Paid to Lie? WV VoteGathering

[LadyTevar]

from WV's leading newspaper, more shenanigans in the Republician Party. Wonder how many 'Swing States' have this kind of thing going on?

August 20, 2004
Voter registration drive ‘misleading’

By Tom Searls
Staff writer

For a mother of two teens trying to finish up college, $9 an hour as a temporary customer service representative sounded good.

“I wanted to find something that would work around my schedule and be flexible,” said St. Albans resident Lisa Bragg.

After spending more than an hour with Charleston personnel agency Kelly Services last week, Bragg was hired. “They wouldn’t tell us at first what this job was,” the 37-year-old Bragg said Thursday.

Then she found out it was registering Republican voters at One Stop convenience stores throughout the Charleston region.

But she won’t be there today, the first day she was scheduled to be on the job.

“I’m giving up a job that I need,” she said. “It’s the only decent job I’ve found.”

While the job was to last six weeks, the $9 an hour was far above the minimum wage of $5.15 Bragg was offered for most other temporary employment.

Bragg feels her employers were misleading the public, even if it’s not illegal. Employees were to approach One Stop customers and ask if they favor George Bush or John Kerry for president. If Bush was their answer, they were then to inquire if the person was registered to vote and offer them a voter registration card.

If the person supported Democrat Kerry, they were only to say thank you and give them a registration card only if asked.

If asked questions, employees were instructed, “Only state you are there to conduct a simple field poll to see what neighborhood support is ... a nonpartisan registration drive.”

They were told to quietly listen to any person who becomes angry and to remember, “The goal is to register Republicans and to remain positive.”

“Is this the way it has to be? People have to be sneaky to make $9 an hour?” Bragg said.

Employees were also given the number of a Kelly Services employee to contact if there are problems. Contacted Wednesday, two different employees said they would have someone from Sproul & Associates, the firm paying for the survey, answer any questions.

Later, a Kelly Services employee who would identify himself only as “Rob” initially said a message had been left with Ben Decker at Sproul’s office. He said he had no contact number for Decker, then agreed to release a Michigan number.

A message left with Decker was not returned.

“[Kelly Services] said the less you know about the company, the better off you are, especially if the media would come asking questions,” said Bragg, an admitted Democrat. “That made me more curious than ever as to who’s behind this and what’s going on.”

Sproul & Associates appears to be operated by Nathan Sproul, former head of the Arizona Republican Party and a wealthy GOP activist who has been involved in petition drives. An Internet search shows Sproul has received some financing from national Republican groups, though it was not clear who is paying for the West Virginia work.

Bragg, and another person working for the group, said they were told the owners of the One Stop stores had agreed to allow them to conduct the work on the stores’ lots. Patrick C. Graney III and Michael R. Graney are listed as the principal owners of 42 One Stop stores, according to the state Alcohol Beverage Control Administration. Messages left at One Stop’s headquarters in Belle were not returned.

For Bragg it’s an economic loss, but one she carries with pride. She asked about registering voters with another organization — a group that treats those of all political persuasions the same — and found it pays only $5.50 an hour.

“I just don’t want to be in my hometown and mislead people,” she said.

[Cairber]

I got into something like this once!! In western NY, I couldnt find a non wegmans job when I was a frosh in college home for the summer. I took this job that paid 10$ an hour for taking a "non partisan poll of your neighborhood" I was like..ok...easy money. Turns out I was to do the same thing...except if the person was a democrat I was to give them registration info, if republican just take the poll. If independent, I was to show them pamphlets on environmentalism and what not. Yeah, it seems sleezy so I got the hell out...and...well...got a job at wegmans. DOH!

[Colonel Olrik]

It's true!

[LadyTevar]

It's true!

I can't see the link

[SirNitram]

The Onion.

WASHINGTON, DC—Since it began in May, the Bush 2004 re-election campaign has been responsible for creating thousands of new jobs, officials announced Monday.

Above: Newly employed workers at a Bush campaign office in Chicago.
"The Bush-Cheney campaign is giving a much-needed boost to the troubled economy," said Ken Mehlman, Bush's campaign manager. "Every penny we receive is immediately pumped back into the economy, and we've already created thousands of jobs for out-of-work speechwriters, graphic designers, and door-to-door canvassers."

Though Bush has yet to formally announce his candidacy, his campaign war chest surpassed the $100 million mark on Nov. 13. With 11 months remaining before the election, the Bush campaign is well on its way to its goal of raising a record-breaking $170 million.

"While other segments of the economy are undergoing hiring freezes, the Bush-Cheney campaign is experiencing rapid growth," Mehlman said. "We've hired everything from computer technicians to manage the campaign's database of registered Republicans to an entire team of producers to create our television ads. George W. Bush is putting Americans back to work."

