Charlie Rangel Robo Call telling me not to support Obama

[vaberella]

Last edited Thu Jun 21, 2012, 09:44 PM - Edit history (1)

Okay. So my sister, my mum and myself are enjoying our Law and Order: Criminal Intent when there comes this call from Chicago. Yeah, we're one of those people who waits to see who it is before we accept the calls. We're like Chicago...who do we know in Chicago.

I picked it up since I found Chicago curious. And this woman responds, obviously robo and she's like "Barack Obama doesn't support Charlie Rangel, so why should we support him..." She kept going but I lost interest after that.

I live in Harlem and I so don't want Rangel in office. I have been wanting him out for years. Every two years have I have voted against him. This Robo call wasn't cool. I didn't realize there was a rift between them. Although I know Obama definitely said that Rangel should retire from office after that ethics investigation where he was getting gifts. The man even admitted that "he didn't keep good bookkeeping" or something to that affect.

However I did not expect Rangel's office to actually fund a robo call campaigning against Obama's re-election.

Thanks to MADem, I have the number: 312.683.9552 the call occurred today at 8:32pm.

[dionysus]

1. are you sure his office is funding it? repubs play dirty tricks like this...

if his office really did, it's just another embarrassment for old charlie

[vaberella]

5. I don't know, nor do I know how to find out. n/t

[MADem]

10. Pick up the phone. Call Charlie's Harlem office. ASK.

Believe me, if someone is ratfucking, he's gonna want to know. If you haven't deleted the caller ID details, give those to his Chief of Staff or Office Manager. Don't leave it with the call screener--explain why you are calling, and ask to speak to one of those people.

[vaberella]

29. I haven't. But I will tell you this. I hate his office.

I have been slighted by that man's office more than once in my life. I don't think it's very welcoming of constituents calling. I mean someone else might love the man and had great experience. I dislike Rangel because of how his office is run and the fact he's rarely if EVER there. But I do plan on calling and I will get the number. I will even post it here when I get it.

[MADem]

33. You almost never speak to the principal--even if you KNOW him or her.

Believe me!

If you can talk to a "specialist" aide or someone at or near the Chief of Staff level, you're doing good.

[aquart]

16. Riiight. How about Google?

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/politics/2012/05/5864844/super-pac-launches-six-figure-primary-season-attack-rangel

[vaberella]

26. Uh....did you read my post. The robo call is not against Rangel.

It is against Obama. The Robo call is supposedly in the name of Charlie Rangel getting voters NOT to vote for Obama because he is NOT supporting Rangel. So I don't see this working against Rangel if it is him. I say this because I know Harlem and people are truly dedicated to Rangel.

[aquart]

31. Again. OBAMA is not running. Charlie is. This is a smear of Rangel.

Seriously, hook, line AND sinker? Come on.

[vaberella]

34. Actually Obama is running. He's running for President this term.

Rangel will always have a seat despite this smear. Which it most likely is. What is this "hook, line, and sinker"? Did I not clearly state that I hung up on the phone because I basically found the call absurd. But it is going on and as I stated I do plan on calling Rangel's office about it. Not to mention, Rangel doesn't need this smear in his ledger to not be on my shit list. I'm one of his constituents and he turned on us in regards to the public option, he is rarely ever there to really know what's going on. His office is full of rude and condescending people. Ugh....I could go on.

[dsc]

37. He is in a primary and your primary is soon (I think next Tues)

If Rangel loses that election he won't have a seat.

[MADem]

41. No Republican will win that district though--but it HAS been redistricted.

It's now majority Hispanic, which could be good news for Espaillat, Charlie's Dominican-born, much younger (late fifties), challenger...

I like Charlie, warts and all. If he can't pull this out, I'll feel sad.

[dsc]

48. He is likely in trouble

partially of his own making, but clearly this call is designed to sink him and is most probably part of the opponents campaign. I hope Charlie can hold on as well but I think he is a less than 50/50 bet.

