Conservative advocacy group to launch robocalls against Hodes, Shea-Porter
By Alex Isenstadt, Politicker.com ReporterFreedom’s Watch, the conservative advocacy organization, is launching about three dozen robocalls over the next week targeting U.S. House members across the country, including several vulnerable incumbents in New Hampshire, PolitickerNH.com has learned.
The target list for the robocalls includes New Hampshire Reps. Carol Shea-Porter and Paul Hodes among a host of other members of Congress.
The calls start off by reminding recipients of current gas prices and emphasizing how the prices affect the cost of food. The calls also stress the potential for domestic drilling and mention that the member in question has voted against oil exploration on the continental shelf.
After Freedom’s Watch launched in 2007 it initially focused its efforts on conveying a national security-focused message. But the new robocalls underscore how the organization is switching to a more economic-focused message.
“We’re absolutely going to be concentrating on economic issues,” said Freedom’s Watch spokesman Ed Patru. In honing in on gas prices, Patru argued, Freedom’s Watch was picking an issue in which the divide between conservatives and liberals was stark.
Carrie James, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, predicted the calls would have little effect on voters.
“People want long-term solutions to sky-rocketing gas prices,” she said. “Democrats in congress have been fighting for ways to become more energy independent and reduce prices at the pump for American families.”
The rest of Freedom Watch’s preliminary target list includes: Arizona Rep. Harry Mitchell and Gabrielle Giffords, New York Rep. Kristen Gillibrand, Pennsylvania Reps. Jason Altmire, Chris Carney, and Paul Kanjorski from Pennsylvania, Ohio Rep. Zach Space, Kentucky Rep. John Yarmuth , Florida Rep. Tim Mahoney, Georgia Rep. Jim Marshall, Illinois Rep. Melissa Bean, Kansas Reps. Nancy Boyda and Dennis Moore, Texas Reps. Nick Lampson and Ciro Rodriguez, Wisconsin Rep. Steve Kagen, and California Democratic Rep. Jerry McNerney.
Freedom's Watch had previously launched three sets of robocalls. In May, the organization unleashed calls focusing on troop funding. The organization put out another military-focused set of calls earlier this month. And several weeks ago, Freedom's Watch launched calls focused on Senate incumbents.
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Great news!
What awesome news! I mean, what do people enjoy more than automated unsolicited phone calls at all hours of the day and night!?!
I just hope they call me during dinner time!
Can't they find a more useful purpose for their resources? I thought they were the ones who were fiscally responsible!?!
Not a good track record
http://www.leader-vindicator.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19707982&BRD=2758&...
Hodes tax payer funded mailings.
Mr. Ballard I can recount quite a few times that Mr. Hodes had robocalls to my phone. I can also say that over the last few months I have received 2 tax payer funded mailings from Hodes which do nothing more than say "help me with my campaign."
Fiscal responsibility? You should look in the mirror sir and see that its not the NH state dems. Maybe you can explain why your Governor and your party put taxpayers into a $100 million hole just so Lynch and your party can tout a smoke and mirrors balanced budget.
Time to flush the toilet
Everyone knows that Democrats support big govt and big taxes. The problem now is, some Republicans were dumb enough to follow them down this road to nowhere! It's time to flush the toilet of all liberals even the ones who wear a Republican lable.
Liberalism does not work. The only claim to fame they have is Clinton the sexual deviant. But how did it work? Simple, he had to face fiscally responsible Republicans who wouldn't let him spend us into bankruptcy. Those were the times when all Republicans stuck to their principles.
Now we have to go back to the roots of our party which is fiscal and social conservativism and get rid of all of these people who think that this spending spree is good for the country.
I support politicians who support Conservative ideals. Not the ones who pretend to do so.
I will be supporting John Stephen for Congress along with Jane Aitken. Both will offer real change to liberal cloud we've been living under both locally (NH) and nationally.
Not just Hodes.
Carol Shea-Porter is becoming notorious for abusing franking privileges and for passing off propaganda events as constituent outreach.
More info: http://www.nhcitizen.org/modules/content/index.php?id=18
Robo calls invade privacy
I started a non-profit, non-partisan organization last year to combat intrusive robo-calls by using a voluntary, private sector solution: the Political Do Not Contact Registry.
As a result I was asked to testify at the US Senate in Feb, 2008 for Sen. Feinstein.
It’s similar to the federal government’s Do Not Call list. But to succeed it requires politicians who will honor the wishes of voters who’d rather not endure the endless robotic, political phone calls during campaign season.
North Carolina’s own Congresswoman Virginia Foxx was the first to sign our pledge. She has been fighting for the voters’ right to opt out of robo-calls for years. She introduced Congressional robo-call reform legislation and is a voice for change on this issue. So it was natural that she was the first to sign our pledge.
Rep. Hodes has been asked to join the Registry but decided not to participate.
Why not call and ask him why not?
Voters’ phones will soon be ringing off the hook. Fed up voters can visit our web site at StopPoliticalCalls.org and add their names to our free Do Not Call registry. It’s time we give the political dialogue back to average, concerned citizens.
Shaun Dakin
Founder & CEO, the National Political Do Not Contact Registry
StopPoliticalCalls.org
Pretty work Shaun. Those
Pretty work Shaun. Those calls are incredibly ineffective and a real pain in the arse, regardless of who sends them. Good luck...
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