New Obama Robocall Features Fellow Navy Veteran Slamming McCain For "Vicious Personal Attacks"
The Obama camp has unleashed a tough new robocall in North Carolina featuring a Navy veteran and self-described former McCain supporter who pushes back on McCain's attacks, hammering McCain for questioning Obama's patriotism and for "viciously attacking Obama's character."
The call stars Lenny Julius of Emerald Isle, NC, a 67-year-old Vietnam veteran who reportedly served on the same ship as McCain for a time and has revered him as a "hero" and a "great man" in the past but now says he's running a "dishonorable campaign" of "vicious personal attacks."
Give it a listen:
Script:
Hi, this is Lenny Julius, and I'm calling for Barack Obama. I live in Emerald Isle, North Carolina. And like you, I've been concerned about mail and phone calls from John McCain that viciously attack Barack Obama's character and question his patriotism.I used to support John McCain. In fact, I served with him in the Navy. But this year he's running a dishonorable campaign. This election should be about policies and ideas, not about vicious personal attacks.
Barack Obama will turn the page on negative politics and he'll stand up for the middle class. That's why this year, even though I used to back John McCain, I'm voting for Barack Obama, and I'm calling to ask you to do the same. Paid for by Campaign for Change, a project of the North Carolina Democratic Party, 919 783-5996, and auth--
Though the call's audio cuts off at the word "authorized," the Obama campaign confirms to me that Obama authorized the call.
The call was received by a blogger who writes on North Carolina Public Radio's site.
See, Obama is doing robocalls too!
October 23, 2008 12:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
This justifies the completely unrelated smear ad we already bought air time for tomorrow!
October 23, 2008 12:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Where can I get a personal Obama robo call?
October 23, 2008 12:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
I want one, too.
Maybe his campaign could have a raffle to auction off Obama doing the message on your answering maching, ala Carl Cassell on "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me"....
I'd sure buy tickets.
October 23, 2008 12:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
I want to start every day with a personal Obama robocall.
:)
October 23, 2008 12:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Word.
October 23, 2008 12:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
We already did! We Vets are callin everyone we know!
October 24, 2008 12:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
Me too!
October 23, 2008 12:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
We got a personal robocall from Michelle Obama encouraging us to vote early. It was very nice.
October 23, 2008 3:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
I just read an article about robocalls.
http://www.thestar.com/News/USElection/article/521679
October 23, 2008 12:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Even the ROBOTS making the calls are rebelling!
http://satiricalpolitical.com/?p=4118
October 23, 2008 12:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ariz is rampant robo-raping the locals, the AZ GOP only has $73,000 bucks left in their coffers...but the cheap date of Guiliani;s hasn't been exploited in AZ . . yet?
Well I wish my youngest daughter had access to all this backing/support in the REAL robo-wars her robot battles in...engineers are not a friendly bunch to the female of the species. (bragging rights: 15 year old's robot battled grown mega-bucks engineers' $100,000+ 'bots and WON with her bargain basement 'bot)
Anyway: this is too good to pass up sharing via the ever tenacious Huffington Post links taking one to the story in the San Diego news: GOP incumbent candidate in Arizona's campaign manager's credit card was found under AZ's Democratic headquarters desk.....the "espionage" is being questioned as we speak.
Deep Thought: bet the Campaign Mgr wishes there was a morning after pill to rid himself of that little problem.
October 23, 2008 12:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Robocalls are infuriating as advertising, whether by a faceless corporation hawking unnecessary goods or by a worthy candidate.
Spam is spam, dammit.
October 23, 2008 12:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree. But then again, I don't answer calls w/o a return number.
OT: took a minute to figure out your avatar. First glance it looks kind of like a weird fat fist. 2nd glance and I see a circuit. You an electrical engineer or something?
October 23, 2008 12:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
IT looks like a variation on the old WWII graffiti that meant "Kilroy was here."
October 23, 2008 1:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ding! The full design comes from Thomas Pynchon's 'V.'-- it's a band-stop filter, used to eliminate noise in public address systems, amplifiers & the like. Pynchon suggested that the diagram was the inspiration f/ Kilroy.
October 23, 2008 1:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Benny Profane lives.
October 23, 2008 2:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
J Dean on Herschbergers history of Mccain: Must read---his lack of judgement has been there all along...
http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20081017.html
October 23, 2008 12:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
J Dean on Herschbergers history of Mccain: Must read---his lack of judgement has been there all along...
http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20081017.html
October 23, 2008 12:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
For those who missed this:
“I look at these people and can't quite believe that they exist. Are they professional actors? I wonder. Or are they simply laymen who want a lot of attention? To put them in perspective, I think of being on an airplane. The flight attendant comes down the aisle with her food cart and, eventually, parks it beside my seat. "Can I interest you in the chicken?" she asks. "Or would you prefer the platter of shit with bits of broken glass in it? To be undecided in this election is to pause for a moment and then ask how the chicken is cooked."
