How to answer PACs emails asking for money

OK, I spent a couple of hours this evening answering to all these messages from PACs asking for money so they can "ensure that my voice will be heard". First of all, we shouldn't need anyone to ensure that our voices should be heard by politicians that should be working for us on the first place. So what did I tell them?

I told them that I'm going to donate the money they are asking but not to their wallets. I'm going to donate what they are asking to the Out of the darkness walk of North Texas. I'll even donate on their behalf and I gave them the link, so they can donate more if they want to hear my voice themselves. I don't need intermediaries to talk to the politicians. I write to them directly. Their computer is just as good as the PACs computers in answering me.

Here is a sample of my dialog with them:

---

Teresa --

It's been a while since I've written, but it's a good time to check in.

For the first time in a long time, our side gained some real momentum over the summer -- on everything from immigration reform to climate change.

This is why we organize in between elections.

We all have a personal stake in what happens over the next few years.

Teresa, what is the number one issue you care about?

http://my.barackobama.com/Just-One-Question

We have some big challenges ahead, and how you decide to be part of them will be as important as ever.

Barack is going to keep fighting for the things we believe in, and if he can count on you, too -- well, that's when we get things done.

Thank you,

Michelle

P.S. -- Don't forget to share more about what makes you tick.


Hello Michelle,

I'm flattered that your computer remembers my name and drops me a message on your behalf from time to time. I didn't train my computer to return your attentiveness in the same way.

But here it is. I'll do it myself. I'm participating on the Out of Darkness walk here in North Texas and here is your chance to reward my patience and hard work to support politicians that do very little to organize this country to be fair with the majority of its people.

We would appreciate donations to our walk, so AFSP can continue to fund the cause of suicide prevention, filling a gap that the government is very quick to create and very slow to fill.

Please, consider a donation to honor all our children and citizens lost to suicide and all the ones affected by it.

http://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donordrive.participant&participantID=472223


Teresa , mom of Flavio 05/12/1984-07/22/2009
http://flavio-riosabreu.gonetoosoon.org

---

Teresa --

It's not every day you get a note from the First Lady.

We're asking because we really want to know -- what's the issue that drives you to be part of this movement?

http://my.barackobama.com/Just-One-Question

Thanks,

Organizing for Action

----------Original Message----------
From: Michelle Obama
Subject: Teresa, it's me

Teresa --

It's been a while since I've written, but it's a good time to check in.

For the first time in a long time, our side gained some real momentum over the summer -- on everything from immigration reform to climate change.

This is why we organize in between elections.

We all have a personal stake in what happens over the next few years.

Teresa, what is the number one issue you care about?

http://my.barackobama.com/Just-One-Question

We have some big challenges ahead, and how you decide to be part of them will be as important as ever.

Barack is going to keep fighting for the things we believe in, and if he can count on you, too -- well, that's when we get things done.

Thank you,

Michelle

P.S. -- Don't forget to share more about what makes you tick.

Yes, it's not every time that I get a note from the first lady and guess what? I never sent her a personal note either.

But here it is. I'm participating on the Out of Darkness walk here in North Texas and here is your chance to reward my patience and hard work to support politicians that do very little to organize this country to be fair with the majority of its people.

We would appreciate donations to our walk, so AFSP can continue to fund the cause of suicide prevention, filling a gap that the government is very quick to create and very slow to fill.

Please, consider a donation to honor all our children and citizens lost to suicide and all the ones affected by it.

http://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donordrive.participant&participantID=472223


Teresa , mom of Flavio 05/12/1984-07/22/2009
http://flavio-riosabreu.gonetoosoon.org

---

Teresa --

We're about to close our books on this quarter -- so we've been making sure our records are up to date.

Here's what we have down for you, at this exact email address:

    -- OFA status: Active supporter (Thanks!)
    -- Donor: Pending
    -- Suggested donation: $5

If you chip in today, before the big fundraising deadline on September 30th, your name will appear on our brand-new OFA Donor Wall on BarackObama.com -- featuring the names of everyone who is stepping up at this critical time.

Thanks to you, our movement is as strong as ever.

We're making big plans for the next few months -- that's why you should get your perfect record of support started now.

