A Politician Doing the Right Thing? Michigan Rep seeks investigation into robocall attack on opponent

Washington, DC - Shaun Dakin, CEO The National Political Do Not Contact Registry - Sign up for free at StopPoliticalCalls.org

Sometimes politicians do the right thing because it is right or because it will win them votes.   With only a week to go until election day, I'm guessing that this politician made this announcement for political purposes.  For headline impact.  

With little intention of actually DOING anything about it.

This story is typical for this time of year and immediately following an election:

1. Statements by politicians about how they are going to do something about robo calls
2. Press reports about how politicians will do something!
3. Months pass
4. Nothing is done

Why?  Voters forget and politicians know this fact.

Here is the story:

State Rep. Kenneth B. Horn has asked the state attorney general to investigate a negative robocall attack on the man who wants Horn's job, Democrat Bob Blaine.

Upset with the unsourced robocall that some constituents received last Saturday, Horn said he wants to make it a felony to send a phone message without acknowledging who paid for it.

"I'm dead serious," he said. "There's something dramatic (that) has to change in the way we campaign in Michigan. I'm the first one willing to lay down arms."

Federal election rules require disclaimers on all campaign messages, but state rules don't cover robocalls because the law wasn't updated when the new technology entered the election arena, officials said.

Both men pledged to run a fair campaign in the 94th District, Horn said. The Frankenmuth Republican said the call, sent out last weekend, claimed Blaine is a liberal who would increase taxes and support abortion rights and gay marriage.

"My bigger point is nobody comes into my district and attacks one of my constituents, even if that constituent is running against me," said Horn, a freshman lawmaker who defeated Blaine for the office in 2006. "It's my responsibility to stand up for the people in my district, not to tear them down.

"I'm all for a clean, fair fight, but I refuse to let anybody throw a sucker punch."

Blaine, a conservative Democrat, said he's campaigned against high taxes and supports a pro-life agenda. On gay marriage, he said he'll follow whatever the state Constitution declares. In 2004, Michigan voters OK'd a constitutional amendment that defined marriage as between a man and a woman.

The Swan Creek Township Democrat called the robo claims "very unfortunate" and untrue. "A robocall is kind of a cheap shot method of doing things," he said.

Still, Blaine said Horn has "wasted" taxpayer dollars on mailers that have told residents about issues such as taxes, hunter safety and the pros and cons of two state proposals voters face in the Tuesday, Nov. 4, general election -- stem cell research and allowing the use of marijuana for medical treatment.

The latter brochure arrived in many constituents' mailboxes last weekend. That information, Blaine said, is better posted on a Web site rather than spending tax dollars to mail out fliers.

"Overall, it's just the fact that he has his name and face in front of voters before the election using tax dollars," Blaine said.

Horn said he was disappointed Blaine "chose to ignore the goodwill I choose to extend to defend him from a negative attack."

But he defended the use of the mailers.

"Those were informative pieces to maintain communication with our constituents," he said. "The people that receive these, we've never had a negative response."

All 110 members of the House have mailing privileges, he said, and many have sent out the same mailers. State House policy prohibits lawmakers from sending out brochures 30 days before the election, but makes an exception for information detailing the pros and cons of ballot proposals, said Tim Bowlin, business manager of the House Business Office.

Horn followed the rules, Bowlin said. The exact cost of the mailings wasn't immediately available.

Horn, who called Attorney General Mike Cox last weekend, added he still will ask him in writing to investigate the robocall attack, but not until after Election Day. The lawmaker said he wants to prevent the issue from "drowning" in a sea of election year complaints and avoid questions about the use of official stationery prior to the election.

Competitors now, Horn and Blaine once served together on the Saginaw County Board of Commissioners.

Washington, DC - Shaun Dakin, CEO The National Political Do Not Contact Registry - Sign up for free at StopPoliticalCalls.org