Clever. A dirty trick that is disguised as simply supplying information for voters.
In the contentious battle over congressional seats in the west and northwest suburbs, the two Democratic candidates were crying foul over the National Republican Congressional Committee’s use of automated telephone messages. The messages begin by claiming to provide information about Tammy Duckworth and Melissa Bean, but end up attacking their stances on various issues
I asked the Duckworth campaign about this after a comment about the goings-on appeared here at the blog.
Another dirty little trick they’re using is right out of Rove’s playbook from the RNC in DC is robocalling with a recorded message that starts out, “I have some important information for you about Tammy Duckworthâ€.
Most people hang up on robocalls and that intro is made to sound like a Duckworth call. If they listen to the full message they get an earful of Republican attacks on Duckworth. If they don’t they are redialed, sometimes immediately but always multiple times a day. One guy said he got 14 of these calls in one day.
This is an attempt to block Duckworth’s phonebanking advantage. Numerous times voters have screamed in my ear “Quit calling me!â€.
Listen to the robocall by clicking here. [wav file]
Meanwhile, Laura Bush was in town today for Peter Roskam and David McSweeney.
First Lady Laura Bush urged suburban Republicans today to turn out the vote for GOP candidates in two of the nation’s hardest fought congressional districts, and used a Schaumburg event to put in a pitch for Judy Baar Topinka’s run for governor.
Appearing at a rally on behalf of Peter Roskam, the 6th Congressional District Republican candidate, and David McSweeney, the 8th Congressional District GOP contender, she said victories by the two men are key to continuing the war against terrorism abroad.
“Peter Roskam and David McSweeney stand with our troops. They understand this election is critical,” she said to a crowd of about 1,000 at the Renaissance Convention Center. Acknowledging that the Iraq War has tested the public’s emotions, she said, “We must have the debate at home in a way that does not jeopardize our troops.”
Also, Roskam just sent out a release promising a “Late breaking special campaign announcement” tomorrow morning.
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- Wumpus, I'm Tiger Woods - Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 3:48 pm:
I just don’t see this as such a big deal. It is supplying the voters (who actually listen) with info, it just isn’t friendly info.
I saw the commercial with the woman who was complaining about guns in schools and how it is something that Peter Roskam could do something about. It turns out that it was a Duckworth ad critical of Roskam, the scallywags, how dare they trick me!
Much worse is being/can be done on both sides of aisle.
- grand old partisan - Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 3:55 pm:
I have to agree with Wimpus here. I’m not so sure I see this as a “trick.”
Is there any independent verification of the calls being made repeatedly like that?
- Carl Nyberg - Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 3:58 pm:
Republican dirty tricks on the telephone!? I’m shocked. Shocked!
It’s not like the GOP to use the telephone for dirty tricks or something illegal.
Hopefully, the traditional media will expose this before election day.
- Robbie - Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 4:08 pm:
Rich, I think I read about this nationally earlier on CNN or something… Isn’t there a rule that says the people doing the calls have to identify within a few seconds of the message? (actually i think i read about it on kos)
Anyways… Apparently the calls arent following that rule. So they are not only tricky, but against the rules.
- archpundit - Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 4:10 pm:
This is getting to be a pretty regular tactic and it is most certainly on purpose that it says it is calling with information about Tammy Duckworth. Many hang up in the first few seconds so they are angry at whomever is named in the call upfront.
I’ve seen it done in Dem primaries so it’s not only Republicans, but given the state of play for Republicans this cycle, they are certainly employing it knowing exactly the impact it has.
In a friend’s race they got tons of calls about such a call and they tried to turn it into a positive by explaining what the call was for those who called in. It worked for those folks, but a bunch of other people got angry about the call ‘from’ him.
No one does it without knowing it will produce exactly that kind of reaction. It’s obnoxious.
- Squideshi - Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 4:19 pm:
There are laws again harassment. Maybe Attorney General Madigan should look into and do something about this.
- Wumpus - Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 4:26 pm:
gop, “Wimpus”. Given the proximity of “I” and “U” on the keyboard, all is forgiven. Yes Squid, that looks like something Little Lisa would be up for. Forget Blago, Cook County and City Hall. I would not be surprised if they exempted themselves from that as they did with the no call lists.
While the Laura Bush thing bores me, I could have gone, but I gotta work (and Blog). I am wondering if Peter has something grand for his news tomorrow am.
- Skeeter - Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 4:55 pm:
With regard to the story on Friday from Personal Injury Pete:
Maybe Roskam is filing a big lawsuit. There have been a lot of auto crashes in the news. Maybe he signed them up.
If that’s true, I sure hope he lets Salvi handle the cases. Salvi is a talented guy. Can’t say the same for PI Pete Roskam.
