For some reason, I keep getting emails from celebrities via the John Kerry and Howard Dean campaigns. What’s obnoxious is that the sender and subject line doesn’t give any indication of why they’re emailing. Take for example this email from Rob Reiner titled “A Lifelong Commitment to senate Values” :

Over the past year I met personally with a number of the senate presidential contenders. I was searching for a candidate with a lifelong commitment to senate values; for a candidate who has faced the challenges of executive leadership and produced results; and for a candidate who would speak the truth and never back down from this president?s assault on the values we hold dear. I, like all of you, decided Governor Howard Dean is that candidate.

Howard Dean stands proudly on his record of having consistently and fearlessly opposed this president?s misguided war and bungled reconstruction in Iraq. During his 11 years as Governor, he balanced every budget, provided health insurance for every child, and cut taxes fairly. Howard Dean stands on his record of leadership, and I stand proudly with Howard Dean. I am writing to ask you to stand with us by contributing to his campaign today

Not that I mind receiving these emails or anything, but there’s something slightly misleading about that subject line, don’t you think?

The next day, I received “A special message from Martin Sheen” which was more of the same

At yesterday’s presidential debate in New York City, the Washington candidates continued their relentless attacks on Howard Dean. For the past month, the establishment candidates have been conducting orchestrated assaults on Dean’s character, employing radio ads, speeches, direct mail, and a whisper campaign questioning the Governor’s commitment to key senate values — one of them has even created a website devoted exclusively to criticizing Howard Dean.

As Howard Dean said at the debate, “We need to remember that the enemy here is George Bush, not each other.”

We need Howard Dean’s bold leadership in the White House. Strong fundraising keeps our campaign’s momentum going; it pays for much-needed media buys in key battleground states and it attracts new supporters to Howard Dean. And continuing strong fundraising will also help with the campaign’s latest bold move: hiring a coordinator for each of Iowa’s 99 counties.

Needless to say, I was pretty disappointed that this email didn’t contain the words “Hey Greg, I hear you’re a big fan of the show. We’re looking for a new writer…”. When it turned out to be another “gimme some money” email, it was just like adding insult to injury.

Of course, John Kerry had his own celebrity pitchman waiting in the wings. A couple days after President Bartlet shook me up for some cash, I get this email from Stephen Stills. Yeah, the Steven Stills. In keeping with the vague subject line theme, this one was titled “Something’s Happening Here”

Something is happening here.

We?re nearing the end of the Kerry campaign?s drive to demonstrate broad support from all across America in time for a critical September 30th reporting deadline.

John?s success in the closing days of this critical drive depends upon the active participation of his friends and supporters like you and me.

Nothing I can write would make the case for your immediate donation as elegantly as these words from John?s announcement speech. Read them carefully, and take action now! Click here to make an on-line contribution today to make their author, our next president, John Kerry.

Is it really a good idea for the Kerry campaign to be using a guy who’s best known for singing the words “If you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with”? That seems like the exact opposite message that they want to get across.