Yesterday, I received the second glossy mailing from my Congressional representative, Thelma Drake. Like the previous one, this one is in full color and looks like any other candidate mailing I’ve seen, with a small exception: in the fine print, are the words:
This mailing was prepared, published and mailed at taxpayer expense.
Now, I have no problem with our elected officials sending out mail that lets constituents know about what is going on. That’s a part of their job and why we elected them. Where I have a problem is when it crosses the line from informational to advocacy of a candidate. I believe these two mailings have done that. And the Pilot, in today’s editorial, agrees.
The Pilot points out that this second mailing, on the topic of border security and immigration reform, dovetails quite nicely with her most recent TV ad, entitled “Border:”
It makes the same points as the mailer, but no one would ever confuse it for the kind of nonpartisan information the franking privilege was intended to disseminate at public expense.
If the timing was a coincidence, then it is one with the convenient benefit of working to Drake’s re-election advantage.
Yes, incumbency has its perks and no doubt this is pushing the envelope. I suspect Drake is not the first to have mailings that are really campaign literature. That is something that Congress needs to look at and tighten up.
But I have another problem with these mailings. Also in the fine print:
It is provided as a service to 2nd Congressional District constituents.
Was this piece mailed to all voters in the 2nd? As far as I can tell, the answer is, sadly, no. I’ve asked my neighbors and friends who live in the 2nd and every one of them who is a D didn’t get the mailings. This is in sharp contrast to the earlier pieces put out by Drake – those prior to the start of the reelection campaign. Since you cannot household mailing information when two people with the same address have different last names, two copies of her earlier mailings would show up in my mailbox. Now only one comes. It is obvious to me that a different database is being used for this series of mailings: my name is shown differently on these versus the earlier ones. So not only is this campaign mail, it is sent to a targeted audience. I think Drake has crossed the line.
On this basis, I am asking my representative to please refrain from using taxpayer dollars to send out campaign mail to potential supporters.
UPDATE: From the text of Thelma Drake’s press release regarding the issue of using taxpayer dollars for mail, I learned that each piece of mail sent out by Congress requires a review and approval by a bipartisan panel. That being the case, then it is the panel who needs to take a closer look at things. The issue of targeting the mail still stands, however.
My very first blog at VBDems was on this very subject. I’m glad the Pilot has noticed and spoken out against her arrogant use of taxpayer money to fund her re-election efforts.
Posted by Jerry Griffin | Thursday, July 20, 2006, 1:59 pmThe Pilot criticizes a Republican.
Wow…how newsworthy!
Posted by Insider | Thursday, July 20, 2006, 3:17 pmRather than criticizing the Pilot, how about commenting on her use of public money for what appears to be targeted campaign material? Is this acceptable to you?
Posted by vjp | Thursday, July 20, 2006, 4:00 pmI don’t focus on appearances.
Posted by Insider | Thursday, July 20, 2006, 4:24 pmBut if a D had been the focus of this, my guess is that you would be all over it.
I think it is more than an appearence in this case. I have the mailings in hand, which prove the targeting. As I said, pushing the envelope is one thing – and Congress should look into limiting this. But the targeting is quite another.
Posted by vjp | Thursday, July 20, 2006, 4:32 pmI notice you don’t say “if a D had done it” because they do – all over the country.
Targeting? Vivian, there isn’t a prayer in the world of you voting for Thelma Drake. That proves its a constituent mailing – if it was a campaign mailing, you wouldn’t exactly be targeted.
Posted by Insider | Thursday, July 20, 2006, 4:45 pmI have no doubts that Ds do it, too. What I don’t have in hand is the evidence. My rep happens to be an R.
Yes, targeting. Anyone with access to my voting record knows what’s there
Like many D’s, I voted for John McCain in the 2000 Republican primary.
And before it becomes an issue, let me say right now that Thelma and I are friends. We go back quite a ways.
Posted by vjp | Thursday, July 20, 2006, 4:47 pmSo, you endorse her?
Posted by Insider | Thursday, July 20, 2006, 4:55 pmStrange as it may sound, this Black Democrat has White Republican friends, Thelma among them. And we understand the realities of politics: just as she couldn’t cross the line and endorse me last year in my run for Treasurer, I can’t cross the line and endorse her.
Posted by vjp | Thursday, July 20, 2006, 5:02 pmWell, you don’t have to endorse her, but will you vote for her?
Posted by hrconservative | Thursday, July 20, 2006, 11:34 pmI know you don’t expect me to answer that
Posted by vjp | Thursday, July 20, 2006, 11:52 pmhaha, I had to try.
Posted by hrconservative | Friday, July 21, 2006, 12:02 am