American Future Fund just polled me.

[Curmudgeoness]

I almost hung up as soon as I heard who it was, but then I figured that they needed to know that everyone is not on their side.

I have seen their ads on TV. They are hateful. They are doing all that they can to defeat Obama. Well, they definitely found out that everyone is not on their side.

It was a robot poll, not a live person. I was surprised that it continued asking me questions after the first couple, so I suppose that it was a real poll as opposed to a fund-raising gimmick.

Questions included who I was likely to vote for in the presidential election and the Senate race in PA and who did I vote for in 2008. They asked how important I think this election is on a scale of 1 to 9. Then they asked about how I classify myself religion-wise and how often I attend church. Then there were the general demographic questions.

I doubt that they will call me again. They probably do not want to hear the bad news.

[PA Democrat]

1. I got polled by them this week also.

They got bad news from me as well.

[Curmudgeoness]

4. So you also went through the poll?

I almost didn't. This is one of those PACs that annoy the hell out of me.

[PA Democrat]

12. Yeah, I answered all of their questions.

I knew they were right wing and wanted to see what they asked.

[kooljerk666]

26. Called me in SE PA about 4:00 PM today.......

They did not ask about PA6th cong. dist. held by TeaParty Jim Gerlach.
button 9 for interest
#1 for obama
#1 for Bob Casey

then it hung up........w/o a thanks.

[Curmudgeoness]

32. Interesting that it hung up on you, but not me.

I answered the same way.

But I have had this happen in the past....which is why I always listen at the beginning now to hear who is doing the "poll".

[kooljerk666]

44. I am always happy to tell the GOP............

Satan will be in speed skates (ice type), zooming down the street b4 u get my vote!!

They asked pres, senate, & how much do u care then click (in that order so from their view it went from bad to worse). They max care # saddened the computer.

[Xipe Totec]

2. They probably won't call you to remind you to vote either

This is a good way to target a selective GOTV campaign on election day, that only calls likely Republican voters.

[Curmudgeoness]

5. That's ok with me.

Guaranteed, I will not forget to vote! No one has to "remind" me!

[pinboy3niner]

23. Sure they will: "Don't forget to vote Wed., Nov. 7."

[southernyankeebelle]

3. When they ask about my church going I will lie and tell them I go every week. I only

vote dem and never vote against my financial interests. That would screw with their heads because they sure don't think if you go to church every week you wouldn't vote dem.

[Curmudgeoness]

6. Damn it.

I didn't think of that. I could have screwed with their heads!

[southernyankeebelle]

18. Don't worry when they call next time you'll remember.

Just answer all the answers what right wing would say then just remember to tell them you voted dem and giving them the answers to all the right wing questions will blow their minds. LOL

[corneliamcgillicutty]

9. I responded that way--lied about the weekly church goin'

When their robocall interrupted my dinner. If it was a live call I would have said that it was none of their separation of church and state business.

[southernyankeebelle]

20. Awe then they would have thought you were a liberal. If you had told them you went all the time.

and you voted for dems. That would have played with their heads.

[calimary]

33. Welcome to DU, cornelia!

Glad you're here!

ALSO - you have to be careful how you answer some of these poll questions because of the way those answers are likely to be interpreted. Biggest example I can think of is the right direction/wrong track question - "do you think America is going in the right direction, or are we headed down the wrong track?" My honest answer would be "wrong track" BECAUSE of shit like the teabaggers and the racists and the birthers and CONservative media like Pox Noise and limbaugh, and the near worship of assholes like mitt wrongney and lyin' ryan. HOWEVER, I know full well that this answer would be assigned to the "it's because of Obama" position. So ANY time I'm surveyed, I always answer strategically. Always - while a Democrat is in the White House - it's "right direction." ALWAYS - when the bad guys are in there - it's "wrong track."

It is VERY shrewd to try to determine whose poll this is, who's behind it, and/or who's paying for it, so you can understand the agenda at work under the surface of that poll. ALWAYS be on the alert that way. ALWAYS look for the ulterior motive - in the way these leading questions are worded, the very names of the organizations can be tell-tale if they have the words "liberty" or "Americans" or "Fairness" or "Citizens" or "family"- anything. It's usually a stealth republi-CON or CONservative outfit trying to build some usable metrics.

