Just Got Polled By The RNC

The RNC is sending an automated poll around today for the Governor's election.  They identified themselves at the start of the call.

First question was asking if I was a Democrat or a Republican.  I said Republican in case the poll terminated for Democrats.

Next question was on the Governor's race, and was hysterical.  The question was- did I plan to vote for Bob McDonnell or "one of the three Democrat candidates running in the primary June 9th".  Someone better tell the RNC we have a candidate now!  (I answered McDonnell to keep it going).

Next question was if I considered myself to be Pro-Choice or Pro-Life.  (I answered Pro-Life to keep it going).

Then the survey asked a couple demographic questions (gender, age) and was finished.

So much for "Bob for Jobs" and not running on social issues!

Comments

[aznew]

Holy shit. I got same call, and answered almost exactly the same as Ben for exactly the same reasons (except I said I was pro-choice in hopes that the Repubs might rethink their position if enough people answered like that) .

I can't believe I'm thinkling like you, Ben. This can't be good.

[In the YC]

The research gods are gonna getcha. =)

[DanielK]

Hmm, maybe I should turn the ringer on my home phone on so I can also be part of the fun!

[Sam]

"one of the three Democrat candidates running in the primary June 9th."

When I say Republicans have been losing because they're lost in the past, I didn't mean it literally....

[VA Blogger]

Ben, you\'re quite a moron.

Most pollsters ask \"pro-life\" or \"pro-choice\" as a demographic question; it has absolutely no bearing on what a candidate runs on.

Not that it has ever stopped you from reaching a completely false conclusion, but you should try to learn at least a little bit of what you\'re talking about first.

[ValerieInRke]

Got a call too and answered Democrat and it kept on going.

[RicJohn]

This "Bob for Jobs" line is a complete joke. Who thinks McDonnell will hit anything higher than 46% in the fall election? Also, does anyone really believe Bill Bolling is a strong opponent? I think he's a weak incumbent and very vulnerable this year.

[bored at work]

say what u want about Bob...but Bill? what has Jody done in her life besides fail at running for office.

The only reason Bolling's election was close 4 years ago was b/c of the top of the ticket. If bolling was at the top of the ticket, the dem candidate would be a joke.

[kelley in virginia]

bolling knows the issues, knows the General Assembly & will be able to paint Jody Wagner with all the negatives of the Tim Kaine part-time Governor administration.

and we all know how much NLS likes Tim Kaine.

[Not Russ Moulton]

Hey, VA Blogger, I am campaign consultant and let me assure you, for polling demographics, all of ask demographic questions.

We ask pro-life for targeting.

And obviously, as NLT surely knows, this is not a poll, but an automated survey.

Why no one fixed the Dem candidate question does baffle me.

BTW, I am pro-life campaign consultant.

Ciao

[DCCyclone]

I got this same RNC robocall poll BEFORE the primary, except that I don't remember a question on abortion being asked. And since it was pre-primary, McDonnell vs. "one of the Democrats" was the correct trial heat question.

And I answered honestly, as a Democrat and voting for the Democrat in November, and never got cut off.

[not an extremist]

Is anyone following the investigation the house members including Jim Moran for abusing the stimulus money intrusted to them by the taxpayers? The abuse of power by the democrats may well be the deciding factor with independent voters who believed that “change” meant something other than who was abusing the citizenry.

[kelley in virginia]

yes, i am following the stimulus money fraud claims.

and what about firing the IG because he was investigating the fraud in some of the Americorps spending? (expanded by the GIVE act which my congressman, tom perriello, voted for)

[Republican Troll]

Stupid libs, Jim Moran will sink Deeds!!!!1

He is his brother or something, right?

[Spock]

Olbermann just took the piss out of McDonnell on "Best Persons" (not "worst Persons")

Quite lulzy ...

[change]

What about the crying the libs did when Bush fired people?

How quickly libs forget.

Consistency is not the best attribute for liberals, unless it involves spending taxpayer money, lies and deception

[Not a Republican Troll]

What did he say exactly, spock?

[Spock]

Repub Troll- He was taking the piss out of the slogan "Just Say Yes" which is actually a pro-sexual freedom campaign.

