How Did I Land on This Mailing List - Throwing Spaghetti on The Wall?
The fundraising letter that arrived in my mailbox was unlike anything I have ever received.
Even though modern political outreach and fundraising have evolved with the advent of the internet, especially social media, there are tried-and-true ways to reach voters —and especially their wallets. Direct mail is a method that, although considered old-school, remains effective; why else would it continue to be used?
With this in mind, I received a direct mail appeal yesterday. During this time of year, especially for aging Baby Boomers, there are appeals for Holiday funding from groups like the Salvation Army and other charitable organizations.
Yesterday's fundraising letter, which arrived in my mailbox, was unlike anything I have ever received. It was from Erika Kirk, the widow of the recently murdered Charlie Kirk, the controversial founder of Turning Point USA.
The letter starts by saying, "I have heard from so many of Charlie's supporters...their thoughts, prayers, and, most of all, their love for Charlie and the impact he had on them."
The letter goes on to say that even though Mr. Kirk, who was silenced most hideously, his mission will proceed. Naturally, for his mission to proceed, they need cash.
To be clear, neither I nor any member of my extended family, spanning the globe, has ever supported the late Charlie Kirk or the messages he conveyed. In fact, when much of my extended family financially supports causes, they are the antithesis of Turning Point USA.
Why I received this letter is a mystery. Turning Point obviously purchased every mailing list it could get its hands on, even those that contained names of people who would never support its mission, much less donate money to it.
They are using a 'throw the spaghetti on the wall' approach, and let's see if it sticks. Time will tell if this approach works and they can fund their efforts without their founder, or if Turning Point USA fades into a historical footnote.
