Just got contacted by phone by Americans for Prosperity caller,,,,,

The caller was probably some low-wage peon who gets paid by the number of calls they make, and wasn't going to get shitcanned for falling below target. Been there, done that (not for political campaigns, but it's the same whoever you're calling on behalf of).

They're fun to play with if you have the time.

...and said something profound like; "la la la can't hear you, neener neener." The facts challenged crowd does that a lot I think.

I tell them I'm very concerned, but am in the middle of something. Can they hold for 2 minutes?

I've gotten a couple of those calls to sit there and listen while I go about my chores for as long as 20 minutes. I'll pop in every 2 or 3 minutes to tell them I'm almost done, just be patient.

While they're holding for me, they're not calling someone else that might actually listen to them.

to infect somebody else.

Dirty trick? Yeah, if you feel like calling it that. Fuck it! They do it, I think WE should too!

works after the spiel. Make a little noise rattling stuff around as if you're really looking, call out, "Hold on, hold on -- just a second. I'll be right with you." After several minutes, you fumble around, hit a couple of numbers on the phone and then 'accidentally' hang up. Great fun and well worth the five minutes or so it takes.

Only problem is - we don't get many republi-CON phone callers to casa de calimary. But I've GOTTA remember that one! Burn up those minutes stringing them along on the phone so they aren't able to hit up more easy marks.

LOVE the "hit a couple of numbers on the phone" part! LOVE that!!!!

Might also want to figure up some variations on this, just to mix it up a little and keep them off their game.

When they start their spiel, I interrupt it by telling them, "wait a second, I got water boiling on the stove", and set the receiver down and listen for the disconnect sound from the phone. Generally, they don't hang around for more than thirty seconds.

But I have done your trick too. "Great! I've been waiting for you folks to call! Hold on while I finish up something". Then wait for the beeping to start.

Any obstacle to throw up before Grover Norquist and his minions.

On the line while mommy or daddy is busy works good too. LOL!

Hope you don't mind, but I'm going to copy and paste the questions so when I get a call from those fucks I'll be ready!

Thank you!!

making minimum wage at a call center working against his own interests

Guess the rules have changed there, too

It was a push poll. I think they must be an effective campaign tool, because it's a campaign season hazard.

I have done it free as a union member with maybe a slice of pizza thrown in.

So do you figure that pretty soon this will go offshore as well?

whose calls are being recorded. after all isn't that the koch's organization?

These people who call you and are real live voices, they are being paid $7.25 an hour, (minimum wage in states that have only a federal minimum wage).

They work on getting you to give $5 $10, $20 to Romney, and they get $.25 for every $10 they get, (2.5%), and their employer gets $1 for every $10 contributed.

That's who and what these callers are.

I have a strategy for dealing with these people.

1) get a caller ID phone, with an answering device attached.
2) don't answer numbers you don't recognize
3) Make sure everyone you WANT to call you calls you from a phone where their name and number comes up. Even police, fire, hospitals, and other emergency services calling you to inform you that your older great uncle just go shot.. they will call back or leave a message as to who to call. ("This it the XYZ police department, please call us back as soon as possible regarding your great uncle... full name." Unless you run an ambulance service from your home phone number, there is no need to answer these calls. If your house is about to be hit by a tornado, the caller will leave a message.

4) Don't answer these calls, as soon as random calling or fund-raising calling becomes not profitable, it will stop, hopefully within the next 4 years.

As I posted up thread, answer the calls and try to burn as much of their time as possible.

Are they going to change your mind? No, not likely.

Pick up the phone and BS with them or otherwise tie them up for as long as you possibly can. Even 1 wasted minute might be 1 or 2 calls that person can't make that day.

in 1990, I worked for one of the first "push polling" places in Southern California, FOR FIVE DAYS!

We were taught a script, we could vary it here and there, but we had to complete each call in 9 minutes.

We could be nice and friendly to people who pledged $20 or more, we had to hang up when the person that we had called showed any signs of aggression, hostility, disrespect, or indicated in ANY way that continuing the call would be a waste of time. I hung up several calls within the first minute, and went on to the next sucker, asking them 8-10 questions and then asking them for $20. A couple of times in that week, I got $50 from the person I called. Never got $100. We called to make you feel like we wanted to know your opinion, and then put our hands on your wallet, nothing more, nothing less. We didn't care what you thought, we wanted to know if you'd give us money.

