Georgia Republicans Send Political Mailer Disguised As ‘Official’ Census Survey
Georgia Republicans Send Political Mailer Disguised As ‘Official’ Census Survey
11 Alive, a local Georgia news station, reports today that the Georgia Republican Party is sending out a political mailer disguised to look like an official U.S. Census survey. The news station learned of the scam when a voter called the station saying she was “upset” that Georgia Republicans would send out such a mailer, given that many Georgians, especially senior citizens, will not realize that it’s a political ploy and not an actual Census survey:
“I got real upset ’cause I think a lot of people would just automatically fill it out,” [Anne Wilson of Smyrna] told us in a Thursday TV interview, “It’s their civic duty; by law they have to fill out the census. Turns out I and many others across the country have received the same survey letter which is titled the “2009 Congressional District Census”.
The outside of the envelope is stamped “Do Not Destroy, Official Document”. The survey lists a specific congressional district and includes an individual “Census Tracking Code”, with the request, “Please Respond by: November 16, 2009″. [...]
“I could see a lot of my neighbors that are older who would get something like this in the mail and fill it out,” she adds, “all the information, every little section, and send in money.”
The Georgia GOP also sent the mailer to the 8th Congressional District Chair for the Democratic Party of Georgia, who promptly snapped a picture, which his wife placed on her blog:
She writes, “What a hoot! I wonder where the RNC is getting their lists these days, but do appreciate them wasting their donor’s money this way.”
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…how is this legal?
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:22 pmbeing disingenuous is the only way repukelicans can get anyone to sign up for their party…even in georgia. what a dman shame
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:23 pmWhat? There is no one in Gerogia capable of suing the shit out of these people? What are you, crazy?
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:26 pmThere is no depth too low for these repuke scumbags to sink. They suck long, loudly and often.
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:27 pmWhat is a Liberal Republican?
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:28 pmRepublicans have no ethics or morals, they are criminals who do not think that laws apply to them.
This should be illegal and I hope they do prison time for fraud on this one.
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:30 pmGOP continues to prove how bad they really are….just in time for record low ratings. I wonder what the view is like from the toilet they are spinning around in.
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:31 pmIt’s a mythical creature that doesn’t exist.
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:31 pmi got one of these and filled it out as a liberal republican…of course answering everything like the liberal democrat that I am…but did not send any $$$.
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:32 pmRepiggies are slimebags, crooks, liars and lunatics.
Why is this latest crap a surprise?
Why would any of you ever cast a vote for this trash, even for local office?
They are all in on this stuff, and they approve of it, no matter what they may tell you otherwise, and no matter how “reasonable” they will attempt to sound to you.
The years of the Bush/Cheney regime show that they can’t be trusted.
This “census” crap is just more evidence of their untrustworthiness.
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:33 pm“What is a Liberal Republican?”
these days? michelle myiloveabigdingdong malkin
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:33 pmSkyler says:
What is a Liberal Republican?
The (very few) Republicans that believe that the earth is more than 6000 years old.
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:34 pmWhat’s that smell?
Hmmm, it smells something like burnt pork…KKKarl?
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:35 pmThe republicans lie in congress, they lie on television, they lie about their personal lives. I would think that the GOP is a party of dishonest people.
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:35 pmSkyler says:
“What is a Liberal Republican?”
Someone with multiple personalities. In other words, psychotic. Sybil, for example.
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm“Pleased to meet you, hope you know my name.”
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:37 pm.
That old collage cheer:
“When I say SNAKE, you say OIL…”
.
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:38 pmasking for a generous contribution no less
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:38 pmThey want your information its its Bachmanns big sister government oh no.
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:42 pmDoesn’t this interfere with the primaries, too? If they get people accidentally re-registering as Republicans instead of their Democrat status?
I can totally see my parents falling for it. Grandparents too.
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:44 pmTurning the ACORN mole hill into a mountain, they have to be doing something deceitful like this, for they are defined by their hypocricy.
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:44 pm.
I especially like how, in question #6, FOXPRAVDA has it’s own check box. They lump ABC.CBS.NBC together and CNN.MSNBC together when they’re all really sleeping in the same bed, anyways.
ABCNNBCBS&FOXPRAVDA
(abc.cnn.nbc.cbs.fox)
.
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:45 pmAw dang. Nevermind my comment at #20. It doesn’t seem like it actually re-registers them. Just tricks them into “donating” money and puffing up the numbers.
