Communications Unbecoming of a President
This is not a political blog post. I’m neither endorsing or not endorsing the idea that we should or should not re-elect President Obama.
This is a slam on the campaign communication team who spams my inbox for donations.
Here is the email I just received:
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From: Barack Obama
Subject Line: HeyAndy –
My upcoming birthday next week could be the last one I celebrate as President of the United States, but that’s not up to me — it’s up to you.
This July deadline is our most urgent yet, coming after two consecutive months of being significantly outraised by Romney and the Republicans.
And if you pitch in $3 or whatever you can before midnight tonight, you and a guest will be automatically entered to join me at my birthday get-together next month:
https://donate.barackobama.com/My-Birthday
Thanks. Hope I’ll see you soon.
- Barack
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Why does this bug me?
- Maybe because I imagine the most powerful person in the world might address me in a way other than saying, “Hey.”
- Maybe because the sentence, “My upcoming birthday next week could be the last one I celebrate as President of the United States, but that’s not up to me — it’s up to you” implies that the most powerful person in the world is dependent on a $3 donation from me.
- Maybe it’s because I get 3-5 emails a week from these guys and each day the sky is falling a little lower.
- Maybe it just doesn’t look right for the President of the United States to sign his name, “Barack.” Like if I saw him in person I would slap him a high five and call him “Barack.”
- Maybe I can’t imagine being a German citizen and receiving an email from Angela Merkel with the subject line, “Hey” and signed, “Angie.” I can’t even imagine getting an email from Steve Ballmer or Marissa Meyer with the subject line, “Hey.”
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