Self-Proclaimed "Team Player" for "Team Connecticut"... Push-Polling.

[salin]

On another thread, a DUer mahoganydesk gives a brief account of a push-poll call:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2798632&mesg_id=2800252

I just got push polled by "non-combatant" Joe

It was disgusting. I feel raped. Ten minutes of asking how I felt about this candidate and that candidate. Then they start slinging the mud. I was asking all along who the call was on behalf of and was told "I don't know." When she got to the part about "if you knew Ned Lamont had met with a highly partisan, very vocal opponent of the Iraq war from out of state..." I hung up. Is there someone I can complain to?

With mahoanydesk's permission, I am posting this thread. Thought it warrants its own thread.

[silverojo]

1. The only thing I'd like to "push"

is a saguaro cactus, right up Lieberman's ass! :mad:

[salin]

2. we need to push the definition and intent of push-polling

into the public psyche. If only everyone in the public had an 'eye-roll' response when receiving one of these calls, then they might start to become an ineffective campaign strategy.

So Rovian... so pushing the fear...

But seriously... is that the best they have got? It is kinda pathetic, if you ask me.

Just as the name he gave his new political party "Connecticut for Lieberman" sorta belies his "team player" story line they are trying to build... this type of push-polling also belies it. Note the word "partisan" = DEMOCRAT. So the message is "FEAR THE DEMOCRATS!" - team player ... right. :eyes:

[femmedem]

3. I'm all for complaining as publicly as possible.

In other words, are you comfortable writing a LTTE, perhaps pointing out the hypocrisy of referring to himself as a "noncombatant" and painting himself as the Great Uniter while resorting to dirty and dishonest campaign tactics like this?

You could also post about this on some of the CT blogs like My Left Nutmeg or CTBob.

And, of course, you could enact revenge by volunteering or donating to Lamont's campaign.:)

[salin]

4. another idea:

send a note to the folks at Josh Marshall's Talking Points Memo/Election Central (go to www.talkingpointmemo.com and click the 'election central' icon on the firth hand side of the page.)

[mahoganydesk]

5. Thanks for posting this salin

I've e-mailed Ned Lamont to inform them about this "market research." Just to clarify the sequence. It was about ten minutes of neutral questions. "how do feel about this candidate?" Then about ten minutes of questions that put Joe in glowing light. "If you knew that Joe Lieberman had done this wonderful thing for CT, would you be more likely to vote for him? If you knew that Joe had stood up to Bush on this policy, would you be more likely to vote for him?" When the topic switched to things "I might not have heard about Ned Lamont" the tone became so negative that I can't do it justice. In fairness I didn't listen to all of the "questions" about Lamont, because I knew what they were doing. I told the "market researcher" that it was a push poll and hung up. I feel that this tactic is unfair because it is not identified as being on behalf of one candidate even when I specifically asked.

[salin]

6. If you, or anyone you know, gets another one... document, document,

document. Write each negative/inferential question down. If they say it too fast, ask them to repeat it. Give nuetral answers as to not give away that you are documenting each question. Let them get through ALL of their questions - and leave you with a real clear list of innuendos that you can pass on to Lamont's campaign, the local media, and to the state and national blogs that are following/covering the race closely.

Btw, I don't know how long you have been at DU.... (some are hear a long time before posting much) - but, WELCOME!

[mahoganydesk]

7. I definately will document

any future calls like this. I was in shock when the tone shifted so far to the negative. I've been on DU since spring 2002- though primarily a lurker. I've posted only a handful of times. I've chosen instead to write more LTTE. I feel a little less like I'm preaching to the choir. The LTTE's are a double edge sword, however. I've had recent letters published in both my local papers- the Hartford Courant and the Willimantic Chronicle. Both were critical of Lieberman. So I don't think they will publish me again soon.

As a CT voter and Ned Lamont supporter, I am thankful to everyone here for their involvement in this campaign.

[newyawker99]

8. Hi mahoganydesk!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: