Audio: Anti-Mitt phone message making the rounds in Florida
posted at 9:50 am on January 29, 2008 by Bryan
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The Romney-McCain clash in Florida has gone negative on both sides. I’m on the record as not caring much about negative campaigning as long as what the candidates and their ads and phoners say is based on fact, but it is a turn-off to some voters and candidates usually make a point of talking about how negative the other guy has gone while neglecting to mention that they’ve gone negative too. We’ve all of that in Florida over the past week or so.
Here’s an example of the robo-calls that Florida residents have endured as today’s vote has neared. This one happens to be a McCain call, but both candidates are using them. The reader who sent it to us has this to say about it.
I thought you might be interested in a very deceptive recorded phone call which begins with ‘This is an urgent Mitt Romney message…’ then launches into a negative and false attack on Mitt Romney and his record. This in spite of the fact McCain was just on all the local Orlando affiliate news programs last night speaking of Romney going negative and saying it won’t work in FL just like it didn’t in IA, NH, etc. This particular call was received in Central Florida, but is likely going out across the state. Jonathan Martin at Politico.com has already written about this and confirmed it is from the McCain campaign.
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Filthy. McCain should be ashamed.
malan89 on January 29, 2008 at 9:55 AM
I’ll remember that the next time McCain whines about negative advertisements.
Slublog on January 29, 2008 at 9:55 AM
McCain is despicable.
ctmom on January 29, 2008 at 9:56 AM
McCain smacks of desparation. He’s showing little class.
Geronimo on January 29, 2008 at 9:57 AM
This just in …..
Candidate with fastest speed dialer wins Florida.
[sound heard in Jefferson's grave ... *thud*]
fogw on January 29, 2008 at 9:57 AM
Chris Paul (New Orleans Hornets) for MVP of the NBA and President.
Yes, I confess, I watched my new Direct TV NBA League Pass with Chris Paul playing instead of the SOTU address. . . does that make me a bad American?
ThackerAgency on January 29, 2008 at 9:58 AM
from the analysis of the speech, it was well worth missing for the amazing display by CP3 last night.
ThackerAgency on January 29, 2008 at 9:59 AM
My audio on that clip is horrible… anyone have a transcript of it they can put up?
Luckedout on January 29, 2008 at 10:03 AM
I wish I had recorded the robo call from Huck bashing Mitt here in Fl. No matter what the robo caller said, I indicated that, nope, what you are saying is not only changing my mind, but now, you have made me want to vote for him MORE, since you are bashing him so bad.
Already voted in Fl this am. This Fred!head went for Mitt.
CrimsonFisted on January 29, 2008 at 10:05 AM
Man, if McCain ends up with the nomination for the Republicans, the Dems could field a chipmunk and it would still win.
Romney (or anyone else for that matter) needs to go nuclear on McCain and just demolish him. I mean, McCain was the “joke candidate” in other years and now he’s almost at the front of the pack – wtf?
Mindcrime on January 29, 2008 at 10:10 AM
Yes, I do and I will.
malan89 on January 29, 2008 at 10:14 AM
McCain The Pain needs to be reminded that all negative ads tend to do is place the candidate running the ad in the somewhat uncomfortable position of having to explain if he is now that much afraid of his opponent that he has to resort to dirty tactics like this. So what is the media waiting for at this point? I would love to see McCain sweat bullets being interviewed on this matter by someone like Larry King.
pilamaye on January 29, 2008 at 10:15 AM
I find it disturbing that Mcvain always takes such glee in ripping apart members of his own party. Heartwarming isn’t it?
Tacitus on January 29, 2008 at 10:17 AM
Thanks.
Really, what kind of effect can this call have? It doesn’t really come accross as an earth-shattering, vote-changing type message, especially on election day. He’s been sounding desperate lately… maybe Mitt is doing better than previously thought.
Luckedout on January 29, 2008 at 10:18 AM
A “friend” does not do this to his fellow party members. wink.
JiangxiDad on January 29, 2008 at 10:20 AM
That is very similar to the call I got, where I would be asked “Do you agree that X?” where X is some conservative principle on guns, or abortion or something. Then I was asked if I were voting for Huck or Mitt. I say Mitt. Then the robocaller would say (in as snotty a voice a computer can) “Well, did you know the Mitt said or did Y? Will you still vote for him” I say yes. The pattern repeated on a variety of topics.
My first political robo call!
CrimsonFisted on January 29, 2008 at 10:21 AM
Both have memory issues. Would be funny
JiangxiDad on January 29, 2008 at 10:26 AM
McCain as the champion of socially conservative values is just laughable. He is getting uglier as things get tighter down the stretch. I’ve cut the guy a lot of slack over the years, but he finally lost me during the debate when he made that weak joke about Mitt being the “Candidate of Change” and then yukked it up by himself. That really showed an unattractive side of him to me, and it’s only going to get worse.
Dudley Smith on January 29, 2008 at 10:26 AM
This should surprise no one. McCain seems desperate to say the least. I wonder if Governor Crist approves of these tactics? His endorsement suggests tacit approval at a minimum. This is the kind of leader the Republican Party needs at this time? NO. NO. NO.
Mitt ‘08
JDH on January 29, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Jefferson was one of the most aggressive negative campaigners in our history.
At least this calls end with paid for by, so the voter can be influenced either way.
Same here. It made me think of his temper not as an issue of situation, but really made me start thinking of him as a petty sort of man.
