MoveOn sent an email out to members today encouraging them not just to sign a petition or give money to a candidate, but to run for political office themselves.

Back in 2010, tea party candidates, backed by national tea party groups, were elected to hundreds of local offices. That’s exactly what we’re going to do in 2012 — but with a wave of candidates who will stand up for the 99% in communities across the country.

It’s a great idea. Effective tools and support for an average (progressive) citizen to get started on a campaign for local office is the sort of thing that can make a very long-term difference in our politics.

So what’s wrong? The finely-targeted subject of the email MoveOn sent to me was:

If you were mayor of Manhattan

… which I’m pretty sure is not an actual job.

Update: My old friend Noam Bramson got one of these emails, too, personalized for his geographic location: “If you were mayor of New Rochelle”. Only, he is the mayor of New Rochelle.