Car Magnets

I signed up as an Obama supporter a while back.  I went onto the website to check it out and was extremely impressed.  This is the first time I need to rely on candidate information via the web.  Subsequently, this is the first time I’ve really been into checking out political websites and I suppose I was surprised at what I found, for what ever reason that might be.  Anyway, I had no problem giving out my information.  I am an Obama supporter.  I am excited by his passion and find him an intelligent and motivating breath of fresh air in this crazy world we live in.  But what I wasn’t counting on was getting spamed to death by his campaign!  I mean, I love occasional updates on what’s going on, the email announcing Joe Biden was great since I have been curious, but do I really have to get 2 and 3 emails a day?   (Not every day, but it happens often enough.)  It’s become a comical thing really.  Emails “from” Obama, the official website, David, Jon, his wife?

I understand that campaigning is cut throat and people need to be encouraged to help out be it with donations or getting out there and spreading the word.  I am actually happy that this isn’t coming to my home on sheets of paper that I would be immediately throwing into the recycling bin.  It is interesting to watch a campaign from afar and not get swept up into the emotional bullshit the whole affair offers.  I have more time to reflect and form my own opinions versus being bombarded by attack campaigns filled with accusations I simply don’t have the time to research and find out if they are true or not.  I have actually come to believe that both candidates are decent people, it’s the people they are surrounded by that are sneaky, calculating and vicious.

Regardless, my point is that it’s interesting to really think about what moves people to action, and how different organizations sell themselves to the people.  I think today is my all time favorite.  I was invited to buy, oh!  I’m sorry, make a donation and receive an Obama/ Binden car magnet.  First edition of course, just to add that extra special sauce on the side.  I have to wonder though, will later editions look different?  Are we that shallow that receiving a first edition car magnet is really that big a deal?   Am I really going to sit around the country club drinking mojitos saying, “Why no Buffy, I have the FIRST edition car magnet on my Mercedes.  What’s yours, third”?

The answer for me is, of course, no.  And as interested as Germans are about our presidential race it would be rather silly for me to sport one of those puppies around town.  Over here, what we really want to see is change.