Anyone else get a call from "FEC Research"?

[spooky3]

Mods, I apologize if I have placed this in the wrong forum and thank you for moving it if needed.

For the past couple of days I have missed calls from "FEC Research." No message was left but it was on my caller ID. I figured I finally was one of the randomly selected people for a poll. However, tonight a message was left, from a caller with the same ID. The man's voice said that he wanted to discuss some issues pertaining to (my) District and the national election, and he hoped that I would be supporting the GOP, then left the (GOP) web address.

Does anyone else find it the SLIGHTEST bit deceptive and offensive that his caller ID suggests that (a) it's a "research" call and (b) that the initials of a non-partisan govt. org. (Federal Election Commission) are being used? I'm on the Do Not Call list but political and charitable calls I understand are exempt, so that's not what's bothering me.

[physioex]

1. Yes I have....

I use the answering machine to screen my calls. And this robot left a message. The number was 703 which mean it was out of Virginia...I don't know much more... 703 961 0500

[soothsayer]

3. I've gotten that robot twice, and a live person once

Do you support g.w bush? No
will you be voting for gwbush? HELL no!
Do you support our efforts in iraq? i support the troops, not the stupid war.

[physioex]

5. Doesn't Shrub have his headquarters there?

That could be a link to the 703 number....

[JPJones]

7. 703 961 0500 is in Herndon, VA, carrier is Verizon

http://www.reversephonedirectory.com/phonenumber/phone/index.html?number=703+961+0500

[Liberal Veteran]

4. It's a PUSH POLL. I got one today.

It'll ask you some questions like:

Do you consider yourself pro-life?

Do you go to church regularly?

Do you support our actions in Iraq?

Do you want higher taxes?

Do you believe parents should get a tax break to pick the school they want to send their kids?

Etc....

[physioex]

6. We still don't know who is funding it, and why? EOM

[Calm Like A Bomb]

9. Look at this!

FEC Research is run by ccAdvertising, which looks to be a pretty shady RW polling outfit. Google the name "Gabriel Joseph", he's apparently the president. Creepy dude.

Oh, and look at this. It looks like they get some financing from Club for Growth.

Let's see how deep the rabbit hole goes, shall we?

[physioex]

13. Good Job....

Amazing what DU'ers can do given a few scraps of information...... :)

[JPJones]

2. Slippery slope

The Democratic party identifies itself as 'Victory 2004' when calling.

The FEC part is creepy, though.

[My Pet Goat]

8. Same here...

I don't think they should be trying to confuse listeners into thinking they're with the research dept. of the FEC. The message left on my machine did admit they were repub. however. I'm calling my representative tomorrow to let him know about it.

[Liberal Veteran]

11. HERE IS SOME MORE INFO I MANAGED TO GET ON THE COMPANY

It's a group called Free Eats (it even lists FECResearch.com as one of their sites).

http://www.freeeats.com/listenPolitical.asp has some samples of their "surveys".

(click on the on 8th one down in the list if you want a real barf experience)


ccAdvertising utilizes its patented (patents pending) Interactive Voice Response – Speech Recognition (IVRSR) method to ensure that our political, public policy and service organization clients have their messages reach the households they have targeted, usually based on location or anticipated household demographics. That's right into a state, Congressional District, state legislative district, city, block or 9-digit zip-code. This is done by utilizing either client-provided voter files and/or our own in-house database of over 120 million records (updated regularly) that lists the Congressional, State House, State Senate and 9-digit zip code of every home listed.

[spooky3]

12. good idea; I just emailed my Rep.

[pnorman]

10. Here'sa a reference to that phone number, from a pro-Bush site:

http://www.claycalhoun.com/2004/08/push-polls.html

pnorman

[physioex]

14. Good Job.....EOM

[Sydnie]

15. Googled and found this

Headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, The FreeEats Companies is a group of privately owned entities including ccAdvertising, Election Research, FreeEats, and FEC Research. For more detailed information about the company and the revolutionary and productive advertising technology visit the Web site at www.FreeEats.com.


http://freeeats.com/about/news_oceanspray.asp

Sorry, you just beat me to it!

[Liberal Veteran]

17. Reads their "Terms of Use" if you want a real laugh...

:eyes:

[Sydnie]

18. Check out Tom Delay in this one

http://www.freeeats.com/listen.asp Top of the page. Made my skin crawl. I will now have to go bleach my brain.

[Liberal Veteran]

19. No thanks...the bug man creeps me out.

Totally.

[Calm Like A Bomb]

16. Here's one of their press releases touting their push polling abilities:

Election Research Process Lauded to Republican Leaders as Innovative Technology for Grassroots Efforts  
Contact: Gabriel Joseph July 17, 2003   [phone]

HERNDON, VA - Today, Morton Blackwell, Founder and President of the Leadership Institute, and Republican National Committeeman for Virginia, in a letter to the entire Republican National Committee membership recommended that Republicans nationwide utilize the newest techniques available to ensure success in the 2004 election cycle.

In response to Mr. Blackwell's letter, Gabriel Joseph, President of Election Research/ccAdvertising stated, "It is difficult to add to anything that Morton Blackwell writes.  In this instance his recommendation and endorsement to Republicans nationwide to use technological advancements like Election Research's IVRSR systems is very humbling and greatly appreciated."  Joseph concluded by saying that "We do not intend to let Morton down in his recommendation of Election Research.  We will be involved in as many elections as possible during the 2003/2004 election cycle.".

Full release here (The press release, that is. Not the "happy ending" variety.)

[Shopaholic]

20. They called me on Friday---

and yes--it was your classic push poll. But I live in SC--so what are they trying to do--shore up their sagging base????? And are they trying to target Democrats or what--or maybe just trying to identify us so they can send the FBI over to rough us up?