Ok, I'm a little pissed off.....Al Franken's get Al re-elected campaign called, and

[a kennedy]

said they were thankful for my contribution, but, could I possibly give on a monthly basis....I said no, I'll give just one time because I'm on a fixed income and can not afford to give monthly. He then said, well this is just for seniors, and can't you help. I said "no, I'll give as much as I can just once and thank you good-bye". I'm getting a tad upset with these calls, has happened more then once, and I love Al, just not his campaign workers.

[Sherman A1]

1. Once you give any of them money

you are on their list forever. The only thing I can think of is to tell them not to call you.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

2. If you give online

it's easy to just delete the emails.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. I think they all do that.

And it's probably not an actual campaign worker, but a group hired to do fund-raising - somebody being paid to read from a script. Just say "no," but don't attribute it to the campaign. It's just the way fund-raising is done these days, unfortunately.

[a kennedy]

4. It just makes me sick that this is what we've come to.....

and I love Al, he's my Senator.

[AndyA]

5. I think ALL of them spend too much time on fundraising

I read somewhere that anywhere from 25-50 percent of Congress members time is spent on fundraising.

Both sides do it, both houses do it. Reports are generated showing how much each member has raised during the quarter, and they are apparently encouraged to spend plenty of time fundraising.

This while there are so many Americans out of work. It's not hard to get angry.

[abelenkpe]

6. they all do it because they all need to

we need serious campaign reform. It is frustrating when so many are out of work.

[progree]

7. "He then said, well this is just for seniors" huh?

Does he think seniors are rich enough to give monthly? Or that seniors are forgetful, might "forget" to give again, but if a certain amount is being taken out of their account / charged to their card, that solves that problem?

Hmmm, this reminds me why I only give to only 2 or 3 campaigns in an election year -- to get on fewer begging lists. (But I give relatively large amounts to each, so I spend a lot of time and energy picking ones that my contribution might most likely help).

One bad memory -- after donating to the DCCC - Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, I had one hell of a hard time getting them to stop calling me (I don't know how many times I told them to put me on their do not call list, reminded them of the previous N times I asked them, reminded them they were making an illegal call, thus making them a criminal organization, I do not donate to criminals blah blah. Yes, I kept my requests polite and simple the first 3 or so times, then went into the long lectures when that didn't work.). After almost a year of this, it finally stopped. Also got a ton of snail mail solicitations from them. I especially hate phone calls because I work some nights, sleep or nap some days.

[reteachinwi]

8. I say I support them, but will you please do your solicitation by mail?

And please take me off your calling list. That has mostly worked.

[question everything]

9. This is what I do, to all of them

Yesterday I got a call from public radio, or was it tv?

As soon as I replied someone live was there, called me by my name as if I knew him and then said from where he was calling. And I just said - mail me a solicitation and if and when I can contribute I will. Please do not call here.

I used to apologize, cannot talk right now, busy, etc.

Now I just tell whoever calls to pleas do not call. I think that it is starting to work.

And... as soon as I contribute, I get a new letter of solicitation. As soon as 2013 rolled in, the new "2013 fund" letters started arriving.

Yes, I know they need my support. Public radio and TV, that is. And we do watch and listen to them most of the time. But, really.

In the evening, when everyone is at home, we just let the machine picks the calls.

[progree]

10. "In the evening, when everyone is at home, we just let the machine picks the calls. "

I find when I do that, they just keep calling, until they can reach me live.

If they are a legitimate non-profit organization, I'll ask them politely to put me on their do not call list. If after a couple times I've asked them, and a month has passed since I last asked them to, and they are still calling, then there is hell to pay.

If it is a for-profit but legitimate, they get one polite request and a month's grace period to allow it to process.

If it is Rachel at card member services -- well I've already gotten dozens of calls from them. Following FCC advice about such obvious scam operations, I simply hang up.

[question everything]

11. Indeed. This is why I sometimes do reply, or if they call during the day

and politely ask them not to call.

Interesting thing about "Rachel and card services." One day I "accepted" started giving a number of a credit card carried the conversation for a while until they wanted SS number and I hung up.

Have not heard from them since. Fingers crossed.