Are GOP robocalls illegal?

I just got a robocall from no less than George W Bush ...paid for Bush-Cheney04, Inc. I am on the FCC no-call list, and I have "no prior relationship" with BC04 or the Republicans.

I recall the GOP in other states getting in trouble for violating the law prohibiting unsolicited email; does the same thing apply to these robocalls?

IF not, is it worth calling BC04 and telling them I do not ever want to hear from them again, in hopes it takes them some effort to find and delete me from their list?

Or should I just follow my natural impulse and drop my phone in a bucket of disinfectant?

•  Political organizations are exempt.

  As are charitable organizations.  The no-call list only applies to telemarketers.

  by Drew on Mon Aug 30, 2004 at 09:23:30 AM PDT

•  Check with your phone company, though.

  The national Do-Not-Call list specifically exempts political candidates (how conveeeenient!)

  But some states have laws that regulate automated calls.  (In case they reach an emergency number, for example, Virginia requires that automated callers disconnect immediately if the recipient hangs up.)

  Automated calls offend me -- they consume my time, but not theirs.  It's worse than spam, because I can choose when to check my e-mail, but I don't get to choose when my phone rings.  

  In 2000, I received robocalls from Gore/Lieberman, but not from Bush/Cheney.  Although I'm sorry you were inconvenienced, I'm delighted to know that this time, it's Bush/Cheney who's going around offending voters.  

  by osterizer on Mon Aug 30, 2004 at 09:50:58 AM PDT