robo-calls

robo-calls https://www.dailykos.com/tags/robo-calls News Community Action Copyright - Kos Media, LLC Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:35:43 +0000 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:35:43 +0000 rsshelp@dailykos.helpscoutapp.com rsshelp@dailykos.helpscoutapp.com How I was robo-called into submission. https://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/3/31/1079541/-How-I-was-robo-called-into-submission?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= Q: How can you tell if you're being robo-called by Mitt Romney, or receiving a call by the actual candidate himself. A: You can't. It's the weekend before the Republican primary here in America's Dairyland, and we are being uddlerly inundated with robo-calls from the Repubiican candidates. Push polls from Gingrich, anti-Obama rants from Santorum, and mini-attack calls from ol' Clank the robo-candidate himself, Mitt Romney. Look guys. Stop it. You're driving us nuts. We are Democrats. Stop wasting your billionaires' dollars. Save it for the caviar and Dom Perignon at your convention. Follow me for my confession to the robo-callers after the satanic croissant... rss@dailykos.com (Exclamation Point Brian) Gingrich NewtGingrich Paul Primary robo-calls romney Santorum Wisconsin _1079541 Sat, 31 Mar 2012 21:24:41 +0000 Wisconsin's Come Too Far to Ruin It This Way https://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/3/1/951606/-Wisconsin-s-Come-Too-Far-to-Ruin-It-This-Way?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= After hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites have dedicated themselves for over two weeks now to a mutually accepted code of respectful activism, the outside agitators have finally appeared – and they've come under the premise of supporting our cause. The eyes of the nation are not on us just because of the size of our demonstrations. Nor is it that this cause is more just than any other. It's because this movement is unerringly peaceful, absolutely respectful, and it has sustained those nearly impossible standards perfectly over a remarkably long time. rss@dailykos.com (jorogo) Coalition DemocracyForAmerica Economy ProgressiveChangeCampaignCommittee Recall repairbill Republicans Respect robo-calls ScottWalker Senators Unions Wisconsin _951606 Wed, 02 Mar 2011 02:49:29 +0000 Origin of Fake Election-Night Robo-Calls Confirmed https://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/11/8/907616/-Origin-of-Fake-Election-Night-Robo-Calls-Confirmed?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= Cross-posted from <a href="http://www.sumofchange.com/article_read.php?a=126">Sum of Change</a> <object width="560" height="340"><param value="http://www.youtube.com/v/q6O3EKYqMIk?fs=1&hl=en_US" name="movie"></param><param value="true" name="allowFullScreen"></param><param value="always" name="allowscriptaccess"></param><embed width="560" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/q6O3EKYqMIk?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="340"></embed></object> Last Tuesday, election day, some voters in Maryland were listening to a robo-call telling them that "Governor O'Malley and President Obama have been successful. Our goals have been met." That evening, we received a recording of the call in question, which you can hear for yourself in <a href="http://www.sumofchange.com/video.php?vid=7cbe86bc7">our video report</a> or <a href="http://www.sumofchange.com/article_read.php?a=126">on our website</a>. It has been confirmed that <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/05/AR2010110506980.html">the fake robo-call was the work of Republican operatives on behalf of Bob Ehrlich</a>. rss@dailykos.com (SumOfChange) 2010elections Elections fakerobo-calls robo-calls _907616 Tue, 09 Nov 2010 00:32:32 +0000 So Mike Huckabee just called me up.. https://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/4/27/725207/-So-Mike-Huckabee-just-called-me-up?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= (I apologize that this will be short, but I wanted to get it out there to see to what extent other people here may be getting the same thing.) ...with an anti-choice, anti-Obama push poll robo-call.  My wife and I are sitting in the TV room watching a nice little French film we got from Netflix, the evening after I get home from 3 days at the California Democratic Convention, and the phone rings.  It's Mike Huckabee.  Imagine my surprise!  I rather thought they managed to target these things better these days.  It's a robo-call that is pretty much a combination of attack on abortion rights and attack on Obama.  I played along for a little while. rss@dailykos.com (Chico David RN) Anti-choice MikeHuckabee Push Polls PushPolls robo-calls _725207 Tue, 28 Apr 2009 03:00:49 +0000 Bleed the RNC Dry https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/29/645729/-Bleed-the-RNC-Dry?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= I keep getting robo-calls here in Colorado. They are all really sick calls and afterwards they always speed through the toll-free number for the RNC. I wrote it down and call it and give my own robo-call to the Rethugs. rss@dailykos.com (COwoman) Barack Obama BarackObama John McCain JohnMcCain Republicans RNC robo-calls _645729 Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:27:40 +0000 Call-center workers quit over robo-calls https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/27/644021/-Call-center-workers-quit-over-robo-calls?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= Over at <a href="http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/10/dozens_of_call_center_workers.php">TPM</a> Greg Sargent is reporting an inspiring story.  