Mertens SPAMs Facebook

by: joesaho

Sat Sep 26, 2009 at 10:15:51 AM EDT

A couple of days ago, many of radio host and writer Colin McEnroe's 1,349 (!) Facebook peeps receieved a friend request from Trinity College professor and third-party candidate for U.S. Senate John Mertens.

"I am asking you to be my friend because you are a friend of Colin McEnroe, so you must be cool :),'' Mertens writes. "I am running for U.S. Senate in CT for the Independent Party. I'm trying to build a movement for calm, rational problem-solving in government. If you would like to know more about me before accepting my friend invitation, please see my website: www.Mertens2010.com Thank you. John."

Judging from the posts on McEnroe's wall, the move was an enormous miscalculation.

"Sneaky."

"Very creepy."

"Bad move."

"Nitwit."

Those are a few of the responses. Many people boasted of ignoring or deleting Mertens' friend request and one person wondered if he violated some type of unwritten Facebook etiquette.

I've avoided signing up for Facebook because of things like this (not to mention the fact they're owned by Murdoch). But maybe Mertens may be onto something here. He could be the next Tila Tequila!