[MADem]

50. I agree with that assessment. I think it's all down to GOTV and I dunno how good Charlie's

ground game is against serious competition in an uphill battle. Wish I could help him; I don't really know his district (old or new) well enough to do him any good. Plus, I'm a carpetbagger and it would be way too late to stroll in and have any effect. Who'd trust me? You go with what you know!

I'll keep my fingers crossed and either cheer if he squeaks through, or mourn his departure.

If he gets the toss, Maybe POTUS can give him an easy ambassadorship where he can enjoy his dotage for Obama's second term and he can spend the rest of this term doing GOTV and voter registration whip-ups for BHO.

[vaberella]

56. Don't stress for Rangel.

He's in such easy street that I could tell you I have seen no advertisement by him for him running for office even if the primary is next week. My domain is all over broadway from 145th to 125 and then crosstown from 125 broadway to 3rd Avenue. He's safe.

[vaberella]

55. Nope. It's not as strong a Dominican presence like 5 years ago.

The area is becoming predominantly Black and Mexican now. And Blacks are the ones really coming out to vote...When voting comes around not too many Latinos are putting in their two cents at the voting Booth. Working at the polls for over 5 years, I can tell you that it's like the entire Black population comes to vote. The woman who ran our station earned her position from her mother who earned hers from her father.

[vaberella]

54. He won't. This is Harlem. Rangel owns us despite me wanting otherwise.

As a friend of mine once said..."I don't want Rangel. But Harlem would be destroyed without him."

[aquart]

51. NOT in the coming NY primary.

Again, not buying the disingenuous.

[vaberella]

57. And again...this won't hurt Rangel.

Or I don't see it hurting him at all and I live, go to school, and work in the area. He's synonymous with Harlem and if it does. It's minutely.

[HiPointDem]

59. i'm kind of getting that vibe too.

[CreekDog]

45. he's not funding or making a call against Obama, find out good info before you assume it's true

jeez.

[Ian David]

2. It could have been Audrie doing her impersonation. n/t

[Raine1967]

17. +1 n/t

[immoderate]

3. What could possibly be in it for Rangel to do that?

What could he gain by bad-mouthing Obama to Harlem residents.

--imm

[vaberella]

9. I haven't a clue.

However I can say this. If he did support this or not. The point is that Rangel has massive weight in Harlem and can influence the Black community here. Some of whom see Obama as a pimp and not one of "them."

[aquart]

30. But Obama isn't running in the New York primary. Charlie is, though.

I'm not buying this disingenuous "If he did support this or not" crap, btw.

The primary is where you vote YOUR choice. The general is where you vote your party's choice. I see that you plan not to vote for Charlie which is exactly right if you don't support him and want him gone.

But why are you trying to defame Charlie (who certainly has enough on his plate) instead of talking up the candidate you DO plan to vote for?

[vaberella]

35. Again, Obama is running for Presidency this term.

I don't think you know Harlem politics but as I said Rangel has disciple like people. Obama, not so much, not in NYC from what I've seen. Both men are running for office by the way and please remember that.

[CreekDog]

46. You are so smart --and you are falling for this?

or even believe it could potentially be true?



and black people aren't going to listen to Charlie when they tell him to vote against Obama. those voters have been targeted for dirty tricks so many times, i doubt anybody could stop them from voting for who they really want.

and even Rangel were doing it (BS) and it were effective (when pigs fly), you really think Rangel is going to flip New York from blue to red?

ugh. just think about what you're saying --it makes NO SENSE WHATSOEVER.

[vaberella]

64. I'm falling for this? I do believe I said I hung up the phone. Okay...read what you want.

I live in the community. People are as rigid as anywhere else in the US. If they don't like Obama and they like Rangel...they won't vote for Obama---not because of the call, but because they never liked him. If people don't like Rangel and like Obama (yours truly)...they won't vote for Rangel..call be damned.

As for flipping New York from Blue to Red? If I make no sense, then I don't even know how you think what you're saying makes any more sense.

I think you're not making a bit of sense. Harlem is only one district. I don't understand how it's flipping NYC. Further more, Harlem is devoutly BLUE. I never said otherwise. I have said I know of other people ---Such as Black Republicans and LaRouche's who live here, because I have had to deal with them.