Such damn stupid, superficial, sneaky-ass shit. BUT WE HAVE TO THINK IN THOSE TERMS NOWADAYS!!!!! We just HAVE TO!!!! That's because the enemy does business this way, and we have to know and understand the enemy in order to be able to outwit and out-maneuver them - and of course, beat the livin' shit outta them on Election Day.

ALWAYS THINK DEVIOUSLY! It's what the other side does, always.

[xmas74]

24. I do go to church every week

and I've voted 98% Dem over my lifetime. (I've had a couple of Independent votes for candidates that I personally knew.)

I could really mess with a few heads.

[southernyankeebelle]

42. Good for you. Right in the trenches. I just couldn't take it anymore. I hated the lectures the

priest would give. When my husband was in the army I use to go all the time. The military priests never put in their 2 cents who to vote for. At least when I was growing up and also married to my husband. I also worked for a priest who was wonderful and his only thing was he wanted you to attend church before he would marry you. He didn't ask questions he shouldn't have.

[xmas74]

45. I've been more than a bit upset with the general direction that

the faith has taken since the General Conference back in April-so much so that I thought about quitting. My final decision was to not quit but rather to be a vocal member of the church, letting them know exactly how I feel. (When the bishop shows up, as he does at least once a year, I'll let him know too.)

At least my pastor doesn't practice politics from the pulpit, though I do know he's a bit conservative. (OTOH, my associate pastor has his Obama/Biden bumper sticker on his car, along with the old one from 2008.) If he did, I'd seriously consider reporting it. We're supposed to be a mainline faith in general.

In the end, I decided that if I left the conservatives invading the faith would win. No way do I want them to win. I'd rather be asked to leave first and I've never heard of it happening, at least in my area.

[southernyankeebelle]

46. I give you a lot of credit. I don't have that kind of patience. When my hubby was in the

army he was a chaplains assistant. That gives you a real eye opener. He worked for different pastor, rabbi and priests. My husband picked that MOS because at one time he wanted to be a priest. Until he was how these pastors and priests use to get him upset. He said some of them were such hypocritics. Especially the evangelica ones. He said they were out there.

[xmas74]

47. My brother was a chaplain's assistant for a bit.

When he reported to his station stateside no one knew what to do with him so they stuck him in that job. I wonder if that's when he became an atheist-before he was spiritual but not religious.

I won't let them run me off at church and so far, no one has. I've brought friends to services who were gay or lesbian and no one did anything except welcome them. (And yes, the congregation members knew.) Personally, I think that when confronted most people are accepting-they just need to be confronted and not too many want to do that. (I don't blame them.)

I hope you can find something out there that suits you a bit more. Right now, I still have lots of spit and vinegar in me, ready to fight and I'm using it. Ask me again five, ten years down the road and my answer might be different.

My kid's no different-she wears her "Ally" button to church regularly and discusses how she feels in her teen group. It makes me proud, especially when others complement her.

[southernyankeebelle]

49. Really good work for going. Am almost 65 yrs old. I'm tired of fighting the organized

church. Until these church loses it's tax exemptions then maybe I'll feel better. Well my hubby is retired now from the army and it was time for him to get out. It was getting hard because he was starting to have back problems and hip problems. Even after retiring he still kept up with running PT. Late in his career he became jump qualified and also Air Assault qualified. That was a big thing for a man in his late 30s. Even the instructors didn't think he could make it. But he was slowing down. He is an active person but his back has been giving him lots of problems. In fact today we are going to see a surgeon. Hopefully it will help him.

[xmas74]

50. I'm sorry to hear that about your husband.

And it's not that big of a deal for me to go to church-I tend to be a bit on the contrary side IRL. Sometimes church brings it out in me a bit more. I also attend city council meetings, to get the dirt firsthand, and am a fixture at town halls whenever I'm able to attend. (I've called out politicians at town hall meetings in the past and am bound to do the same in the future.)

I've a good story about something that happened at a local parade on Saturday but won't tell it publicly on here. It's something that was said to a politician in the parade and has just enough details that someone might figure out exactly who I am.