Truly a lulz!

It should be up on the MSNBC Countdown site soon.

Looks for the "Best Persons" vid ...

[Spock]

Sorry, that was addressed to "Not" Repub Troll

[RichmondDem]

Just Say Yes to Class 6 Felonies!

[Spock]

"The Republican Party's gubernatorial candidate in Virginia Bob McDonnell has chosen as a campaign slogan, a phrase used by the Coalition for Positive Sexuality (CPS) to promote "irreverent and unabashed sex education" for teens."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/12/virginia-gop-candidates-s_n_214788.html

You just can't make this stuff up ... lulz ,,,

[RichmondDem]

The Mark Earley, George Allen ('06), and Jerry Kilgore campaigns would be proud!

[Spock]

http://www.positive.org/JustSayYes/index.html

"Just Say Yes is about having a positive attitude towards sexuality -- gay, straight,bisexual or whatever. It's about saying "yes" to sex you do want, and "no" to sex you don't. It says there's nothing wrong with you if you decide to have sex, and nothing wrong with you if you decide not to."

Wooo Hoooo McDonnell want us 2 has buttsechs !!!

[Mark Foley]

Just say YES!!!!

[Charlie Crist]

Just say YES!!

[Larry Craig]

Just say YES to a wide stance!

[Anonymous Is A Woman]

Does anybody actually believe the issue of pro life isn't vitally important to the Republicans?

Of course it is. They are all about it as a litmus test. The only reason VA Blogger keeps trying to downplay this is because he knows - because he is quite savvy - that Bob McDonnell's position on this issue will not play well in voter rich Northern Virginia.

Republicans have been explicit about the need to rebrand themselves to appeal to moderates and independents.

The only problem is that they are not talking about actual change of policy or rethinking their actual postions and becoming more moderate. They truly mean they want to rebrand themselves to appear more moderate, while still appealing to their very, very conservative base, beneath the radar.

But if they care about abortion, why shouldn't we? Do not let them shame us into being silent while they quietly, beneath that radar, erode our rights and freedoms.

If they disagree with that positions, then by all means have an honest debate. But don't run a dishonest, trojan campaign where you claim it's not important publicly, while reassuring your base privately that it is.

[Ed Schrock]

Just say YES to closeted gay phone sex!!!

[Ed Schrock]

Don't you remember me, Bob?

http://rawstory.com/exclusives/byrne/schrock_resigns_gay_phone_sex_tapes_830.htm

When can we campaign together!?

Just say YES!!

[Spock]

Anon is Woman- Has McDonnell been cornered on where he stands on supporting state provided defense for women's clinics whom are at risk?

The Fall's Church clinic has had a trouble time under threat...

[Ted Haggard]

Just say YES to man-on-man massages and crystal meth!!

[Not PWC]

I say the Democrats should outright publish Bob McDonnell's position on abortion (the criminalization and prosecution of indvidiuals who have the procedure performed). This is what Virginia gets if they vote for Bob McDonnell. And voter rich Northern Virginia won't go for his crazy ass ideas on this subject.

[Anonymous Is A Woman]

Spock, that is a very good question that also should be raised with Cuccinelli, since he is running for AG.

Other questions that are just as important is where all three Republicans stand on so-called "freedom of conscience" laws, which allow pharmacists to deny women birth control pills and other contraceptive devices.

The issue is far broader than just abortion. A couple's right to practice birth control, a woman's right to privacy, and a woman's right to get a medical prescription filled are all at stake.

There have also been various attempts to pass laws to make women liable to criminal investigation for miscarriages.

The problem with the so-called "pro-life" movement is that it's not just about stopping abortion, but about a plethora of invasive laws, which would destroy our freedoms and our right to privacy.

[Rush Limbaugh]

Just say YES to OxyContin, Viagra, lots of bacon, and young Dominican Boys!!!

[Choice]

Anonymous is a woman,
Are you saying that pharmacists should not be able to make a choice if their religion is for or against certain activities?

Does the party of choice only believe in such if the "choice" happens to agree with your views?

[Choice]

Looks as if the teenage liberal trolls are taking over this site.

