Conffederate
Confederate

June 16, 2009

Fundraising for the Permanent Campaign

Kim Priestap of Wizbang is no doubt one of millions that got the following email from "President Barack Obama" this morning, begging for money to campaign for his destructive health care reform.

The email is replicated below, with the "To:" line filtered out.

The "donate" links in the page are to the following page on democrats.org, the web site of the Democratic National Committee:

http://www.democrats.org/page/m2/4052b1ac/5fe40d6/5a3a28bc/74b97e3f/1316167425/VEsH/

That link redirects to the following page on barackobama.com, another project of the Democratic National Committee:

https://donate.barackobama.com/page/contribute/dnc08ObamaHealthCare?returnlink=false&source=20090616_BO_HC_DNC_ND

So the email purports to come from the President, and redirects to a web site that bears his name and campaign imagery in order to collect money on a (presumably) secure server... so how can they put the following disclaimer on their fundraising?

This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Is this legal and ethical?

Posted by Confederate Yankee at June 16, 2009 01:17 PM
Comments

One more example of a runaway train on a steep downhill drag...nearly out of control. And, the president said it himself; universal health care (with or without bipartisan debate/input) MUST be passed by the congress THIS year. Otherwise, the country just might wake up. Every socialist program is being lined up and rammed through congress at breakneck speed...and for the very same reason. With 90% of the MSM in the tank (and they have been since day one), the Union of Socialist States is rapidly replacing these United States.

Posted by: Dell at June 16, 2009 01:58 PM

"Is this legal and ethical?"

This is a Democrat President so it doesn't matter. You should understand that by now.

Posted by: Rick at June 16, 2009 02:12 PM

>Is this legal and ethical?

Using the Office of the President of the United States for political party financial gain is problematic at a minimum.

Consider if the CEO of General Electric sent out an email to all warning of the pending energy crisis that, according GE's estimate, will plummet the nation into darkness. Nuclear power plants might explode, coal plants will crumble and nobody will have electricity.

But by clicking here, you can donate critically needed money to solve the problem (link connects you to the RNC website).

Ethical? Certainly not. In most corporations, the code of conduct provisions would probably result in Obama's dismissal. Of course, Obama personifies Agamben's State of Exception - he is a man above law. He defines law in his thought and speech. So like any other dictator, there's nothing you all are going to do about it.

Get used to it. Malpractice suits are going to go away shortly, to the glee of giddy doctors. Of course, that's because you won't be permitted to sue the government. Oh and by the way, do you know how many Democratic activists are excited at finally putting an end to fat-cat doctor salaries? $100K or more a year is considered excessively rich. I've heard from several high school teachers that a doctor should make no more than a public school teacher. Say hello to $40K to $60K max.

Posted by: HatlessHessian at June 16, 2009 03:59 PM

And a postscript to you attorneys out there. Don't think for a moment your DNC activism will keep you safe. Look at all those before you that have been backstabbed by Obama.

Honestly, I don't know that a single non-attorney American will shed a tear at seeing attorneys converted into public defenders. "Everyone has a right to the law" will be the justification. You'll work at an office much akin to the DMV, answering to long lines of applicants for service. The majority of your job will consist of explaining the new legal process of governmental appeal. When your Government Motors car only lasts 3 months before its transmission seizes, your government warranty will require you to visit the Office of Legal Services and fill out paperwork submitting a request for assistance. Many months later, you will receive your unappealable determination from a panel chartered with liability evaluation. Those panels will also keep numerous banks of former attorneys employed at competitive legal union wages of $15 to $22/hour.

Don't think for a moment that I'm joking. Attorneys and doctors as a collective are despised. You've made too much money while so many others have been left behind, in their eyes. Time to pay.

Posted by: HatlessHessian at June 16, 2009 04:04 PM

In the system administration business we call that "spam", and "spam" is always unethical and dishonest.

For example it says in part "Paid for ... by the Democratic...".

That is simply dishonest nonsense--it is paid for by the recipients.

I am going to forward this to a couple of fora for people dealing with spam and the blocking thereof. One is a mailing list (spam-l) and the other is a news group (news.admin.net-abuse.email).

Posted by: Larry Sheldon at June 16, 2009 04:58 PM

Although I have never ever donated a penny to their 'cause' nor ever clicked on their website, I received an e-mail letter the other day in the same line "signed" by Joe Biden. They are doing some real nefarious Internet mining.

Here is the beginning of their text:

" Henry --

President Obama and Congressional leaders have made it clear: Health care reform will happen this year or it won't happen at all. If we want to finally ensure quality care for every American, this is our chance.

It won't be easy. Our opponents -- including the same folks behind the notorious swift boat ads of 2004 -- are already flooding the airwaves with distortions. Just like on the campaign, we can only win if we get out the facts, bring real people's voices into Washington, and never let up.

We won the election because millions of ordinary people chipped in, and that's exactly what it will take to win this campaign for health care reform..."

and it continues further down with:

"...We can make this all happen, but we need to know how big we can go. How many cities will have volunteers ready to spread the word? How many stories can we collect to put a human face on the health care crisis? How many people will know when to weigh in, and how to be heard? The answer depends on the resources we start with. And that depends on you..."

Posted by: Henry Ratz at June 16, 2009 05:07 PM

Upon closer examination, I think that is probably just an ordinary scam where the spammer wants you to think it is connected with the DNC, put probably is more interested in collecting your credit card info.

Posted by: Larry Sheldon at June 16, 2009 05:26 PM

The Hatch Act doesn't apply to the President, but was the the staffer who actually wrote the email a government employee, and were they either on-duty or "in any room or building occupied in the discharge of official duties by an individual employed or holding office in the Government of the United States," 5 U.S.C. § 7324(a), at the time/

Posted by: Simon at June 16, 2009 06:07 PM

How about posting that with full headers? Before jumping to conclusions, consider that it could likely be a forgery.

Posted by: Nobody Atoll at June 16, 2009 07:06 PM

"This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee."

He's not a candidate - He won. Don't you know that means He can do as He wishes? You guys are sooo 2008 when the Constitution still mattered.

Posted by: Tim at June 16, 2009 11:17 PM

--- "Is this legal and ethical?" ---

Should I laugh and cry?

Posted by: scituate_tgr at June 19, 2009 04:51 PM