Do the Dem campaign emails and texts affect others as they do me?

[BadgerMom]

They really get me down.

Let me say I donate to the DSCC, the DCCC, the PCCC, Emily’s List, important governor races and my local candidates. I wrote 300 postcards to Wisconsin. I check to make sure Democratic family members have a plan to vote. I vote for Democrats and I vote every election. Could I do more? Probably. My husband and I are thinking we’ll get trained by Common Cause as poll watchers for 2024.

I explain all this not to be self-righteous. I’m aware many of you do a lot more than I. But to do what I can and to be dunned-quite literally-morning, noon and night is a lot. “We’ve contacted you numerous times…” “Are you still a Democrat?” “I’m crying as I write this…” “We’ve fallen short…” “Our polling shows us behind…”
Cats on crackers, is this demonstrably effective? It doesn’t do a damn thing for me.

Could they tell me what my money has done? What it’s been used for? How they hope to attract more voters, get registered voters to the polls, improve the polling numbers? Please. Try anything other than guilt or pity to motivate me. It’s pathetic. And, this close to the election, stressful as hell.

Please don’t scold me. Still a Dem. Still a voter. Still a willing donor and worker bee. I’m really just venting. And I’m interested in finding out if anyone else is getting the same messages and feeling the same way.

[FoxNewsSucks]

1. I stopped reading them a long time ago because of that

The hysterics, all caps, etc was too over-the-top. 20 times a day

It's a real turn-off

[BadgerMom]

6. I don't read them either.

Just seeing the topic as I send it to the trash is more than I want to deal with.

I have a friend who is a Dem, a voter, works the phones, the whole enchilada. And she’s very comfortable financially. Also an octogenarian. Where I give double digits, she gives triple. But she’s so upset. This week she told me, “I get emails the same day from the same candidate. I’ll give in the morning and two hours later their poll numbers are even lower!” She thinks she should just stop donating.

I wish the party savants would change course on this.

[moose65]

2. I hate them!

I am a reliable voter. Texts and emails reminding me and encouraging me to vote are a waste of time and slightly annoying.

The fundraising emails are irritating too. Always saying things like “Oh no!! We are doomed if you don’t chip in $5!” Or something like that. Are those supposed to be an effective fundraising technique? I’d rather hear what that candidate’s plans are, instead of the constant begging for money.

[FakeNoose]

3. I agree Badgermom, there's just way, way too many donation requests

I'm retired, living on a fixed income, and I give what I can manage. But I'll never be a big-bucks donor. There's no need to send me 15 or 20 emails a day. But that's what I'm getting on average.

Don't they have anything better to do than send little ol' me these incessant emails?

[BadgerMom]

7. I'm retired, too.

I wish they’d get the message.

[LeftInTX]

31. They have lists with millions of people on them. (Constant Contact)

They don't have the ability to match a particular donor with those who on their Constant Contact list and then remove them from their Constant Contact list. Emails are generated by campaigns and they go out to millions of people at once. Removing someone from the Constant Contact list means they are removed.

[MLAA]

4. I am so with you. I actively donate through actblue.

Those tactics do nothing but annoy the crap out of me. I no longer open the 40 emails I get a day. My only consolation is that perhaps they convince a few souls to donate.

I’m going to count them tomorrow. I think I got around 10 yesterday from Warnock’s campaign alone (who I supported through actblue).

[Jerryatric]

5. I don't even open them anymore, I just delete them.

I, too, am sick of them trying to insult my intelligence and attempts to make me feel guilty. If I had extra money, I'd donate more, but I don't. They're making me regret that I ever did donate with the constant messages.

[Earth-shine]

8. The best way to give ... anonymous donation.

One doesn't need the headaches associated with them saying thanks.

[LeftInTX]

32. Isn't that illegal?

[Danmel]

45. It is illegal

[underthematrix]

9. I just delete them.

I'm more concerned about losing our democracy.

[LeftInTX]

35. Really! People are complaining about getting emails from Democratic candidates!

Oh the humanity!

