How do I know? It says so right in the subject line of the e-mail that I just received from the Edwards campaign:
"Thursday night: Elizabeth Edwards wants to meet you"
Ah, if only they had mentioned ALL the details in the subject line. Because of course, what she really wants is to separate me from my hard-earned cash.
Is this a shock? A candidate for political office, appearing in exchange for campaign contributions? No...but the way in which the e-mail framed the meeting was a bit off-putting to me.
Here we go...
Elizabeth Edwards is going to be in New York on Thursday, September 20 attending a special event and she asked that I invite you to join her. Space is limited, so I hope you sign up to reserve your spot right away!
Here are the details:
* What: "Special Event" with Elizabeth Edwards
* Where: Retreat, 37 West 17th Street, New York, NY
* When: Thursday, September 20, 2007, 8:00pm - 10:00pm
Minimum Contribution: $100
You can RSVP online to reserve your spot at:
johnedwards.com/action/contribute/event/070920C
It's very expensive to reach out to voters in early primary states and across the nation. But the trouble with the usual fundraisers is that they are only open to those ready to write huge checks—and this campaign is built on reaching out to everyone.
This campaign is about working together to achieve truly transformational change for our country and our world. We're about creating a world where every man, woman and child in America has the quality affordable health care they need, where no child here (or anywhere) has to go to bed hungry, where the planet and its people do not have to face the ravages of global warming, and where our men and women in Iraq are swiftly brought home to a hero's welcome.
Is this all possible? Can we create that world? Yes. But not without you.
If you'd like to join us in this great effort, Elizabeth would like to meet you on Thursday, September 20, and talk to you about what's next. We really hope you'll be able to make it.
Here's the link again to RSVP and reserve your spot:
johnedwards.com/action/contribute/event/070920C
Thank you,
--David Bonior
Campaign Manager
John Edwards for President
My response to the campaign? Billing it as "a campaign for everyone" and then casually mentioning a $100 minimum to get in the door is just the slightest bit disingenuous. Yeah, it's a problem that those other candidates have massive fundraisers that are only open to those who are ready to write huge checks. But here's a shock, Mr. Edwards: for some people, a hundred dollars IS a huge check. And for a guy running a populist campaign, it seems a bit tone-deaf to deride big-money politics on the one hand, then charge people a hundred dollars to shake your wife's hand on the other.
Disclaimer: I'm a John Edwards supporter, and barring something extraordinary happening between now and February (come on, Mr. Gore, you KNOW you want to), he'll have my vote in the primary. But this solicitation did not leave me warm and fuzzy.
"This campaign is built on reaching out to everyone..." everyone with a hundred bucks or more, that is. The small-dollar window is over there, where you'll not meet the candidate OR his wife, but a very polite staffer will be pleased to accept your contribution. Sigh.