I think you need a chill pill. Because in reality I don't even know what your on about.

[CreekDog]

65. If you don't believe it and believe it is a sham, then why do you keep talking about its effects?

Look, the election is in November. This is a scam, surely and you say that you think it is.

So you think this bogus robocall is going to affect votes in November?

It's just frustrating to read.

[HiPointDem]

60. it's ridiculous. he'd be dead meat with the party. i can't believe you believe this. i think it's

kind of weird that you seem to.

[aquart]

4. Not the longest day he lives would Charlie dis the top of the Democratic ticket.

ESPECIALLY THE FIRST BLACK AMERICAN PRESIDENT!!!

And I can't believe any Democrat would admit falling for it.

[MADem]

7. That's my take too. nt

[vaberella]

11. Did I say I fell for it? My hanging up before it finished I thought was a lead in.

However, I did find it interesting and considering I don't like the man...and don't plan on voting for him, it's neither here nor there for me. As I said in my post...I didn't even bother listening to the rest.

[CreekDog]

47. You seem to think it could be true, which is sad for you

I feel like i been down this road before.

[MADem]

6. Do you KNOW that came from Charlie's people--or was it "rat fucking" as Rove would say?

Has anyone spoken to CR about this?

[vaberella]

13. I haven't. I got the call about 5 minutes before I posted.

Don't worry. I plan on calling their office about that tomorrow morning.

[MADem]

20. Great--if you still have the caller ID details, pass those along.

Even if he's not your favorite Congressman, he's not going to screw POTUS.

I will admit I am biased in favor of CR despite his woes and missteps. He was good to me many years ago, when a lot of people up on the Hill were miserable assholes.

[vaberella]

24. Oh shoot...I do. How the hell do I pull that up? I will check online. n/t

[MADem]

27. They should be recorded on your phone--just flip back through them.

Here's his details--call in the morning. Unless the member is involved in a contentious committee/subcommittee hearing, they usually keep Fridays pretty clear, though they sometimes take off early and leave the interns to answer the phones. I'd try DC first on this, then NY...but that's me.

Write or Phone My Offices
You may phone or send a message to me through the U.S. Postal Service. Please note that postal mail is the slowest method. All postal mail sent to my offices must be scanned for security purposes, which means it will take an additional two weeks for me to receive it.

Washington, DC Office

2354 Rayburn HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
New York Office

163 West 125th St., Suite #737
New York, NY 10027
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

[vaberella]

36. Huh. I always deal with his NY office, maybe that's my problem.

I've never called his Washington office. I'll call both tomorrow.

[MADem]

43. DC is always better for policy/wonk issues. I also think you get a better crack at constituent

services from the DC offices. They may turn around and delegate the action to the district shop, but the order is coming from DC, and they have to TCB and get back to the bosses that they've done the work.

[Raine1967]

21. I've read enough of your posts to know you will.

I smell a ratfuck here too, as other members have expressed. Glad you brought it to DU's attention.

[longship]

25. Rat fucking is Nixon parlance

As reported by Woodward and Bernstein.

The technique goes way back. Both parties do it. But the parlance is most associated (appropriately) with Nixon.

[MADem]

32. Donald Segretti coined the phrase.

Lee Atwater....who died a horrible death, and begged forgiveness as he lay dying...took up the banner and perfected the art.

Karl Rove (who learned many of his skills at Segretti's knee as the gestapo leader of the College Republicans) carried on smartly--remember the "rat" commercial? Here it is, go through to YOUTUBE and vote it down!

The Dems haven't done anything nearly as dirty as the GOP. Not even close. Not even LBJ, and he could fight dirty.

[Drunken Irishman]

8. Sounds like a typical right-wing robo call...

[MADem]

12. You'd think they'd quit this shit--the current AG isn't playing with those assholes anymore. nt

[vaberella]

15. You'd think they could be locked up for slander or defemation of character? n/t

[MADem]

22. More than that--they're engaging in fraud. nt

[Freddie Stubbs]

66. What would the right wing have to benefit from this?

This is a solidly Democratic district, so whoever wins the Democratic is a shoe-in.