[PurgedVoter]

10. I am very, very careful to find out from the campaign I want to donate to, how to donate

There are a few bad apple organizations that pretend to help our side. So most of the the time, I watch the race and ignore the fundraisers. I have had a few fundraisers send requests for money with details that are false. That scares me since I have donated to some of them in the past.

It is also pretty clear that my email address has been swapped around. When a group I have never donated to threatens to cancel my membership, I am delighted. Sadly they never do cancel whatever membership I supposedly have.

Since I live on my retirement, I don't have huge funds to try and figure out how to get past rules and donate. So PACs are not anything I am interested in.

I am pretty slow to sign petitions, since they end up being a call for money and a collector of email addresses. A Republican will ignore any number of signatures even if Vlad doesn't take the time to tell them to.

That said, Warnock and the CBCPAK just talked me into a donation.

[brooklynite]

11. They don't affect me because I understand them for what they are.

Complain all you want (collectively) but if you want to emphasize continual small dollar donations (as opposed to support from deep pockets folks like me) you're going to get these messages continually. Why? Because they work. They're not personal, the candidate hasn't questioned your loyalty, its just a messaging form that delivers results. If you don't want them, unsubscribe or stop the texts.

[emulatorloo]

25. Appreciate your post.

[Bettie]

57. Sending the message over and over that all is lost

isn't the way to get donations, at least not from me.

[IcyPeas]

12. I'm also sick of all the physical junk mail in my mailbox every day . Straight into the garbage.

I sometimes email the candidates who send out these mailers on card stock. I had one last week that was 11x14 inches. I emailed their campaign and complained they were adding to land fills and this is awful for the environment.

I hate the emails a little less.

[dickthegrouch]

13. I'm with you.

Except I’ve started unsubscribing from their lists too.

It’s so insulting and bereft of the hope that Obama and his campaigns used.

To all campaign managers out there: Unless you want to lose, engage me with MUCH better material.

[progree]

14. Odd, I gave $2000 to our candidate for U.S. Senate from Iowa in 2020 and $1000 to Mandela Barnes

(U.S. Senate from Wi) about 4 weeks ago, and have not been bothered with texts (none) and email (a very few). I think its all been thru Act Blue.

I don't know what I'm doing right, I probably didn't give any phone number out, I don't remember. I do know I never would unless I absolutely have to put a phone number in order for the donation to be accepted. And then it would be my landline. I don't think I've ever put in a fake phone number because that just wouldn't be right (it might actually be some person's phone number and it just isn't right to put the burden on that person).

The few emails I've gotten in the last few years I squash them right away with an unsubscribe. I don't know why in the world anyone would want to remain subscribed to ANY of those. I've always found my unsubscribe requests to individual candidates immediately honored.

But I get a lot of snail mail appeals from Senate and governor candidates, which is fine except for the environment.

I have had problems with being spammed to death in various forms (I forget now) with Democratic party organizations like the DSCC (Senate) and DCCC (House), about a decade or more ago, so I have not donated to those since. Likewise the Minnesota's Democratic Party (DFL) was a pain and got on my never-give list. I only donate to individual candidates and haven't had any real problems.

================================================

For all Omaha Steve's donation links (you can find that pinned to the top of General Discussion) : https://upload.democraticunderground.com/100217073340

================================================

There is quite a thread on this subject (including the sanctimonious scolding) from 2 weeks ago at
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217204517

[LymphocyteLover]

15. yes, they get VERY tiresome... DELETE, DELETE, DELETE, DELETE... but if it's a triple match

for a candidate or major Dem group I will give some despite all the recurring donations I already have going

[GP6971]

16. Amen to that.

I'm too am tired of the constant emails and texts..."I'm done", "I asked you on Tuesday, I asked you on Wednesday, I asked you 2 times on Thursday and 2 times on Friday". That was for September although we donated on the 18th, 25th and 30th. They really need to check their records before they send these emails/texts. But I realize it's mass mailings so they don't check.

I understand the importance of the fundraising amid grass roots voters. I get it. But I feel that people on fixed income with limited discretionary spending can only do so much.

Bottom line is I now trash the emails/texts and will continue to contribute as we have, but always at the end of the month and quarter.

I just really wish they would acknowledge our contributions in some way.

