No voter wants to be called by a machine

Especially after last fall’s onslaught of political “robocalls” in Kansas, a candidate risks irritating the recipients of his automated phone pitches into voting for the other guy. Then again, if robocalls didn’t work, candidates wouldn’t use them. At least two local contenders robocalled before last week’s primary, mayoral candidate Carl Brewer and City Council candidate Paul Tobia, and both advanced to the general election.
Posted by Rhonda Holman

24 Comments

  1. Posted March 4, 2007 at 4:40 am | Permalink

    I never listen past the open few words. I just hang up. I’ll bet we got half a dozen last election.

    I think they ought to ban them. They are just as annoying as unwanted sales calls, and they even make me feel a little animosity towards the specific candidate.

    I don’t think that’s their intended goal – but it’s the way I feel.

  2. Joe Williams
    Posted March 4, 2007 at 5:04 am | Permalink

    I don’t mind them, just if they are not too long. I don’t give them longer than 15 to 20 seconds before I hang up.

    Pitch your message but make it quick.

  3. writerdog
    Posted March 4, 2007 at 7:18 am | Permalink

    Especially after last fall’s onslaught of political “robocalls” in Kansas, a candidate risks irritating the recipients of his automated phone pitches into voting for the other guy. Then again, if robocalls didn’t work, candidates wouldn’t use them.

    This and telemarketing are two things I have trouble believing that they work, I hear the same thing about telemarketing too. When I decide to be polite, I will point out that I have a phone book and obviously I have a phone. So if I desire they service, I would be calling them. The list of things I say when I am not polite would blaster most ears! But if you want me to personally vote for your candidate, you better be personally calling me and even better actually knocking on my door.

  4. Tyler Durden
    Posted March 4, 2007 at 8:01 am | Permalink

    Robocalls should be illegal for EVERYTHING! They are obnoxious, the entities that use them think they have the right to ring my phone whenever they please.

    The only reason “robocalls” are legal in these United States is that the Politicans want them. They are not very effective in marketing, and telemarketing and telemarketers are hated with a passion. I do not know why they are still used.

    Robocalls should not be legal anywhere becaus it is a machine calling, and not a person. IF an entity IS going to call me, it has to be a real person.

    This is one area where technology surpassed common sense and common courtesy.

  5. Posted March 4, 2007 at 9:10 am | Permalink

    I listen ONLY long enough to know who is responsible for using the phone I PAY FOR to advance (?) their purposes. I actually began a log last fall when those calls were so numerous. I received only one during the most recent local primary — from Brewer — and I duly noted that was yet another reason not to cast my vote for him.

  6. Ben Huie
    Posted March 4, 2007 at 9:27 am | Permalink

    I can think of one reason and one reason ONLY for robocalls: storm warnings. I don’t think having the phone wake me to get into the basement would be a bad thing. BUT THAT IS ALL!

    wd makes a good point – I just might make it a point to vote against the candidate.

    Another thing I hate is the afct that these things clog my answering machine. They just drone on and on. The ones I have received the most seem to be the ones claiming that America is going Godless and wanting me to call their number to help fight against the ACLU.

  7. J R
    Posted March 4, 2007 at 9:57 am | Permalink

    I have an unlisted number so I have not had any of these calls.

    That said? One should not have to pay the phone company extra to keep from being bothered by these calls. Ban ‘em.

  8. rm6046
    Posted March 4, 2007 at 10:29 am | Permalink

    Does anyone know whether politicians are exempt under the “no call” lists? I know that there are several exceptions, but I’m not sure what they are.

  9. Ben Huie
    Posted March 4, 2007 at 10:31 am | Permalink

    It is my understanding they are exempt.

  10. anonymous
    Posted March 4, 2007 at 10:32 am | Permalink

    This is an example of politicians and government exempting themselves from laws that others must obey.

  11. raptor
    Posted March 4, 2007 at 11:03 am | Permalink

    I wish I had something to add to all the above. Yes, they are obnoxious, annoying, and should be banned. Yet, as noted, the people that write the laws seem to like them. Could they be getting bad advice from the businesss that run these robodialers?

    Seems like it all boils down to money, and lots of it.

  12. Tyler Durden
    Posted March 4, 2007 at 1:39 pm | Permalink

    “Does anyone know whether politicians are exempt under the “no call” lists?”

    Yes they are exempt. It was also the rationale for the “no call” list exemptions on the federal bill with the “opt-out”. IF it was an “opt-in” the politicians thought that was a “First Amendment” issue by supressing freedom of sppech. Quite a reach if you adk me.

    The Robocall and no-call legislation shows how ineffective our government and political leaders are.

    If we can’t sort things like this out, how the hell can we liberate a country or stop global warming with this leadership and this political process.

  13. rm6046
    Posted March 4, 2007 at 2:03 pm | Permalink

    Thanks Ben & Tyler — ’cause I didn’t have a clue!

  14. Wiseman
    Posted March 4, 2007 at 2:08 pm | Permalink

    Ok – confession time, I have had no phone, not for at lease 7 years, sort of in a weird way.I buy a used cell phone from Ebay or off from someone who is getting a new one and use them for only when I have an emergency.Calling 911 will work without any phone service just as well as having that service.

    In other words, because of the rising cost and crap you get from phone companies on your billings and all the telemarketing that are constantly pestering you and having to pay for a bill that is non-essential, “I HAVE LEARN TO DO WITHOUT A PHONE!”You can live without the luxury of phones and save lots money and not be strapped down to technology that tries to make you think that you need them.

  15. ELIZABETH
    Posted March 4, 2007 at 4:26 pm | Permalink

    Did anyone see Brewer’s numbers??? Robo calling works!

  16. Posted March 4, 2007 at 4:36 pm | Permalink

    An incredibly small percentage of people voted in the recent primary.

    Robo calling should be outlawed and the fact that Brewer uses it makes him less desirable than he already was.

    Add the fact that Knight is part of his campaign and the deck is stacked against him.

    His opponent is less desirable and that may get him elected for one term. But he better do better as mayor than as a member of the city council or he will be one and out.

  17. WSClark
    Posted March 4, 2007 at 4:41 pm | Permalink

    When it comes to the Mayoral Election, do you feel like your choices between firing squad and hanging?

    I will be voting for Brewer, but I wish that he did not have the Bob Knight connection.

    Can we trade Knight to Oklahoma City for a player to be named later?

  18. Gentle Ben
    Posted March 4, 2007 at 6:15 pm | Permalink

    Robocalls work very well for poorly funded honest citizens who need to communicate information cheaply and efficiently. Robocalls probably wouldn’t be quite as necessary if we had honest newspapers that reported the news fairly, but when all you have is a whorehouse like the Eagle, Robocalls become very important. Which is why, of course, an elitist left-wing slime like Holman opposes them.

  19. Posted March 4, 2007 at 7:55 pm | Permalink

    wsc, you put it right on — it is like choosing between a firing squad or hanging. Both candidates are already part of the problem. Only difference is that Brewer is pretending he could do something different with his ONE vote if mayor was in front of his name.

  20. CapnAmerica
    Posted March 4, 2007 at 8:36 pm | Permalink

    Gentle Ben made a lot more sense than you lindaink.

    Why don’t you get a brain.

  21. Posted March 4, 2007 at 8:55 pm | Permalink

    Whoa . . . somebody’s trolling.

    Always check for my typekey page, your mark of an authentic CapnAmerica post.

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