In Lake County Indiana, call-center workers at Americall were told to read a slime anti-Obama script. Almost 40 of them walked off the job - sacrificing a day's pay - in protest. rss@dailykos.com (Mae) LakeCounty Protest robo-calls _644021 Mon, 27 Oct 2008 22:15:01 +0000 OMDG! Saxby Chambliss is robo-calling FLORIDA! ***UPDATE*** https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/27/643567/-OMDG-Saxby-Chambliss-is-robo-calling-FLORIDA-UPDATE?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= I kid you not. I'm in Tallahassee, and I just got a robo-call from Saxby Chambliss, virtual hat in hand, "humbly" asking for my vote. (I admit that it felt good to yell at the recording, "When have you ever been humble, you manipulative, arrogant asshole?") I listened to him far more carefully than he ever listened to me when I've written him in the past about various issues of importance to the residents of Georgia and the country. (We lived in Georgia in 2007, so conceivably we could still be listed in the RNC database as still being there--although I know for sure we were officially taken off the voter rolls because we got a letter when we moved here. You would not believe the obnoxiousness of the "response" emails I got from him every time I took the time to write his office.) While I was listening to the robo-call, aware that as I did so I was tying up the line so somebody else had to wait for the privilege of hearing from him... rss@dailykos.com (dkistner) 2008 elections 2008elections desperateRepublicans GA-Sen Georgia robo-calls SaxbyChambliss Senate _643567 Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:59:29 +0000 An Open Letter/Appeal to John McCain https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/27/643360/-An-Open-Letter-Appeal-to-John-McCain?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= The following is an open letter I wrote to Senator McCain regarding the attack campaign aimed at linking Barack Obama to Bill Ayers in what I see as an unethical attempt to manipulate and exploit the fears and prejudices of voters through the strategical use of the word "terrorist." This letter was originally written and circulated a couple weeks ago (with no response from the McCain campaign), so I have decided to post it here with a few small modifications to keep it current. Any thoughts or comments are always appreciated. Also, feel free to forward to the McCain campaign. rss@dailykos.com (Michael Hutchinson) 2008 elections 2008elections AIP Alaska Independence Party AlaskaIndependenceParty AttackAds Barack Obama BarackObama BillAyers CharlesKeating Election 2008 Election2008 Fox News FoxNews John McCain JohnMcCain Keating5 President Racism robo-calls Sarah Palin SarahPalin Terrorism Terrorist WeatherUnderground WilliamAyers _643360 Mon, 27 Oct 2008 11:06:34 +0000 Do you believe RoboCalls are Appropriate? Yes or No? https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/22/638946/-Do-you-believe-RoboCalls-are-Appropriate-Yes-or-No?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= Huffington post is asking readers to flood senators' and congressmens' offices with phone calls demanding they denounce the Obama smear robo-calls. Take nothing for granted; robocalls do work with some people. Remember Nevada (which Obama lost), where there were barrage of robo-calls that insinuated Obama was a Muslim in the very last few days before the primary. Though it didnt go so far as to connect him with terrorism, (obviously that was the implication) the ayers, abortion, sex-ed, unpatriotic robo-calls (including a robocall in PA pretending to be Obama and then exploding in expletives including the N-Word) may work. These are uncertain times. We never know what people will do when they get in the booth. Undecideds largely broke for Hillary at the very last minute, out of security. Always. <blockquote> Email hufftips@gmail.com with the response -- try to be as detailed as possible, including listing the name of the person you spoke to. We'll update the list below in real time with the latest responses. </blockquote> rss@dailykos.com (robertacker13) robo-calls Smears _638946 Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:16:22 +0000 Fighting fire with fire: Obama unleashes robocall denouncing McCain campaign https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/21/638313/-Fighting-fire-with-fire-Obama-unleashes-robocall-denouncing-McCain-campaign?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= Kaboom!  Here's the <a href="http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/10/obama_camp_releasing_response.php">script</a> for Obama's robo-call that puts the hammer down on McCain's own sleazy calls and mailers.  In a brilliant maneuver, Obama's call is by a former McCain supporter that flipped to Obama because of McCain's slash-and-burn campaign: <blockquote> Hi, this is Jeri Watermolen, calling for the Campaign for Change. I live in Green Bay and, like you, I've been getting sleazy phone calls and mail from John McCain and his supporters viciously -- and falsely -- attacking Barack Obama. I used to support John McCain because he honorably served our country -- but this year he's running a dishonorable campaign. We know McCain will continue many of Bush's policies, and now he's using George Bush's divisive tactics. In fact, he hired the Bush strategists whose attacks even McCain once called hateful. Barack Obama will turn the page on these negative politics and stand up for the middle class. That's the change we need, and it's why I have changed my mind about John McCain. Join me in voting for Barack Obama. Paid for the Campaign for Change, a project of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, 608-255-5172, and authorized by Obama for America. </blockquote> rss@dailykos.com (VirginiaDem) Barack Obama BarackObama John McCain JohnMcCain robo-calls _638313 Wed, 22 Oct 2008 04:40:00 +0000 Say Anything: Help get out McCain's message! