Someone PLEASE explain...

[clutter]

.. why political candidates, parties, and their 'friends' think that calling us umpteen times a day with their recorded messages or dead air will inspire us to vote for THEIR candidate!

I've started answering when I'm home on the chance that there's a live body one the other end. If there is, I tell them that I'm keeping track of who calls and I'm voting for whomever calls the least. Right now, no one's winning. (But I've scared a few.)

I mean, really. Call one call from each side reminding you to vote. OK. Calling 6, 8, 10 times a day? On your cell?? (They even called dd12's cell yesterday! ) It's supposed to make me want to vote? For your guy?

(For those of you that don't live in Virginia, count your blessings!)

 

[disney1990]

Glad I don't live in Virginia.

 

[Binnie]

I'm in VA. Haven't gotten that many calls lately, but there is one candidate for governor who I WILL NOT vote for simply because of the phone calls.

Months ago, I started getting occasional phone calls from his campaign and they rubbed me exactly the wrong way. So now, even though I probably agree more with him than the other guy, I won't vote for him.

I wish they'd just stick to voter pamphlets and debates. I really dislike obnoxious politicking.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

It's not just Virginia. It happens all the time in California, too.

I've started going to the website of the offending candidates/issues and letting them know that mass computer-generated phone calls are a sure-fire way to get me not to vote the way they want me to.

Since I started, we've been receiving a lot fewer calls.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Yes, well, I'll never quite forget having to try and calm my distraught grandmother and her equally distraught caregiver on the day of my beloved grandfather's death, while fielding calls from Joe Lieberman asking us to vote for Senator McCain in the upcoming primary.

 

[manning]

.

Months ago, I started getting occasional phone calls from his campaign and they rubbed me exactly the wrong way. So now, even though I probably agree more with him than the other guy, I won't vote for him.

QUOTE]

Don't let your emotions get to you. If you agree with him/her, vote for them.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Not only will I NOT vote for a candidate if their phone calls have annoyed me, I strike charities off the donation list if they spend an excessive amount of time calling me to ask for donations or if I get lots and lots of junk mail.

It's very simple to me: excessive phone calls/campaign literature etc, show me that the campaign run by this person is not effective. This does not bode well for his/her representation of me in government, so that individual is striken from my list. I would rather have an effective person whose every position I may not agree with, but who I am convinced is working for the good of his/her constituents than an ineffective person I agree with totally.

By the same token, excessive attempts to get me to donate seem to indicate that a charitable organization is not well managed and likely not effective. I don't mind subtle, occasional requests. I actually appreciate newsletters and such that keep me informed about the activities of the organizations I support. I don't like repeated, begging whining efforts.

 

[Chuck S]

I'm being inundated with quasi opinion polls "wanting my views" on everything from the economy to health care, and the NRA is one of the worst "pollsters." And the way they word their questions to get the answers they want. I mean, duh, I live in a rural area with lots of wild critters, of course I have a rifle. That doesn't mean I think average American citizens in possession of automatic assault weapons and bazookas is the way to go. Of course, after the poll they'd still like a sizable donation, even if I tell them I disagree with their talking points or political views.

We really get relatively few recorded messages from the major parties or candidates, but the "opinion polls" are horrific here. Though I'm sure we'll have a hotly contested Gubernatorial race between two people of the same party next year.

 

[PixieDust32]

I got a call a couple of weeks ago on MY CELL PHONE how they got my number? I have no clue. It was a Saturday morning The recording was from a GA senator asking about if I agreed with abortion, healthcare, things of that nature. I was half asleep