[Not John S. Mosby]

Choice, yes, as their job is to dispense medication when a valid prescription is presented and payment is made. It's called doing their jobs without judging others and is especially important when it's a healthcare situation. Its not a place where politics should enter the equation.

[Spock]

Anon is a woman- I am with you 100%, but we are facing now another elevation to right-wing extremism.

This is more than just about our rights, this is now about the proven threat of domestic right-wing terrorism facing our Drs, women seeking healthcare and the general public.

It's no secret that with finally a voice in the White House that isn't a white male religionist extremist, there is a high level of anger in those who feel they "lost their rights" to oppress others.

These extremists are also a demographic known for: massive gun collecting (not just a handgun to protect the house), conspiracy lunatic theories and racism.

We have already seen their outbursts and witnessed those who have lost their lives because of this growing trend.

What are this new slate of soon to be "elected" going to do about keeping Virginia's woman's clinics, as well as others whom are also at risk of being targets of future hate crimes, safe?

[kelley in virginia]

spock: get a grip on yourself. there are many white people out here that are conservative, yet not extremists.

i have guns. hunting guns, guns to protect myself & just old antiquey guns. does that make me an extremist?

and i'm Episcopalian. (you know, a Christian denomination). we have gay bishops. does that make me an extremist?

you know, Spock, i don't want my tax dollars going thru the GIVE act to Americorps to be thrown away by fraud. i don't want my tax dollars supporting ACORN. i don't want the govt. meddling in health care, banking, the automotive industry or any private concern.

do i sound like a lunatic to you?

[Spock]

Kelly- Lunatic? I don't know you, so I don't know.

You do sound selfish and self serving, with your demands for "my...my..my..." so you are obviously about " me ... me ... me"

You show no care or concern about the well being of society as a whole.

All you seem to care about is your $ and shooting things.

Even though the safety of women's health clinics, and those who might be targets of vicious and deadly hate crimes and the 1000's of people going without healthcare is obviously no care or concern of yours because all you care about is money and guns, there are MANY of us who do care about these issues facing today's Virginia.

Maybe you can start the "It's all about Kelly in Virginia" political party.

[kelley in virginia]

spock: selfish? ordinarily, i would be more than happy to post my taxes/charitable giving statements on line for you to see how selfish my husband & i are with our money. but the Supreme Court of Virginia would frown on a Circuit Ct. judge doing that for security reasons.

[Spock]

"but the Supreme Court of Virginia would frown on a Circuit Ct. judge doing that for security reasons."

So you post that because it's supposed to make you appear "better" than anyone else?

Sorry, not impressed

I would add "classist elitest" to your traits list as well.

[Sam]

kelley,

the fraud claims are being investigated, as they should be. seems to me the Obama administration is doing its job there....

The claim that money is going to ACORN has been repeatedly disproven. Please get a new talking point.

[kelley in virginia]

sam, money is going, thru the stimulus, to an ACORN organization. i don't know how to cut & paste the info here, but i'll get someone to do it for me.

its impt. that we all know that our tax dollars are going to many groups seeking to undermine our freedoms. ACORN undermines our free election process.

[kelley in virginia]

about ACORN: here are just a few things that i've researched today: sorry, you have to look these up yourself because i don't know how to link.

Housing Trust Fund (authorized by Congress) funnels money to ACORN & LaRaza. George Bush knew this, but still voted for bill(s) that included funding for HTF. non-partisan blame here.

ACORN was one of the initial lobbyists for Community Reinvestment Act (NYPost). this is act that, in part, caused the Fannie/Freddie meltdown.

The GIVE act funding (which some has already been called into question--the Americorps funding), gives 5.7 billion to various groups. ACORN also a beneficiary.

[choice]

Man, I bet you libs have never heard THAT argument before!!

I win, liberals!

[choice]

I won't seat black people at the lunch counter, either, libs.

Its my CHOICE!

[Not PWC]

Kelly in Virginia, reading the Glenn Beck talking points on ACORN. Sigh. I suppose this is a good thing because there is no leader in the Republican Party in Virginia (or nationally for that matter).

[choice, originally "Not an Allahbama Lemming"]

Just say YES!!!

