FoxNews.com

The Obama campaign is testing a new approach to fundraising, blasting out emails that ever-so-gently shame supporters into donating.

Before the end of the third-quarter fundraising deadline last month, the campaign sent around specially tailored messages to those on their email list who hadn't yet contributed to President Obama's 2012 reelection fund. Campaign Manager Jim Messina urged them to chip in, by pointing out how many of their neighbors had already done so.

An email sent to a New York recipient read as follows: "Here's something you don't have in common with 15,049 other supporters of this movement who tell us they live in New York, NY."

Messina went on to say that all those donors "had their own personal reason for giving," and reiterated that "our records show that you aren't one of the 15,049 people where you're from who have stepped up for 2012.

"Now's your chance to change that," Messina wrote. The email then asked for a minimum donation of $3 to help the campaign reach its goal of attracting 1 million donors.

The emails took on a personal and local tone, giving stats in each community for how many Obama supporters had already donated. One email sent to Grayslake, Ill., noted that 160 people had "stepped up" for the president.

The Obama campaign did not return a request for comment on the messages.

Brad Blakeman, who worked on the 2000 Bush campaign and in the Bush White House, said he's never seen a fundraising pitch quite like it -- and there's a reason for that.

"It's a scare tactic," he said, claiming the message suggests to recipients that "your neighbors are going to know if you didn't donate."

He said the approach will probably work on some people but is "more detrimental than it is beneficial."

As in 2008, the Obama campaign is using the Internet and email and social media in new ways to reach voters. The campaign has incorporated the president's push for his $447 billion jobs bill into its 2012 operation, sending out an email earlier this week directing supporters to use their online tool to pressure GOP members of Congress on Twitter to back the bill.

The campaign also set up Attackwatch.com for supporters to report "smears" about the president, presumably so they can be shot down. And the campaign has used fundraising emails to raffle off tickets to dinner with the president.

The Obama campaign has not yet announced its third-quarter fundraising totals. The campaign raked in close to $50 million for the second quarter -- a combined $86 million with the Democratic National Committee, setting a record. That was more than the GOP field.

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SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (AP) — An armed man who refused to leave the offices of an upstate newspaper Saturday was apparently trying to commit suicide by having an officer shoot him, authorities said.

The shooting happened at around 4 p.m. at the offices of the Daily Gazette after a quiet news day in Schenectady, a city of more than 60,000 just outside the state capital of Albany.

The newspaper reported that the man, identified as 21-year-old Elvis Norwood, appeared weak and possibly medicated when he arrived. He talked his way into the locked building by asking a security guard for a drink of water. Then, he refused to leave and began wandering the halls.

Norwood eventually said he needed help. Daniel Beck, the newspaper's general manager, called 911 when he saw that Norwood was carrying a knife and bleeding from his hand.

The police officers who arrived at the office requested a backup officer with a stun gun, Schenectady police Sgt. Matthew Dearing told The Associated Press. Norwood charged at Officer Brett Ferris when the other officer turned to let the backup inside the locked lobby, Dearing said.

Ferris, who had been on the force for four years, fired four shots, striking Norwood at least three times, once in the arm, chest and lower abdomen, Dearing said.

"For five minutes they asked him to put the knife down," said Linda Eldeen, Beck's girlfriend, who was at the office. "He did start going at them. He looked like he was going to charge them."

Norwood was hospitalized in stable condition, Dearing said, added that it was too early to determine charges. A 9-inch-long kitchen knife was recovered, he said.

"At this point we're forced to believe that this was an attempt of suicide by the police," Public Safety Commissioner Wayne Bennett told the newspaper.

Norwood had been picked up fewer than 10 days ago for mental health issues and taken to a hospital, Dearing told the AP.

The two initial officers were placed on administrative leave, per department policy, until they are cleared to return to duty, Dearing said.

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Freedom's Lighthouse

Here is video of Herman Cain speaking at the Value Voters Summit today where he brought the house down! Cain was on fire, hammering President Obama and laying out what he would do as President of the United States.

Cain struck many of the familiar themes he has shared during his campaign, but wove it together flawlessly and with some new material. He told the crowd that he would build up the missile defense capability of the United States, outfitting U.S. Warships with improved missile interception capability as one way of dealing with Iran. Cain said he would do so and then say to Iran, “Make my day!” (6:44 mark of the video)

He also added a new piece of information about his increasingly famous “999 Plan,” saying businesses that purchased material for their products in the United States would be able to deduct the amount spent from their business tax bill. But businesses that buy their material from overseas would not be able to. Charitable contributions would also be deductible.

Cain had the crowd on its feet and eating out of his hand throughout the speech. He did not use a teleprompter, and from all appearances, never looked at a note.

Many folks continue to dismiss Herman Cain. But with speeches like this, the Herman Cain Train is only going to gather more steam.

MSNBC.com

Washington's National Air and Space Museum was closed Saturday afternoon after sign-wielding demonstrators tried to storm the building on the National Mall.

At least one person was pepper sprayed when the crowd pinned a guard against a wall and another guard came to his rescue, Smithsonian spokesperson Linda St. Thomas told NBC station WRC.

"You cannot bring that stuff in the museum under any circumstances," St. Thomas told WRC.

Protesters included people from the October 2011 Stop the Machine group and Occupy D.C., an offshoot of the larger Occupy Wall Street movement in New York.

Occupy DC protesters marched on streets in the nation's capital.

Interactive: PhotoBlog: Demonstrations from coast to coast (on this page)

About 100 to 200 people arrived about 3 p.m. at the museum, said Smithsonian spokesperson John Gibbons.

Ann Wilcox, a lawyer working with Stop the Machine, said a 19-year-old woman from Madison, Wisc., was arrested by police. She paid a fine and was released later Saturday. Wilcox said the protesters went to the Air and Space museum to demonstrate against a military drone exhibit.

The museum is expected to open as usual on Sunday.

New York park gathering
In New York City, an Occupy Wall Street expedition moved from Lower Manhattan to Washington Square Park Saturday.

Organizers planned a "general assembly" to recruit new supporters and share ideas.

"The Washington Square Park thing is a great way to bring us to the next level," said Michael Fix, an organizer of the demonstration.

There were no plans to set up a 24-hour camp in Washington Square Park similar to the one that has operated for three weeks in Lower Manhattan's Zuccotti Park.

The protesters living in Zuccotti Park have built a full-service demonstration staging zone, complete with hot food, health care, a digital counter registering supporters, and a solar energy truck to help supply power to electronics.

First-year medical resident Jay Kang arrived Friday to serve as a health care volunteer.

PhotoBlog: Who is Occupy Wall Street?

Continue Reading at MSNBC

Conservative Refocus

Barry Secrest

What a bunch of pre-schooler morons!

The chanting was eerie enough--but handsigns?

Lewis does not look happy through the course of this, but the guy in charge reminds me of one of those anal Kindergarten teachers who could only identify comfortably with kids within his own intellectual range--that being less than first grader level.

All in all, quite a spooky video.

Just in time for Halloween....