e.politics: online advocacy tools & tactics

RNC Already Using McCain/Lobbyist Story for Fundraising

February 22nd, 2008

Man, politics moves fast these days: the New York Times story linking John McCain to lobbyist Vicki Iseman broke Wednesday night (on the paper’s website, natch), and by 2:30 the next afternoon, I’d already received a fundraising email from the Republican Party asking for money based on it:

From the beginning of Campaign 2008, liberal media pundits have fawned over the Democrat presidential candidates while ignoring their lack of substance on the issues. You can be certain that as the campaign heats up they will continue to mislead voters with their anti-Republican agenda.

Joe, Republicans must fight back against the mainstream media’s clear liberal bias — and we need your help to do it.

According to every TV type I heard last night, one of the few things the Far Right seems to hate more than John McCain is the Times, so perhaps this (potential) scandal will provide an effective hook for coaxing some bucks out of the faithful. At the very least, it’s won over Rush Limbaugh for a couple of days. And note how quickly it blew the Obama/Patrick plagiarism affair off the air.

Update: Dammit, Salon’s War Room beat me to it.

Update II: And the DNC fires back!

Seeing more dollar signs, the McCain campaign and the RNC decided to jump at the chance to take advantage of the distraction they had created to raise money. They had spent the day firing their supporters up, trying desperately to change the subject, and then they literally cashed in on it. It was textbook sleaze.

So, let’s hit back.

Update III: Apparently, McCain’s raising beaucoup cash online this week.

– cpd

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