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/20/636311/-Say-Anything-Help-get-out-McCain-s-message?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= My husband wrote this diary about how we can help John McCain with his robo-call outreach, since he has a problem with funds right now. We can help spread the word so everyone knows just what kind of campaign he is running and so people know who McCain really is before they go to the voting booth. (I have permission to post all of this, no fair use for the bride.) John McCain has a problem --- and you can help. The problem is money. He's tapped out. Barack Obama isn't. He can spend as much as those pesky 632.000 new donors will give him. So Obama has TV commercials. McCain has...robocalls. rss@dailykos.com (karenc13) CameronCrowe John McCain JohnCusak JohnMcCain robo-calls Snark _636311 Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:02:37 +0000 Susan Collins (R-ME) tells McCain to stop robo-calls https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/17/634037/-Susan-Collins-R-ME-tells-McCain-to-stop-robo-calls?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= <a href="http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/10/gop-senator-sla.html">Via ABC</a> Well, another relatively sane conservative trying to escape from the vortex of bigotry, fascism and pure lunacy that McCain-Palin have created. <blockquote> Embattled Republican Sen. Susan Collins is calling on Sen. John McCain to stop paying for automated phone calls which describe Sen. Barack Obama as having "worked closely" with "domestic terrorist Bill Ayers." "These kind of tactics have no place in Maine politics," said Collins spokesman Kevin Kelley. "Sen. Collins urges the McCain campaign to stop these calls immediately." </blockquote> Of course Collins is in a re-election battle and would like to limit the damage. How much success that will have, considering she is the co-chair of the McCain campaign in Maine, still has to be seen. rss@dailykos.com (Calouste) John McCain JohnMcCain robo-calls Smears SusanCollins TomAllen _634037 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 01:05:04 +0000 Anti-Dem robo-calls in NC send voters a mixed message https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/7/622985/-Anti-Dem-robo-calls-in-NC-send-voters-a-mixed-message?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= Cross-posted at <a href="http://www.southernstudies.org/facingsouth">Facing South</a> -- your source for news, politics and trends in the changing South In the last week, Kay Hagan -- Democratic challenger to Sen. Elizabeth Dole for North Carolina's U.S. Senate seat -- has been hammered by critical robo-calls from two operations: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom%27s_Watch">Freedom's Watch</a>, a non-profit founded by GOP operatives in 2007, and the Free Enterprise Alliance, an offshoot of the Associated Builders and Contractors, whose PAC is the <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/toppacs.php?Type=C&cycle=2008&Pty=R">third-biggest contributor to Republicans</a> in the country. But instead of calling North Carolina voters, maybe the anti-Hagan robo-callers need to get on the phone and talk to each other. Because on at least one of the key issues Hagan is being attacked over -- immigration -- the two groups are sending voters a mixed message. rss@dailykos.com (ProgressiveSouth) associatedbuildersandcontractors ElizabethDole Freedom's Watch FreedomsWatch Immigration KayHagan NC-Sen North Carolina NorthCarolina robo-calls Senate _622985 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:31:11 +0000 BREAKING: WVWV sows fresh confusion in WV and KY (updateX2) https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/13/514828/-BREAKING-WVWV-sows-fresh-confusion-in-WV-and-KY-updateX2?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= The following is the latest installment in the ongoing controversy surrounding Women's Voices Women Vote, first surfaced at <a href="http://southernstudies.org/facingsouth/2008/04/facing-south-exclusive-dc-nonprofit.asp">Facing South</a> and <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/4/30/11055/6499/141/506343">DailyKos</a> two weeks ago. We believe the following piece is important because it confirms that, contrary to the claims of WVWV and several of its defenders, the voter confusion resulting from WVWV's tactics is not the product of a "mistake" or isolated error, but the predictable result of a conscious strategy. -- Chris and Sue, <a href="http://www.southernstudies.org/facingsouth">Facing South</a> TWO UPDATES at bottom The controversy that recently erupted in North Carolina over confusing, misleading and at times illegal voter registration tactics used by Women's Voices Women Vote has not discouraged the D.C. nonprofit from continuing similar efforts in mountain states with primaries this month. rss@dailykos.com (ProgressiveSouth) facingsouth Kentucky Recommended robo-calls Voting Rights VotingRights West Virginia WestVirginia WomensVoicesWomenVote _514828 Tue, 13 May 2008 17:23:01 +0000 Women's Voices causes voter confusion in West Virginia https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/10/513125/-Women-s-Voices-causes-voter-confusion-in-West-Virginia?