[southernyankeebelle]

52. Sounds juicey. (LOL). Are you retired now?

We went to my husband dr's appt. He said that he does have some disk problems but he doesn't think that is what is the main problem. He is going to take x-rays of both of his hips. My husband does complain more about the hips then the back. I just hope they can find some relief. You know the back is a problem to cure.. If he can get relief I'll be happy. Boy its nice you can go to your town hall meetings. I hope the president does well tonite. I will still vote for him early voting which for us is tommorrow. How can you stand going to church and listen to the priest and his BS. For me I wish they would have the mass without anyone lectures. I never like when the priest talks. Mass would be shorter for sure.

[xmas74]

54. Nope. not retired.

It was my brother that was enlisted. He decided not to re-up and has been out for a few years.

I go to town halls whenever they are available and are free, though my rep has made it practically impossible for most to attend. (Vicky Hartzler) My old rep, Ike Skelton, was fantastic, even if he was a rather conservative Dem. He always did his best to connect with his constituents. I miss him. I hope Vicky goes down in flames this cycle for how she treated him last cycle.

My pastor really doesn't talk smack for the most part so I can ignore it. It's more the congregation members that are mouthy and a bit obnoxious at times-and it's only a few of them, at that.

I hope they can do something about your husband's hips! I know that having something out of joint can cause back pain and back pain is no fun. I've had problems with my upper back for a few years now. I've had it evaluated and have been informed that a breast reduction might help me with my back pain. Right now, I work two jobs and am raising a teen on my own so I can't afford to take the time off for surgery. Maybe someday...

[southernyankeebelle]

55. God bless your heart. Raising a kid on your own can be difficult. But people do what they

have to do. I am retired. I took my social security early because of my health issues. I have health issues also. But I am doing fine. Yes I hope they can do something for him. I feel bad for him because he always has been an active person. Well we are off to the doctors office again today for check ups.

[xmas74]

56. Good luck on the check-up!

And for raising my daughter-you do what you have to do, there is nothing else.

I wish I could retire but I'm nowhere near old enough.

[southernyankeebelle]

57. I know what you mean. And they want to raise the age for people to retire. People are to

dang tired now. Have a good day.

[badhair77]

7. They got me this afternoon also.

I was more than happy to push that number for Obama.

They polled me about a month ago also.

[Curmudgeoness]

11. They certainly are busy little bees, aren't they? nt

[Frustratedlady]

8. I didn't know the name of the poll I got today.

They've called several times and I finally answered so they wouldn't call again.

However, when whichever pollster it was got to the question about the economy, I answered it was improving...they hung up. That's the second time that's happened. I don't know if it's the same polling company, or what. You punch a number for each question. The least they could do was say "Thank you" for participating.

[Curmudgeoness]

10. I have had that happen in the past.

And I don't know what organization hung up on me before either. This one did ask about the economy too---but did not end the call when I said it was improving.

Don't you just love when some of these "pollsters" do not continue when they don't like your answers?

[FLyellowdog]

15. If that's what they do, how can they publish their findings? The results are obviously skewed.

Do all polling companies do this or just the conservative idiots?

[Curmudgeoness]

16. No, this is not how all polling companies do it.

But you have to understand that a PAC is not really a "polling company". I don't think that they want to truth to publish.

I have always thought that when I give the wrong answer, and they hang up or end the poll immediately, they are not really doing a poll at all but will ask the believers who answer correctly to financially support them. Those would not be polls at all, just pretending to be a poll to get donations.

[Frustratedlady]

22. Yeah, I thought that, as well...

I also thought it might be Discover or some other credit card sticking their foot in my "door" to try to get me to sign up if I thought the economy wasn't improving.

Whatever! I just know that when I finished, my first thought was that was a Republican-based group.

[Curmudgeoness]

27. I knew at the start who American Future Fund was,

so I didn't have to wonder who was polling me.

But I was surprised....since I knew they were Repugs, I paid attention to the options, and the order that they gave the answer choices. It started with Obama being the first option, and Casey being the first option....and that was confusing me. Then they asked if you classified yourself as "Republican, Democrat, Independent"....I didn't listen any further, just wanted to finish it. So the order of choices did change. Gotta give them that. Usually, the first choice of a slanted poll will always be the answer that they want.

[DURHAM D]

13. They polled me on Thursday.

I decided to screw with them and answered several things wrong including that I am an Independent voting for Obama. I resented all the assumptions in the religion/church attendance questions. Atheist and Never were not options.