- Author David Sedaris, on undecided voters
October 23, 2008 12:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
I loves me some Sedaris.
October 23, 2008 12:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
A good chunk of undecideds either never realized newspapers can be unfolded or they hate both candidates. To the latter, I say: "Look, asshole, Hulk Hogan's not going to run in halfway through the debate, club both of them with a metal chair, and declare himself the winner." There's bound to be a few things you like about one of the candidates, so so figure out what it is.
October 23, 2008 1:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Lookit. I used to be an attorney representing advertisers and marketers, including outbound telemarketing companies.
And I have seen the evidence up close that shows that these robocalls are utterly and completely useless, be they for political ads or solicitations for debt counseling services or to sell you the latest vacation package or salad shooter.
You know how long an average recorded call lasts from pick-up to hang-up? I had a case where an expert examined a client's records and determined it was 2.3 seconds. 2.3 seconds for the average person to pick up the phone, recognize that they are being "telemarketed" by some fucking machine, and hang up. 2.3 seconds.
You know what the percentage is of delivered robocalls? I mean, those that are actually delivered in full? Here's a little segment I cut and saved from a deposition of a former client that I keep in a "sweet file" (containing all the sweet wins or sweet things I came across in my practice):
FTC: What percentage of calls are delivered--of the calls for [Client's Business] were delivered.
Client: Oh, I couldn't tell you the exact percentage.
FTC: Well, how many calls did you deliver for [Client's Business] between 2001 and 2003?
Client: More than ten million.
FTC: Is the number found on Exhibit 107?
Client: Yes.
FTC: And is that number 10,327,345?
Client: Yes.
FTC: And is this number--the number that's here at the bottom of Exhibit 107, is that the number of delivered calls?
Client: Yes.
FTC: And you know what I mean by delivered calls? Calls in which the customer--the person on the phone, listens to an entire call?
Client: Yes.
FTC: And how many calls was that for the same period?
Client: Looking at this?
FTC: Yes, Exhibit 107.
Client: 1,087.
FTC: Delivered calls?
Client: Delivered calls.
FTC: So why can't you calculate the percentage?
Client: Because I can't do math that big.
FTC: Sounds like the calls were largely unsuccessful. You didn't have much success getting calls to potential customers.
Client: That's because robocalls don't work.
FTC: They don't work?
Client: Nope. They suck.
FTC: This is your company.
Client: I understand that. But customers, clients see it as a cheap way to do advertising.
FTC: Inexpensive way to advertise?
Client: Yeas. Inexpensive and worthless. You may as well shout out a window. But they still want them.
October 23, 2008 12:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Holy shit. Well, better that McCain wastes what little $ he has left...
October 23, 2008 12:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well...to be fair...as we saw from the call center employees who have quit rather than regurgitate the McCain campaign's sewage over the phone, robots are reliably amoral. There are lots of things that a robot will do that a person just will not.
Which raises the question: how many Republican voters are actually robots?
October 23, 2008 12:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh my word.
This stuff is pure comedy gold, even more so because it's unintentional.
"I can't do math that big".
"They suck".
"You may as well shout out a window."
Thanks for the insight.
October 23, 2008 12:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Word. You know when you have one because you say "hello" and there's nothing - that's when I hang up.
2.3 seconds sounds just about right.
October 23, 2008 1:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Our local Representative uses robocalls in a way that I don't find offensive. When she is going to be back in the district and holding an 'open house' or 'town hall' in the area, we get a robocall - her voice -- announcing when and where she is going to be and inviting us to come meet with her, discuss any issues on our mind, etc. That one doesn't bother me at all, because I might well miss it in the paper. The location is always close by although it's a large district, so I'm assuming they target right around the meeting spot. --------- When I lived in the city, I also received a robocall from the local police, informing area residents that an elderly man had wandered away from his home, giving a description and asking us to keep our eye out, report if we saw him.
So there *can* be good uses for them. And, frankly, I can see the wisdom of using them in the area where McCain's robocalls have gone: for anyone who does listen to them, it provides and antidote. But, like a lot of his other more aggressive, 'uncomfortable' tactics, I like that he goes to them only in response, never starts those wars.
October 23, 2008 6:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Off topic but check out this video. It's pretty entertaining.
http://www.cnnbcvideo.com/index.html?nid=TFytyiFH0QUDGknjJxzsGjI5MTc1NTE-&referred_by=10926567-af.a5cx%27
October 23, 2008 12:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
I got this same e-mail last night!! It just shows you how much of a brilliant campaign Barack is running. It scared the S!@# out of me!!! Plus I've already voted. I just hope they count my vote. They(GOP) are going to try to pull everything they can to stop the inevitable. Get out and vote!!!
October 23, 2008 1:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bugs me a little that Obama is resorting to his own robocalls, but as long as he keeps them respectful, that'll help him AND remind voters how much of an asshole his own robocalls make him look like.
