Where Obama's Health-Care-Reform E-Mail Strategy Went Wrong

E-Mail Masters Stumble on Health Care but Offer Lessons for Marketers

Zain Raj, CEO of Havas' Euro RSCG Discovery, said he doesn't believe it was an innocent mistake; the Obama team simply acted like many major brands do...

Steve Cone, chief marketing officer at Epsilon, said there is no upside for the administration in just spamming people. "I wouldn't assume they did this intentionally," Mr. Cone said....

But Stuart Ingis, partner at Venable, a leading consumer-protection, marketing and advertising law ... Full Story »

Posted by Beth Wellington
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Posted by: Posted by Beth Wellington - Aug 23, 2009 - 4:25 PM PDT
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Edited by: Beth Wellington - Aug 23, 2009 - 4:25 PM PDT
Beth Wellington
4.0
by Beth Wellington - Aug. 23, 2009

Although the title is derogatory, the sources interviewed represent a broad specrum of interpretation regarding how unsolicited emails on health care arrived in the in-boxes of some of the administration's opponents.

The government sending unsolicited emails seems unwise, but the heat generated seems to me to be a case of opponents fanning the flames. Actually, I subscribe to email lists of those w. whom I do not agree, just to know what kinds of arguments they are mounting, so that I will know what needs rebuttal. The oddest, and to me most disingenuous posts, are those which claim that Obama tried to through GovDelivery under the bus and that the company is refusing to accept blame. ... More »

See Full Review » (11 answers)
Kaizar Campwala
3.2
by Kaizar Campwala - Aug. 24, 2009

Doesn't do a good job of explaining the details of "Spamgate", or the reaction to it. When was the message sent out? Did the content come off as spammy? What did the reaction look like? Did people discuss it online?

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Patricia L'Herrou
3.1
by Patricia L'Herrou - Aug. 24, 2009

a number of voices in marketing speculate here on why apparently unsolicited e-mail on health care was sent from the white house.. what seems illustrated here is the gap between the so-called 'spammers' at the white house who live by and with modern internet technology and the rest of us, including congress ,who are not yet as adapted to what will likely become the future for almost all of us.

…..partner at venable, a leading consumer-protection, marketing, advertising law firm, said he doesn’t think the administration is guilty of anything; this is ... More »

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John Louden
4.2
by John Louden - Aug. 24, 2009

Cites several "experts" with divergent views and shows no bias.

To spam, or not to spam, that is the question...

See Full Review » (7 answers)
Samuel W.  Velsor IV
1.6
by Samuel W. Velsor IV - Aug. 24, 2009

This is making a mountain out of a molehill.

I was pleased with getting all the emails from the administration's sources on the health care mess. Most of it made me mad at the Blue Dogs for being turncoats, and the republicans in general.

See Full Review » (9 answers)
Randy Morrow
2.9
by Randy Morrow - Aug. 24, 2009

In noting the shut down of the tip box used to collect health care misinformation the inclusion of the line:"John Cornyn, a Republican senator from Texas, alleged that Mr. Obama was using the e-tip box to collect names" seems out of place and not really related, and I interpret it as a partisan jab thrown in just to show there was somebody questioning that manner of information dispersal.

The article contains some good suggestions for maintaining good relations with customers/clients on the receiving side of the email list.

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Alfred Ingram
2.1
by Alfred Ingram - Aug. 26, 2009

This is opinion. They see this through the lens of commerce. They don't see tjat many of the emails come from the Democratic party, not the Obama team that functioned so effectively during the campain.

The messages are mixed. Rhe party motivation and Obama's are sometimes at cross purpose, making the online / social medium a lot less sffective

part of the reason that happened is the absence of the marketing professionals who brought a tightness and focus to the campaign’s messaging. More »

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trekker4x4
2.8
by trekker4x4 - Aug. 24, 2009

It's mostly and opinion piece. It's a fine article with that in consideration.

Not very important.

See Full Review » (6 answers)

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  • White House Reveals Identity of Firm That Sent Unsolicited E-Mails on Health Reform (Fox News) Pending

    () The White House confirmed to FOX News that it hired a private communications company based in Minnesota to distribute mass e-mails, helping to shed light on how some ...
    via OneRiot
  • GovDelivery (SourceWatch) Pending

    Posted by Beth Wellington