Republican Mailer Begs the Question

As a registered independent, I am skipped by a lot of political bunk. However, I recently received two letters and a poll, addressed to me personally, from the desk of House Speaker Newt Gingrich and from Haley Barbour, chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Newt, addressing me collegially as a fellow Republican, wanted to personally let me know how important my active support of the Republican National Committee is.

Haley, addressing me familiarly as friend, wanted my opinion and urged my effort to fill out and return the enclosed registered “National Survey Document.” He thoughtfully passed along my specially prepared registration number. He promised that the Republican Party won’t let me down if I trust and support it.

The National Survey Document was titled “Mandate for Leadership” and consisted of nine questions, the last being multi-part and requesting my most generous contribution.

The remaining questions concerned budgetary or financial issues that any conservative knows how to answer correctly. Question 5 provides an example: “To create new jobs and protect current ones, should Congress focus primarily on policies to make the private sector economy grow, or should they try to create and fund new government jobs programs through higher taxes?”

Everyone who wants higher taxes, please raise your hand so we can tape on the “Kick Me” sign.

My gripe is not with the mailer’s preaching to the choir followed by passing the collection basket. It’s with the delusion it supports in the mind of rank-and-file party members and candidates that real communication has taken place.

The poll questions are biased to produce results favorable to current Republican National Committee positions. These results will be used as anti-personnel grenades lobbed at opposing candidates and as hunting trophies for display to the media.

I’m sure the Democrats will return fire.

And nobody will have learned a thing from the exchange.

A better return on my contribution of $15 (pays to contact 33 more voters) would be to pay a pollster to create a survey designed to bring in real information, not to confirm already held positions.

How ‘bout it Newt? Whatcha think, Haley?