Posted on 08/11/2006 8:13:03 AM PDT by TWohlford
Those of you who are working on campaigns this year, TAKE NOTE:
In the famous Michigan 7th House primary, Joe Schwarz made heavy use of pre-recorded phone messages in the days before the election. Voters were inundated with such calls from Dubya, Laura, Schwarz, McCain, the Seven Dwarfs, and Cinderella. Joe lost.
Between all candidates, I think my household counted 10 such calls in the 24 hours before the polls opened. We tried to get them to stop by calling the candidates, but the calls just kept coming. I think that all of the candidates who used such calls LOST (do we see a trend here?).
I wonder how many voters voted against Joe, or just didn't vote for Joe, due to their anger over such "phone spam"?
I'm pledging that I won't vote for anyone who calls me with a pre-recorded phone call. I will probably send a campaign contribution to any candidate that pledges their support for moving pre-recorded phone calls under the "Do Not Call" registry.
I would like to think that the American electorate is educated on the issues and not so flippant as to vote AGAINST someone just because they don't like a campaign tactic, but then again have you been to a Wal-Mart lately?
I received calls from Bill Clinton and Jack Nicklaus.
Get B. L. Zebub call them. Nobody ever hangs up on him.
"I would like to think that the American electorate is educated on the issues and not so flippant as to vote AGAINST someone just because they don't like a campaign tactic, but then again have you been to a Wal-Mart lately?"
I asked Schwarz's people... NICELY... to remove me from their phone spam lists. I got 2 more calls after that from their re-election team. At some point I have to wonder if they really care about my wishes, feelings, needs, etc. Certainly it didn't inspire me to vote for the guy.
Isn't the first rule of politics that you don't p*ss off the voters?
We get them a lot, not just before elections. We're in Bucks County, PA. They are always from a far-left group. They tend to target our Representative in Congress, but they will target anyone not towing their line.
I agree. I despise anyone who calls me at home without my consent.
What a surprise that politicians exempted political calls from do-not-call list laws.
Caller ID helps a lot. I don't answer calls from 800 numbers, or from callers who block their number. I also generally keep my voice mail off, since I don't want to have to wade through recorded political and charitable pitches. If I've been out, I scroll through the caller ID list of incoming calls, and return calls, or not, to names I recognize.
Never give out personal information when buying condoms on line.
I got several calls from Clnton too, urging me to vote for Joe Lieberman! The Dems' GOTV drive can't be that good if they are calling people who are not even eligible to vote in their primaries. ;) I was inundated with calls from Demo candidates for US senator and governor. Plus my neighborhood was littered with literature.
What's Wal Mart got to do with anything? Are you implying that Wal Mart shoppers are stupid or ignorant? Wal Mart shoppers want to know...
While it may not sway my vote in an important election, an unsolicited call from *any* candidate's political machine will only elicit a negative reaction from me. I do not appreciate unsolicited phone calls from anyone, particularly from a computer. If the candidate calls me in person, then he/she might get away with a neutral reaction from me, as I'll counterbalance my natural negative reaction to the unsolicited call with a bit of appreciation for their personal touch.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.