It’s been a while since I’ve complained about Ed Markey’s absurdly aggressive, scare-mongering fundraising emails. So, here’s the latest installment, from my inbox this morning.
From: Ed Markey <info@edmarkey.com>
Subject: I need your help ASAP
No, no you really don’t.
Date: October 31, 2014 9:04:48 AM EDT
To: DavidDear Friend,
If the pollsters and the pundits are to be believed, we need to win just about every close race on Tuesday.
That’s true. But yours isn’t one of them.
Right now, Democrats are running short — on time and room for error. And if we come up short on our $16O,OOO goal for October, we could be in trouble.
No, you couldn’t. As of October 15, you had well over $2 million in the bank, while your opponent barely cleared $20,000. And stop using “O” instead of “0.”
If we miss our fundraising goals, we can’t run the kind of GOTV operations that will lead us to victory.
Yes, yes you can. As noted above, you’re sitting on $2 million that you are barely going to need to tap into.
Help us keep our organizers in the field and getting out the vote — chip in $5 before midnight.
No. Other people need my hard-earned money much more than you do, Ed.
Polling guru Nate Silver says that this year’s elections aren’t like 2012 or 2010. The Republicans have an advantage, but as Silver puts it, “they haven’t been able to put Democrats away.”
We’re still in this. Democrats can win this year, but only if we make the most of every remaining moment of this campaign.
What are you talking about, Ed? You will win this year, regardless of what happens in other states. Nobody in America thinks that Brian what’s-his-name is going to win this election, including Brian, I’d wager.
Other Democrats, however, may or may not win. They’d probably find it easier to win if occupants of safe seats, like yourself, were helping them fundraise instead of padding their own campaign accounts.
Please contribute $5, $10, or more toward our $16O,OOO goal — we only have 15 hours left.
No. You don’t need that much money this month. In fact, you don’t need any more money, because you have two million bucks in the bank. And please, for the love of God, stop using “O” instead of “0.”
whoaitsjoe says
.
jconway says
Friends have confirmed that Al Franken and Dick Durbin have sent similar emails, in spite of weak opposition (though significantly stronger than Brian Herr-Dick is running ads for instance). And it seems they rely on the Nate Silver quote and scare tactics as well. I wonder if its part of a form and if the DSCC mandates that certain Senators hit certain fundraising targets even if other Senators are far more vulnerable.
I can’t confirm of course, Ed posts here semi-regularly, perhaps the Senator can explain himself.
bluewatch says
There is another explanation for the similarities in fundraising emails among Markey, Durbin, and Franken. These email solicitations are not actually written by the campaigns. Instead, they are created by professional email fundraising consulting firms. It is likely that all three candidates are using the same firm to run their email solicitations, which is why the emails are so similar.
jconway says
Why is Ed so desperate for cash when he is probably going to cost to a 60-40 victory at worse? Especially when he should be spreading the wealth to vulnerable incumbents and credible challengers, he would rather serve in the Majority no?
Patrick says
eom
publius says
That hasn’t been the case for quite a while. He can use it for his political operation after he wins his current titanic struggle.
bluewatch says
Three days to go before an election, and we wasting our time criticizing a democrat?
Geesh! Let’s aim our anger at Charlie Baker, at Richard Tisei, Scott Brown, etc. There’s plenty of time to talk about Markey after the election.
And, better yet, let’s get more votes for Martha.
jconway says
Who knows how many gullible supporters donated to his overflowing and untapped coffers while Udall, Grimes, Nunn, Braley, Orman , Begich, Hagan and others desperately needed the cash. Not to mention Martha Coakley, Seth Moulton, or Jeanne Shaheen closer to home. I strongly hope one of those above candidates gets a big check from him Monday-otherwise it strongly looks like he is exploiting the national progressive panic and sour outlook for his own purposes.
bluewatch says
Ed Markey gave $100,000 of his campaign funds to the Mass Demcratic Party coordinated campaign, which includes Seth Moulton and helps Martha Coakley.
Christopher says
“Today I am helping my friend and colleague Kay Hagan who is facing a strong challenge for re-election in North Carolina. If we are going to hold on to the majority in the Senate hers is an absolute must-win for Democrats. (Add scary language about the Kochs buying the election here.) Please chip in whatever you can for this critical race and thank you as always for your support and friendship.”
Or for a challenger…
“Today I am helping Alison Lundergren Grimes, a great Democrat who can help us solidify our majority in the Senate by being elected in Kentucky. She has mounted a strong challenge to incumbent Senator Mitch McConnell and with your help we can push her over the top. (Add scary language about the Kochs buying the election here.) Please chip in whatever you can for this critical race and thank you as always for your support and friendship.”
bean says
Even though I agree with it’s point.
JimC says
Part of me says, yeah, David made his point, it’s the final weekend.
But on this:
Right. But he’ll hear it more today.
I know you disagree with me, and that’s fine, but just one more time, fundraising is an issue. The amount they do, and the way they do it. It’s alienating.
Ever seen a really aggressive movie campaign? The kind where the ad changes after a few weeks, and then they start to say stuff like “Featuring music by … “Makes you wonder about the movie, doesn’t it? Like they don’t think the movie will stand on its own?
I’d really like to see some fundraising focus groups, or something like that. The “experts” are doing their candidate clients a disservice.
Pablo says
We have the biggest story of the election cycle ( }}}}< ) that is getting overwhelmed by the coverage of the death of Thomas M. Menino. This is understandable, and the legacy of Mayor Menino deserves to be front and center.
That doesn't mean we should bury the phony phraudulent phish story under this rant about Markey's fundraising. Bleh.
Pablo says
Thanks for bumping up the fish!
Trickle up says
Have we ever figured that out?
pogo says
…to the Democratic Senate Committee? Yes we are endanger of losing the Senate and I hope Ed Markey is forking over EVERYTHING he raises from this silly email solicitations to the Democratic Senate efforts in Iowa, Georgia, North Carolina and other close races.
methuenprogressive says
You were advised to unsubscribe from Markey’s email. It’s clear the reason you didn’t was just so you could continue to complain about him.
ryepower12 says
Covering candidates is one of the things he does, like any other journalist.
Scrutinizing people on his own ideological divide is an important thing he does.
fenway49 says
Thanks to his fundraising emails, Ed won a full six-year term tonight and staved off a Tea Party Takeover (TM) here in Massachusetts. So there.