[Indykatie]

17. I Get 20 or So Emails a Day Begging For Money

I get irked at the ones that continue to beg even after I have donated. I think many of these emails are automated and programmed to be sent every one or 2 days. The worst campaigns in terms of overwhelming my mail box is Fetterman, Warnock and Kelly. I gave to Warnock and Fetterman. All 3 are drowning in money so I've focused mostly on Dems who don't have the big contribution bases that they do.

[Demsrule86]

18. I don't feel that way at all. You want to win, you need money.

[emulatorloo]

22. +1. I find it really disturbing to see threads like this right before this important election.

[LeftInTX]

26. I know!

They're probably all the same people who say Facebook is evil.

[Treefrog]

37. It's an odd thread.

Unsubscribing is easy.

[BadgerMom]

41. I've unsubscribed.

I’ll then get emails from other Dem entities. I’ve sent “STOP.” Other phone numbers then send them. I use ActBlue exclusively.

I’m not trying to dampen enthusiasm. I assume all of us here are committed, no matter what. And, yes, I understand donations are needed. I give through ActBlue. I still find the desperate attempts at inducing guilt to be heavy-handed. Too much so.

And this is the time it gets to be too much. It’s not hearing from our candidates that is tiresome. That’s misjudging this. It’s the dunning. Saying as much to a group of diehards like us shouldn’t be a bridge too far. I think the messaging could be less intense.

[LeftInTX]

50. Election is 3 weeks away. Democracy is at risk, but "My Emails!"

I really gotta wonder if someone is a Democrat???
It's really easy to come into a group and complain and then turn everyone off to Democrats complaining about fundraising.

Here is my inbox. I'm not complaining.



I work with campaigns.....Do you want us to lose???

[dickthegrouch]

54. Of course not, but I don't want to be insulted, bullied, shamed or frightened into donating.

I want the dems to take the high ground.
Have some integrity.
Treat the donors with respect.
I have donated thousands too. The "Are you still a dem"? or worse "have you become republican?" is SOOOOOO demeaning to both of us.
If you really work with the campaigns have them change their messaging to the donors.

[GP6971]

27. I agree, but

for those of us on fixed incomes it's hard to respond to every request. We just have so much we can donate. We've contributed more this year than any other year.

[LeftInTX]

34. I have hundred of those emails in my inbox. You are under no obligation to read them or donate.

I've been getting 3 emails a day from Maggie Hassan since June. I haven't given her a penny. Don't take the content too seriously. If you want to donate, donate. If you don't, don't. Every email goes out to millions of people. Think of it as no more personal than an ad you see on TV.

I never read them...LOL....But they certainly don't bother me or make me feel guilty or anything

[BlueIdaho]

19. Every day I get more donation request emails

And every day I un-subscribe from all of them. I give what I can when I can and I don’t appreciate the incessant pleading of more, more, more money.

[Thunderbeast]

20. Next election I will use a burner email account

and my land line phone number that DOES NOT receive texts for all political donations.

I am now getting at least a dozen "begs" per day...All from out of state. I will purge my accounts and set up filters on November 9th.

[In It to Win It]

21. I send them to spam

[Demsrule86]

55. So you send Demcrats spam because they need money for campaigns? Really and you are

proud of that?

[yardwork]

23. I can't stand them and I doubt they work.

Thanks for this OP.

[emulatorloo]

24. No. This is a must win election. Give what you can and just unsubscribe/delete the rest.

I can’t donate much either. So I give what I can and then tune out the rest.

As brooklynite said, you can unsubscribe or stop the texts.

[NewHendoLib]

28. Unsubscribed from them all and delete.

[Maraya1969]

29. They're driving me nuts. My number has been shared all over the place and it pisses me off.

Texts are a pain because it gets full and I have to go deleting the texts I don't want.

I've donated also but I tend to not give to these frantic texts.

[Sogo]

30. I couldn't have said it better!

Exactly how I feel….

[chillfactor]

33. I am a Democrat through and through

but I live on social security and often go without my meds because I can't afford them.
I get 20-30 donation requests every day. They end up in the trash. I can barely take care of myself let alone have money to donate.

