A friend and colleague forwarded me an email he had received from the RNC asking for a $35 contribution in exchange for Nick:

Just in time to complete your Christmas wish list, meet Nick, the newest member of the Republican National Committee.

Nick is a wonderful plush toy available for a limited time to our most loyal supporters like you. Embroidered with the official logo of the RNC, and wearing a Santa cap and scarf, Nick will make a great stocking stuffer or gift for those special Republicans in your life -- and is sure to be snapped up quickly.

Our nation is about to tap America's most liberal President ever and the RNC gives us this? A stuffed animal wearing a darn Santa cap and scarf. Miserable.

The subject line of the email from my friend, "this is why i hate calling myself a republican." The body of the note, "The rnc’s answer to the economic collapse – buy a teddy bear. Well, maybe we can hug something soft while we’re crying over our latest 401k statements."

UPDATE 2:11 PM: Michael Turk had some choice words back in June when "Meet Sam" made its debut:

"Embroidered with the official logo of the RNC, Sam is decked out in red, white and blue and is sure to be the hit of your July Fourth party."

Well sure he is. Because my friends are such drooling, Neanderthal simpletons that they’re overly amused by a cheap piece of Burmese fluff. You should have seen how crazy they went when I waved a lit match in front of them. It was like the beginning scene of 2001 with the monkeys going spastic over the giant chocolate bar.