Ewww icky icky. Good night all.
When telemarketers take advantage of consumers, Congress is often the first to cry foul. But what if the telemarketer is himself a politician? NBC News obtained never-before-heard tapes from a controversial fund-raising effort by House Majority Leader Tom DeLay -- tapes that some critics claim are a congressional bait-and-switch.
Tom DeLay and his fellow knuckleheads have come up with a great fundraising idea: Give out awards for very special donors by calling random Republican voters in the middle of dinner and pulling a good old fashioned bait-and-switch.
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Past awardees include a convicted sex offender and a maker of drug paraphernalia -- both awards were later rescinded.
The award also is proudly displayed in the office of an adult film promoter, Harry Weiss, who sent Republicans a check from his company -- "Nefarious Films."
"They cashed the check, so I guess they're happy to have me aboard," Weiss said.
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