"With the U.S. unemployment rate hovering around 6 percent, this influx of employment capital represents no small example of the success of the Republican Party's economic policy," Mehlman added. "And we're just gearing up. Our campaign projects consistent, quarter-by-quarter expansion for the next 11 months."

Besides high-tech and skilled positions, the campaign has created thousands of jobs in the service sector.

"Walk through our massive national campaign headquarters, and you'll see how many workers it takes just to empty the garbage cans," Mehlman said. "Imagine all the people it takes to cater a fundraising dinner, then multiply that number by all the restaurants, hotels, and convention centers that the president will stop at along the campaign trail. Those red, white, and blue posters don't hang themselves, you know."


Above: A factory worker in Macon, GA, works for the Bush re-election campaign.
The campaign has created manufacturing jobs, as well.

"Blue-collar laborers all across the country are rolling out billions of posters and T-shirts," Mehlman said. "We just placed an order for 6,000 boxes of 'Viva Bush' buttons. The people working in that factory in Georgia will tell you what Bush can do for the economy."

Mehlman said the Bush campaign's positive effect on the economy far outpaces that of the leading Democratic candidates.

"The Democrats simply can't say they're doing as much for the economy as we are," Mehlman said. "Howard Dean is out there collecting $50 donations on the Internet. As of Sept. 30, his campaign had a mere $25.4 million. How many workers can that paltry sum sustain?"

In contrast, Mehlman cited a recent Republican fundraiser held at the private residence of the chairman of Watermark Communities Inc., a company that builds golf retirement communities.

"The Florida fundraiser employed hundreds of people, from the swing-choir members to the waiters who served the Angus beef and potatoes," Mehlman said. "That dinner pulled in $1.7 million—which will be used to throw more fundraisers, thereby creating even more jobs."

Bush called his fundraising success "a positive indicator for the nation's struggling economy."

"This job-creating initiative is good for my re-election campaign and good for Americans," Bush said. "With the generosity of Pioneer-level donors like William McGuire, chairman of United Health Care Group, and Warren Staley, CEO of the Cargill agribusiness company, this country will be back on its feet in no time. Bush-Cheney '04 is turning money into jobs."

Bush said that, although his administration is "narrowing in on economic recovery in America," more work is needed.

"We will continue to do our part up until Nov. 2, 2004," Bush said. "However, we can't do it without you. Call the Republican campaign office near you to find out how you can help."

[Glocksman]

It's a simple 'get out the vote' drive. Period.
The only difference is they're paying people to do it instead of using unpaid volunteers.

I did the almost (I went door to door instead) the exact same thing as an unpaid volunteer working for the Reagan campaign during the 1984 election.
There's nothing immoral or illegal about it as long as you do hand out registration materials to anyone, regardless of party, who asks for them.

This 'story' isn't worth the bandwidth it takes up.

[Glocksman]

Whoops!

Should have read it a little more carefully.


This is questionable:

If asked questions, employees were instructed, “Only state you are there to conduct a simple field poll to see what neighborhood support is ... a nonpartisan registration drive.”

We were told to never lie about who we represented if asked.

Though I do wonder what part of her quote the reporter edited out before 'nonpartisan registration drive'?

[Alyrium Denryle]

Thatt isnt questionable, that is fucking unethical.

[Glocksman]

Thatt isnt questionable, that is fucking unethical.

The only reason I said questionable instead of unethical is because of the missing words in the quote. Just what did that editor redact out with the dots before printing 'nonpartisan political drive'?

I have a real mistrust of 'quotes' presented in that form because you don't know what was redacted.

But I do agree it's unethical if they were told to lie to anyone about whom they represent.

[LadyTevar]

Thatt isnt questionable, that is fucking unethical.

The only reason I said questionable instead of unethical is because of the missing words in the quote. Just what did that editor redact out with the dots before printing 'nonpartisan political drive'?

I have a real mistrust of 'quotes' presented in that form because you don't know what was redacted.

But I do agree it's unethical if they were told to lie to anyone about whom they represent.

If you want, the paper lists the reporter's phone number. Want me to Pm it to you so you can ask what he left out?

[JME2]

Thatt isnt questionable, that is fucking unethical.

I heard that, but it's so in chracter for Dubya and his cronies.

[2000AD]

Is there any way for them to find out if you gave Registration froms to people who favoured Kerry (or independant) ?

[LadyTevar]

Is there any way for them to find out if you gave Registration froms to people who favoured Kerry (or independant) ?

The questioner helps them fill it out, and they list their prefered party on the form. Then the questioner turns the form into the supervisor who should hand them in to the County Clerk.

[Gandalf]

Oddly enough, this doesn't come as a shock. I thought everyone did this.

[Cairber]

I know that Al Gore's supporters did it...since I got hired to do it...and promptly quit.