I am amazed by the number of people who believe that by asking bidders to answer a simple question, they will get back useful information which will help them to evaluate the bidder’s capabilities. If you don’t ask for evidence, you are inviting bidders to tell you the story that they want you to hear. You don’t get any useful information – just marketing hype.
Today, a friend sent me a story which has been going round the Internet. I don’t know whether it is true or not, or if the named congressman will be offended to see it posted here. I expect he won’t – because if I got something back from my MP which was anything like as witty as this reply, I would vote for him/her immediately!
This is a wonderful example of how a skilled copy writer/bid writer can put a positive spin on something which is potentially negative. Enjoy…
Judy Wallman, a professional genealogy researcher in southern California , was doing some personal work on her own family tree. She discovered that Congressman Harry Reid’s great-great uncle, Remus Reid, was hanged for horse stealing and train robbery in Montana in 1889. Both Judy and Harry Reid share this common ancestor.
The only known photograph (attached) of Remus shows him standing on the gallows in Montana territory:
On the back of the picture Judy obtained during her research is this inscription: ‘Remus Reid, horse thief, sent to Montana Territorial Prison 1885, escaped 1887, robbed the Montana Flyer six times. Caught by Pinkerton detectives, convicted and hanged in 1889.’
So Judy recently e-mailed Congressman Harry Reid for information about their great-great uncle.
Believe it or not, Harry Reid’s staff sent back the following biographical sketch for her genealogy research:
“Remus Reid was a famous cowboy in the Montana Territory. His business empire grew to include acquisition of valuable equestrian assets and intimate dealings with the Montana railroad. Beginning in 1883, he devoted several years of his life to government service, finally taking leave to resume his dealings with the railroad. In 1887, he was a key player in a vital investigation run by the renowned Pinkerton Detective Agency. In 1889, Remus passed away during an important civic function held in his honor when the platform upon which he was standing collapsed.”