We got $6.something an hour, and bonuses for over $200 a day in contributions to our candidate. We worked a split shift, 9AM to 1 PM, 4PM to 9PM, yes 9 hours a day. Weekends were different but I quit on Friday.

Over 100 calls each day were a waste of time, both for me and the person I called. (I apologize now for waking people up from naps, or home sick from work.) I think I made quota one day, after about 120 calls that day, in nine hours. Lunch and dinner could only be eaten in break rooms, no food or drink on the "call floor" where we were 5-8 feet away from the next call guy/gal, and were being watched and random call monitored every minute.

Don't waste these poor folks' time. I was poor, had no job, no income, a $500 rent, and a car to get to and from work and gas was $1 a gallon, even then in S. Cal. I think I took home a total of $218 for all those 4.5 days of work before I just quit, had enough of being yelled at.

I got a job the next week waiting tables at a breakfast place, $3 an hour plus tips, made $440 the first week.

except something he believes is a rip-off (furniture rental, payday loans) or scam (Republican politics).

There are some things a person just has to say "no" to.

Better to work waiting tables at that breakfast place.

I learned never to do something like that ever again.

Your husband knows that lesson.

worker can get on to the next call. Neither they nor their bosses care about our political leanings, why the other side is so evil, or how good our candidate is. They only care about the money, so let the guy/gal move on and try to make a buck or two.

If we want to change minds, that's not the arena.

So is, simply, "don't call this number again". (It gets you off the computer list they have, just with the click of a button on the computer screen.... of course that only works in that ONE call center, they don't want to waste time with you the next begging session of push-polls or whatever they are doing next month to make money).

I grew up a lot that week. Found out that I would never take a job I didn't believe in, ever again!

understanding it."
- Sinclair Upton

Thanks for posting, it's a good quote, I've received it before from Quote Of The Day.

But the man's name was Upton Sinclair.

We talked about a half an hour. By the time I was finished with him, I am certain he was ready to switch sides. He left the script and started agreeing with me.

I really enjoyed that encounter.

The caller approached the poster from the point of view of an anti-Obama repub. There was only one way to respond, and the poster did.

Every single time that I get these types of calls, and I don't give them the "correct" answer from the first question, I am hung up on. This leads me to believe that it is standard practice for them to cut the call off in short order if they have someone who is not in agreement with their agenda.

Or maybe just all of the ones who call ME are not doing it right.

You say they do not mind if the person goes on and on. Others say that they are only wanting to get donations/sales, so that keeps them from being able to reach the goals. So now I don't know if I am doing the caller (who I realize probably does not believe what they are saying from the script) a favor or screwing them out of the job or money if I keep them on the phone. I really don't want to do harm to any of the people calling, even if I have been know to be angry about being bothered.

in case Americans for Prosperity (of Billionares) calls.

she was calling for a candidate in a southern state. funny thing is the firm she worked for could`t call about for candidate in illinois because that`s where she was calling from.

she was making about 8 an hour,reading from a script,could not answer a question , and was monitored during her call. she really did`t like her job.

"this guy can't cure cancer. I'm gonna vote for cancer."

Connecticut and that just proves he was not born in the US.
On and on and on with more lies.

When it was my turn to talk - I told them that President Obama was elected because he won the majority of votes and the electoral votes. That's how it works in a Democracy. If they don't like living in a democracy - then move.

Then I told them the were the least patriotic Americans for spreading lies about the leader of the free world - while we have troops on the ground (love to use their line against them) - and said HOW DARE YOU try to weaken the President of the US???


Then I hung up because my other phone was ringing.... But it sure felt good




These people living in the bubble need a reality check.

I should copy that and put it next to my phone.

i was HUMAN polled last week. 2 questions, at least 2 for me. who will i vote for. obama of course. 2nd, wo can fix the economy, republicans of republicans(the rite was ALWAYS 1st)? "well, since the republicans ruined the economy, i'll say democrats."

Watched Bill Moyer's show the other day and will read "The Party is Over". It lays out the real Agenda of the GOP.

Wake up Americans because we have been sold out to REALLY BIG MONEY.


The President does not say NO but you know who does.