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:46 pmTo be more accurate, it is a now-extinct creature that once thrived in certain environs of the Northeast.
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:46 pmis it just me, or have they been doing this for six months already?
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:46 pm“To be more accurate, it is a now-extinct creature that once thrived in certain environs of the Northeast.”
like former senator lincoln chaffee who is now running for governor of rhode island as an independent.
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:48 pmThe Republicans have publically contact a wide range of people with a phony census, demonstrating their contempt for the general public. Sounds brilliant, something the I hope the same public remembers at election time.
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:48 pmHeh. Not *too* desperate, are they…?
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:51 pmThey could have requested a forwarding address and had the mail returned if the name and address which could be used to take voters off registration rolls
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:59 pmIf they are pulling this stunt in what should be a solid Repub state, it may say that they are deeply worried. If Georgia goes like Florida, and North Carolina did, can Lousiana and Texas be far behind. They can keep Mississippi and South Carolina.
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:01 pmThis looks like something that a committee review. Is it possible to get Senator Franken and Representative Grayson on the same committee?
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:03 pmRe: “What? There is no one in Georgia capable of suing the shit out of these people? What are you, crazy?”
I’d be happy to, but what would be the cause of action? The envelope is pretty clear that it is being sent by the GOP, not the US Census. It’s true, some will likely be confused, but it’s junk mail and confusing people to get them to do something they otherwise wouldn’t is what a large part of junk mail is all about.
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:06 pmThis was obviously the product of a marketing team who planned an ad campaign that would deliberately mislead and confuse.
Unfortunately, I can’t see anything illegal about this, as “census” is a generic term (I’m sure the producers of this piece of crap ran it through some legal minds to make sure they were inside the law while getting as close to the edge of it as possible).
The problem with this is that when the term “census” gets corrupted, we have the problem of more people distrusting the REAL U.S. Census when it gets taken next year. Not only that, but a REAL census form doesn’t ask for a “generous contribution”. Yet someone who’s gullible enough to confuse a political mailing with the U.S. Census might be gullible enough to believe that responding to the real census will cost money. This is how viral e-mails get started, and what keeps Snopes in business.
And it’s all just a carefully dressed-up, manipulative plea for money. I’d be surprised if any of the response data is recorded in any way — all that will be done with the returned mail is collecting the checks out of the envelopes.
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:08 pmXisithrus says
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:59 pm
They could have requested a forwarding address and had the mail returned if the name and address which could be used to take voters off registration rolls
_____________________________________________________________
Nah, if it was a caging scheme, they’d be mailing to Democrats. They’re not going to purge their own off the registration rolls.
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:11 pmThe same “Census” is going on in Florida as well.
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:13 pmAmusing, now how do you spell prison in Georgia?
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:15 pmThe only thing missing is a picture on it of Roger Ailes.
Or would that be the Pork Party?
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:15 pmHow much does it concern you that the democrats have total control of the Federal government ?
Besides being a loaded question, since when is the US Supreme
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:21 pmCourt loaded with liberals ?
The Repugnacans have pissed directly into a strong headwind with their “census” survey. There will be numerous folks who, having filled one out, will ignore the real one that come along later. This will result in an under-count of their number.
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:32 pmWow…Crooks and Liars.
And man oh man…are they lying!
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:36 pmi sent this link to many i know in GA — and to
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:39 pmitso.fraud.reporting@census.gov
Competely fraudulent.
Unfortunately in Georgia, although there are many educated people, who typically vote for Democrats,
the Republicans have many VERY IGNORANT, UNEDUCATED suckers that they can DECEIVE.
Eventually, when their welfare checks dry up, they STILL won’t get it.
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:40 pmIf I’m not mistaken, those wjo don’t reply will have their voter-registration/eligibility challenged by the local republican parties. It’s and old voter-disenfranchisement strategy, as well as a sales pitch.
A twofer.
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:40 pmI’m on my way to check my mailbox. I live about 8 miles from the Mortons. This is fun.
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:42 pmWhoops, breaktime rush. That’s supposed to be “who.”
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:42 pmI think it is important to note that this was not just a Georgia mailer. It seems to come from the RNC, not the Georgia Republican Party, so it could have happened in other states as well. It is beyond weird that anyone who lives in my house would have gotten this mailer. A quick check of the voter file and our contribution history would id us both as hard “D’s.” We wonder whether Daryl got the mailer because he is a member of the local chamber-we both own businesses. And, of course, “all” business owners are Republicans. In that vein, check this post about the mailer the “nonpartisan” Georgia Chamber sent out trying to scare business owners about health care reform.
