politrix

POLITRIX

After I sent a modest contribution to the Democratic National Committee last November. I got word that I could now consider myself to be a "member" of that very same Washington-based group.
Gee whiz! Who would have thought?
Of course I knew enough to be sensible about it. It wasn't personal. It was politics of money. I knew they weren't going to stay in close touch with me. Or pay my expenses for trips to Washington for DNC meetings. Or let me a vote on which city gets the next national convention. Nothing like that.
But still, there it remained, in so many words: A member.
So I was surprised the other day, when I got my first follow-up message from the DNC, to learn that my membership had somehow "expired" as of March 3.
It lasted less than four months.
They didn't say why. Had they heard how impatient I get sometimes for tough, in-your-face leadership from the White House? Or how tired I get of squabbles among congressional Democrats?
I don't know.
Anyway, as of today, here's what the DNC wants of me now: They want me to take the card they enclosed -- "an original copy" -- and initial it to "verify" my membership in 2010. Then send the card back to the DNC, for "return to file."
They didn't say when it would expire this time.
And that isn't all they want. Not at all. To seal the deal, they also expect from me "the most generous contribution (I) can afford" -- specifically, $100 or more.
The 4x5 card they sent looks just like the cards my mama used for her recipes in Hiawatha, Kansas. She kept them in a small box in the kitchen.
I don't know if the DNC has a similar filing system for its "members," but if they do, they surely need lots of boxes. I'm member No.098965071.
(You'd think the DNC would have heard of computers by now. The Republicans have.)
By the way, as part of my Washington mail, I also got what resembles a personal letter from Barack Obama himself. It's addressed "Dear Charles" and starts out by saying that "together, you and I have accomplished so much in the first year of the Administration. . ."
Aw shucks, Mr. President. I can't lie to you. I have to admit I haven't accomplished one damn thing in the past year except get older and more stubborn.
I know he can claim some big accomplishments, and I appreciate them. I still have my 2008 yard sign. But I would be happier if, months ago, he had grabbed health-care reform with both hands, spelled it out to everyone in plain language and fought to make it work.