Chip in $5 or more today:

https://donate.barackobama.com/September-2013-Deadline

Thanks,

Jon

Jon Carson
Executive Director
Organizing for Action

----------------
The other side will spend millions to maintain the status quo. We're fighting for change -- chip in $5 or more to support OFA today.
Jon,

Guess what? My son is already on a wall. And I truly hope that none of your children end up there, because this wall in Columbia,TN is to remember the loved ones who died by suicide. Take a good look at all the beautiful faces there and try to imagine all the sad faces of their loved ones left behind.

http://www.facesofsuicide.com

http://www.suicidememorialwall.com

My son's name is Flávio Augusto Rios-Abreu and he died on July 22nd, 2009.

If you have time, please, go to Columbia,TN to look at the Suicide Memorial Wall and spend sometime with Mrs. Beal. She will be glad to tell you her story and so many stories similar to mine.

Here is what I can do for you: I'm willing to donate not $5, but $20 on behalf of OFA to the Out of the Darkness Walk in North Texas, to remember the ones touched by suicide. AFSP will make a better use of this money in suicide prevention than all the politicians in Washington have done so far.

In case you want to contribute as well with this great cause, here is my donor page: http://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donordrive.participant&participantID=472223

Thanks,

Teresa , mom of Flavio 05/12/1984-07/22/2009
http://flavio-riosabreu.gonetoosoon.org

---

Teresa -

It's tempting to look only at where we are and get mired down in our day to day struggles. It's easy to lose sight of how far we've come.

We won a minimum wage, outlawed child labor, and established safety standards for work. We fought for Social Security and Medicare, lifting countless seniors out of poverty. We expanded public schools, established public universities, and held open the doors of higher education for the first time.

In Robert Reich's new documentary film exposing the roots of income inequality in America, the former Secretary of Labor makes a really powerful point: "Anyone of you who feels cynical, just consider where we have been."

To which I would add; consider where we can go again.

Please fuel our campaign to win with a contribution right now.

It's time for us to dream big dreams again.

Democracy for America members have been leaders in the fights to protect Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security from cuts. We're going on offense in calling for an expansion of Social Security benefits and backing it up with polling showing popular support in Republican districts across the country.

We're joining with low-wage workers nationwide, demanding McDonald's and other highly profitable fast food restaurants pay a livable wage. We'll be delivering over 55,000 signatures to McDonald's headquarters and local franchises over the next month backing up striking workers and increasing the pressure on them to do the right thing.

We will expose Republicans for voting to cut 40 billion dollars from the food stamps program. We'll make TV ads sharing personal stories of working moms, children, and veterans who rely on assistance so they don't have to choose between food and rent.

We're fighting for an economy that works for everyone, not just the very wealthy few.

Together, we have to take this fight on with the resources needed to win. Please contribute $25 right now to make it happen.

We'll fight to ensure that your voice, and the voices of Americans from every walk of life, are heard above large corporations and their DC lobbyists.

Thank you, Teresa, for working together to win.

-Howard

Governor Howard Dean, Founder
Democracy for America

Hello Governor Dean,

I have a son who was born only 2 days before Mark Zuckerberg and like the Facebook genius founder, he is a brilliant young man that can see way ahead of its time and is destined to great accomplishments.

But differently than Zuckerberg, my son won't have any chance in this life, because he died in July 22nd, 2009 to suicide.

Too many factors can lead a person to suicide, but no matter the reasons, the consequences of suicide to society is enormous.

It's sad that our political class and our elites don't pay attention to that and do very little to prevent suicide. I too want things to happen, but I realized that donating to organizations like yours is doing very little to promote the changes the I want to be promoted to prevent the tragedy that happen to me to be repeated in other families. We need to take suicide prevention more seriously and we need to care for the loved ones left behind.

Here is what I'm going to do for you. I'll donate the $25 that you are asking from me to the Out of the Darkness Walk of North Texas. I'll even donate it in your behalf. And here is a chance for you to donate even more:

http://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donordrive.participant&participantID=472223

Don't fight to ensure that my voice will be heard, instead, donate money for AFSP to continue its wonderful work of love.

Thank you,


Teresa , mom of Flavio 05/12/1984-07/22/2009
http://flavio-riosabreu.gonetoosoon.org

Por uma terra sem males.: O TEATRO DE NORMA

Por uma terra sem males.: O TEATRO DE NORMA

Studying complex problems: how to compare partial solutions and decide which one is the best.

I finally found an excuse to study the game of spider solitaire in depth:
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