"Hello, I'm Calling With Information About Heath Shuler...."

(which won't mean much, I think, because of my Georgia address):

NRCC Robo-Calls Go Way Beyond Fair Play

The National Republican Congressional Committee is making calls in NC-11 that begin "Hello, I'm calling with information about Heath Shuler," and they intentionally call the same household repeatedly. The Republican hope, clearly, is that voters will mistake these calls for Shuler campaign calls. Children know dirty cheating tricks when they see them, but one could be forgiven for assuming that Republicans do not.

Americablog, Crooks and Liars, Firedog Lake and Daily Kos all have posts up about this. I think they've only reported in NY, CT, WY and a couple of other states. I didn't know it was happening here as well. The I think the DCCC has already filed a complaint and be considering legal action. I think it violates FCC rules.

n/t

They ran an AP article about it last Wednesday.

The real question is - would the AC-T have reported about it if left to their own volition? I doubt it very seriously.

"we're banging pots and pans / to make you understand / we're gonna bury you, man"

Need a recording of the Shuler calls. Will make an interesting juxtaposition with Taylor's public stance:

Rep. Charles Taylor has also denounced political robo-calls. In a March 7 constituent newsletter, Taylor wrote, “I believe it is well past time that these unwanted recorded phone messages were stopped. That is why I have become a cosponsor of H.R. 1950, the Robo Calls Off Phones Act. This legislation will extend the National Do-Not-Call Registry to apply to recorded political phone messages.”

http://mountainx.com/blogs/news/2006/10/26/151

CitizenWill
there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must do it because Conscience tells him it is right. MLK,Jr. to SCLC Leadership Class

If you contact the media, please be sure to refute the following assertion highlighted in today's N&O (NY Times reprint):

Some Democratic strategists say that the distortions are not any worse than the standard fare in the torrent of television and radio ads by both sides, and probably do not cross any legal lines. And while many Democratic campaigns and support groups also rely on computer-dialed telephone attacks, Republican leaders say they have not seen the Democrats use any similar poll-like surveys in the major races this year.

The Dems, always ready to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

These push-polls and scam calls are distinctly different than television, print and radio ads BECAUSE THEY FLY UNDER THE RADAR!

By necessity, television/print/radio ads are PUBLIC. The targeting logistics behind these robo-calls can be quite sophisticated. Only a very small percentage of those receiving the calls will elevate their concerns to the point of getting any PUBLIC attention.

The slick insidiousness of these robo-calls is way beyond the common public distortions of a Vernon Robinson. Don't let the Democratic political operators off the hook - this is a completely different beast.

CitizenWill
there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must do it because Conscience tells him it is right. MLK,Jr. to SCLC Leadership Class

Here's the specifics of Shuler's race:

12. Opposes Candidate: HEATH SHULER FOR CONGRESS
Office Sought: House of Representatives, North Carolina District 11

Payee: CONQUEST COMMUNICATIONS GROUP
Date Expended = 11/03/2006 Amount Expended = $2949.12
Purpose: Phone Banks

Payee: CONQUEST COMMUNICATIONS GROUP
Date Expended = 11/02/2006 Amount Expended = $2936.34
Purpose: Phone Banks

Payee: CONQUEST COMMUNICATIONS GROUP
Date Expended = 11/01/2006 Amount Expended = $2970.66
Purpose: Phone Banks

More via TPM.

Wow! These calls are damnably cheap.

CitizenWill
there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must do it because Conscience tells him it is right. MLK,Jr. to SCLC Leadership Class

is going to find his ass in jail in a couple of months.

Corruption and illegal activity is just SOP for the GOP. They will stop at nothing to retain power.

To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only UNPATRIOTIC and servile, but it is morally treasonable to the American public.

Not counting payments to individual phone bankers, the Taylor campaign has paid the following for calling:

Direct Strategies
106 E College Ave Ste 1100
Tallahassee, Florida 32301
10/16/2006 $5,636.62 PHONE CALLS
10/18/2006 $8,251.21 CALLING

I don't know if anyone caught my comment above but to repeat:

"Taylor issued a news release Sunday saying that if re-elected, he will seek legislation to prohibit automated political phone calls"