Politician or telemarketer? DeLay uses offer of honor in pitch for funds

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.msnbc.com/news/991699.asp?0cv=CB20

When telemarketers take advantage of consumers, Congress is often the first to cry foul. But what if the telemarketer is himself a politician? NBC News obtained never-before-heard tapes from a controversial fund-raising effort by House Majority Leader Tom DeLay —tapes that some critics claim are a congressional bait-and-switch.

AIR FORCE CHAPLAIN James Helton says he was flabbergasted when he first heard the news from his wife. “She told me you’ve been selected for a national award by Congressman DeLay, and they really want you to call the office.”

Helton wondered why a powerful Republican leader would want to honor a humble Air Force reservist and quickly returned the call. He was so upset by what he heard that he invited NBC News to record the conversation when he called back a second time.

First there was a recorded message: “This is Congressman Tom DeLay. I’m asking you to serve as an honorary chairman on our business advisory council, and you will be recognized with our national leadership award.”

Then, a telemarketer came on the line: “You’d be invited to private dinners with congressmen and quarterly strategy sessions in Washington.”

[meegbear]

1. They're just reporting on this??

This has been going on for months! I guess Bennifer's been out of the news long enough so stories like this can be told.

[grannylib]

2. Saw this last night....DeLay also 'honored...'

a convicted sex offender
a porn movie distributor

Obviously the Repukes care not from where the money comes...
No words to describe how repulsive this is...

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

9. I saw that as well. What a hoot. And the repugs are acting as if it's

SOP.

[joeunderdog]

10. An Army guy was solicited by DELay's office and was profiled on CNBC

He said that it was "dishonest, sleazy and unbecoming of a political party."

Hmmm...I thought dishonest and sleazy WAS the Tom DeLay party.

[GreenGreenLimaBean]

14. Brokaw also aired the story.

Me thinks the press smells the tide-a-turnin.

[Snellius]

3. Rove is running similar scams: Anybody heard from the NFIB?

I got a visit at my shop from a young woman representing the National Federation of Independent Businesses the other day. She said she was doing a survey and handed me a list of questions about the "death tax", "excessive government regulations," "unfair business tax", and the usual Republican agenda. I told her that these were just a Republican talking points and that I didn't believe in push polls. They were dishonest. She claimed that the NFIB was "nonpartisan." Right. I checked online at the NFIB site and, sure enough, Rove and Mehlman had delivered a major address to the NFIB this summer. I've heard that this is the kind of "grassroots" techniques that Bush/Cheney plan for all that money they've been collecting on the fund-raising trail.

[0007]

4. ....the bate and switch expert on bugs

Bugs and democrats bring disease - and must be terminated

[Racenut20]

5. I answered an almost daily call from his office for my boss

Finally I ask the girl if she was in India? And if not, she better watch her back or her job might go there. Haven't heard from her since.
Guess the boss won't get to pay his $1000.00 and get his certificate honoring him for whatevah...... Oh, originally there was a dinner with HIZHONOR the Congressman in Washington to receive the certificate.

[maggiemay]

7. My boss got several calls...

I always figured it was something sketchy. Disgusting

[newyawker99]

11. Hi maggiemay!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Just Me]

6. Sick and Deceptive

,...was my initial reaction to that coverage last night. I hope that kind of deceptive fund-raising gets further coverage because any decent human being would find it repulsive. Only the anti-social politico type would obsessively rationalize away that form of manipulative dishonesty.

[donotpassgo]

8. I like to think of him as "DeLay: Urine Bucket"

n/t

[salin]

12. hehe - I got one of those calls last year or so

but it was from the (then?) republican congressional campaign chair out of Va.

But the message didn't say it was about an honor - it was just a request to return their call. When I called - I laughed and hung up.

What a joke.

[proud patriot]

13. This is a tactic of Con Artists

:crazy: