Barack Says " Hey Again "

I am on Barack Obama's mailing list. It's ok with me. I do not really mind receiving emails from the President of the United States.

Our email relationship began back in 2008 when I made inquiries to attend an event here in Maine and had to provide my email address. Since that time during the campaign and as President Barack has been a faithful correspondent. He actually, for a Democrat supposedly concerned about privacy, has been quite promiscuous with my mailing address. I have received emails from Joe Biden, Bill Clinton and even, a little awkwardly, from the President's wife Michelle.

All in all getting an occasional email from the President to let me know what he is up to, what the big agenda item is at that time, and of course what atrociousness the Republicans are up to is a good thing.

I think however that we might be getting into a little too informal relationship. Recently I have received emails from The President that have subject lines such as It's Barack, or Remember When and today the subject said simply " Hey Again."

To me emails sent supposedly from The President of the United States or of course those acting on his behalf should have less in common with someone drunk texting at 2 AM and more in keeping with the dignity of the Presidency. Now of course most of this column has been tongue in cheek but on this point I am serious.

If you are the President, the most powerful man in the most powerful nation on Earth, should you really be sending emails out that have a tagline of " Hey Again."

For me I think the answer is clear. I do not answer drunk texts and I don't like My President to pretend we are buddies who are just catching up with each other after a busy couple of weeks.

I am reading a book currently called The President's Club. It describes the relationships that have developed over the years between former and current Presidents and speaks of how each member of " the club" holds the Presidency and the office above partisan politics that can diminish the office itself.

Simply put, even as a fundraising tool I think " Hey again" emails can do nothing to maintain the respect of the office.