Spirit of 1776 on January 29, 2008 at 10:42 AM
Even Humping Robot is appalled.
saint kansas on January 29, 2008 at 10:42 AM
We had to listen to John McCain and his supporters whine for four years after Campaign 2000 about how his ascendency to the White House was thwarted by “dirty tricks.” McCain was very good at playing the victim.
This time around, with the primaries just kicking off, we have McCain lying about what Romney said about timetables in Iraq and this despicable example of robo-calling. I guess that McCain decided that winning at all costs was important to him. Oh how I hope he gets his clock cleaned tonight! Then maybe he’ll just retire and we’ll be done with this guy!!!
highhopes on January 29, 2008 at 10:43 AM
McCain is the king of lies, smears and dirty tricks. It’s a sure sign he’s desperate and willing to do anything to win. It’s also a sure sign he can’t run on his record. Despicable. I hope he gets beat.
jdawg on January 29, 2008 at 10:53 AM
If McCain loses in FL tonight, do not expect a graceful exit. I think things will get ugly between then and Super Tuesday. Fred left with his dignity, and it looks like Rudy will do the same (despite all the knocks on him about his “temper”), I hope McCain will follow suit, but I’m expecting the worst. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him take a shot at Mitt’s Mormonism at some point.
Dudley Smith on January 29, 2008 at 10:54 AM
We need a new way to select a President. Here is my suggestion:
1. Make them play Jeopardy with categories of
World History
American History
Military History
Economics
Foreign Affairs
Geography (let’s see if they know where “Freedonia” is).
Law
Religion (Let’s see if they can quote 5 Bible verses).
2. Make them display their military skill in a game of Paint Ball.
3. Demonstrate culture and refinement by going on Dancing with the Stars where both the candidate and their spouse would be taught to dance.
4. Make them play “Who wants to be a millionaire”
5. They can compete in “American Idol” displaying a talent of their choice.
This would be much more civil and entertaining than our current method.
Somebody suggested mud wrestling for the wives, but that is over the top. (Not to mention too close to what the candidates are currently doing.)
The Rock on January 29, 2008 at 11:11 AM
True. All of them have negative campaigns because it’s been proven to work.
My point was, Jefferson would be astounded at the ease in which it is done today, and the method.
fogw on January 29, 2008 at 11:11 AM
What a nasty, vindictive s.o.b.
I doubt that McLiar will go after Mitt’s religion directly (he has Huck and his mother to do that) but he will not take defeat gracefully (if that scenario happens) and I expect fireworks at the next debate.
I do think Mitt could do a better job of answering the false charges against him by using McCain’s own words and Senate resolutions on benchmarks and withdrawal against him. He can still be a gentleman while pointing out the facts.
When Mitt talks about McCain-Kennedy he needs to remind voters that this was the immigration legislation which was rejected by the American people, and which he tried to sneak through in the dead of night.
When he talks about McCain-Feingold he may want to remind people that McCain aligned himself with someone so far to the Left he wanted to impeach George Bush.
I don’t think just mentioning the names of this god-awful legislation is enough, except for the most educated voter. With the exception of the surge, the hallmarks of McCain’s career is this legislation. Why should we expect better from a McCain presidency?
Buy Danish on January 29, 2008 at 11:14 AM
Why doesn’t McCain just make it official and switch to the Democratic Party?
cannonball on January 29, 2008 at 11:15 AM
Robocall:
“Hello.
Would you like to make $50 an hour picking lettuce.
Vote for John McCain!
He promised it!
Bye-bye!”
profitsbeard on January 29, 2008 at 11:20 AM
Because he hasn’t forgotten what Jumpin’ Jim Jeffords did forget.
It’s much better to be a liberal prick in the party where your views are considered “maverick” and you are adored by the MSM for constantly sticking it to your fellow party members than it is to be associated with a party where your left-of-center views are not progressive enough to get you noticed.
My only question is if McCain loses the nomination and doesn’t get re-elected to the Senate, who gets custody of Lindsey Graham?
highhopes on January 29, 2008 at 11:23 AM
McCain has adopted Clintoned political tactics.
Kini on January 29, 2008 at 11:40 AM
This is interesting.
We are literally witnessing the Republican Party commit mass suicide by even having a “Red Herring” like McCain in the process.
Pathetic.
TexasJew on January 29, 2008 at 11:46 AM
Hmmmmm. Seem to remember McCain going ballistic about the same thing. But in his case it appeared that McCain’s charges were grossly exaggerated.
pat on January 29, 2008 at 1:04 PM
However flip-floppy Romney’s been, he’s probably the most trustworthy and conservative candidate left in the race. I don’t know that he’s head and shoulders above McCain, Giuliani, and Huckabee but at least he’s marginally better.
I’m still trying to decide if it’s better to try to elect Romney, or better to let the Democrats produce a Carter in the hopes that the Republicans will follow that with a Reagan. Decisions, decisions.
jaime on January 29, 2008 at 1:06 PM
there fixed it for you .
Mojack420 on January 29, 2008 at 1:16 PM
O Fred! O Fred!
Why hast thou forsaken us?
hillbillyjim on January 29, 2008 at 1:54 PM
NOTHING McLame does surprises me. I said a month ago that he was spiteful! Now we are starting to witness it! If he loses and is able to stay in the senate, you will see the same spiteful dem loving deeds he has done in the past. Thats the way he handled his last defeat.
kcd on January 29, 2008 at 2:01 PM
No, it doesn’t. If there had been a Laker game on, I would have done the same.
Sultry Beauty on January 29, 2008 at 2:22 PM
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