[sabrina 1]

14. Charlie Rangel would never do something like that.

Sounds like someone who hates Rangel, like the far right because he was one of the few Democrats to go after them during the Bush years,

[vaberella]

19. I'm a liberal who thinks Rangel needs to retire and I don't like him.

Not for going after Bush but for having a very unwelcome and rude office and never being in office.

[MADem]

39. Charlie only has a few more years, you know. And you will NOT get a replacement with his power.

Ways and Means is the Big Magilla. He's one of the most powerful people in the land, even though he no longer holds the gavel or the "ranking" title.

You toss him out for a "new congressman"--that's what you get. A new guy at the ass end of the table.

People hate the wheeling/dealing, but it's how the Hill works...and Charlie has clout. Though, as I said, not much longer. Father Time is on all our asses. Plus, the redistricting in Harlem may add a little Dominican spice to the Congressional stew. The district is now Hispanic-majority, and that is good news for Espaillat.

Still, I'm rooting for Charlie even with all his faults--his heart is in the right place and he does put in a full day. If he loses this go-round, I will miss the old lion.

[sabrina 1]

52. I love Charlie Rangel, he should never retire. He's a fighter and a true hero.

I mean a real War Hero, unlike the chicken hawks he was courageous enough to stand up to. I will never forget him going after Cheney when everyone else was too scared to open their mouths.

He remains super popular in his district and I doubt he will retire and will have no problem winning if he runs again.

Despite his party NOT supporting him, he has never betrayed them.

He's a good man, I met him in person and was very impressed at his real compassion for ordinary people and his interest in them. He showed an amazing interest in everyone who was working at that event, and seemed to enjoy the workers far more than all the millionaires who were present that night.

[CBHagman]

18. It has all the earmarks of the GOP MO.

And the out-of-state number should be a clue.

[vaberella]

23. Of course it was. Note that I said I hung up.

My thing is...where are the people to stop this and I was super surprised to get a call.

[RZM]

28. I find it highly unlikely that the Rangel campaign would do this

If only because it's Harlem and the president remains very popular among the African-American community. Dissing Obama in a robocall is about the worst possible thing he could do. Almost certainly a GOP call.

[vaberella]

38. If true, which is 99.9% unlikely, Rangel holds more prestige....I think than Obama.

These people in Harlem area...some of them do tend to subscribe to the Jesse Jackson and Cornell West idea of Obama is not Black enough. So it could have very minor leverage. However, I think most people will hang up on it, like I did.

[RZM]

42. They flirt with that, but do they vote on that?

I understand what you mean. You get a lot of left wing black opposition to Obama in NY. But will they vote against him? I'm not so sure. Sounds like straight-up GOP robocalling bullshit to me.

[CreekDog]

49. ugh

where to start.

you know, if you want to believe the idea, just go ahead.

[vaberella]

53. I live in Harlem and have canvassed in this neighborhood.

Don't assume Black follows Black, just because. I remember when Obama was running for President a lot of the comments I heard from some of the people in the community. They're in the minority, but they're around. Shoot, I know Harlem has a good LaRouche support group...I should know I had to interview them for the local radio station. I also know there is a good number of Black Republicans in the neighbourhood...I had to interview them too.

[HiPointDem]

62. you hung up, then you put it up here. the op reads like you believed rangel was doing it.

[MADem]

40. I hope it's not Espaillat's work! nt

[jaysunb]

44. My first thought.....

And the OP states his/her dislike here at DU and may very well have made them else where or in another form .i.e contribution, meetup etc....thus a prime target to get a 2fer.

[HiPointDem]

61. which is why if this happened it's probably targeted to take rangel down, not obama.

[HiPointDem]

58. I don't believe that Rangel;s people are going to do robocalls telling people not to vote for the

head of his party.

Either this is a dirty trick, or you got the story wrong.

[NCTraveler]

63. Not even a good attempt at taking a shot at a Democrat. nt