November 2, 2012

AFL-CIO organization sends insultingly infantilizing "report card."

Look. They expect us to identify with these "cute" children:

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We're not children. We don't like to be spoken to as if we are children. And we don't like the use of children in politics. And the photographer did a particularly bad job at cute-ifying those children, whose expression has nothing to do with the way kids feel about 1. report cars and 2. whether adults are voting.

At least the organization refrained from naming and shaming the neighbors, which is what some other groups do.

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You can't tell from the return address what politics underlie this mailing, but it's easy enough to find it in Wikipedia:
Working America is an allied organization of the AFL-CIO which works to build alliances among non-union working people. Working America is a nonpartisan, non-profit organization which provides workers who are not union members input into the policies, goals, and legislative efforts of the AFL-CIO.
I'm sure they chose Meade as a recipient based on our zip code.

60 comments:

BarrySanders20 said...

It really is FOR TEH CHILDRENS!

Patrick said...

I bet Meade got the answers correct also.

chickelit said...

@Meade: If you wake up one day with a salt truck idling in the street be very very afraid.

I agree with Althouse about the kids. They look posed and smugly.

Nonapod said...

That's some shameful shaming.

Obama's biggest problem is the enthusiasm gap. It's no secret that all of these efforts under the noble aegis of getting out the vote are about shaming his base into voting.

Sorun said...

I don't see any Asian kids. Oh wait, a few of them are trying to stretch around their eyes to look more Asian. Close enough.

bagoh20 said...

Very suspicious, since we all know Meade is locked in the basement on election days.

Pastafarian said...

"But whether you vote is public record."

And we'd hate to see any harm come to you, because you don't vote.

It would be a real shame if your fuckin' AFSCME garbage man found out, and dumped all of your shit out all over the curb. Or if your local police (FOP members all) found out, and they decided to respond to a call to your residence just a little more slowly.

Ned said...

SHOCKED that dems/liberals are treating dems/liberals like dems/liberals...SHOCKED I TELL YOU!!!

Cosmic Conservative said...

Oh, I think they have the general emotional and intellectual age of their target audience nailed pretty accurately...

yashu said...

Then there's this charming email message from the Obama campaign (via Ace yesterday).

If you find guilt-tripping stalkers charming.

“Joel, thanks: Here’s your total 2012 record of support,” was the subject line of an email from Jim Messina. The subject had no numerical figure because I haven’t donated to the campaign, a fact that Messina emphasized just a few sentences later.

“If we can’t fully fund our operations at this stage, it could be the difference between winning and losing,” he wrote. “According to our records associated with this exact email address, you haven’t given to this campaign yet. Don’t let this election come and go without doing your part — donate $5 or more for the final push.”

Messina seemed to acknowledge that his tone was a little harsh, because the message contained a postscript apologizing to those scolded in error.

“If we got your donation history wrong, it may be because you gave offline, with a different email address, very recently, or somewhere other than Obama for America or the Obama Victory Fund — thank you again, and our apologies if the above does not match up with your records,” email said.

AF said...

These mailings are based on some trendy studies showing that reminding people that it's public knowledge whether they voted increases turnout.

To prove these jokers wrong, Meade should skip voting this year. If he votes, these mailings will have achieved their purpose.

Rabel said...

Voting is the best revenge

Didn't know Meade was such a vengeful person.

Matt Sablan said...

I would greatly dislike receiving such a letter. Imagine what someone who dislikes people can do with publicly available political information.

furious_a said...

Nice "123 Your Street, Anytown, USA", be a shame if something flammable happened to it.

dbp said...

If whether you vote or not is a public record then voter fraud (in the abscence of ID) should be easy.

Just find people who are on the voter rolls and have your side show up at their voting place to vote the way they would have (probably).

If you take groups of 12 in a van from polling place to polling place all day, you could produce 100-150 votes/van load.

Levi Starks said...

I'm curious as to what the report card looks like for the kids who've been skipping class.. that is have not voted, or only voted once.

Levi Starks said...

You can imaging how shocked I was to open the white pages, and see there right before my very eyes My name, address, and phone number, displayed as it were to the whole world.

furious_a said...