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= Women's Voices Women Vote, a nonprofit group with <a href="http://www.npr.org/news/images/2008/may/01/wvwvchart.html">deep ties to Hillary Clinton</a>, is at it again, creating voter confusion in West Virginia just ahead of the state's primary. Despite the fact that WVWV has <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90114863">generated complaints in numerous states</a> over the past six months about tactics that confuse and suppress voters, despite the fact that it has been <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/4/30/11055/6499">warned about its misleading and deceptive methods</a> by numerous state and law enforcement officials in many states, despite the fact that WVWV is currently <a href="http://www.ncdoj.com/DocumentStreamerClient?directory=PressReleases/&file=Voter%20Registration%20Robo%20Calls%20final.pdf">under investigation by the North Carolina Attorney General</a>, WVWV just continues to sow voter confusion. The latest state is West Virginia, where the <a href="http://www.dailymail.com/News/election08/200805090050">West Virginia Secretary of State issued a warning</a> on Friday that WVWV's recent mailing could cause voter confusion ahead of the state's primary next week. rss@dailykos.com (davidkc) Hillary Clinton HillaryClinton mailings Media Primaries robo-calls VoterSuppression Voting Rights VotingRights West Virginia WestVirginia WomensVoicesWomenVote _513125 Sat, 10 May 2008 13:08:25 +0000 Latest on the Voting Rights/WVWV investigation - UPDATED https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/6/510221/-Latest-on-the-Voting-Rights-WVWV-investigation-UPDATED?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= The following is an update on where our investigation into illegal and deceptive election practices and Women's Voices Women Vote stands. A special thank you to the DailyKos community for paying close attention to this story. As you can see, the basic facts of the investigation have not been challenged, and many questions remain unanswered. We will continue to pursue this story until the truth is brought to light. Thanks again. - Chris, <a href="http://www.southernstudies.org/facingsouth">Facing South</a>  P.S. -- Please rec this story, keep it alive! Also, see important update at bottom. It has been a week now since Facing South and the Institute for Southern Studies published <a href="http://southernstudies.org/facingsouth/2008/04/facing-south-exclusive-bogus-nc.asp">our first investigation</a> into the mysterious "Lamont Williams" robo-calls (listen to the audio file <a href="http://www.democracy-nc.org/nc/spprncall.wav">here</a>) that blanketed North Carolina on the eve of the state's critical primary elections. Over the past week, our ongoing investigation has ignited a national firestorm. We'd like to take a moment to reflect on what brought us here, and offer our best sense of where the issue stands. rss@dailykos.com (ProgressiveSouth) 2008 facingsouth North Carolina NorthCarolina robo-calls Voting Rights VotingRights WomensVoicesWomenVote _510221 Tue, 06 May 2008 21:16:15 +0000 Hillary and Bill, Please Stop Calling Me https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/6/509905/-Hillary-and-Bill-Please-Stop-Calling-Me?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= I am a registered Democrat who lives in North Carolina. I have a habit of never answering my phone, I let the caller leave a message on my machine (unless it's my mom, my wife or one of my kids, that is). On Sunday, I received a nice call from Hillary Clinton. Well, a recorded message, anyway. She was quite polite, and let me know that she wanted my vote! rss@dailykos.com (Morlock) Clinton North Carolina NorthCarolina Obama Primary robo-calls Snark Tax _509905 Tue, 06 May 2008 10:23:26 +0000 NC NAACP files formal complaint against Women's Voices https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/4/508739/-NC-NAACP-files-formal-complaint-against-Women-s-Voices?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= The voter suppression scandal involving Women's Voices Women Vote continued to grow yesterday, as the North Carolina NAACP filed a formal complaint of possible voter suppression against the group, which has deep ties to Hillary Clinton, for its deceptive and illegal robocalls and mailings in North Carolina. As reported by <a href="http://southernstudies.org/facingsouth/">Facing South</a> and the <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1060266.html">News & Observer</a>, the NC NAACP hand-delivered its complaint to state Attorney General Roy Cooper and State Board of Elections Executive Director Gary Bartlett on Saturday. The NAACP said it is also alerting the U.S. Department of Justice that it is collecting more information from its national network and is contemplating filing a formal complaint with that agency. The NAACP's complaint is extensive and troubling, to say the least. rss@dailykos.com (davidkc) 2008 Hillary Clinton HillaryClinton North Carolina NorthCarolina Primaries robo-calls VoterSuppression Voting Rights VotingRights WomensVoicesWomenVote _508739 Sun, 04 May 2008 13:15:17 +0000 Anatomy of a cover up: how corporate media buries WVWV https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/3/508411/-Anatomy-of-a-cover-up-how-corporate-media-buries-WVWV?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= Any one who has visited <a href="http://">Facing South</a>, TPM or dailykos is well aware the irregularities surrounding <a href="http://www.wvwv.org/">Women' Voices Women's Vote</a> group and the issues surrounding these repetitive violations of not just the law, but of common sense. Say what you will about the matter: I think Facing South did a great job at revealing the <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/30/11055/6499/141/506343">facts.</a>. There is a clear pattern of activity of providing bogus information, as outlined on that diary above. These are not 'tin foil' claims; these involve in many cases either law enforcement or authorized officials inside the Democratic Party structure making statements to try to straighten the messes made by WVWV robo calls.   