Obama Fundraising Thug Tactics

I received this e-mail from the Obama campaign yesterday:



I found it disturbing.

Text:

Friend --

As you may have noticed, we've asked you for a donation a few times now.

But according to our records, you haven't yet made an online donation to this campaign at this email address. (If our records are wrong, I apologize and thank you!)

I'm not writing to ask you for money again. I'm actually writing to ask your opinion about why you haven't given, and what you think would inspire you or other Obama supporters like you to decide to take the leap and donate.

We have two quick questions for you. Can you take a minute to answer them?

There's a good reason we're asking for your feedback: The kind of organization we all decided to be a part of only works if people like you pitch in to build it.

It's also the reason no other candidate has been able to match our level of grassroots support. This isn't the easiest way to run a campaign -- but we know it's the right way.

That's why we want to know what you're thinking.

Please take a minute to answer these two questions today:

http://my.barackobama.com/Your-Support-In-2012

Thanks so much,

Rufus

Rufus Gifford
National Finance Director
Obama for America

P.S. -- Of course, if you'd like to become one of our million-plus grassroots donors today, by all means, please make a donation of $3 or whatever you can afford.

Mike Flynn, Big Government, shares my reaction to the e-mail.

Flynn writes:

[I]t seems, the Obama campaign has decided to resort to SEIU-style intimidation to fill its campaign coffers.

Tonight, a former Obama supporter forwarded BigGovernment an email sent out today by the Obama campaign. It’s equal parts desperate and creepy.

...The email goes on to ask for “feedback” on why the former supporter has failed to cough-up their hard-earned dollars for Obama’s reelection.

...It’s no wonder Barack Obama, SEIU and ACORN are such strong political allies. This email currently occupying inboxes is classic “community organizing.” Guilt and intimidation arising from desperation.

It's not unusual for political parties to send notices alerting individuals that they haven't contributed, but an individual candidate wanting to know why one hasn't coughed up some cash is creepy, especially when that candidate is the president of the United States.

And since that president of the United States happens to have an extremely troubling record of shredding the Constitution and ignoring the First Amendment, it becomes even more disconcerting.

If Saul Alinsky were alive, if he had been around in the age of the Internet and social networking, I imagine he would have encouraged the use of inbox intimidation.