Nationwide GOP dirty tricks campaign: Robocalls

[brentspeak]

The GOP is harrassing households nationwide with anonymous,automated phone calls. Josh Marshall of Talkingpointsmemo.com describes them here:

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/010830.php

What we're seeing is an apparent coordinated effort from the NRCC -- the House GOP committee -- to place calls that appear to be from the local Democratic candidate and then automatically call the same number back as many as seven or eight times each time the caller hang-ups. If the caller listens to the whole message it goes on to bash the Democratic candidate. But if the caller hangs up prematurely, the computer calls right back. Hang-ups are the achilles heal of robo-calls. So this seems to be an attempt to cover for that weakness by making those who hang up think the Democratic candidate is basically harassing them with phone calls. The GOP wins either way.

This is exactly what happened four years ago in my district of NJ during the Congressional race between Repub RW nutcase Scott Garrett and Democrat Anne Sumers. And just like back then, angry recipients of these calls assume they are coming from the Democrat, not the Republican. (Garrett ended up winning that race.)

Besides violating FEC rules, these calls are essentially crank telephone calls.

There needs to be the largest class-action lawsuit of all-time filed against the GOP and whoever is assisting them with the anonymous robocalls -- the kind of lawsuit that would bankrupt them forever, and ensure that nobody would be ever be foolish enough to repeat this scam again.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. That really pisses me off

[patrice]

2. Our problem is that we're too good. We're too nice.

There are things Democrats just won't do. We're too ethical and we're fighting folks WHO WILL DO ANYTHING. And that includes starting an un-necessary War and murdering thousands of Iraqis for the control of their oil. Robo-calling shouldn't surprise us.

[originalpckelly]

5. What the Republicans are doing is totally illegal...

if it is across state lines. And I bet it is, because they would have to set up call placing centers in each state.

That would cost major dinero, however, doing it from a single place might just be cost effective, but of course it is against federal law.

[Actionmac]

3. It needs media attention

it then becomes level... as people here about this they will listen hang up prematurely and wait to see if they are called back. let that hit the air and blogs and it will cease.

[originalpckelly]

4. Not just that, but it is against the fucking law to harass someone...

on a telephone across state lines. Depending on where these telephone calls are coming from they may indeed be illegal.

The GOP, as you may remember, has a history of doing phone harassment:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phonegate

Just not to voters, but the get out the vote campaign.

[KittyWampus]

6. A class action suit TOMORROW. And Dean better get on the tubes about this

[Beetwasher]

7. These Are The Lowest Pieces of Garbage on The Planet

Vile mutherfuckers.

[Actionmac]

8. Vile as it may be

If the Dems don't FIGHT back the GOP WINS.

[Beetwasher]

9. Heh

Did anyone say the shouldn't? :eyes:

[Gelliebeans]

10. I recorded these calls on an mp3

The California Taxpayer Protection Committee in conjunction with the California Republican Party has called me 4-5 times this week alone with a robo call on my cell phone which goes to vm if I don't answer.
TMobile told me the only thing I could do was to change my number :wtf:

So I contacted their website and the first two email responses I received back from them was a coy remark about how it couldn't possibly be them...I sent them the mp3 of the recording and I still continued to get more phone calls.

I hate these people.

[brentspeak]

12. No, unlike what TMobile says, there's a lot more you can do other

than just change your number. These guys will be facing lawsuits from now until Kingdom Come. And I want the Mother of All Class-Action Lawsuits filed against these jokers.

[yellowdogmi]

11. screw tommorrow. We need an injunction now.

If you have a recording of the calls please contact the DCCC or the DSCC so we can get lawyers on this now before the damage is done. Those dirty bastards piss me off.