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Obama Campaign Deploys New Cellular Weapon
Hugh Pickens writes "Michael Scherer writes that the Obama fundraising machine has deployed a new cellular campaign weapon designed 'to trigger the campaign finance equivalent of an impulse buy' during key political moments in the campaign. The tool links two familiar technologies, SMS and one-click purchasing, by sending out an SMS message to cell phones and smart phones of tens of thousands of previous campaign donors giving them a one-click option to give more money. 'Campaign officials hope to be able to return to donors in key moments of emotional excitement,' writes Scherer. One person familiar with the ask says that the response rate has been more than 20 times greater than any text message solicitation Obama has sent out before and and the reason is simple: Even with an iPhone, it remains an arduous hassle to enter all the information that is typically required to buy anything online with a credit card. The trick is that anyone who gives even a few dollars to the Obama campaign is asked if they want to keep their credit cards on file to participate in what the campaign calls 'Quick Donate.' Now donors just need to write '25,' or '10,' and that amount of dollars is immediately drawn from their credit cards. One of the Obama campaign's best fundraising days in 2008, for instance, came right after Sarah Palin's convention speech. Now partisans can 'vent their outrage or enthusiasm by simply typing one number into their phone.'"
One button donate sounds great, but what about One Button Bribe or Quick Graft? I tell you, corruption is the future!
Obama is not better or worse than anyone else who's served as president. Might as well spend your money on other things, since whoever the successor is will be no better or worse no matter what you do.
I wonder what would happen if you tried to donate $-50...
And is it still April 1 AM in Slashdot land? It ended 12 hours ago here...
I don't think many people are willing to trust politicians with their card information.
Poines? Omg..
I hate you.
the money factor needs to be removed from campaigns and restrict all politicans running for office only one hour of television time and a single youtube channel for all the politicians to share and upload videos via an impartial third party so the politicians dont start trolling eachother on it,
what obama is doing should be illegal, what they all are doing is immoral and should be illegal
Politics is Treachery, Religion is Brainwashing
This appears to be a genuine story, no fooling involved. Grandparent was at least on topic, despite being AC. If you're going to cuss out Slashdot for posting fake stories then at least wait for them to actually post a fake story.
Spimming/spamming me; robocalling me, even calling me unsolicited, are not ways to get me to vote for you, no matter the party.
http://swampland.time.com2012/03/30/the-obama-campaign-tries-out-a-new-cellular-weapon/
TFA is actually dated March 30, 2012.
On a side note... Why even bother with credit cards?
Even with an iPhone, it remains an arduous hassle to enter all the information that is typically required to buy anything online with a credit card.
Pre-paid or on a contract, one still pays to some company for the privilege of using one's phone.
So, why not simply send an SMS or call a number which would charge your number with either a prearranged sum or which would let you to type the sum in?
Sure, such practice may delay the money flow in case of all those phones which are on a contract - until the bill gets payed.
That is, unless the phone company is willing to take the risk of "non-collection" on itself.
But it seems a far safer practice than "entering all the information that is typically required to buy anything online with a credit card" or "keeping [their] credit cards on file".
Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens
So, if we assume, as pundits say, that big donors are not going to Obama because he wants to transfer all wealth to the lazy people, and the only people who support him are the young people who don't know any better, kids that are hoping for a socialist government so they do not have to work, how does Obama capitalize on that demographic? By using the one tool all these kids know. The phone. These kids, while they are in their drug induced stupor on payday, can click to donate a few bucks. They would never actually be able to write a check and address an envelope. But over a few months, they can donate $50 bucks.
Really, all kidding aside, this is the way a modern politician needs to collect funds. The maximum donation to a politician should be $50 a month. Anyone can do that. This idea of stealth funding of campaigns by a few large donors need to go. In the republican race, this has resulted in our choices being a polygamist in spirit, a polygamist in reality, a jihadist, and a one that wants to promote the idea that we should pay our troops to sit around the base playing video games and get high. Not a great list for a party that claims to be pro america.
"She's a scientist and a lesbian. She's not going to let it slide." Orphan Black
I think it's safe to say, many tens of thousands of Americans have died under a Democrat than any Republican. Refer to WWI, WWII, Korean and Vietnam wars. When your lesson is over, come back for a test.
This is certainly not an idea of Obama himself, this is very close to a business idea. And as we all know, he has no business experience and actively trying to destroy businesses. I frankly don't understand why people would want to donate every time some hyped up situation comes up. I guess this why democrats make stories up like republican "war on women". It never existed, but I'm sure they tricked a lot of donors that is was real to get some money from them.
Isn't it wonderful how safe, efficient, and effective the systems are that are constructed by the macroparasites and their familiars in government for scooping dollars out of your pocket? But electronic voting on issues nationwide -- nah, not possible.
E Proelio Veritas.
I'll be pressing the de-elect button hard this November.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver --Proverbs 25:11
So you are saying that the US is a different country under different political parties. I'm surprised that you dont get rid of the enemy within with a bit of genocide just like the Syrian government. How can you live surrounded by such traitorous scum? I suppose you havent found a big enough hole to bury two hundred million people in yet. I wonder how many tons of meat that is?
Facts are history now plebs have politics for religion on social media.
Mind you, this is assuming that voters don't actually hate themselves and their country
It's not self loathing, it shocking ignorance. Around 2004, there was a BBC documentary that followed the reelection campaign for George W Bush. Even the people they interviewed who were actively involved in the campaign often had no idea what his policies were, how he was perceived internationally, or what he had done while in office. The people they were talking to had even less idea. Yet all of them then went to vote for GWB. I suspect the same is true of Obama and I'm fairly certain it's true in most congressional elections. If the average voter can't tell you anything about the voting record of he person he's voting for, how can you expect a rational outcome to the election?
I am TheRaven on Soylent News
Waaaah waaah, boo hoo, your precious Slashdot is only running 364 days out of the year. Whiiiiiiiiiinneeee
"I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
designed 'to trigger the campaign finance equivalent of an impulse buy'
He also wants to get the voting equivalent of an impulse buy. Sadly, too many people vote like this as well.
What happens if I send -2000000? Will I receive 2 million in my account?
Reality check. Those "intelligent people" were in fact, not intelligent at all.
There are two primary types of people who vote Democrat.
1. Young clueless students who have no historical perspective and are full of dreamy idealism.
2. The 1% elite ruling class that are heavy into politics in order to secure their legacy / dynasty.
The others are blacks (not racist if it's the truth, don't deny) and dead people. Funny thing about zombies is they tend to vote more than once. Fancy that.
Life is not for the lazy.
than your beloved political party!
"The trick is that anyone who gives even a few dollars to the Obama campaign is asked if they want to keep their credit cards on file to participate in what the campaign calls 'Quick Donate.' Now donors just need to write '25,' or '10,' and that amount of dollars is immediately drawn from their credit cards. "
Neat idea! What could possibly go wrong with that?