I just got an email from John McCain, asking for a $25 campaign contribution. In another time, McCain was about as close as you could come in the Senate to a campaign finance reform zealot, railing against the politicians who collect campaign money and then carry out the will of their donors. In the email I just got, McCain seems to be suggesting, however, that he needs campaign money to keep fighting against the Democrats’ plans for health care reform over the next few weeks.
I am leading the fight against their takeover of health care along with my Republican colleagues in the Senate. Will you show your support for our efforts? A donation of $25 or more will enable me to continue fighting this month against the far left efforts to overhaul health care and I appreciate any amount you can give today. Thank you. [Emphasis mine.]
Really? He needs my $25 to keep doing his job this month? Doesn’t he get a Senate salary for that? And if he doesn’t get the $25, what happens? He is no longer enabled to fight? That said, it’s not fair to just tar McCain for this kind of pitch, as it is not entirely uncommon. But that doesn’t make it any less tacky.