Now, we may argue about whether these events that span 12 States, and involve potentially millions of votes already cast were a result of gross incompetence or outright criminality. But one thing is for certain: hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent [if not more] to place robo-calls to people which could not have had the desired effect. What's this diary about? Take the jump.   rss@dailykos.com (shpilk) 2008 Coverup DirtyTricks Hillary Clinton HillaryClinton Journalism Media Primaries robo calls robo-calls Robocalls TraditionalMedia WomensVoicesWomenVote wvwv _508411 Sat, 03 May 2008 19:28:35 +0000 NC Robocalls: Women's Voices, I have some questions for you https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/3/508343/-NC-Robocalls-Women-s-Voices-I-have-some-questions-for-you?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= As the voter suppression scandal involving Women's Voices Women vote continues to escalate, the group appears to be in serious CYA/spin mode.  The WVWV board is reportedly having an emergency meeting; the group has trotted out some board members to make <a href="http://www.wvwv.org/2008/5/1/statement-of-william-mcnary-president-of-usaction-co-executive-director-citizen-action-illinois-and-board-member-of-women-s-voices-women-vote">public statements</a> of their full support for the group; WVWV got a piece written in <a href="http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2008/05/02/robocalls/index.html">Salon</a> in which it claims their problems in NC are due to incompetence (plus they don't really focus on women anyway); and Julia Louis Dreyfus, who is featured in a WVWV PSA urging women to elect a woman as president, tries to explain away the video on <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/julia-louisdreyfus/a-point-of-clarification_b_99915.html">Huffington Post</a>. But all this smoke and mirrors leaves the most important questions unanswered, and raises even more questions that I have for WVWV. rss@dailykos.com (davidkc) ConflictsOfInterest Hillary Clinton HillaryClinton JuliaLouisDreyfus Media North Carolina NorthCarolina Primaries robo-calls VoterSuppression Voting Rights VotingRights WomensVoicesWomenVote _508343 Sat, 03 May 2008 17:58:02 +0000 NC Robocalls: NPR uncovers more Clinton ties, shady dealings with WVWV (Updated) https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/2/507604/-NC-Robocalls-NPR-uncovers-more-Clinton-ties-shady-dealings-with-WVWV-Updated?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= Yesterday National Public Radio's All Things Considered program aired a <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90114863">good story</a> on the North Carolina Robocall scandal that describes some of the key problems with the robocalls by Women's Voices Women Vote (WVWV).  NPR has also uncovered some clear conflict of interest issues that could put WVWV in more legal hot water and does a great job of summarizing the many Clinton connections that run throughout the organization. It's great reporting. rss@dailykos.com (davidkc) ConflictsOfInterest Hillary Clinton HillaryClinton Media North Carolina NorthCarolina Primaries Recommended robo-calls VoterSuppression Voting Rights VotingRights WomensVoicesWomenVote _507604 Fri, 02 May 2008 12:05:13 +0000 WVWV Responds https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/1/506972/-WVWV-Responds?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= Yesterday, through some mutual friends, I was invited by a representative of <a href="http://www.wvwv.org/">Women's Voices Women Vote</a> to submit questions to them to which they would respond, pledging to reprint their answers in full.  These were my questions, and their answers, via spokesperson Sarah Johnson: <blockquote> For the NC calls: What types of voters were being targeted? While our focus is on unmarried women, we have worked to target other under-represented groups in through our project, the Voter Participation Center.  Like many other organizations, WVWV focuses on registering unregistered voters across the country from demographic groups that are underrepresented in our democracy. Specifically we target unregistered voters and voters that have previously been registered but have moved and need to reregister. While our focus is unmarried women, we have also worked to motivate African Americans, Hispanics and young people just turning 18 years of age to register. Since last July WVWV has generated about 400,000 voter registration applications; from coast to coast from underrepresented demographic groups.  Already in this period WVWV has successfully encouraged more than 27,000 individuals to register in North Carolina alone. On what dates were calls being made? Last Thursday and Friday What steps are being taken to correct any misinformation?  Will WVWV be placing a follow-up set of calls to assure these folks that if they previously registered to vote, they need do nothing else? We have communicated with the North Carolina State Board of Elections to notify them that WVWV is prepared to work with them to address any confusion that may have resulted from this recent activity.  In addition, one of the first things WVWV did after hearing peoples' concerns was to contact bloggers and others that had gotten in touch with us.  We have also worked with the firm that does our mailing to see if there was a way the mailing could be held and not delivered, and to begin a dialogue with folks to clear up any remaining confusion. We have had significant success in delaying the mail in North Carolina.   We understand that a majority of the mail that was going to North Carolina will not be delivered, and our folks are continuing to try to make sure that as much of the NC mail as possible is held until a later date. Who is Lamont Williams, and why was an African American male voice used for a voter registration drive (presumably) targeted at unmarried women? Mr. Williams is a professional voice talent.  While the primary goal of WVWV is to register unmarried women to vote, the Voter Participation Center, a project of WVWV works to engage other under-represented Americans.  