“If we got your donation history wrong, it may be because you gave offline, with a different email address...

...or you are a foreign national residing abroad using a different disposable debit card than you used last time.

rhhardin said...

Ohio report cards come from the power company.

Alex said...

None of this hysterical hand wringing changes the fact that every poll shows Obama is up +2.0 in Ohio.

Joe Schmoe said...

Union leadership hates secret ballots, and these are the types of tricks they use to make sure the rank-and-file votes the way they want them to.

rhhardin said...

My Ohio bicycle commute survey shows about ten to one for Romney, or twenty to one if you allow that one of the two Obama signs has been taken down with other Dem signs still displayed.

Toad Trend said...

It is heartwarming to learn our Orwellian betters are concerned.

Good going Meade, that report card and $2.50 will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks.

Levi Starks said...

"Union leadership hates secret ballots, and these are the types of tricks they use to make sure the rank-and-file votes the way they want them to."

Whoa...
you make it sound as though since they know IF I voted, they may also know WHO I voted for?

Elle said...

"If whether you vote or not is a public record then voter fraud (in the abscence of ID) should be easy."

That.

Marty Keller said...

The Working Alliance is "nonpartisan." As James Taranto would say, HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!

Marty Keller said...

The Working Alliance is "nonpartisan." As James Taranto would say, HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!

ricpic said...

The ginger on the far left saves it for me.

Mr. D said...

Big Trumka is watching you.

MommyLydia said...

do they even realize that people move around? I didn't live at our current address at the LAST election so records of this address have nothing to do with me.

mariner said...

Working America is an allied organization of the AFL-CIO which works to build alliances among non-union working people.

Like turning them away from NYC when they journey from Alabama to help out.

Yep, that'll help the image of union labor.

Anonymous said...

The 'get out the vote' crowd has been 'helping' the inmates in mental facilities here in NC fill out their absentee ballots.

Rabel said...

The mailers come originally from Moveon.

Linky

DADvocate said...

We're not children. We don't like spoken to as if we are children. And we don't like the use of children in politics.

Now, now. You just settle down, young lady. Go take your seat and listen to those of us who know better.

Known Unknown said...

The ginger on the far left saves it for me.

Thank God they didn't ignore the all-important Ginger vote.

edutcher said...

A proxy visit from Solly and da boys.

Or is it Herr Maior Hochstetter and the gang down at Gestapo HQ?

We know who you are and where you live.

Crunchy Frog said...

You can imaging how shocked I was to open the white pages, and see there right before my very eyes My name, address, and phone number, displayed as it were to the whole world.

You're somebody!

And you sound like a typical bastard. (Better watch out for cans.)

PatCA said...

Last year I saw an example of union shaming. When voting whether or not to strike, the grocery clerks union made a big show of "secret" balloting. But a box marked Yes on one table and a box marked No on the opposite table telegraphed to all your vote. The goon leadership was seated at the tables watching the vote as the members lined up and dropped their ballots in.

See, with creativity, you don't need card check!

Levi Starks said...

It sure made counting the votes a lot easier

purplepenquin said...

Simply urging people to vote, without saying or even implying who to vote for, is considered "political"?

kcom said...

"Better watch out for cans."

Or maybe they'll throw baseballs on your lawn.

kcom said...

Working for the AFL-CIO and pretending to be non-political is political.

Amartel said...

Forward?

Mary Beth said...

Simply urging people to vote, without saying or even implying who to vote for, is considered "political"?

If the postcards are only sent to areas with a large majority from one party or the other, yes.

Meade said...

Rabel said...
"The mailers come originally from Moveon.

Linky"

The report cards, Ruben continues, won't be as influential in the presidential race or major Senate races as they were in Delaware. But he's confident the report cards could still be decisive in nudging voters to get to the polls on Election Day in states like Ohio or Virginia where a razor-thin margin separates the candidates at the top of the ballot. "We're sitting on something here," Ruben says, "that, in a very close election, could make a difference."

Interesting. Nudge.

Methadras said...

Oh noes!!! the leftards are using children to make a cheap political point? Shocking.

Michael K said...

The card means "We know where you live."

