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Fundraising calls raising money to support “a conservative candidate to replace U.S. Senator Mark Kirk” are being made in the name of the Illinois State Senate Republican Campaign Committee. One such call was made to a member of the Illinois Review staff Tuesday evening.
When the tele-fundraiser, who was clearly in a call center, was asked to confirm the purpose of the call, she reminded the IR staffer that Senator Kirk had, unfortunately, suffered a stroke and would not be running for re-election. She then added that U.S. Senator Dick Durbin was also up for re-election - in 2014 - and any contribution would also be going to fund his Republican opponent.
Our person then asked for the website address of the organization for which she was calling. He was given www.ilsenategop.com, which is the Illinois Senate Republican Campaign Committee site. […]
We contacted the Illinois State Senate Republican Campaign Committee about the call. They were surprised, concluding that it is likely a hoax. Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno is looking into it.
Has anybody out there received this call?
*** UPDATE *** I’m hearing this was, indeed, the state Senate GOP’s phone bank, but that it may have been a “rogue caller.” Sheesh.
*** UPDATE 2 *** From the RSSCC…
Yesterday we were made aware of an inappropriate phone solicitation allegedly made on behalf of the Republican State Senate Campaign Committee.
We have since learned the call did originate in an RSSCC vendor call center. It was clearly a misrepresentation of RSSCC and its mission and will not be tolerated.
The vendor assures us it was an isolated incident by an inexperienced employee who is no longer with the company.
We have suspended all solicitation calls while we further evaluate our relationship with the vendor.
Roxanne Owens
Finance Director
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Apr 18, 13 @ 10:35 am
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I hope the IR Staffer got the Caller ID of the center and has or will pass that on the Illinois Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud Division, and the SGOP Caucus is willing to pursue as well.
Disgusting.
I hope someone will not let this just “drop”.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Apr 18, 13 @ 10:43 am
Wonder where the list came from. Those aren’t free.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Apr 18, 13 @ 10:47 am
*** UPDATE ***
Thanks!
Well, I am hoping that “rougue” caller was stopped before calling, and calling, and calling.
This puts “Call me, Maybe?” in a whole new light!
If I had a tin-foil hat …lol.
Thanks, Rich. I hope “Commander Galloway” can figure out what other “rogue” things are happening, if any are, in the name of the Caucus …
===Sheesh.=== is right!
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Apr 18, 13 @ 11:05 am
Presumably the “rogue caller” was upset about Kirk’s support for background checks, immigration reform and same sex marriage. I would guess many of the people called are upset about those Kirk positions too.
I’m glad this was exposed. Can’t wait to learn more.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Apr 18, 13 @ 11:06 am
I can’t be the only one who’s been seeing web ads using the same line about conservatism. I don’t have a screenshot at this point.
Comment by J Thursday, Apr 18, 13 @ 11:06 am
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 18, 13 @ 11:05 am:
If I had a tin-foil hat …lol.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Roll your own:
http://zapatopi.net/afdb/
Comment by Cincinnatus Thursday, Apr 18, 13 @ 11:10 am
omfreakingGod. that is despicable. someone should be held accountable.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Apr 18, 13 @ 11:16 am
===someone should be held accountable.===
I am hoping that the SRCC’s “Leader” will call Sen. Kirk and apologize, and further, Minority Leader Christine Radogno will publically apologize for a “rogue” caller using monies generated for the SRCC, to call potential donors and this “rogue” caller, soliciting monies to primary our Republican United States Senator, because … Mr. Kirk …is NOT conservative.
I hope that public and private apologies are coming …and just a little bit more digging is done.
I hope.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Apr 18, 13 @ 11:20 am
Rich can you clarify which SRCC you mean? I read your update as if it was the national SRCC having the phone bank but oswego willy’s post has me wondering if you meant the campaign committee under radogno was really involved. Thanks.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Thursday, Apr 18, 13 @ 11:33 am
NRSC - National Republican Senatorial Committee raises money for national candidates.
