Political 'robocalls' generating controversy

RAW STORY
Published: Wednesday October 25, 2006

Automated calls from political campaigns across America are generating controversy, reports National Journal's 'Technology Daily.'

"But the 'robocalls' have not exactly provided some candidates in close races with the kind of attention they need heading into November," writes Michael Martinez. "Although their classification as political speech exempts them from the national 'do not call' registry against unwanted telemarketing, robocalls have generated bad publicity for some of the campaigns that have used them."

The article uses the example of Democrat Larry Grant, challenging Republican Bill Sali for the open Idaho 1st District seat. "Earlier this fall, complaints about automated calls swirled among potential voters who were receiving information about Grant by phone," writes Martinez.

"Some of the complaints were directed to Grant's office. Grant's campaign did not make the calls, though. The National Republican Congressional Committee has assumed responsibility for the robocalling operation, a move that the Grant campaign called a 'desperation measure' by the GOP."

Further excerpts from the subscription-only article follow...

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Robocalling is ruffling feathers in other races, too. This past week, complaints surfaced in Michigan about automatic calls that were critical of Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who is in tight race with her Republican challenger, Dick DeVos. The calls contained slightly vulgar language that some who received them found offensive.

Campaign laws in Michigan do not require the senders of robocalls to identify themselves. A group calling itself Michigan Working Families took responsibility for the messages at the end of the recordings. The Michigan Republican Party has denied any involvement.

Automated calls also have been used to raise awareness about ballot initiatives. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., recently lent her voice to calls in California against a proposal to require minors seeking abortions to notify their parents or get waivers from a judge.

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"When our lawmakers created the do-not-call registry, they made sure to exempt themselves from any ban, apparently in the belief that your average schnook does not want to be pestered by someone hawking telephone services but is dying to hear from a politician," [New York Times columnist Clyde Haberman] said.

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