Today's one-liner: "The shortest way to the distinguishing excellence of any writer is through his hostile critics." Richard LeGallienne
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Monday, May 18, 2009
Who is Behind Anonymous Anti-Hershman RoboCalls?
The calls are being placed from 616-712-1796. If you call the number, you get a recording telling you it is a "leader in automated phone calls." According to 1-800Notes, that number has been used for automated messages from Governor Ed Rendell and Allegheny County Exec Dan Onorato. During last year's Congressional race, that number was used by the Pennsylvania State Democratic Committee.
10 comments:
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I am.
ReplyDeleteIs that the same State Dem Committee that used Political Strategies AKA Scissorhands Severson?
ReplyDeleteI was not that interested in this race, but going out of my way to NOT not for Mark now!!!
ReplyDeleteBernie -
ReplyDeleteIt is my understanding that anonymous robo-calls are illegal. Therefore I will repeat what was suggested in a previous post:
Mayor Pawlowski and all members of council should DEMAND that the District Attorney launch an investigation to find out who is trying to illegally manipulate a city election. They should demand that whomever is behind the calls be held accountable and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
That is true leadership - something not usually seen from Allentown City Hall.
Regarding today's Queen City Daily blog report on the source of the illegal and negative robo-call that the democratic party officials perpetrated on a fellow democrat, I have this response:
ReplyDeleteThis is just another demonstration of the contempt Pawlowski and his machine have for the public.
Vote for Dick Nepon. That is one way to put an end to these guys that think they can control your city and your politics. You are being denied access to information and fed lies. If that is what you want, then vote for Pawlowski. He must be at the heart of this. Follow the money. Pawlowski is the only one who has any. Don't wait until it is too late, vote Nepon in and Pawlowski out tomorrow.
As a member of the "machine" I have to say this is laughable. You guys are all getting upset over the stupidest things. One silly robo call and you all act like the world is ending.
ReplyDeleteGive me a call when you all want to be grown ups and talk about economic development, rebuilding the city, jobs, and stopping the spread of crime in the fair city.
Until than continue with your silly little chase of the mysterious robo calls.
Dick, you lied about your degree. You have no credibility. You can criticize Ed forever, however you don't tell the truth about your qualifications to be Mayor.
People have a right to know who is paying to influence a campaign. A local political consultant has just been prosecuted for doing what you condone. You make a mockery of election laws, and in the process, chip away at our democracy.
ReplyDeleteBernie,
ReplyDeleteThere is no chipping away at our democracy going on. Read some election campaign history and look at the nonsense that has been done from the Adams/Jefferson Election to today. Our democracy has always been in this shape. I have a book of dirty tricks that have been pulled in every single Presidential Election from 1796 to 2004.
I think this entire Robo Call Fiasco is stupid. If the disclosure wasn't done right, that is a compliance issue.
Voters need to educate themselves. If voters knew the issues and knew the candidates. A Robo-Call that did not communicate the truth would have no effect on elections.
What chips away at our democracy is laziness and it has been chipping away for years.
There will probably be about 10% turnout today. That's a tragedy.
Only 10% of the people care enough for 5 minutes of their time to vote. Of that 10% only half will be really informed on who they are voting for and why.
Anon 4:26 -
ReplyDeleteYou are correct - a 10% turnout is a tragedy.
But perhaps many of the other 90% are rightfully disgusted with the dirty tactics employed in political races. Perhaps they have chosen to sit things out until supposedly "good" people stop condoning unethical behavior as long as their candidate wins.
I would argue that you can't have good management of government (or economic development, rebuilding the city, jobs, and stopping the spread of crime in the fair city) by those who have no honor.
The public has a right to know who is behind the calls and those responsible should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
To Anon 8:56 AM
ReplyDeleteNo people are lazy. Americans generally don't care anymore as long as their taxes are kept reasonable and their garbage is picked up once a week.
It is too much work for them to educate themselves about the people running. They use the disgusted line as an excuse not to care.
Voter turnout has been dropping because it is two hard for them to read for an hour about the people on the ballot and than take 10 minutes to vote.
They get the government they deserve.