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:57 pmGOP – An Army of Dumb.
October 23rd, 2009 at 5:00 pm[ ] Conservative Republican
October 23rd, 2009 at 5:08 pm[ ] Moderate Republican
[ ] Liberal Republican
[ ] Independent Voter who leans Republican
[x] Other __________________________ (Ignorant Republican)
Amy,
October 23rd, 2009 at 5:08 pmSee my post #35. It happened in Florida as well, same questionnaire. I returned the envelope but the form is in the circular file – should I retrieve it?
Ah, I see, Walt. I posted the envelope, too, just so everyone can see how deceptive it really is.
October 23rd, 2009 at 5:10 pmWaltTheMan says:
Amy,
See my post #35. It happened in Florida as well, same questionnaire. I returned the envelope but the form is in the circular file – should I retrieve it?
If they have a no postage necessary envelope or an envelope marked postage will be paid by recipient, I would send it back to them and make them spend their money.
October 23rd, 2009 at 5:40 pmSo, wouldn’t this be a way of the repub party to gather names and make lists of repubs and dems (in GA you aren’t required -or even encouraged- to identify for the elections board)?
So isn’t there a marked bias on the questions (are you strong repub, moderate repub, or non-repub(other)). Isn’t this making people think the govt is forcing them to be repubs ?
Likewise the question: How concerned are you that the dems have taken over the country and senteced us to a million year extinction of the sun ?
And isn’t it a crime to identify oneself as representing the census bureau when one doesn’t ?
October 23rd, 2009 at 5:42 pmThank you for standing up Ms. Morton. What courage in this ugly time!
October 23rd, 2009 at 5:50 pmLibertyLover,
October 23rd, 2009 at 5:59 pmIt was a prepaid envelope. I am still trying to determine how to insert a brick into the envelope.
the envelope s/b those envelopes
October 23rd, 2009 at 6:05 pmIn addition to all of their other despicable qualities, the GOP can now count “Scam Artist” among them.
October 23rd, 2009 at 6:10 pmRepublicans preying on ignorance by using deceit and fraud. Gang Of Perverts.
Professional perverts. This is what today’s Republican is. We shall know their names.
October 23rd, 2009 at 6:19 pmInteresting. Either you’re a Republican, a Republican leaning Independent or an Other.
And how about the way they did the media source section. They lump NBC/CBS/ABC together as a single network news entity and they lumped CNN/MSNBC together as a single cable news entity yet FOX News gets stand alone status.
Michael Steele better get these GOP scam artists reined in or else they are going to end up embarrassing the whole party. Bwaahahha!!
October 23rd, 2009 at 7:03 pmI know some “liberal republicans”.
They see pretty liberal on all the issues,
Abortion, environment, religion, freeing Tibet.
But they fly off the handle at the mention of any kind of welfare program
or corporate regulation that might diminish their stock portfolio.
Despite their social evolution, they just can’t get past the greed.
October 23rd, 2009 at 7:12 pmCourage? Standing up? I chair Georgia’s WIN List, the Georgia equivilient of EMILY’s List. This was a walk in the park! No problem. We have to call them on this nonsense, especially in a state where our SOS, and candidate for Gov, Karen Handel is spending lots of time these days chatting with Justice over her election “techniques.”
October 23rd, 2009 at 8:02 pmWaltTheMan says:
LibertyLover,
It was a prepaid envelope. I am still trying to determine how to insert a brick into the envelope.
Spat coffee all over my keyboard on that one…. :)
October 23rd, 2009 at 8:16 pmIt was a prepaid envelope. I am still trying to determine how to insert a brick into the envelope.
I was thinking ’bout the same thing just before I read this funny statement.
Just tape the whole envelope to a large coprolite – or your nearest Republican representative.
October 23rd, 2009 at 9:45 pmOklahoma Republicans got one of these surveys, too. I shredded the one that came addressed to my husband. :o)
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:00 pmDishonest fascist teabagger republicans? The “shock” of it! LOL! ;)
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:16 pmQuestion one is a dead giveaway on the source of the questionaire. It would take a really dim bulb not to realize that this came from an arm of the GOP.
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:18 pm@ 5. Skyler says: What is a Liberal Republican? October 23rd, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Is that rhetorical or are you serious, Skyler?