[RussBLib]

36. Lots probably worse on the GOP side

Bunch of whiners.

But yeah, far too many and they will try and guilt you. Funny how if you don't give, then they meet their goal anyway, and then say "thank you!" even if you didn't give. Formulaic.

[LeftInTX]

38. Yep!

I do lists with about 100 people on them...What can I say? Everyone gets the same email. Of course, I don't have constant contact or a huge database and people can respond to my emails. It's alot of work for campaigns to remove a name from a particular email.

[progree]

42. It's all automated. It takes no human effort at all. I am CONSTANTLY unsubscribing from

Last edited Sun Oct 16, 2022, 01:33 AM - Edit history (1)

email lists (investment newsletters mostly that I get put on without my knowledge or permission) , and it's no big deal to them or me when I click unsubscribe. It would be very unprofitable for them if they actually had to have a human remove each name. Doesn't happen.

I occasionally get put on a political candidate list too, and I click unsubscribe, and its done.

Every one that I've ever seen in a long long time has an "Unsubscribe" link or a" Manage Subscriptions" link at the bottom.

It's alot of work for campaigns to remove a name from a particular email.

B.S. There is no way there is some harried campaign volunteer tediously removing a name. Doesn't happen. Its automated for any campaign except maybe dog catcher. (Assuming one clicks on an unsubscribe link. If someone wrote an email asking to be taken off the list, then yes, human intervention might be needed, although I am certain AI code can and do handle simple requests like that).

[GoodRaisin]

39. All mine go straight to Trash.

[ThoughtCriminal]

40. I'm just glad I don't get the GOP spam

I can just imagine how hysterical they have become as the wave they expected has evaporated.

And well yes, I'm not happy with the deluge of texts and emails from Democratic Candidates. I no longer read them, and I suspect that they have become redundant and even counter-productive.

[LeftInTX]

48. I get their spam too. I keep it around for entertainment...

I don't know how i got on their list.

I never heard from Trump until August 8th! Then bam!!!
He really fundraised off of the search warrant. He must have purchased new lists on August 8th.

[vanlassie]

43. I'm not happy with Martin Sheen right now.

I’ve had three requests in two days from him! I said STOP when I got the first one!

[BadgerMom]

47. Just "stopped" 4 from him.

All came from different area codes. I had no idea we had such a strong friendship! 😁

[usonian]

44. They're bots, not people. All they understand is "unsubscribe".

If the content is objectionable (guilt and pity) then perhaps there's a campaign manager you can contact via snail mail.

They'll probably ignore emails. So, try an envelope marked "Emergency Computer Virus Warning" to get their attention.

or whatever.

I read stories every day about people trying to talk to bots at FB, Google, github, twitter ... forget it. You'll get nowhere without their hotline numbers and email addresses.

[vanlassie]

52. Ummm. Yes, we know. They are programmed by people however.

Multiple emails from the same requester using different phone numbers to avoid deletes is not acceptable.

[DET]

46. We Can (and Should) Do Better Than This

I just can’t believe that these innumerable, insufferable emails work. I have to wonder if your fund raising activities are so obnoxious that you’re pissing off your most faithful contributors, how do you expect to attract independent voters? We’re better than this.

[BadgerMom]

49. Agreed and I think that's important.

Since I’ve now found I’m not the only Dem so affected, I hope somehow we can get the message to the right folks.

Obviously, the internet takes fundraising and campaigning to far different places than existed when I was a kid. My parents were Democrats. We were middle class. Mom sometimes volunteered on campaigns. I manned a booth at a couple of local fairs as I got older. But I know my folks didn’t donate money. It wasn’t something we could do. Things have changed. And, as we all recognize, the stakes are so high. I really feel campaign finance reform is something we should tackle if majorities hold.

[LeftInTX]

51. I betcha Republican voters aren't complaining about emails from the GOP...just say'n

[Bettie]

56. I get about fifty a day (conservative estimate)

and they all talk about how we are going to lose, it's terrible, the worst possible situation...and that's just in the title.

I delete them and donate when I'm able, but not through one of these emails because they send a terrible message.