SC Senate Candidate Mick Mulvaney in Sick Robocalling Scheme
South Carolina Republican state senate candidate Mick Mulvaney has created one of the most disgusting robocalls of the election season, attempting to connect his Democratic opponent Mandy Powers Norrell, to a "scary" gay group.
A gay group that doesn't even exist.
The call is intended to send voters rushing to Mulvaney using that old chestnut, the frightening homosexual agenda.
In the call, the fake group, called the Alliance for the Advancement of Gays and Lesbians, says:
"Hi, this is Alison calling from the Alliance for the Advancement of Gays and Lesbians. We are a pro gay rights, pro-choice grassroots organization. I'm calling to let you know we're supporting Mandy Powers Norrell in the race for state senate. A proven Democrat, Mandy Powers Norrell supports homosexual unions and abortion rights. We can count on Mandy Powers Norrell to promote a progressive agenda in the state senate and to fight the right-wing fringe at every turn. Again, this is the Alliance for the Advancement of Gays and Lesbians asking you to vote for Democrat Mandy Powers Norrell on Tuesday, November 4th."
Listen to it, AFTER THE JUMP...
(via shaun dakin)
Posted Oct. 29,2008 at 8:52 AM EST by Andy Towle in Election 2008, News, South Carolina | Permalink
I called Mulvaney's state house office, and was told they didn't handle campaigns, and was given another number. I called it, and got him on his cellphone (!); it's the same number written in one of the comments above. He said I was the first person to call (didn't even ask if I was a constituent or not, but noted the story had made the national blogs), and read the quote he released to the Associate Press. I didn't know about the robocall issue in general, but he certainly (I hate to say it) sounded sincere about this particular issue.
Posted by: Adam | Oct 29, 2008 2:18:44 PM
I e-mailed both e-dresses and pointed out that since he's committed a crime he should step down. Wanna takes bets on whether or not he will?
Posted by: Kyle Michel Sullivan | Oct 29, 2008 2:46:43 PM
Response #1 --
Thank you for your e-mail.
Please know that, thanks in large part to computer-generated e-mails, I get literally hundreds of messages everyday day. Unfortunately, most of them are spam. For that reason, I ask folks who are my constituents to let me know they are "real" people and not some computer-generated mass e-mail.
If you are a constituent PLEASE RE-SEND YOUR E-MAIL NOW WITH THE WORD "CONSTITUENT" IN THE TITLE, and include your mailing address in the note. I will reply promptly.
If you are not a constituent, while I may read your e-mail, it is unlikely that I will be able respond. I apologize for this apparent slight, but given the overwhelming number of e-mails, there simply isn't enough time in the day to respond to folks from all over.
Thanks for understanding, and thank you again for taking the time to write.
Rep. Mick Mulvaney
SC House #45 - Lancaster & York Counties
Posted by: Kyle Michel Sullivan | Oct 29, 2008 2:48:19 PM
JB: technically, the robocall law is still in place, but it will certainly be knocked down by SCOTUS, as they have ruled that charities are exempt from the do-not-call list law. Free speech means exactly that. SC isn't exactly known for its civil rights triumphs over the years either. Looking to them for inspiration is a bit much.
Posted by: anon | Oct 29, 2008 3:38:44 PM
Looks like the little bastard's got an out, of sorts.
--------------------------------------
The Attorney General has ruled that robocalls to answering machines are not
illegal.
My opponent is using them today, by the way, to speak out against the
previous robocall.
Still, none of that changes the fact that my campaign had nothing to do with
this.
MM
-----Original Message-----
From: Kyle Sullivan [mailto:kyle@kmscb.com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2008 2:59 PM
To: jmm@alturagroup.net
Subject: Re: LIAR! HYPOCRITE!
Mr. Mulvaney,
You've already admitted the following --
"The robo-call that we did this week was from my wife. It was a very
positive message. It is the ONLY ROBO-CALL that my campaign has run. Period.
We do not run negative ads, robo-calls or advertisements in this campaign."
This is in response to accusations your campaign setting up vile robo-calls
claiming your opponent was connected to an organization that does not even
exist in order to paint her as being supportive of gay rights and scare your
constituents into voting for you. For your information --
" SECTION 16-17-446. Regulation of automatically dialed announcing device
(ADAD). The law bans all robo calls in the state of South Carolina
specifically, “ADAD calls include automatically announced calls of a
political nature including, but not limited to, calls relating to political
campaigns.”
All robo-calls, whether positive or negative, are ILLEGAL in the state of
SC. As an elected official, you should know this. Not that it matters --
ignorance of the law is no excuse. You and your wife have committed a
crime; you should step down from office.
Or don't you really believe in the principles you espouse?
--
Kyle Michel Sullivan
On 10/29/08 11:50 AM, "Mick Mulvaney" wrote:
> My exact quote to the Associated Press earlier today was "If I find out my
> own mother did this, I would condemn it and demand that it be stopped. It
is
> hate-mongering and it is against everything our campaign is about."
>
> Rep. Mick Mulvaney
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kyle Sullivan [mailto:kyle@kmscb.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2008 2:32 PM
> To: jmm@alturagroup.net
> Subject: LIAR! HYPOCRITE!
>
> You can't win on your record so you set up robo-calls based on flat out
lies
> to hurt your opponent? Linking her to an organization that does not even
> exist?! If you hate the idea of fair elections so much, move to Russia;
you
> are a disgrace to the very idea of democracy in this country.
Posted by: Kyle Michel Sullivan | Oct 29, 2008 3:39:57 PM
Looks like the little bastard's got an out, of sorts.
--------------------------------------
The Attorney General has ruled that robocalls to answering machines are not
illegal.
Seriously?
How else is one supposed to catch an illegal robocall without the recording abilities of an answering machine?
Just googled Henry mcmaster SC AG
Republican! even serving as SC republican party head from 1993 -2002 when he became SC AG
Damn!!!!! double damn! asshat corruption repub covering another repub's ass with BS answerring machine schtick
CORRUPT!
Posted by: Jimmyboyo | Oct 29, 2008 4:28:29 PM
Regardless of who is responsible for the robo-call, I think it should be prosecuted as a hate crime as it is, in its own way, promoting hate against an identifiable group. As a Canadian watching the last few weeks of the election, I am disgusted albeit not surpised by how low the RNC will sink in its desperation. The RNC itself should be prosecuted for its blatant demonstrations of hateful intolerance.
Posted by: Craig | Oct 29, 2008 7:47:01 PM
I read the AP story. This guy denounces it and denies it, and then he defends the language in the call. Sounds like he's covering his butt in case he gets caught. After reading that, I have no doubt he's responsible!
Posted by: Bobo | Oct 30, 2008 10:00:38 AM