There were two recorded calls made.  The call from Lamont Williams went to men, and a recorded call from a female was used to contact women.   Why no disclosure on the calls as to your sponsorship of them? That was a mistake. We regret the error and will ensure it does not happen again.   In general: What other states have received calls, and when?  [what voter pools?] Prospective registrants received calls in 24 states during the same timeframe.  [Last Thursday-Friday.]  As stated above WVWV focuses its efforts on registering traditionally underrepresented individuals.   [Added: On February 6-7, more than 4.1 million homes [were contacted] in 22 states: Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington State, and Wisconsin.] How were the dates for calling determined?  Was it in reference to the primary registration deadline or primary election date? The calls were scheduled to coincide with the arrival of the voter registration applications. We regret any confusion that has arised as a consequence of this timing.   Did the feedback from states like Wisconsin lead to any changes in how WVWV implemented this program? WVWV always welcomes feedback from those who are tasked with maximizing the number of people that are registered to vote and to get voters to participate in our great democracy.  WVWV has made a significant number of changes to its mailings at the request of various state officials and welcomes communication with such officials. We would note that we notify these offices when we are sending the mail. In the case of North Carolina we also issued a press release to tell people that the mailing was coming and that it was intended for the general election, not the primary. Have WVWV staff members communicated or coordinated in any way with any political campaign in implementing this program? No. </blockquote> And this is a new statement from board member John Podesta: <blockquote> Women's Voices. Women Vote has a strong record of registering disenfranchised people so that they can participate in the political process.  As a board member, I was aware of the general parameters of the group's voter registration program, but not the details of its execution.  With respect to the calls and mailings made in North Carolina, I understand that remedial action is being undertaken.  I agree <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-mcnary/womens-voices-women-vote_b_99548.html">with fellow board member William McNary</a> that the North Carolina state calling program  was a mistake of judgment and execution, and not an attempt to disenfranchise voters, and have been assured by Page Gardner, President of WVWV, that the organization will conduct a full and prompt accounting of the circumstances of the voter registration program for its board of directors.   </blockquote> Reaction: First off, I am not inclined to believe that this was a conspiracy for voter suppression designed from the highest reaches of the Clinton campaign.  I think such a view misunderstands the typical role of a Board of Directors with a nonprofit organization.  As someone who serves on several such boards, I can tell you that we're not there every day and don't run things on a day-to-day basis.  That's what the staff is for, and I do find it difficult to believe that a Board of Directors with such diverse interests would deliberately direct a scheme to misdirect and misinform duly registered voters. That said, I am deeply, disappointed that a group has done <a href="http://www.wvwv.org/research">research</a> and <a href="http://www.wvwv.org/media-room/video-public-service-announcements">media outreach</a> as well as WVWV has could screw this up so badly.  Over and over again, voters and officials in states like <a href="http://hamptonroads.com/node/453328">Virginia</a>, <a href="http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/04/group_missed_oregon_deadline_t.php">Oregon</a>, <a href="http://elections.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=13193&locid=47">Wisconsin</a> and <a href="http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:B8cdHbwqOAMJ:www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article%3FAID%3D2008802190329+%22Ill-conceived+voter+registration+drives+confuse+recipients%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=us">Michigan</a> complained that these calls were going on (a) at times likely to provoke voter confusion as to their registration status and (b) without disclosing their source.  And still, WVWV did it again in North Carolina.  [The anonymous calls are particularly troubling, given <a href="http://hamptonroads.com/node/453328">WVWV's pledge months ago to identify themselves on all calls</a>.] The basic problem is this: when you call people who are registered to vote and give them the impression that they are not, then compound the error by making such calls at a time when there's nothing the voter can do about it, you're going to lead to a lot of registered voters who believe they're unable to vote.  Whether the result of deliberate design or massive negligence on the part of WVWV and/or its vendors in terms of the timing of the calls and the determination of who would be called, the end result is something which rightly raised suspicions about the intent of this program. I understand that <a href="http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=5489">some have defended WVWV</a> by arguing that post-primary deadline is actually the most successful time to register voters, but not when you're consistently confusing voters and angering state elections boards while doing so.  Given the complaints, this should have been fixed or ended long before now. Honestly, I don't think WVWV has gone far enough to fix the mess they've made.  