If you’re serious, there is and have been such. In some respects, liberal Republicans aren’t all that different from moderate or centrist Democrats. Unlike conservatives of either party, they advocate greater freedom and choice, less interference from governmental and other busybodies, etc. Conservatives and neo-cons always talk that talk, but what they mostly favor in reality is regimented thinking and a paramilitary state.
Mayor Bloomberg of NYC is, more or less, a liberal Republican. Nelson Rockefeller and John Lindsay were liberal Republicans. Until the Nixon Presidency and his ‘Southern Strategy’, the Republican base was in the NE and it was, by and large, liberal and progressive; locally, they were frequently the ‘good government’ party.
The liberal wing of the Republican party doesn’t cohere to any great extent now. They don’t have a regional base, they haven’t reorganized around netroots or anything like that, and they’ve been marginalized by the “conservative” radicals of the party.
October 24th, 2009 at 1:53 amA similar census-like mailer was sent out to Texans earlier this year. I reported it to the local TV news stations, only one responded and it never made the local news ( no real surprise). When you receive these mailers, they look pretty official, and only if you read carefully do you understand that they are propaganda…and then the appeal for donation to the RNC is the real give-away!
October 24th, 2009 at 10:26 amMost who disagree with this tactic need to mail them back empty and let the GOP continue to waste money…as if you just throw them away, you get taken off their mailing list! Forewarned is forearmed against their political tactics!
Ahhhh, just more Klan mailers in Georgia…snooze..nothing new here..move along….
The Klan (aka Republican Party) has been doing and participating in this kind of activity in Georgia for over a century… How would anyone suspect they would be any different today?? They’re not…deal with it.
They need to be exposed and publicly humiliated at every turn. Even Georgia has its limits on the amount of stupidity is allowed to emanate from there red clay….Get to it natives…public cross burnings are next if not already happening !!!
October 24th, 2009 at 1:31 pmI’m wondering if any of you have done canvassing or telemarketing for your favorite candidate? Where do you think those lists come from? Mailers like these, mailed to registered DEMS or GOP are used by both parties.
Read the first paragraph closely, and examine the first question. There may be an issue if this was sent to everyone in the district but I’m thinking people are going to be very embarrassed if it comes out they pulled a Rush.
October 25th, 2009 at 11:26 pmI got this today. I live in Santa Monica, California, one of the most liberal cities in U.S. The envelope said “Do Not Destroy Office Documents”. Deliver EXCLUSIVELY To: “my name”. Then there is a letter from Michael Steele, 310 First Street SE, Washington DC 20003. 202-863-8747. At the end of the fake census questionnaire, it asked me whether I want to donate $25 or $500. The next check box says, “I cannot send a donation, but I am enclosing $15 to help defray the cost of my Census Document. WOW. SCAM. This should not be legal, can someone please stop this scam???!
October 26th, 2009 at 11:03 pmMy mother called the Census Bureau, asked if they sent it and promptly threw it away when they said no lazer epilasyon fiyatlari. Now she’s annoyed. Poor RNC, it’s hell being the one to annoy my mom karin germe ameliyatlari. The ire lasts for years. When the Republican party of the United States feels compelled to mask the true intention of their mailer, there’s a problem plastik cerrahi. And tell me, what’s the true intent…GASP..to raise money! Alert the media. karin estetigi a political party is begging for money. The GOP put out a mailer designed to deceive, which in and of itself is just another day with the GOP. This time they got caught saç nakli. They got caught on Twitter too. You are very protective of these antics gögüs büyütme. You must be a Republican. We don’t see many of those around any more gögüs diklestirme. Could be worse, they could have disguised themselves as democrats but are really Marxists gögüs küçültme. Oh wait Obama is doing that now! Do not forget about the lies that brought the housing market down vajina daraltma ameliyati. Nothing, I mean nothing surprises me when it comes to a rethug,they are full of lies,deceit and hate gögüs estetigi. falsifying gov’t papers and the twisted minds. When my wife and I were first starting our journey, times were tough yet we had access to care for us and our young daughter estetik. we were never, ever turned away. Now that life is better, I carry insurance for them but choose not to pay $3600 a year for myself estetik burun ameliyati. why should I be penalized because I have the freedom to choose gögüs büyütme? my new job I’m starting will offer insurance after six months and I will switch at that time estetik gögüs ameliyatlari. this is at best a manufactured crisis that has split this country gögüs küçültme. who cares if those who cannot afford insurance will still be treated? at less cost than if they were insured vajina daraltma?
October 30th, 2009 at 9:47 am