Obama’s new fun-raising pitch; Give me your wedding presents

Barack Obama is so short of campaign cash that he’s asking for a percentage of your wedding, birthday and anniversary gifts — but the visitors to his fundraising site are leaving contempt, jibes and scorn, plus a few declarations of embarrassment.

“Is this what the office of the president of the United States has come to? Pandering for wedding and birthday money?” read a post by Richard Henkle.

“Who is his campaign manager? Mel Brooks? This is better than ‘The Producers,’” wrote Margaret Grimm Blakckwell.

“Wow… not sure my young son will be too happy about giving up his birthday presents for BO to spend it all on celeb parties,” wrote someone under the name j1. “Reminds me of the scene from the Grinch where he’s shoving the Christmas tree up the chimney.”

“I must visit the dentist today, do they want the Tooth Fairy money too? These people have gone over the top…could we have the election moved up and get it over with,” wrote David Kennedy. “Enough is enough!”

A few commentators seemed to be Democrats, and professed embarrassment.

“This is very wrong,” said a commenter named James Kendall. “Obama should be notified of this and if he supports it — he has lost my support… Whoever came up with this idea and approved it should be fired.

“Please take this embarrassment down as soon as posible,” said a Frank Brown. “Please… from someone who used to be proud he grew up with a Democrat mother and Republican father… now I am ashamed my family was ever associated with the Democrats.

“My mother has voted Democrat since 1960,” said a commenter named Big Bear. “This year she won’t.”

Obama’s campaign likely will take down the page soon, especially if it spurs visitors to donate to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

“Thanks for giving me the push I needed to donate to the Romney campaign!” said Tom Site.

The gift-grab was posted on Obama’s website on Thursday. The pitch reads:

Got a birthday, anniversary, or wedding coming up?

Let your friends know how important this election is to you — register with Obama 2012, and ask for a donation in lieu of a gift. It’s a great way to support the President on your big day. Plus, it’s a gift that we can all appreciate—and goes a lot further than a gravy bowl.