A press release and withholding some of the mailing isn't enough.  I believe they're obligated to go through the list of every NC resident/residence they called and <a href="http://www.sboe.state.nc.us/VoterLookup.aspx?Feature=voterinfo">determine who is eligible to vote</a>.  They should explain to those voters that they were reached in error and should show up and vote on May 6.  They should call back the unregistered voters and inform them that <a href="http://www.sboe.state.nc.us/content.aspx?ID=32">one-stop absentee registration and voting is still available until Saturday</a>.  And they should explain who they are, and how WVWV can be reached if there's any questions. [When an Obama campaign vendor <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/robo_calls_were_from_obama_campaign_not">accidentally called thousands of Washington state voters with the wrong caucus date</a>, they re-called all of them -- at their own expense.] Big errors require big solutions, and I believe steps like these could confirm the good faith which so many of us had in WVWV's work. rss@dailykos.com (Adam B) facingsouth North Carolina NorthCarolina robo-calls Virginia Voter Registration VoterRegistration WomensVoicesWomenVote _506972 Thu, 01 May 2008 17:03:18 +0000 Women's Voices UPDATEDx2: Chance to respond? https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/1/506918/-Women-s-Voices-UPDATEDx2-Chance-to-respond?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= UPDATE: Please see the important update at the bottom! UPDATE II: I've asked Adam B for the chance to respond to the answers Sarah Johnson of Women's Voices gave to his front-page interview. They've given their side, I'd like to have a chance to respond to several inaccuracies in their statements on the front page. I am still waiting for Adam's response. rss@dailykos.com (ProgressiveSouth) 2008 chriskromm facingsouth North Carolina NorthCarolina pagegardner Recommended robo-calls Virginia WomensVoicesWomenVote _506918 Thu, 01 May 2008 13:04:38 +0000 [UPDATE] John Podesta responds to WVWV robo-call scandal (with new response) https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/30/506710/--UPDATE-John-Podesta-responds-to-WVWV-robo-call-scandal-with-new-response?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= UPDATED 5/2: No word from Mr. Podesta yesterday. Scroll all the way down for my latest email to him. UPDATED 5/1 with new response. I was, like everyone else here, extremely upset when I heard <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/4/30/11055/6499/141/506343">Facing South's (tremendous) report today</a> about the Women's Voices, Women Vote robo-calls in North Carolina. rss@dailykos.com (stefanielaine) 2008 JohnPodesta Recommended robo-calls WomenVoicesWomensVote wvwv _506710 Thu, 01 May 2008 01:23:48 +0000 N.C. Attorney general investigatin robo calls https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/30/506651/-N-C-Attorney-general-investigatin-robo-calls?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= From Taalkingpointsmemo: <a href="http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/04/north_carolina_ag_opens_invest.php">http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmem...</a> <blockquote> North Carolina's attorney general has just put out a press release (pdf) saying that he's investigating the calls and taking credit for having them stopped. "Regardless of the motivation, the robo-calls violated the law and they needed to stop," Roy Cooper said. He also includes a correspondence with the group's lawyer. In the letter, Cooper requests a variety of information about the calls. </blockquote> Let's see what comes of this... rss@dailykos.com (mtorez) NorthCarolinaPrimary robo-calls RoyCooper Talking Points Memo TalkingPointsMemo VoterSuppression _506651 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:26:18 +0000 NC Robo-Calls: Another Clinton Connection? https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/30/506607/-NC-Robo-Calls-Another-Clinton-Connection?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= A lot of information is emerging about the robo-calls that were placed to African American voters in North Carolina, arousing the suspicion of state authorities.  In those robo-calls, a speaker calling himself "Lamont Williams" informs voters that they will be receiving voter registration packets and that they should send them in to register to have their votes counted.  However, the calls were made after the deadline for mail-in registration had passed, and apparently many were made to voters who were already registered.  It turns out that the calls were placed by an organization called "Women's Voices, Women's Vote". WVWV's connections to the Clinton campaign have been blogged about here: <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/30/11055/6499/141/506343">http://www.dailykos.com/...</a> But was the head of WVWV the "national women's vote director" for the Clinton campaign back in 1992? rss@dailykos.com (Shlomi) Hillary Clinton HillaryClinton North Carolina NorthCarolina pagegardner robo-calls _506607 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:56:22 +0000 BREAKING: Source of deceptive NC robo-calls exposed https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/30/506343/-BREAKING-Source-of-deceptive-NC-robo-calls-exposed?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= [Promoted by DHinMI: Robocalls in North Carolina are confusing voters and have the appearance of voter suppression.  It turns out the source of the calls is a Democratic-leaning non-profit.  The director of the organization <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/page-gardner/confusion-surrounding-rob_b_99427.html">apologizes</a> for the "confusion" caused by her organization, but as this diary makes clear, the organization has had a series of problems prior to primaries.  