There’s some weird thing going around the net right now about how if you have to advertise that you’re an alpha male, then you aren’t. I’m going to pick on a Republican instead. The same goes for quite a few other things, such as, if you have to say that you’ve always been known to call it as you see it, then you probably haven’t been.

Apparently I must have given Maryland gubernatorial candidate Michael Steele some money last year. I’m probably picking on him unfairly, but this letter goes overboard more than any other letter I can recall receiving this political season.

Dear Jerold,

You’ve always known me to call it as I see it, so I will get straight to the point.

…

As hard as it is to write this letter, you’re one of the few I can count on to help me raise the dollars I need to pay all of my Committee’s bills.

…

Because you’ve always been there when I’ve needed you, I’m hoping that I count on you to send your contribution today.

…

You’ve come through so many times in the past, and I hope I can count on you again now.

It’s possible that I donated once, at most; I generally liked his positions as I recall. But if so, it wouldn’t have been much and it was probably through that thing the Captain’s Quarters was running. I understand the desire to dress up letters nowadays and make them seem more personal. But this mailing is not an example of calling it as you see it. Unless your vision is awfully blurred.

Do donors really give more money because of un-straightforward mass mails like this? Do they ever take it so seriously that they show up at their old friend’s house on a dark night with a six-pack, a bag of dice, and a copy of D&D?