‘Push polls’ anger Nevada Republicans

[ursi]

Source: Reno Gazette Journal

Nevada Republican voters are receiving automated phone calls that appear to be a poll, but end up criticizing candidates with the exception of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

Also known as push polls, the phone calls are intended to present negative information about candidates and have caused negative reaction in Nevada.
“I got it myself,” Heidi Smith, chairwoman of the Washoe County Republican Central Committee, said. “I can testify to it. I was so mad.
“They were pretending they were doing a poll. It was horrible. At the end, they said this was not paid for by any political party, but you’d have to be an absolute moron to know it’s not Huckabee (this group is supporting).”

The calls that also targeted voters in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina are sponsored by Common Sense Issues, a nonprofit organization that backs Huckabee.

Huckabee has publicly denounced the calls and urged the group to stop making them.

Read more: http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080115/NEWS18/80115055&oaso=news.rgj.com%2Fbreakingnews

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*Remember, Nevada has never gone through a presidential caucus before on either side of the political table.

[ColbertWatcher]

1. Huckabee is a used car salesman

Everything he does (like the other republicans) is deceitful.

I don't trust the guy and I don't see how anyone can.

[ursi]

2. "used car salesman" that is an excellent description

[pennylane100]

6. So why we insulting Used Car Salesman.

What did they do to deserve it.

[ColbertWatcher]

15. Because...

...mocking someone for their irrational belief in a superstition is no longer acceptable http://wikiality.com/Since_Nine-Eleven">since 9/11.

[enlightenment]

3. Oooh, I got one of those yesterday; live in LV.

Recorded. Said "this is a brief, no more than 45 second, political poll."

I stayed on to see who it was for . . . it started out pretty mild; by the third question I knew it was a Republican poll; made it through about 12 questions, answering opposite of what they wanted to hear, just to be perverse (the 45 second thing was a total lie.)

After the first 4 or 5 questions, every question was followed by ALL the reasons why Huckabee was THE MAN. It was grotesque, but oddly amusing for awhile . . .

then they asked something like "if the troops are pulled out and leave the ME and the US open to the Islamic Terrorists . . ."

That's when I hung up.

It was icky, toward the end. I had to bleach my brain after.

[ursi]

4. eeeuuuwwww!

I'm not sure I believe Huckabutt is condemning these things.

[LiberalFighter]

5. Don't hang up next time. Just put the phone down so they are on the full time.

[ursi]

7. perfect way to treat blowhards

[enlightenment]

12. Too true - should've thought of that!

In my defense, my stomach was churning by that point and I felt like I'd been slimed.

blech

I'll be glad when the primary is over here - the phone rings constantly. Since Monday:

John Edwards - recorded message. Quite nice. He indicated from the first moment that it was a recorded call and what it was about. I appreciate that. Smooth delivery but very clear; he has excellent diction. If he doesn't get the nod, he should consider recording those messages they use in airports. No live call, though that may happen today since he's going to be doing a meeting tonight in LV at the Carpenter's Union Hall (that's what I was being invited to attend).

HRC - recorded message. She sounds very pleasant on the phone, but the message launched immediately without the introduction. Kind of "slam, bam, thank you ma'am" . . . what? I don't even get dinner? She was inviting me to a post-debate "party." Also received a live call from a campaigner - he was a very polite, but a little pushy. How many ways can I say "I'll be at the caucus and no, I'm not going to tell you who I'm standing for"?

Barack Obama - recorded message. Like HRC, I didn't get dinner and he didn't even invite me to party with him. He's very forceful sounding on the phone. Also received two live calls this week from campaigners - also very nice, and not pushy at all. They respected what I was saying and just said "thank you" for participating in the democratic process. I like that.

I don't base my decisions on telephone calls (what I wouldn't give to hear each candidate articulate some of the details about their plans to "fix" our myriad problems, not just the "it's broken and I'll fix it. Trust me.") . . . but it is amusing to contrast and compare their styles! :)

[ColbertWatcher]

14. That is brilliant!

And if it is a real person play stupid. Force them to waste time explaining everything they say. make them repeat themselves over and over and over.

Great idea!

[rAVES]

8. push polls.. aka their records.

[noel adamson]

9. Let's hope the Huckster wins the Republican nomination.

[Skittles]

10. too funny

repukes outraged by scummy tactics

[Javaman]

11. Awww, ain't that tough shit, welome to our world repukes. nt

[muriel_volestrangler]

13. "you’d have to be an absolute moron to know it’s not Huckabee"

Yeah, but they are trying to influence Republican voters ...