I'm still sad Rev. Wright didn't sink Obama. :(

Maybe Mitt will save me in 2012!!!!1121

[kelley in virginia]

not PWC: no, i went to some past articles in the Wall Street Journal & read bills out of Congress about the GIVE Act.

actually, the GIVE act is pretty frightening all by itself.

[Sam]

Please, tell me what parts of the GIVE Act are frightening? Since when is encouraging volunteerism a bad thing? Show me the provision of the bill that sends money to ACORN? If it's Michelle Bachmann's paranoid "re-education camps" I think this conversation is over....

[kelley in virginia]

sam: The GIVE act is HR 1388. funding goes thru, to some extent, the public educational system. do you want to debate that monolith here?

special attention is paid to "low income" students.

the funding is another bill. i'm looking for the bill#, but it allows $5.7 billion to go to 250,000 "volunteers".

is a paid volunteer still a volunteer?.

this is a boondoggle that we are all paying for.

but the bottom line, sam, is that you don't mind our money being spent this way & i do. i doubt anyone could change either of our minds.

[Sam]

With granted exceptions in many places around the country, our much-decried public education system is actually fairly successful. Test scores are improving, and today most evidence that our public schools are failing are either anecdotal, or focused on the urban school systems that have their own unique challenges.

I have a question, though. Have you ever been a full-time volunteer? The idea of being a volunteer is that you are surrendering the opportunity costs associated with income at jobs you are qualified for. You are not, however, supposed to be giving up food, housing, etc., just to be a volunteer. Most full-time volunteer organizations provide meals, housing, and other such expenses. If you divide out your number, $5.7 billion for 250,000 volunteers is about $23,000. This is a fairly reasonable representation of annual costs, especially given the amount of that money that will actually be going to overhead.

You're right, I don't mind our money being spent to encourage volunteerism, fight poverty, and improve education, especially among low income students where education needs the most improvement.

[Spock]

Sam- One really good book to explain the the history of this selfish hate against the poor and and those who struggle is:

http://www.waragainsttheweak.com/

Here in VA we have one of the worst and shameful histories of elitist white privilege attacks on those who are in deficit of food, housing ect ...

There was a time when those of the "Kelly in VA" mindset were picking up children of poverty off the streets and sterilizing them because they considered them a "tax burden" and didn't want any of their precious tax $ used to improve lives of the poor.

The war on the poor is bases of this tea bagging movement.

[truth]

Sam,
You may have no problem with ACORN “paying” their “volunteers” to fraudulently register voters and commit election fraud, but many taxpayers do.

Further this group has cheated the IRS with fraudulent filings (although this should be no surprise, given the trend in the administration).

Money has been given to this group through a variety of maneuvers and to put icing on the cake they will be instrumental in the next census.

This liberal activist group should not receive taxpayer money due to their proven bias and criminal activities and should not have any ability to bring this bias to anything as important as the census.

Maybe you would have no problem with the Christian coalition being players in and receiving these type funds from the federal government? at least they can be trusted.

[Sam]

truth,

Please, provide some evidence to backup your claims. Show me where the GIVE Act provides funding the ACORN. Show me where ACORN refers to their voter registration people as "volunteers." (hint: they don't, they're treated as employees, and will get no GIVE Act money, but keep looking if you want)

On top of it all, show me where the fraudlently registered voters actually voted. Oh right, they didn't, because registration fraud, which has gone on for decades, does not equal voter fraud.

Finally, show me the percentage of ACORN-registered voters that were fraudulent. Given all the press you guys love to pour on it, I suppose you would be shocked to learn that the number is well under 1%, a statistically insignificant number that points more towards a few bad apples than a bad bunch.

So, please, provide an ounce of evidence to back up your claim. Oh right, you can't.

I really do think the theme of the Republican party should be "Don't let facts get in the way of a good talking point."

[truth]

Sam,
The GIVE act is not the only mechanism where money is getting funneled to ACORN. You might also review that BofA gave them millions after being “bailed out” by taxpayers. One can never convince a person who refuses to see the truth but like “teaching a pig to sing” I will attempt to enlighten you at the risk of wasting time and frustrating us both.