October 23, 2008 1:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oops, I meant McCain looking like the asshole!
AHHH, I just had a McCain moment!!!! HAHA
October 23, 2008 1:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ouch.
... and 100% correct too.
http://thepajamapundit.com/
October 23, 2008 1:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
As much as we all despise these things and as useless as the apparently are, I think because they are cheap, Obama's robos answering the RNC smears are as much an "in your face" to the Repugs as it is meant to be an vote-getting tool.
Obama has not let one smear go by without confronting it in some way and shooting it down.
This campaign has been awesome at this and the Repugs never could shake Obama up or scare him or Plouffe or Axelrod or Dean.
The rest of the party have been pussies up until now- they've cowered, quaked, or tried to ignore the shit out of existence. Obama basically has told the repugs and their slimers: Ok, bitches, have at it." It's been a beautiful campaign. I predict we'll miss it a lot. ;)
October 23, 2008 1:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
You should read Joe Klein's analysis of why Obama is winning. Telling excerpt:
Those cowering and quaking Democrats bear responsibility for the last 8 years of bullshit our country has gone through. Thank goodness Obama isn't more of the same.
Full link: Why Barack Obama is winning
October 23, 2008 1:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
And I thank Howard Dean, too.
With all of them - Dean, Obama, Plouffe, etc., they finally got out ahead of the spasmodic idiot wing of the Democratic Party.
Whew! He's winning cause he never backs down, and at the same time he never lets it ruffle him. That actually is one of the ways Reagan did it - I like it that Obama learns from all sides and takes the best ideas and runs with them.
October 23, 2008 1:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Best choices of the O...
50 State Strategy.
Biden as VP.
Leave no turd unstoned!
October 24, 2008 12:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Lord. Have. Mercy. That shouldn't surprise. In fact, when I heard, first thing out of my mouth was this: "This is a goddamned gimmick." What does surprise me is that so many Dems were about to fall for it. That is just dumbassed.
I've said it once and I'll say it again--John McCain and all the rest thought they could punk Obama, and they are learning the hard way that they cannot.
Word to the wise: Don't let the smooth taste fool you.
October 23, 2008 2:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
OT: Forgive me for blog-whoring for a moment, but there was a press release sent out by nearly 100 prominent educators yesterday which called for McCain to stop the sleazy campaign tactics. I've posted it on my blog, and it's a pretty powerful statement.
http://www.blah3.com/article.php?story=20081023012621140
I'm only linking to my blog because I haven't really seen it published anywhere else, and I thought it would interest y'all.
October 23, 2008 1:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I certainly do not mind blog-whoring by regular commenters who aren't just here to spam - and there's a considerate way to do it and you just did it.
Blog whoring is part of the deal - but blog whoring is not the same thing as spamming.
IMO.
October 23, 2008 1:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks, Tena.
I always feel a little guilty about doing that. I like hanging out and commenting here, and I try to go out of my way not to abuse the privilege.
But that post was a press release and not a published article, so I figured there may be some interest in seeing it.
Okay, blog-whoring over. Back to commenting...
October 23, 2008 1:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
"You know, I think you may have noticed that Senator Obama's supporters have been saying some pretty nasty things about Western Pennsylvania lately," McCain told the audience in the town of Moon Township. "And you know, I couldn't agree with them more."
I tell ya, I haven't laughed that hard in years than when I saw this yesterday! Did you see the look of horror on the guy's face standing behind McCain after he said that?? PRICELESS!!
October 23, 2008 1:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Joe, Joe, Joe...you didn't stick with it? Yes, the "I couldn't agree with them more" part was definitely laugh-inducing. But you know what's priceless? Absofreakinlutely gut-busting? The very next line, the ol' attempt to dig out of the gaffe.
It went a little something like this:
"And you know, I couldn't agree with them more."
[heh hmm hehhhehe hahaha that's good you moron. You better talk fast old man...]
"I couldn't disagree with you more..."
[Oh. Dear. Lord. That is one beFUDDled man].
"blah blah blah dig dig dig.." [Couldn't hear what came after that because my sides hurt].
An animation of this would have a gun pointed at the left foot with a BLAM! followed by aiming at the right foot with a BLAM! followed, finally, by a hand dropping the dang gun.
October 23, 2008 3:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, who the heck would listen to a robocall anyhow?
I have received numerous robocalls and my reaction is always the same. My time is just too valuable to listen to recorded messages.
I cannot imagine that anyone would do anything more than hang up on a robocall.
October 23, 2008 1:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't listen to them, but I don't hang up either. I just leave the phone off the hook until I hear that obnoxious beep-beep-beep from the phone company that reminds me that I left the phone off the hook.
That way I figure that I'm at least preventing (or at least delaying) the call going to other people. If I need to use the phone in the meanwhile, there's always my cell phone.
October 23, 2008 3:50 PM | Reply | Permalink