Friends of John Kerry called me tonight...wanting a donation

[greenbriar]

I said

"is he running in 08"

they said...he hasn't come out with anything, right now we are working on Kids first and fire Rove

I said

those are noble, but how is kerry going to ask about the katrina rescue fuckup and the photo op ?

they stuttered and stammered.

I said when is he going to grow a backbone and demand a decent supreme court nomination.

they said, well there will be a new chance because did you know a justice died?


I said "did you know that since the chief justice renquist died, bush wants to appoint roberts as Chief Justice??

They said..well...no I hadn't heard that yet.


I said well Kerry (and I love him) and the rest of the dems had better grow some balls and start demanding answers to REAL questions or the world is going to be shit and I don't have any money to donate until this happens


they said

thank you for your time

[eleny]

1. enough is enough

[LittleClarkie]

32. Enough of what?

Health care?

Personally, I'd have just said no thanks and hung up rather than abuse some poor shmuck with a shitty job, but that's just me.

Gotta problem with Kerry or either of his PAC's? Call his office. Leave the peons out of it.

[snowbear]

2. Welp...

You told it like you mean it.. and that's all you can do! Good for you!

P.S. Very interesting exchange between you and whoever called you! :rofl:

[greenbriar]

3. my hubby...bless his soul

just rolled his eyes




he doesn't like my activism

[ChiciB1]

39. Mine Didn't Either Until This Year!

And I've been at it for many many years!! Since the 70's! He's finally spittin' and sputterin' and is now a believer. He still has more optimism than I, says there's NO WAY Bush can wiggle out of this one. Personally I think it will be pretty difficult not to have some of it stick pretty hard, but I'm still cynical! He's a native Floridian, living in Florida! RARE!

What is it with WHITE MEN??? I'm white!

[DenaliDemocrat]

4. Funny

I told them the same thing a few weeks ago. When you grow some balls, I give you moeny, until then, the well is dry.

[CityDem]

37. Same here

Kerry had a great chance in 2004 to run AWOL out of office. Instead, he played it safe and left us with 4 more years of Bush. Kerry's timid approach to the campaign was a great disservice to all of the progressives in this country. I will not donate dime to him -- ditto for Hillary.

[Sugarbleus]

5. LOL...I got the SAME CALL

It was before all of this current crisis...Katrina and Roberts and Renquist <sp?

They wanted money for kids health. I asked them why isn't Kerry focusing on ALL peoples health? They stammered at that too. We did talk about all other kinds of icky things like Rove and the environment etc. All of which I already knew about because I joined a plethora of Dem orgs already and get swamped by newsmails and constant barrages of help with donations...

I told them I had been robbed/identity stolen and had little to zero funds to give. (secretly I really didn't want to anyway because their focus is too narrow) The lady was sympathetic but STILL wondered if I could give a little something, oh say in a couple weeks (??????????)

After I'd talked with the woman for some time, I began to see our conversation was going nowhere. She wasn't "GETTING" it that I AM the poor and needy and cannot put whatever monies I have into such a narrow project. Finally I said 'send me the donation form and I'll send a check back'. She pushed that it would be easier and quicker for them if I used a CREDIT CARD. I JUST TOLD HER MY IDENTITY HAD BEEN STOLEN AND MY BANK AND CCS WERE ALL MESSED UP.

I got her off the phone and felt harrassed. The donation card came and I threw it into the garbage. Sad......

[patrioticliberal]

6. Why not just tell her to go Cheney herself?

[LittleClarkie]

29. Yeah, attacking telemarketers is always good

and oh, so satisfying.

But why take it out on this person when you could call Kerry's office?

[all.of.me]

8. they don't get it, because they have a script to go by

if your questions aren't in their script, they stammer and just repeat what is in the script, hence conversations go nowhere. they hear nothing, just read their script! sad, very sad.

[k j]

30. Real people talking to real people

If you're talking about your own experience, genevat, fine, but your post reads like a generalization to me. And since I also had a phone call from Friends of Kerry and had a lively conversation about several issues that were "off the script," I know that generalization doesn't hold true.

[Sugarbleus]

41. To be fair, the woman was quite nice in her enthusiasm but...

Well, you know...

[all.of.me]

43. but ... your questions were not in her script!

[Totally Committed]

7. Did they give a reason WHY he was still raising money?

I'm just curious. He walked away from the '04 elections with a huge amount still unspent.


TC

[MH1]

10. The poster stated: "Kids First" and "Fire Rove"

These are initiatives that have been going on for some time. Given the poster is on the call list, they are assumed to be a supporter; they are probably assumed to be on the email list, so that when someone says "Kids First" the callee would know what that meant.

Previous fundraising campaigns have been to raise money to run ads about these issues. Also I know the other PAC is raising money for various races, like the VA governor and NJ governor races.

I didn't get this call (I simply asked them once not to call me, I will donate via the Internet when I feel it is appropriate). I am a little surprised they said Kids First and Fire Rove; I thought they were focusing on the Governor's races.

[MH1]

11. Actually, poster below has a good point - are they legit?

FOJK is legitimate, however just because someone says they are from FOJK, how do we know it's true?

(the main reason I NEVER give over the phone. If everybody would heed this, the calls would stop.)

[RayOfHope]

14. I didn't donate over the phone, but said I would donate

and they sent me an envelope. They're legit (maybe annoying, but legit)

[MH1]

16. Excellent!

It's great that you donated, I think the cause is worthy. I just detest the telemarketing approach, especially when they use a call center where the people don't really know what they are talking about beyond the script.

[greenbriar]

18. I donated once

but until they start acting like we elected them to act IE in our best interest

they will not see any money from me

[LittleClarkie]

28. Kerrygoddess has said they're legit

It's an ongoing thing

[catmandu57]

9. I don't think they're legit

They sound like a fly by night boiler room operation, they've called me also and I said no and hung up.