- HoosierDaddy - Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 4:59 pm:
The thing is, robocalls are stupid, anyway. I cannot believe that anyone would be persuaded to vote for a candidate who pays to have them harassed by telephone. Seems counterproductive. I generally count an automated or telemarketer call as strike one against whoever is paying for the call. If they make multiple calls, it’s strike two and three.
Talk about a lack of respect.
- Archpundit - Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 5:17 pm:
===The thing is, robocalls are stupid, anyway. I cannot believe that anyone would be persuaded to vote for a candidate who pays to have them harassed by telephone.
Hence, the logic of doing it this way.
- Karl Rove - Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 5:35 pm:
I’m such a political genius. If I can’t win votes for my candidates, I’ll pretend to be their opponents and irritate the hell out of voters!
- Mike Williams - Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 6:32 pm:
I have to agree with Hoosier Daddy. One or two robocalls is enough. Many times, however, campaigns blow it by calling repeatedly. I watched firsthand a legislative candidate lose votes because leadership staff insisted on repeated GOTV calls.
- Lovie's Leather - Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 6:33 pm:
Okay… I never used to be pro-reform when it came to campaign issues. But I am waffling. These calls are annoying both sides of my family. There needs to be some sort of limit put on these calls to people. I am ready to snap. I think everyone else who gets these calls is ready as well. Stop calling me, Republicans. You already have my vote. The only thing you are doing now is pissing me off!!!
- HoosierDaddy - Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 7:04 pm:
Indiana bans ‘em, and the Appellate Court has upheld the ban. The only way you can get away with it is if you have a disclaimer at the beginning of the call and the recipient agrees to accept the call. If they don’t and you bug ‘em again, it’s a crime.
- Charles Martel - Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 9:00 pm:
The big Roskam announcement involves VP Cheney who will finally disclose why when his Country called him on five different occassions he chose to dodge the draft. This of course will be in conjunction with a bash Kerry “We are the true patriots” rally
- Angie - Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 11:10 pm:
Kerry is really reminding me of why I couldn’t stand him when he ran in 2004.
First, he was for the war that he was for before he was against the war that he was for before he was against it. Now he’s managed to get Democrats like Hillary Clinton and Mayor Daley telling the press that his nutty, so-called joke-gone-bad was awful.
Nice to see Laura Bush out here, though. Still think Bean will win, because she’s very pro-business and all, but sending Laura out here was a smart move. Who doesn’t like the First Lady? Very wise.
- Anon - Friday, Nov 3, 06 @ 1:34 am:
Tammy Duckworth’s campaign is one big political dirty trick. Take a wounded female veteran that anyone would be hesitant to criticize and run her in district she does not live in. Raise money from limousine liberals that don’t live in the district and then bus in Chicago Dems to do her campaign work. And oh yeah, since she really doesn’t have any policy to talk about, hide her from the public and media as much as possible.
Yes, Roskam’s campaign is criticizing Duckworth, but it is criticism directed at issues and her positions and not her person. Do we want a debate on issues or just a cult of personality? The question is rhetorical, Duckworth is from the Obama messianic party.
- The 'Broken Heart' of Rogers Park - Friday, Nov 3, 06 @ 7:44 am:
When you suburb folks have people knocking on your door this weekend, ask them if they are from Edgewater.
Pingback Had Enough? » Blog Archive » GOP Robocall Strategy appears to be national - Sunday, Nov 5, 06 @ 10:06 pm:
[…] Rich has the local variant up at Capitol Fax. […]
- Karen - Monday, Nov 6, 06 @ 9:40 am:
I live in the district. I’ve been knocking on doors all weekend for Tammy Duckworth. Republicans have been stopping me on the street to talk about the fiscally irresponsible and religious fanatics in Washington, DC. I’ve had at least 3 people complain about the Robocalls believing that they are from Tammy Duckworth.
She lives just outside the district in a house reworked for her by her friends and neighbors. Peter Roskam changed houses to be able to run in this district. This is all just sickening dirty tricks from Republicans but what can you expect when they’ve backrupted the country, broken the armed services, and killed half a million people for greed, envy and politics.
Pingback TaintedKernel » Lots of voting news… - Tuesday, Nov 7, 06 @ 6:49 pm:
[…] Info on how to Stop the Republican RoboCalls - From AlterNet. DailKos is collecting info and providing info on how to fight the calls. I’ll note I’ve gotten the Tammy Duckworth RoboCalls. El Reg provides even More info. CBC, Forbes and CNN are all reporting issues with electronic voting. […]
- Emeril - Saturday, Dec 2, 06 @ 11:25 am:
Did you know that the IBIS project (computer program) being installed at IDES by Accenture, an offshoot of Arthur Anderson, and a favorite of the governor, is running $5.5 million over budget. (some say that it is $10 million over budget)