Data mining will also be significant. For example, I've posted this image on facebook If they come looking for me, I'm prepared.

"God made all men but Samuel Colt made them equal."

Known Unknown said...

Ohio report cards come from the power company.

Two smiley faces! Did you get a sticker too?

Nothing like condescension from a utility company.

Synova said...

"Simply urging people to vote, without saying or even implying who to vote for, is considered "political"?"

I'm calling doing that as I type and lots of people think it's absolutely political. Some of them get angry if you refuse to say who you're "for" when all you've said is that they should vote. (And they can google the organization because you have to say who you are with.)

People get bent out of shape (a few of them) when you have no idea who they are or where they live or any way to contact them again (though they might not know that.)

Getting something with your name on it with personal information (no matter how "public") delivered to your house is a different level of intrusion.

reformed trucker said...

I thought that was just a lefty tactic, but the wife received one from Americans for Limited Government, which doesn't sound lefty. It showed if you and the neighbors two houses in each direction voted in '08 and '10.

campy said...

If you take groups of 12 in a van from polling place to polling place all day, you could produce 100-150 votes/van load.

Too much hassle. It's a lot easier to simply bring pre-stuffed ballot boxes to the counting area after the polls close. (The Gregoire/Franken Strategy.)

wyo sis said...

There's always the "malfunctioning" voting machine.
Someone's sure to be there to make sure it's "recalibrated" correctly.

mgarbowski said...

I received an identical mailer, except of course with my voting info and from a different organization - Citizens Action of NY - http://usaction.org/ny/. I found it stupid invasive and patronizing.

Anonymous said...

Where is the "namimg and shaming"? The only person being informed of his or her voting record is the voter himself. Where is the shame in that?

Known Unknown said...

Where is the "namimg and shaming"? The only person being informed of his or her voting record is the voter himself. Where is the shame in that?


Imagine Meade only have 2 blocks on his chart, while his 'neighbors' have 4 or 5.

They're better than you, Mr. Meade, because they VOTE. Here's your REPORT CARD you FAILURE.

Anonymous said...

It's perfectly appropriate. The voting process is or has become infantile. The process is dumbed down, lacking in real power to effect change at a root level, lacking in real alternatives. And, oh, the gnashing of teeth and rending of garments at your lack of patriotic attitude if you dare notice this.

It's exceedingly patronizing. Pat, pat, pat, good doggie.

Timeforchange said...

I received a mailing here in Wisconsin showing who on my street voted and when since 2008. I was suprised to see many of my neighbors don't vote. How can they not be interested in who is running our country and where our tax dollars go?

purplepenquin said...

If this mailer freaked out the Althouse-household, I reckon that a phone call like this one would absolutely terrify 'em:

It was a recorded message read by a presidential candidate trying to get her to vote.

"It was Mitt Romney saying, 'I know you have an absentee ballot and I know you haven't sent it in yet,' " Trulen said in an interview. "That just sent me over the line. Not only is it like Big Brother. It is Big Brother. It's down to where they know I have a ballot and I haven't sent it in! I thought when I requested the ballot that the only other entity that would know was the Mukwonago clerk."

Synova said...

That's definitely bad judgement on someone's part Penguin.

I hope you weren't one of those who said "public information!" before, either about voting or Chick-fil-A.

There is no end to "public information" that is personal, even if it isn't (technically) private. Those who use that information should be shamed. Just because everything is controlled by laws doesn't mean that we don't need to have a sense of good manners anymore.

Nora said...

Judging by my experience Romney campaign does not solicite until you actually give them your email and/or phone number. So paint me unconvinced by this "report".

The creepy stuff I got was from Obama campaign that sent me email within minutes I visited their site (I did not register and did not give them my email) with balance sheet of my donations for the current week and telling me how much I should donate. I blocked them, however, it did not work and I had to unsubscribe, which was not that straight forward on their site.

I visited Romney site on the same day, however I never got email for them until I actually gave them my email to them.

I posted the experience with Obama campaign on my Facebook page, and can give Ann a link to vouch for this. At the time their immediate responce to me only looking at their site (I was looking for Obama's economy plan; not there, but a lot of drivelon how Romney's plan will not work) freeked me out quite a bit.