Washington, DC - Shaun Dakin, CEO The National Political Do Not Contact Registry - Sign up for free at StopPoliticalCalls.org
While voting is still open for the Robos!, The People's Choice for 2008's Worst and Weirdest Political Robocalls, it is time to unveil the first official National Political Do Not Contact Registry (NPDNC) Top 10 Political Robocalls of 2008 just in time for Christmas and the holidays.
There were many contenders this year, but after reviewing the NPDNC Robocall hall of shame from the primaries and the NPDNC Robocall database as well as our Twitter Google Robocall map from the general election it is clear that the following Robocalls deserve their place in the first ever Top 10 Political Robocalls.
Enjoy.
1) Domestic Terrorist - Bill Ayers
Paid for: McCain / Palin 2008 and the Republican National Committee
Transcript: "Hello. I'm calling for John McCain and the RNC because you need to know
that Barack Obama has worked closely with domestic terrorist Bill
Ayers, whose organization bombed the U.S. capitol, the Pentagon, a
judge's home and killed Americans. And Democrats will enact an extreme
leftist agenda if they take control of Washington. Barack Obama and his
Democratic allies lack the judgment to lead our country. This call was
paid for by McCain-Palin 2008 and the Republican National Committee at
202-863-8500." Audio at this article by Ben Smith at the Politico.
Comments: This was the call that really got McCain on the map. News outlets picked up on the negative tone of the robocall and played it over and over again, particularly the cable outlets. Colin Powell specifically called out John McCain over robocalls and it was probably this one he was referring to when he endorsed Obama on Meet the Press. McCain had to defend the use of robocalls in interview after interview.
2) Mike Thompson Has Been a Baaaad Boy
Paid for: Zane Starkewolf for US Congress
Transcript: "Mike Thompson has been a baaaaaad boy. We all said no to the bailout
but Thompson backed Bush. Just like he did with the Patriot act,
uhhhhhh, vote YESSSSSSSSS ! for Zane. Audio located at the Zane Starkewolf website.
Comments: While this call was only for a US Congressional race, it was literally the robocall that was heard across the nation. In less than 24 hours the audio of this call from an essentially forgotten race went from Northern California local media to the national news. Here is a segment on the Rachel Maddow show (MSNBC). Everyone was wondering what Zane was thinking. I don't think that there is another race in his future. But you never know.
Video:
3) Rev. Wright God Damm America and Illegal Aunt
Paid for: NewModels
Transcript: Barack Obama. His pastor preached God damn America. His aunt is living
in America illegally. This illegal alien aunt is living in public
housing. Barack Obama accepted illegal campaign contributions from his
illegal alien aunt. Call Barack Obama at 202-224-2854 and tell him you
are against illegal immigration. This message was paid for by
NewModelsUSA.org and is not authorized by any candidate or candidate
committee, 866-283-3421. More at this article by Ben Smith at the Politico.
Comments: This call went out the weekend before the election, mostly, as we can tell in PA. It is doubtful that the call did much good, but the topic and content tied closely to this TV ad that was also running in those final days. The McCain campaign refused to touch Wright officially.
Video of TV ad:
4) Allison calling from the Alliance for the Advancement of Gays and Lesbians
Paid for: Unknown
Transcript: "Hi, this is Allison calling from the Alliance for the Advancement of Gays and Lesbians. We are a pro-gay rights, pro-choice grassroots organization. I am calling to let you know that we are supporting Mandy Powers Norrell in the state Senate A proven Democrat, Mandy Powers Norrell supports homosexual unions and abortion rights. We can count on Mandy Powers Norrell to promote a progressive agenda in the state Senate and to fight the right wing fringe at every turn. Again, this is Allison with the Alliance for the Advancement of Gays and Lesbians asking you to vote for Democrat Mandy Powers Norrell on Tuesday, November 4. Thank you. Audio at this article.
Comments: Like a robocall that went out in the Governor's race in Kentucky in 2007, this robocall is alleged to have originated from South Carolina Republican candidate and state senator Rick Mulvaney. South Carolina has some of the dirtiest politics in the nation, and this is no surprise. In fact, just last week a GOP operative was arrested for conducting illegal robocalls in the state. No where else in the nation has someone actually been arrested for robocalling.
Audio of the call:
5) Hillary Treats People Like They Are Invisible
Paid for: Robert Morrow. Citizen. Conducted during the primaries in South Carolina.
Transcript: Hello. FBI agent Gary Aldrich says that Hillary on Inauguration Day, 1993 was in an uncontrolled and unbridled fury, yelling and screaming profanities, because she was not allowed to have Vice President Al Gore’s office in the White House. Hillary treats people like they are invisible; can you trust her?
Hillary knew about
and helped cover up Bill’s rape of Juanita Broaddrick. Hillary treats
women like they are invisible; can you trust her?
Hillary hired Jack Palladino to run a terror campaign on Kathleen
Willey to keep her quiet about what Bill had done to her. They nail
gunned her car tires and stole or killed her pet cat named Bullseye.
Hillary thinks cats are expendable; can you trust her?
After Bill pulled down his britches and EXPOSED himself to Paula
Jones, Hillary’s friend James Carville said “Drag a hundred dollar bill
through a trailer park, you never know what you’ll find.” Hillary
treats women like they are invisible, can you trust her?