SRCC is all Illinois.
Comment by LincolnLounger Thursday, Apr 18, 13 @ 11:36 am
Thanks lincoln lounger.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Thursday, Apr 18, 13 @ 11:40 am
@hisgirlfriday - I appreciate your confusion. The Senate Republican committee goes by several nicknames, but it is properly called the Republican State Senate Campaign Committee, or RSSCC. I assume this is the one making the calls.
http://www.elections.il.gov/CampaignDisclosure/CommitteeDetail.aspx?id=17589
Comment by Elo Kiddies Thursday, Apr 18, 13 @ 11:52 am
Does the Rogue Caller have a name…Sounds like someone gave CHopperJim the keys to the office
Fire,
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Thursday, Apr 18, 13 @ 12:10 pm
So, I guess the Republican State Senate Campaign Committee thinks that “it’s fine”, “just a rogue dialer” “Nothing to see, move along…”
Will the Republican State Senate Campaign Committee issue a statement of apology? Will Minority Leader Christine Radogno come out and say what happend, and apologize to United States Senator, Republican, Mark Kirk?
The Illinois Review is “the crossroads of the conservative community” and they even thought it was strange.
This is not just an “Oops”, someone needs to get in front of this, issue a public apology, THEN move on. It’s not the fact that it happened, its the FACT that the Republican State Senate Campaign Committee thinks its just an “Oops” and we should “move along, nothing to see …”
Remember, if this happened to a Conservative, and calls were made from an existing Republican Caucus committee raising money, accident or not, screams would be coming from the Conservatives until all I have stated … happened.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Apr 18, 13 @ 12:12 pm
Let’s see if I understand the explanation: At a call center used by the IL Senate GOP, an employee took it upon himself to make up a cause and to solicit people to donate to it. If so, how many donations did he bring in, and where did the money go?? Will Radogno return the money to the donors???
Comment by reformer Thursday, Apr 18, 13 @ 1:07 pm
Interesting. It seems no details have been identified/provided re: extent of the calls, and people are already calling for public apologies and refunds.
And people claim conservatives are quick to run for torches and pitchforks.
But not this time, huh? Can hardly wait until the details do come out.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 18, 13 @ 1:39 pm
===And people claim conservatives are quick to run for torches and pitchforks.===
They distracted when served Oberweis Ice Cream…
===I’m hearing this was, indeed, the state Senate GOP’s phone bank,…===
So, Rich is NOT a good source, according to you? OK.
===Can hardly wait until the details do come out.===
Me too.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Apr 18, 13 @ 1:46 pm
“I’m not a member of an organized party, I’m a Republican.” Will “inois” Rogers
Comment by Endangered Moderate Species Thursday, Apr 18, 13 @ 2:34 pm
I hadn’t heard if the SGOP Leadership was going to offically comment.
Anyone have any updates?
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Apr 18, 13 @ 3:28 pm
Would the Republican Senate caucus be any worse off if the committee was liquidated?
Comment by Boone Logan Square Thursday, Apr 18, 13 @ 3:33 pm
Roxanne Owens, Finance Director & RSSCC
Thanks for the clarification.
Rich, thanks for the Update.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Apr 18, 13 @ 6:36 pm
–Fundraising calls raising money to support “a conservative candidate to replace U.S. Senator Mark Kirk”–
Some boiler-room goof came up with that talking point all on his own? Dissing the highest elected Illinois Republican?
And that message just happened to get to someone on an IR list?
What a spectacular stream of unrelated coincidences.
At this rate, the Senate GOP might have to sublet that phone booth they caucus in. They won’t need all that room.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Apr 18, 13 @ 11:02 pm
I will say one more thing.
If I was a “Leader”, I would come out, as Minority Leader of the SGOP Caucus and publically apologize to Republican United States Senator.
It would show that the Minority Leader of the SGOP has class. I wish Christine Radogno could have shown that …
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 7:15 am