Sunday, November 05, 2006

Robocalls Misleading Stamford Voters

Talking Points Memo is reporting that the NRCC has added Diane Farrell to its misleading robocall. The trick is to open with a statement like [Democratic Candidate's name] has some information for you, then a long pause and then the rest is negative stuff about the candidate. The pause is purposeful, misleading callers to think the candidate is making the call. More info here.
I was canvassing in Stamford, CT for Lamont and Farrel yesterday... some of the canvassers were talking about a nasty robocall hit on Farrell, which they said people at the doors had talked about. I didn't hear that at the door personally, but I wasn't focusing on the congressional race - i was talking about Lamont primarily.
Apparently the call starts with something along the lines of "Diane Farrell has some information for you," then pauses, waiting for annoyed people to hang up, and then delivers a negative message about Farrell. The canvassers say the call has hit some people as much as 6 times, and at 5 - 6am as well. Presumably, the intent is to annoy people and stick Farrell with the negative name ID as somebody who keeps robo-calling them. source: (Talking Points Memo)


Talking Points Memo 11/05/06

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Funny, turff, I don;t recall the Dems being so hostile about the robocalls they did over the summer lying about Shays' position on stem cell research

Gabe said...

Also, these are designed to hit people multiple times, at annoying times of day, and they are designed to make you think they are coming from the candidate you are actually attacking. Classy.

Anonymous said...

They are doing it here in the 5th CD too. It is a nasty tactic but i expect nothing less.

Anonymous said...

Pathetic... robocalls need to be banned. It is harrassment, pure and simple. Every national and local newscast should run a story about this tactic.

Anonymous said...

Considering all the annoying calls I got from MoveOn.org over the summer, I say it is about time for some payback. What's good for the goose is good for the gander, right?

Gabe said...

Anon 832 - Was move.on making the calls, but making you think they were coming from the Republican they were actually attacking?

What about this don't you understand?

David said...

the republicans are doing this against chris murphy too.

the election laws need to be changed to fix this.

Anonymous said...

According to the New York Times front page today some Proctor and Gamble types out of Ohio are doing some new pre-election "polls" for the GOP but I don't know if this is what's going on in CT.

Politicians, political groups and charities should comply with the do not call list.