by Christi Parsons
The subject line of the email was inviting. “You, me, a TV, and a bowl of chips,” it offered.
Alas, the email was only a political come-on, this time from former president Bill Clinton. He was inviting the addressee – God knows how many of them, actually -- to apply to sit down in front of a big screen with him and watch his wife, Hillary Clinton, in an upcoming Democratic presidential debate. Not exactly the cozy evening the subject line conjured up.
But on-line political solicitors are adopting a rather familiar tone these days, using all kinds of email tricks to avoid going straight into the “delete” pile without ever being read.
One widely read political operative drops emails headed “hey” or “hi,” skipping the capitalization with the effect of suggesting a real-live personal note.
Democrat Barack Obama pulled the “Hey” trick this week, with his own personal handle in the “send” field. His campaign also cleverly put a “Re:” in front of another recent email, presumably to make recipients feel like they were already invested in the conversation.
Michelle Obama went one better on Saturday, firing off a message entitled “Re: Hey.”
Interestingly, Republicans don’t seem to be as casual in their correspondence. Emails from presidential candidate John McCain forthrightly include his name in the subject line.
And missives from former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani’s press secretary announce themselves as “Hizzoner’s Highlights” – and then deliver a report that manages to be friendly and still candid about its mass dissemination. (“Cheerio!” began a note about Giuliani’s recent trip to London.)
Carol Darr, a lecturer at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government who studies politics and the Internet, offers this chilling thought: “If they’re working with a good database,” she says, “they can micro-target pretty well.”
Yikes. What’s next? The note from Bill offering your favorite brand of chips?
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Comments
Do you think Bill's dat base has them segregated by blonde, brunette, and redhead. Of course a section for slightly chubby with knee pads.
Posted by: Terry | September 30, 2007 8:48 AM
"Democrat Barack Obama pulled the “Hey” trick this week, with his own personal handle in the “send” field. His campaign also cleverly put a “Re:” in front of another recent email, presumably to make recipients feel like they were already invested in the conversation."
Obama, scamming even his own supporters. Must be part of that "new politics" Obama preaches.
Posted by: Bruce | September 30, 2007 9:48 AM
Shouldn't it Bill and one of those Walmart bulk packs of bag's o' chips? After all, the boy enjoys his groceries.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 30, 2007 10:38 AM
“You, me, a TV, and a bowl of chips,”
A great way to really find out what went horribly wrong in this country since he left office.
Posted by: RomanB | September 30, 2007 10:51 AM
Do you think Bill's dat base has them segregated by blonde, brunette, and redhead. Of course a section for slightly chubby with knee pads.
Posted by: Terry | September 30, 2007 8:48 AM
There are countless numbers of posts like this day in day out. You have a candidate that has cheated on several wives and yet you claim some high ground. Are they upset because they didn't get any? Do they like guys instead? What is their fixation on that.
Posted by: bill r. | September 30, 2007 11:13 AM
8 years as Illinois state legislator. 2 years in the House of Representatives. Years later two failed attempts to get into the senate. 2 years later President of the U.S. Abraham Lincoln... Younger the Obama: Theodore Roosevelt, JFK. Same age: Bill Clinton. Now examine Barack's last twenty five years. Please dig deep and go get the facts. Beware the spin. Hillary has Murdoch, Time Warner... a lock on the main stream media. She has Glover Parks to do her spin. We cannot let our consent be manufactured.
Posted by: johnnyraygun | September 30, 2007 12:21 PM
Bill R,
When Rudy has a sit down with a bag of chips, I'll post accordingly. Happy?
Posted by: Terry | September 30, 2007 2:22 PM
Bill R,
When Rudy has a sit down with a bag of chips, I'll post accordingly. Happy?
Posted by: Terry | September 30, 2007 2:22 PM
I'm just curious Terry. You must know of many, many politicians "and" personal friends who have strayed, why is it this one you can't get over? Please don't use the "he was president" shtick, there have been many world leaders who were guilty also. I really don't believe it's because he invited you for chips.
Posted by: bill r. | September 30, 2007 2:39 PM
If the email came from the Republicans inviting you to sit down with Bush, the subject line would read "you, me, several lines of cocaine and a few bottles of Jack Daniels".
Posted by: BC | September 30, 2007 3:03 PM
BC, please provide some facts about cocaine and Jack Daniels would be served when one sits down with Bush. Come on, little boy, show us some facts.
Posted by: John D | September 30, 2007 4:42 PM
Billy,
I really don't care about other world leaders. Let's stick with 43 people that have been President of the US. The only two I know for a fact that have fooled around while in office were JFK & Clinton. I'm sure there were others if not most of the presidents that didn't have something on the side.