And it should be pointed out that a non-profit group focusing efforts on registering unmarried women in presidential primaries has to know that their activities will almost certainly help Hillary Clinton, as unmarried white women is probably her strongest demographic.  Clearly we need to hear more of an explanation about this pattern of problems.]   Yesterday, I posted <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/4/29/105711/770/895/505589">a recommended diary here</a> about thousands of deceptive, anonymous and likely illegal robo-calls blanketing North Carolina shortly before the state's primaries on May 6. The follow-up below is the result of hours of investigative work over the last 24 hours, including helpful tips from DKos members. Thank you for your assistance in helping us tell this important story. Please note: Women's Voices Women Vote appears to be a legitimate organization; people we respect support their work. However, we believe that the tactics revealed in our story, as well as the effect they are having on confusing and potentially disenfranchising hundreds of thousands of voters -- especially right before critical primaries -- are cause for deep concern and raise critical questions about ethical election practices. -- Chris rss@dailykos.com (ProgressiveSouth) Barack Obama BarackObama chriskromm facingsouth Front Paged FrontPaged Hillary Clinton HillaryClinton InstituteforSouthernStudies North Carolina NorthCarolina Primaries Recommended robo-calls VoterSuppression Voting Rights VotingRights WomensVoicesWomenVote _506343 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:24:48 +0000 Action on NC robo-call scandal: contact the funders https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/1/506211/-Action-on-NC-robo-call-scandal-contact-the-funders?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= Stefanielaine has a <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/30/211016/253/775/506710">great diary</a> on the rec list about the action she took to voice her concerns about the current robo-call voter disenfranchisement scandal that is enveloping the nonprofit group Women's Voices. Women Vote (WVWV).  As we all know by now, in numerous primary states WVWV - which has extensive ties to Hillary Clinton - has been engaging in a pattern of deceptive and possibly illegal tactics that appear intended to confuse and disenfranchise voters, particularly voters who are less likely to support Hillary Clinton.  Following up on stefanielaine's action, I'd like to suggest another action item that kossacks can take today: contact WVWV's funders.   rss@dailykos.com (davidkc) Hillary Clinton HillaryClinton North Carolina NorthCarolina Primaries robo-calls VoterSuppression Voting Rights VotingRights WomensVoicesWomenVote _506211 Thu, 01 May 2008 13:54:04 +0000 BREAKING: Voter deception in NC linked to national strategy (UPDATE 2X) https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/29/505589/-BREAKING-Voter-deception-in-NC-linked-to-national-strategy-UPDATE-2X?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= Cross-posted at <a href="http://www.southernstudies.org/facingsouth/">Facing South</a> As <a href="http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/elections_board_hunting_robocaller">reported yesterday</a> in the Raleigh News & Observer, African-American households are receiving anonymous robo-calls with misleading information about voting. Facing South has now learned that those calls are very similar to tactics recently used in Virginia and Ohio, suggesting they may be linked to a national voter deception strategy. rss@dailykos.com (ProgressiveSouth) 2008 Caging lamontwilliams North Carolina NorthCarolina Primaries Recommended robo-calls voterdeception VoterDisenfranchisement _505589 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:00:30 +0000 Edwards Supporters: Remember the SC Robo-Calls https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/1/30/446604/-Edwards-Supporters-Remember-the-SC-Robo-Calls?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= Assuming you'll be switching to one of the remaining candidates, I hope you will consider the Clinton campaign's actions of last week.  When JRE's winning debate performance gave him a bump and threatened HRC's second place position, her campaign wasted no time going nuclear, with anti-Edwards robo-calls, such as the following: rss@dailykos.com (Meursault) Hillary Clinton HillaryClinton John Edwards JohnEdwards robo-calls _446604 Thu, 31 Jan 2008 01:35:52 +0000 Humanizing the robocall: Ron Paul's South Carolina campaign https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/1/17/438465/-Humanizing-the-robocall-Ron-Paul-s-South-Carolina-campaign?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= After yesterday's Associated Press <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/1/16/174349/425">speculation</a> that Ron Paul could (somehow) pull off a win in Nevada comes more news than Ron Paul is truly running a different sort of campaign. Those of us who have lived in critical states the past couple of cycles have been subjected to a flood of automated phone calls, often either straight attacks of an opponent, or offensive content fraudulently attributed to an opponent's campaign.  Lots of pro-Huckabee robo-calls are peppering the phones of South Carolina's Republican voters in an effort to steer them clear of John McCain. Such tactics are apparently being embraced by Ron Paul's campaign.  But his campaign, <a href="http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/064012.php">as Josh Marshall reports</a>, is different.  Details after the jump. rss@dailykos.com (Nuisance Industry) 2008 elections 2008elections Republicans robo-calls Ron Paul RonPaul RudyGiuliani SouthCarolina _438465 Thu, 17 Jan 2008 21:21:36 +0000