Hillary told TIME Magazine in June, 1996, that she was thinking
about adopting a child, despite the fact Bill was having an affair with
Monica and Hillary knew he had a whole harem in the White House.
Hillary was having her own affairs with Vince Foster, probably Webb
Hubbell and even others. Hillary makes up fairy tales about adopting an
orphan child, can you trust her?
This message is
from Robert Morrow on behalf of everyone who has been violated and
abused by Hillary and Bill – treated like they were invisible. Hillary
sure does say a lot of things, doesn’t she - but can you trust her?
Comments: Most robocalls are conducted by campaigns, PACS, Unions, or political parties. Few people know that just about anyone can send robocalls to just about anyone else, as long as they are considered one of the three exempt entities that are allowed to make robocalls in the USA. These are political calls, charity calls, and market research calls. Robert Morrow claims that he made these calls alone and with no coordination with any outside group. Click here for more about this man.
Audio of the call:
6) Godless
Paid for: Elizabeth Dole Committee
Transcript: "There are a couple of things you should consider when you go vote. For
over ten years, Kay Hagan belonged to an exclusive all-white country
club in Greensboro. She has taken money and attended a fundraiser at
the home of the Godless Americans PAC founder. A group that wants to
take "under God" out of the Pledge of Allegiance, and end Christmas as
a federal holiday. Help send a message to Kay Hagan that she should not
represent us in the U.S. Senate. Paid for by the Elizabeth Dole
Committee." Audio at this article.
Comments: Dole did not expect to lose this one and the poll numbers showing her challenger, Kay Hagan, closing in on her lead led her campaign to run both TV and Robocalls calling Hagan essentially "Godless". Played in the last days of the campaign these calls and the companion TV ads clearly showed a desperate Dole willing to do anything to win. She did, and she lost.
TV Ad:
7) Castro Prefers Obama (Spanish)
Paid for: McCain / Palin 2008
Transcript: "Urgent: I am calling on behalf of John McCain to tell you that today at
1:28 this afternoon the independent news organization of Reuters
reported that the Cuban dictator, Fidel Castro, has given his support
to Democrat Barack Obama for being smarter and more sophisticated than
John McCain. Just like Hugo Chavez, Daniel Ortega, and Evo Morales -
the brothers of Castro prefer Barack Obama. Don't give Castro what he
wants. Go vote right now for John McCain and avoid establishing in the
United States political policies like those of Cuba. There are only a
few hours left today to vote for John McCain. This call has been paid
for by McCain/Palin 2008" Audio at this article on CNN.com.
Comments: In the final hours of election day McCain / Palin threw a "hail Mary" robocall in South Florida in Spanish trying to get Cuban Americans to vote because Castro supported Obama rather than McCain. The call actually has the audacity to suggest that Obama would "establish in the United States political parties like those of Cuba." McCain did not win Florida.
8) McCain a Disaster for the Middle Class
Paid for: Working America
Transcript: "We believe John McCain is a disaster for the middle class. McCain's dangerous economic policies have gotten us into this mess. He supported sending jobs overseas. He supported getting rid of the rules for the fat cats on Wall Street and he completed ignored the needs of families on main street.... McCain will bring more of the same failed policies"
Audio:
Comments: While the Democrats and Obama did not get the same type of media scrutiny that McCain / Palin did, his campaign and Democratic organizations used robocalls nearly to the same degree and number. Working America is an affiliate of the AFL-CIO and unions spent millions of dollars on behalf of Obama for America.
9) Joe The Plumber - Joe Martinez, that is.
Paid for: Colorado Democratic Party and authorized by Obama For America
Transcript: "Hi, my name is Joe Martinez and I am a plumber for Denver, Colorado,
calling for Barack Obama's campaign for change. During this week's
debate, Barack Obama talked about cutting taxes for middle class
families like mine, lowering the health care costs of everyone, and
bringing the change we need in Washington. John McCain ignored the
issues and used the debate to launch false attacks against Barack
Obama. In fact, McCain for the third debate in the row didn't even say
the words middle class. So take it from Joe the plumber. If you want a
president who will put middle class families first, join me in voting
for Barack Obama. Paid for Colorado Democratic Party and authorized by Obama for America" Audio at this link and more about this call in this article by Sam Stein.
Comments: A good example of how political operatives can take what occurred on the campaign and turn it to their advantage literally overnight. The Obama campaign knew that Joe the Plumber was gaining McCain support by the middle class and countered with their own plumber, in this case a Hispanic one in Colorado.
10) Obama's Voice Used on the Prop 8 Campaign in California
Paid for: Protect Marriage.com
Transcript: "ANNOUNCER: Here's Barack Obama in his own words on the definition of marriage.
OBAMA: I believe that marriage is a union between a man and a woman.
[applause] Now, for me as a Christian, it is also a sacred union. God's
in the mix.
ANNOUNCER: Proposition 8 defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Vote yes on 8 if you agree on that definition Paid for Protect Marriage.com
." Audio at this article.
Comments: People are still debating the impact of this call two months after election day. In a state that overwhelming selected Obama for President, Prop 8 was passed by a slim margin. Many people believe that it was the implied endorsement that Obama made in the audio of this robocall that may have influenced parts of the state to vote yes on Prop 8.
Bonus Xmas Gift:
SNL's Robocall
Washington, DC - Shaun Dakin, CEO The National Political Do Not Contact Registry - Sign up for free at StopPoliticalCalls.org
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