The other issue is that it was done inside the oval office and it was done with a suboridnate - someone on his staff - that is called sexual harassment. Even if conscenting, a superior should not take advantage of a subordinate in that manner.
Posted by: Terry | September 30, 2007 4:54 PM
someone on his staff - that is called sexual harassment.
Posted by: Terry | September 30, 2007 4:54 PM
Thats funny...I thought it was called two consenting adults. I guess you don't know about Jefferson? Cleveland? Harding? Roosevelt? Eisenhower? Now I can't say they used an office or not, but I can tell you some were slaves, some were prostitutes, but all were a subordinate of the president.
Posted by: bill r. | September 30, 2007 7:33 PM
"...me, several lines of cocaine and a few bottles of Jack Daniels."
Posted by: BC | September 30, 2007 3:03 PM
Count me in!
Posted by: Anonymous | September 30, 2007 7:40 PM
IT WOULD SEEM THAT SOME OF YOU OUT THERE ARE BEGINNING TO REALIZE THAT THE POLITICAL SYSTEM IS RIGGED FROM START TO FINISH AND THAT YOUR 'VOTE' MEANS NOTHING WHEN IT COMES TO SELECTING----NOT 'ELECTING'----THE NEXT PRESIDENT. SIT BACK AND RELAX AND SEE WHO THE NEW FIGUREHEAD WILL BE.
Posted by: Lee Larson | September 30, 2007 8:10 PM
Terry, the Left only believes in sexual harassment when it's convenient for them. When it's in the military, the corporate world or Republicans, then the consenting actions are sexual harassment.
Posted by: John D | September 30, 2007 8:51 PM
Bill R - like I mentioned "I'm sure there were others if not most of the presidents that didn't have something on the side."
In the presidents' day you mentioned, there was no such alws as sexual harassment, today there is. A boss should not have a relationship with a subordinate. A couple of years ago, the CEO of Boeing lost his job for having a consensual relationship with a subordinate. It's called ethics - something missing in politics.
Once the relationship turns south, the suboridinate has to do is scream sexual harassment and the damage is done.
Posted by: Terry | September 30, 2007 9:13 PM
This is pretty silly stuff, all of it. Ron Paul doesn't play these kind of games. Doesn't have to. Raised more than a million bucks in a week and has towered over all the other candidates at: http://www.whowouldtheworldelect.com
I have my own chips, thanks.
Posted by: zenpiper | September 30, 2007 10:48 PM
In the presidents' day you mentioned, there was no such alws as sexual harassment, today there is. A boss should not have a relationship with a subordinate. A couple of years ago, the CEO of Boeing lost his job for having a consensual relationship with a subordinate. It's called ethics - something missing in politics.
Once the relationship turns south, the suboridinate has to do is scream sexual harassment and the damage is done.
Posted by: Terry | September 30, 2007 9:13 PM
Scary Terry,
Quit your crying, you nutty Republics got your "impeachment" trail of Clinton...and you LOST...and Big Dog left office more popular than ever.
In 2000 you got your "Christian guy" (Prez 29%) elected and you and your guys have been starting wars all over the world ever since.
Heckuva job, TrickleDown boy.
Posted by: John E | September 30, 2007 10:49 PM
Me Bill Clinton and a bowl of chips. Throw in a couple of hot chicks and ya got a deal. I would love to hang with the sax man. We could bang the hotties and then talk about what a lame, corrupt piece of cr%p George Bush is. That conversation could go on for days.
Posted by: Anonymous | October 1, 2007 3:20 AM
[quote]
BC, please provide some facts about cocaine and Jack Daniels would be served when one sits down with Bush. Come on, little boy, show us some facts.
Posted by: John D | September 30, 2007 4:42 PM
[/quote]
I don't have to, little Johnnie "the Joseph Stalin of Streamwood" D. You see, I'm following the PRECEDENT that you've established here in the Swamp weeks ago: post whatever you want, and when challenged to back it up, REFUSE!
When you produce PROOF that you KNOW that Edwards pays as much for his suits as Bush does, then I'll back up my post in this thread.
Ball's in your court!
Posted by: BC | October 1, 2007 11:50 AM
READ MY PREVIOUS COMMENT FROM 30 SEPTEMBER AND LOOK AT WHAT YOU'VE WRITTEN: YOU REALLY DO ACT LIKE YOU THINK POLITICS ARE ON THE LEVEL. SHAME ON YOU. GO TO DISNEYLAND AND DON'T WASTE TIME ON THE BLOG.
Posted by: Lee Larson | October 2, 2007 8:05 PM
Math Whiz,
Lying under oath regarding sexual harassment is against the law.
Why aren't all your Soros-MoveOn-DailyKos dems starting the impeachment of President Buish and Vice-President Cheney?
Posted by: Terry | October 2, 2007 10:50 PM