Newsletter, February 2012
The envelope in our mailbox said "DO NOT DESTROY--OFFICIAL DOCUMENT." That was impressive enough, but through the envelope window--in bold type--were the words "Census Document Registered to: John Komen." At a quick glance you would certainly believe the U.S. Census Bureau had officially reached into this household.
And now as good citizens we would, of course, fill out the enclosed forms and return them with all dispatch.
After opening the envelope one was further impressed by the line of large boldface type at the top of the first page: "2010 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CENSUS." That was a bit unusual. Never heard of a "congressional district census." Then truth quickly struck home in the line of small type just below.
It stated: "Commissioned by the Republican Party."
So there it was. There was no connection whatsoever to the official census to be conducted this year. This had nothing to do with the U.S. Census Bureau. This was nothing more than a Republican Party hit piece. It was aimed at President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats in general.
If I--certainly not a Republican--had received this mailer, then how many thousands more were sent to Mason County citizens and were in the mail to households in the 6th Congressional District? This was a targeted mailer, sent to voters in the 6th District. Presumably similar mailings were made in other Democrat-held congressional districts in the state and perhaps throughout the nation.
And how many recipients were initially misled by the "census" labeling? The word "census" was liberally sprinkled throughout the three-page letter and four-page questionnaire. How many of us felt a surge of public duty and opened it with good intentions to fulfill our civic responsibility?
No doubt a lot of us were fooled at first and wound up disgusted and angered by this blatant attempt to draw attention to a Republican Party hit piece.
The questionnaire boldly closes with the line "CENSUS CERTIFICATION AND REPLY."
The Republicans have no shame.
No shame at all. The mailer carries the facsimile signature of Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee and is "Paid for by the Republican National Committee."
We called the state Attorney General's office. Perhaps the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division wanted to be informed of this sham.
We called. They weren't interested.
After opening the envelope one was further impressed by the line of large boldface type at the top of the first page: "2010 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CENSUS." That was a bit unusual. Never heard of a "congressional district census." Then truth quickly struck home in the line of small type just below.
It stated: "Commissioned by the Republican Party."
So there it was. There was no connection whatsoever to the official census to be conducted this year. This had nothing to do with the U.S. Census Bureau. This was nothing more than a Republican Party hit piece. It was aimed at President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats in general.
If I--certainly not a Republican--had received this mailer, then how many thousands more were sent to Mason County citizens and were in the mail to households in the 6th Congressional District? This was a targeted mailer, sent to voters in the 6th District. Presumably similar mailings were made in other Democrat-held congressional districts in the state and perhaps throughout the nation.
And how many recipients were initially misled by the "census" labeling? The word "census" was liberally sprinkled throughout the three-page letter and four-page questionnaire. How many of us felt a surge of public duty and opened it with good intentions to fulfill our civic responsibility?
No doubt a lot of us were fooled at first and wound up disgusted and angered by this blatant attempt to draw attention to a Republican Party hit piece.
The questionnaire boldly closes with the line "CENSUS CERTIFICATION AND REPLY."
The Republicans have no shame.
No shame at all. The mailer carries the facsimile signature of Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee and is "Paid for by the Republican National Committee."
We called the state Attorney General's office. Perhaps the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division wanted to be informed of this sham.
We called. They weren't interested.
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