As you stated the GIVE act does not mandate money to go to ACORN and specifying this detail of expense is not how the bill is written. However, the democrats did block an amendment that would specifically stop ACORN from receiving funds and this speaks for itself (maybe you want to explain why?). Because a bill does not mandate money to an organization, does not mean that the money can not go to the entity. I do not believe you to be so ignorant that you do not understand these realities.

Also, your “show me” argument regarding voter fraud is another bogus assertion. It is rather like Obama’s “I saved 600k job” argument. Neither is provable so the number may as well be 100 million. What is important is not the degree to which they were able to commit crime, it is that they actually were successful in committing it.

For you to hide behind these sham arguments shows your unwillingness to take an unbiased view of issues and leaves little doubt that you have no interest in truth.

Before you call on someone to debate an issue, you should be able to accept facts

[truth]

Sam,
The GIVE act is not the only mechanism where money is getting funneled to ACORN. You might also review that BofA gave them millions after being “bailed out” by taxpayers. One can never convince a person who refuses to see the truth but like “teaching a pig to sing” I will attempt to enlighten you at the risk of wasting time and frustrating us both.

As you stated the GIVE act does not mandate money to go to ACORN and specifying this detail of expense is not how the bill is written. However, the democrats did block an amendment that would specifically stop ACORN from receiving funds and this speaks for itself (maybe you want to explain why?). Because a bill does not mandate money to an organization, does not mean that the money can not go to the entity. I do not believe you to be so ignorant that you do not understand these realities.

Also, your “show me” argument regarding voter fraud is another bogus assertion. It is rather like Obama’s “I saved 600k job” argument. Neither is provable so the number may as well be 100 million. What is important is not the degree to which they were able to commit crime, it is that they actually were successful in committing it.

For you to hide behind these sham arguments shows your unwillingness to take an unbiased view of issues and leaves little doubt that you have no interest in truth.

Before you call on someone to debate an issue, you should be able to accept facts

[truth]

sorry for the double post

[Not John S. Mosby]

Truth and others, do you honestly think that anyone other than far-right Republicans give a shit about ACORN? You screamed about it all fall and did it win you the election? Did "drill baby drill"? You guys may want to accept the fact that Americans have already weighed in on trivial shit like this when they voted, in a relative landslide, for Obama as President and for all of the Democratic Senators and Representatives as well.

Sam is 100% correct, you may want to research it for about one minute and find out for yourself. Just the usual Republican dog whistle against the "urban" voters and we all know who they are.

[Not Pat]

Ben endorsed Deeds that means McDonnell is an automatic winner. I can't wait to see Ben and Creigh's You Tube video. Maybe Ben can get another location besides his mom's basement.

[truth]

jsm,
It seems you find great displeasure in facts.
The question was not “who cares” the question is; are these extreme left entities that have been proven criminal going to receive taxpayer funds?
I would suggest that most people would care if they were advised of the facts.
Because you seem only interested in shilling for your guy, you do not wish to see or admit the motive behind the issue.

These organizations should not receive funds, it is cronyism at its worst and it is only getting uglier. Maybe you should catch up on the recent firing of the Inspector General because he was investigating the misuse of another organization by one of Obama’s friends. A firing which was made illegal by a bill sponsored by then Sen. Obama.

If these were conservatives you would be jumping out of your seat, but since it’s done by someone you supported its OK. There is no honor in hypocrisy.

[Not John S. Mosby]

Truth, I don't think religious groups should receive funds either but the faith-based initiatives seem to be sucking in the cash. There are grants going to a massive number and variety of groups and like everyone else, I like some of those groups and dislike others. If you want to deny ACORN then you pretty much need to deny them all. They fit the requirements as put forth by REPUBLICAN LEGISLATION. You and your ilk are only complaining because one small part of what ACORN does is voter registration and they hired a few bad ones - out of thousands of good ones - to help with voter registration last year. That's it. The problem was discovered, it was corrected. Will something like that happen again with ACORN or any other group doing voter registration? Probably, but that's why there is a verification process.

[truth]

jsm,
If there are "faith based groups" that have committed similar crimes as ACORN, I would agree that they should not receive taxpayer funds.

I hope this shows that my “ilk” are at least consistent.

[Lindsey Graham]

Just say YES!!