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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: robo-calls

robo-calls stories: 12 news summaries
election 2009

 Robo-Palin Gets Into 
 Va. Gov's Race 

We didn't know about robocalls: McDonnell campaign

Nov 2, 09 2:20 PM CST
(Newser) - Virginia voters are getting recorded advice from Sarah Palin on how to vote in tomorrow’s gubernatorial election. The former Alaska governor’s robocall doesn’t mention GOP candidate Bob McDonnell by name—he’s been loath to accept support from the polarizing figure—but the message appears clear, CNN... More »

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Virginia • governor • robo-calls • election • Sarah Palin • gubernatorial races • Creigh Deeds • Bob McDonnell • Christian Coalition

 Web Vigilantes Take On 
 Robo-callers 

Online campaign targets companies

May 15, 09 9:45 AM CDT
(Newser) - A group of techy activists tired of getting a stream of auto warranty robo-calls has turned the tables on one of the companies, the Wall Street Journal reports. "I thought, if you get a bunch of people together, you could blow up their voicemail boxes," says one frustrated... More »

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social networking • Internet • telemarketing • robo-calls • Reddit • Jay-ZTV • warranty

 Ay, Caramba! Bart Makes Robo-Call for Scientology 

Actress who provides cartoon icon's voice uses it to plug controversial church

Jan 27, 09 4:18 PM CST
(Newser) - Actress Nancy Cartwright’s affiliation with Scientology has escaped public notice for the most part, but those days could be over. Cartwright, the voice of Bart on The Simpsons, is featured on a robo-call announcing a church event, the Village Voice reports. The actress peppers the invitation to the “... More »

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Scientology • The Simpsons • robo-calls • Bart Simpson • Nancy Cartwright • actress • voice talent

TALK SHOW ROUNDUP

 Aide: 
 Mac 'Greatest 
 Closer of All Time' 

Davis predicts McCain surprise win

Nov 2, 08 1:41 PM CST
(Newser) - McCain campaign manager Rick Davis told Fox News Sunday that the Republicans will seize Pennsylvania and the Southwestern states for a come-from-behind finish on Tuesday, the Hill reports. “John McCain may be the greatest closer politician of all time,” he said. Other highlights from the talk shows:
... More »

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Rick Davis • Obama 2008 • talk show • David Broder • John Ensign • George Stephanopoulos • Meet the Press • robo-calls • McCain 2008 • David Axelrod • Election 2008 • punditry

Robo-Calls Invade, But
Can They Conquer?

Automatic calls can backfire, too

Nov 1, 08 2:21 AM CDT
(Newser) - As Election Day looms, America's phones are ringing off the hook. Voters—especially in swing states—have received hundreds of millions of robocalls this year. But voters, curious about the novelty calls 10 years ago, increasingly associate them with ugly scare tactics. "Next week Robo-Call supposed to tell black... More »

MORE ABOUT:
robo-calls • campaigning • election

Analysis

Texts Much More Effective Than Robo-Calls

For now, texts are much more effective than robocalls, email

Oct 28, 08 1:39 PM CDT
(Newser) - The candidates’ automated call campaigns have received a lot of attention, but text-messaging, which only the Obama campaign uses, is likely to have a much more potent effect on the race, writes Farhad Manjoo for Slate. Studies have shown that personal appeals are more effective at mobilizing voters than mailers... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • text message • robo-calls • voter turnout • Election 2008

ANALYSIS

Robocall Master Bought Palin's Fancy Clothes

Jeff Larson helped savage McCain in ugly 2000 SC primary

Oct 23, 08 2:31 PM CDT
(Newser) - The Republican National Committee’s $150,000 spree on Sarah Palin’s wardrobe is so last news cycle, but, in the Atlantic, Joshua Green notes that the man swiping the credit card is GOP operative Jeff Larson. Larson is most notable for his role as a partner in the robocalling... More »

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fashion • shopping • RNC • South Carolina primary • robo-calls • Election 2008 • Sarah Palin • Jeff Larson

Obama Fights Robocall With Robocall

Wis. appeal decries McCain campaign as 'sleazy,' 'dishonorable'

Oct 22, 08 10:54 AM CDT
(Newser) - Barack Obama has robotic telemarketers of his own, and he’s using them to complain about John McCain’s robotic telemarketers. Obama will begin blanketing Wisconsin today with a recorded call from “Jeri Watermolen,” who identifies herself as a Green Bay native who once backed McCain, but has... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • John McCain • Obama 2008 • robo-calls • Election 2008

TALK SHOW ROUNDUP

 Robocalls Are 
 Legit: McCain 

Defends use of same tactic used against him in 2000

Oct 19, 08 1:30 PM CDT
(Newser) - John McCain defended his use of robocalls on Fox News Sunday, arguing his attacks on Barack Obama are different from the slanderous calls that targeted him during the 2000 primaries, Politico reports. “These are legitimate and truthful and they are far different than the phone calls that were... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • John McCain • Newt Gingrich • campaign finance • Obama 2008 • robo-calls • McCain 2008 • Election 2008 • polls

GOP Senator Blasts McCain Robo Calls

Collins criticizes the campaign for linking Obama to Ayers

Oct 18, 08 12:59 PM CDT
(AP) - GOP Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, facing a tough re-election fight, urged John McCain yesterday to stop making automated calls into her state that link Democratic nominee Barack Obama to one-time Weather Underground leader Bill Ayers. "These kind of tactics have no place in Maine politics," said Collins... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • John McCain • Maine • Susan Collins • robo-calls • campaign advertising • Election 2008 • Bill Ayers

Group Hangs Up on Celebrity Robocalls

Prerecorded political messages from stars irk many voters

Aug 5, 08 12:49 PM CDT
(Newser) - Not everyone is starstruck by phone calls from Jack Nicholson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jay-Z, or Scarlett Johansson. The appeals to get out and vote are prerecorded messages known as "robocalls," which have become the cheapest and most popular form of political advertising, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Now a... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • celebrity • Scarlett Johansson • robo-calls • campaigning • Election 2008

Pols Like to Reach Out and Annoy Someone

States attetmpt to stop 'robo-calls,' but don't wait by the phone

Jan 18, 08 4:00 PM CST
(Newser) - Americans tend to get popular right before they vote, with their phones ringing as many as 25 times on election eves. Nineteen states have tried to cut down on “robo-calls,” and five more are considering laws this year, when hundreds of millions of them may be placed, USA ... More »

MORE ABOUT:
free speech • robo-calls • campaigning

12 Stories


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