Hijacking Resources

Via the Whiskey Bar, we get word of a clever way to turn swords into plowshares:

But what I actually wanted to point out is that Bush 2004 has a really nifty letter-writing tool, which allows you to e-mail a letter to the newspapers in your area. You just enter your zip code and the site automatically generates a menu of regional newspapers -- helpfully ranked both by proximity and circulation.

You pick the papers you want, type in your letter -- or cut and paste the paragraphs of boilerplate Bush propaganda helpfully provided -- then click, and voila! your letter to the editor is on its way to every newspaper on your list.

I'm told, although I haven't checked myself, that this is a much more sophisticated feature than anything you'll find on the DNC or the Kerry campaign's web sites -- and even more technologically impressive than Bush 2004's fully robotized campaign blog. I'm also told by someone who's tested the letter-to-the-editor tool that the e-mails it generates do not identify the letter sender as a Bush supporter (which, in light of what I have in mind, is actually more the pity.)

Now it occurred to a Whiskey Bar reader that anybody -- including Democrats, progressives, gays, brights and other second-class citizens -- could use this GOP-funded tool to write and send our own letters to the editors, courtesy of the Bush campaign.

I think it would be highly appropriate to use Bush's tool ... let me rephrase that. I think it would be highly appropriate to launch a letter-writing campaign opposing Bush's Unequal Rights Amendment, using the Bush campaign's letter writer as our tool. As it happens, the Human Rights Campaign has some sample text you can cut and paste to create a letter.

Or, you can adapt the form letter that the HRC is asking people to send to Congress.

The Lambda Defense Fund also has a sample letter to the editor -- very short and to the point.

Or, if you're so inclined, be creative -- write your own letter, using your own words. That's what I plan to do.

Then just pay a visit to our friendly cyberneighbors over at the Bush campaign web site and borrow their letter-writing tool. I'm sure they won't mind.

Just tell 'em Cindy sent you.