[Curmudgeoness]

14. Agreed about the religion choices.

I am also an atheist, and there were no options, although I could chose from a myriad of different religions. I think the option was "none of the above" for religion, and "least than" some time for how often you go to church. Just as well. It probably would have given them fuel if I had the atheist option.

[DURHAM D]

19. The final option (#8) on the Religion question was Other.

The implication was that "Other" was a non-listed religion. There was no option for None, or Atheist, or Agnostic.

I think the reason for this is so the Koch Brother's funded America Future Fund can provide bogus data to the Heritage Foundation and AEI and other right wing morons so they can make up stories about religion in America.

gotta love those bogus rightie studies based on bogus research and bogus polls...

[gkhouston]

17. "Atheist and Never were not options."

[-..__...]

21. 413-648-8042 (Bernardston, MA)

Was on my caller ID today (name unknown).

I Googled the number, and it came back as "American Future Fund" (never even heard them before).

[Curmudgeoness]

25. Next time, answer them.

They are airing a lot of ads in Ohio.

Pretty incredible that many of us have been targetted by their polling. What's up with that???

[pintobean]

28. They just polled me

My answers were that I'm a middle aged fundy, attend church every day and I will definitely be voting for Obama.

[Curmudgeoness]

30. Attend church EVERY day!

Well, unless you were truthful. Then, well, I'm sorry for laughing.

[pintobean]

31. I haven't been to church in about a decade

I was raised catholic, but I'm agnostic. I just wanted to give them some wtf answers.

I am middle aged and I'm definitely voting for Obama, though.

[lonestarnot]

43. Oh gawd! LMAO. I told one of them I was a pug.

Bout swallowed my tongue.

[unc70]

29. I got AFF thus morning in NC

I knew who they were, answered them straight. Interesting they had Protestant and Evangelical as first two choices. I am a liberal Methodist, attend same church as Governor Perdue (and also John Edwards).

AFF was the third poll I've received in 24 hours.

[badhair77]

34. I knew exactly who they were so I answered with that in mind.

I will vote for Obama and Casey. I'm a Dem. I go to church every week. They didn't hang up at all. It is interesting that they hung up on others when they did not get the answers they wanted. I'm sure they did not want my choices.

[Curmudgeoness]

37. I am baffled too. I had all the same answers

as some, and got to the end.

What are they up to???? There are an awful lot of us getting polled all of a sudden.

[ohheckyeah]

35. I got polled by them yesterday.

I doubt they liked my answers. I'm in Virginia. They certainly are busy.

[Curmudgeoness]

39. Yep, they are busy....makes me wonder.

Why are so many of us getting polled? I am a registered Dem, as all on here probably are. Do they know that?

[ohheckyeah]

41. I don't know....in

Virginia we don't register by party.....there is no designation for party at all on our registration. The only time we declare a party is when we vote in a primary....they just make sure we don't vote in both.

I get a lot of calls from the republicans so they may just assume that I am republican by where I live. It's a very red part of Virginia.

[Greybnk48]

36. They polled me tonight in Wisconsin

same questions.

[IVoteDFL]

38. They sent me something in the mail today

It was all saying how awesome Paul Ryan is. I laughed so hard when I realized what it was. They must be worried about their boy after the debate if they are sending those out in my neighborhood.


The only thing alarming about it was how it said over and over again that they were a non partisan organization and not sponsored by any candidate.

[Curmudgeoness]

40. Well, non partisan is a stretch.

Check out their website and tell me there is even a tad of truth in that statement.

As far as "not sponsored by any candidate", I suppose that is the truth.....there is money going to them, but not directly from "any candidate".

Non partisan.

Oh, and welcome to DU!

[livetohike]

48. They called me too. I live in rural PA

I stuck with it through the whole polling process .

[Union Scribe]

51. I just saw a truly enraging ad from them

They're attacking Obama over Abound Solar (?), with some narrator saying he works hard for his money so he can't trust Obama because he gives money to companies. Are these assholes kidding?? How insanely shameless do they have to be to say that nonsense on behalf of a party whose entire existence revolves around making corporations wealthy at our expense??!

[Curmudgeoness]

53. I checked them out on their website

and they have posted a lot of their ads. All of them are disgraceful. Not worse than some of the other PAC ads I am seeing, but that bar is set really low.