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Election Day is coming and I disappointed the DCCC again

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Dang it, I’ve disappointed Joe Biden again this week. This according to one of the least-convincing campaign fundraising email campaigns going. And, to make me feel worse, before him I disappointed President Obama and Nancy Pelosi.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in speaking for those politicos takes a no-frills, no foreplay, 50-word-or-less approach to its emailed fundraising these days. Known as the DCCC or D-Trip, it’s raising donations for Democrats running for seats in the House of Representatives with slam-bam memos purportedly from prominent Dems.

They read something like this one from Biden: “We keep emailing you. President Obama has emailed you. Nancy Pelosi has emailed you. And now I’ve emailed you.” I’m so not inclined to respond to folks running disappointment at me like a frustrated, neurotic parent who caught the kid smoking behind the barn.

I did get one note this week from James Carville saying, “Nancy we’re BEGGING.” Now James, I might respond to just because I like the ragin’ Cajun of Democratic Politics who coined the campaign phrase, “It’s the economy, stupid,” as an organizing principle of the successful 1991 Clinton presidential campaign. The man has straight-talkin’ political chops.

And, I do appreciate the more personal asks from the Al Franken Senate campaign. Al’s sense of humor does his fundraising justice with pitches like the one that starts, “Emergency, Emergency, Emergency: Apocalyptic fundraising email warning.” (I’m sparing you the all-caps.) It continues, “Sick and tired of emails that make it sound like without our $5 contribution, aliens from the planet Zyrktor will surely enslave all of humanity and force us to work in their underground salt mines?” Then he continues with a straight-forward pitch.

Well, yes, Al, I am tired of them. Spoof-on, my friend.

I’m also, amused by the idea that anyone would go to the trouble to search out the Visa card, fill in the on-line form and make a contribution for only $5. Anyone worth a job in the Zyrktor salt mines is going to give at least $25. Let’s not be disingenuous here. But it is sweet of y’all to not ask for the big amount right up front. We can see that. And Al, you’ll probably get my $25 this week.

I did appreciate Organizing for Action’s fundraising emails promoting a “national conversation” on contentious topics, and which provided links to positions on health care, women’s issues, immigration and more agenda items from the Democratic arm of the Democratic Party. The issue advocacy organization discloses donations of more than $250 and works on local, state and national issues. It gives us a little informational meat to chew on with additional links to progressive positions on stopping gun violence, climate change, jobs and the economy.

The fearful Dems, the hopeful Republicans and cynics of all stripes, say that the Democrats won’t come out to vote in the upcoming November midterm elections. Dems won’t show up and Dems won’t win. I think voters are most likely to show up on election day if they’re being reminded about why its important with appeals that are tied to topics of import, as the grassroots Organizing for Action folks do. The best overt fundraising message also covertly rallies the base to get up and go.

OFA folks are in the business of following up on President Obama’s 2009 charge to the nation, “Go out and make me do it.” He was quoting President Franklin Roosevelt who, the story goes, was meeting with labor leaders after his election in 1932. They wanted him to implement a plan, and FDR told them, “I agree with you, I want to do it, now make me do it.”

I believe President Obama truly has progressive aspirations for the country, but he can’t make them happen unless partisans encourage the public to have his back in a big way, and sometimes to give it a shove. Mass movements have used marches, prayer vigils, voter drives, public testimony of private struggles and significant media events to pressure presidents to carry out progressive agendas. The People’s Climate Change March recently in New York City gave a push. Groups like Planned Parenthood, MoveOn.org, the Union of Concerned Scientists and the League of Women Voters keep sounding the drumbeat for progressive change and the vital reasons for it.

We’re facing a midterm election that could determine the control of the U.S. Senate. Since the midterms often don’t favor the president’s party and Senate contests this year occur in states where the President averaged just 46 percent of the vote in 2012, the GOP has an advantage in the polls. Nate Silver, pollster wizard of recent elections, gives the Republicans a 64 percent of winning the six seats needed to take the Senate. Those states remain competitive, he says, and the landscape could shift in either direction. (To keep up with his ongoing predictions, watch the trends on his website at FiveThirtyEight.)

In every email, blog and phone call, fundraisers should be giving Dems at least one significant political issue to motivate them to rise up in big numbers to vote. Plenty of campaigning is left to do. In their donation requests, fundraisers representing the President, Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden need to step up their issue-oriented games. November 4, Election Day, is only 32 days away.