on how to unsubscribe. Nice. It sure did make me feel "included." Then last week I responded to another frantic appeal for inauguration party money by suggesting that they appeal to the religious right, because I was too busy trying to figure out why equating gay marriage with incestuous relationships and pedophilia was NOT unacceptable. Haven't received a response to that one yet. Me thinks the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing.

[aphid]

Gotta jump on board and say I agree. I gave as much as I could, but I'm so broke I have to cancel my cable and my landline next week, and I have a secure job!

Please, what is this money for??

[Osmona]

I totally agree. I got a message to "please donate" from David Plouffe a day or 2 after the election. It sort of ticked me off. I am just your average working class person and I gave them $25 each month (sometimes twice depending if Hillary or McCain got me mad) from February, 2008. I registered new voters and made calls. I think since he was nobel enough to NOT accept lobbyist money (which is smart) and they cannot come up with enough for the Inaugration, then maybe he should not have the ball. Just have the swearing ceremony and say due to the economy he has to cut back. I love Obama but I seriously doubt I will get a bail out if I don't pay my bills. I do not expect him to be able to do very much, but I am hoping he can stablize the economy. So at least the ship won't sink too fast.

So now all I do is "delete" the emails. I really hope his average everyday supporters at least get the opportunity to visit him in the White House.

[Piatt]

I'm with you. I maxed out (and then some). I am now routinely deleting Obama fund raising appeals.

[BarackstarObama]

It's for his inauguration, if you don't like the messages, just delete them.

[Klimb]

Just unsubscribe if you do not want to receive the messages...simple!

[Abe Silk - Huffpost Blogger]

Nah, I'm all set with that. But by all means go for it...statistically you probably have a better chance of winning the lottery and getting hit by lightning this year.

[PATina]

Don't you want a chance to attend the swearing in ceremony????