[MH1]

13. Thanks...good point.

People who wish to donate can find links for various issues at Kerry's websites,

http://www.johnkerry.com/

and http://kerry.senate.gov/v3/cfm/home.cfm .

I strongly support John Kerry (can you tell) but I hate ALL telemarketing fundraising campaigns with a passion. So I don't blame people for being pissed by the calls. Just let me point out that other groups like the DNC and Wellstone Action can be just as annoying.

[RayOfHope]

12. They use telemarketing firms, it's not Kerry people you are talking with

they called me a couple of months ago about kids first. I was interested in helping, so I asked abou the effort and where they were calling from. The lady making the call told me they were calling from a call center, and she was basically a telemarketer working a call center.

[seaglass]

15. I'm in MA and they have Help Wanted ads in the Globe. Yes,

they are telemarketers and they work exclusively for Dem/Progressive causes and organizations.

[OzarkDem]

34. How callous of our Dem leaders

trying to raise funds for themselves instead of helping out during such a tragic time.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

17. I tell them that with my limited funds, I donate only to groups that

help people directly, not to advocacy groups or candidates.

There are some advocacy groups that I'd like to help out, but when funds are scarce, especially at a time like this, help for suffering people takes priority.

But you know, I think that if we all sent back our candidate donation envelopes without money but with a message saying "Grow a spine," it might have some effect.

[Sugarbleus]

42. LOL--->"Grow a spine,"

good one Lydia. I thought about writing something back but ended up just dumping the mail into my circular file.

I'm with you in that I need to pick and choose my charities/donation giving carefully. My last name is not Forbes.

Heck, I wondered if these folks are even legit??? I asked the lady where the money goes. I believe she said it goes to lobbying insterests for that one cause. :eyes:

[zann725]

19. My thoughts exactly! I've told them several times when they ask for money

but show no "visible" support of the REAL issues. He needed to be out there (like Gore or Clark) making statements (other than money requests) and taking actions (like Gore's rescue trip).

And...compared to other "Representatives," I have never ONCE received an "acknowledgement" email reply from Senator Kerry's office. NOT once. ONLY more requests for money.

And I worked for his campaign, and voted for him, and REALLY believed in Kerry. WHAT a continuing disappointment.

If ever there was a time for him to stand up and speak the truth about the Election results, AND about the bulk of Shrub's Cabinet appointments (many of whom are also BCCI scandal related)...that time is NOW...NOT in 2008. That's FAR too late. Wake up Senator! Speak up!

[LittleClarkie]

20. You do realize that poor shmuck has no contact with Kerry at all

Why do people get such pleasure from ranting at folks just trying to earn a living as a telemarketers because they're pissed at the person the organization belongs to?

I hope you feel better and you found that rant satisfying (even if it was at the expense of a peon), but I think you'd be better off, and have a more direct connection, if you called one of his offices or emailed him.

The focus of that PAC is children's health care. The focus of his other PAC to get the grassroots growing for 2006. If you have a concern unrelated to either I would suggest contacting him directly.

FYI, he has said that that he considers Roberts extreme (not sure of his exact wording) and that he would keep up us posted on the process.

But I'm confused again, as I usually am, as to exactly what folks want to see that theyr'e not seeing and what exactly they want him to do. You say, stand up and demand. Alrighty. So he stands up, demands, everyone here applauds. And that's about. We all walk away with the warm fuzzies because someone stood up and bitched, regardless of whether or not anything actually got done. Some of the things that are done in Washington aren't done publicly. Sorry 'bout that.

And, of course, I'm being unrealistic. We don't all stand and applaud because, of course, this is Kerry we're talking about. Several will say "too little, too late" "he didn't fight for us" "he's a coward" yadda yadda, regardless of what he might be saying now that we approve of.

But still, you are obviously welcome to your opinion. Just please don't abuse peons on your way to expressing them. That would be my suggestion.

Think of the peons!

[DemBones DemBones]

22. It's true. I am always polite to telemarketers

because I know they're working a shit job at shit wages.

[LittleClarkie]

31. That's my main point. Pissed at Kerry? Call his office

and leave that poor shlub out of it. Indeed, it must be a real suck job.

It sucked when I was something of a telemarketer during the campaign (phone banker is almost the same thing)

Oh, the abuse. I may be abrupt in my "No" and click. But I don't abuse them

[robbedvoter]

21. Trolling for money NOW????

geez, even the NYC politicians who have an election coming in 2 weeks against a billionaire were asking me to donate to Red Cross instead of them.
Rich men are so craven - no matter what political affiliation.
:puke:

[Mass]

23. Kerry has been asking that again and again and has been bashed on here

for doing so, by the usual suspects, of course.

The poor telemarketer had a synopsis that could have been made two or three weeks ago, who knows.

[LittleClarkie]

26. I can't wait for the other twenty million times

as each person gets that phone call. Yessiree, I'm sure it will make for gripping reading.

I've gotten called about two or three times so far. Gave twice, had to say no once. Was broke. Just say no, and say good bye. Don't abuse the peons for pity's sake.

[LittleClarkie]

24. What are you talking about

It's been an ongoing thing for months now. All the telemarketers haven't suddenly rolled up their sidewalks in honor of Katrina. I'm sure I'll be hearing from People for the American Way and the DNC as well.

Should all the rich folks at the DNC just shut up as well and cough up their own money for re-election.

Not quite sure what you're talking about here. The only one with beaucoup dinero is Teresa, and she has the same limit on giving as the rest of us.

And don't some of us bitch as well when rich politicians use their own money and knock the poorer ones out of races. Use the money, get bitched at, don't use the money, get bitched at. Maybe they should renounce all wealth and try going around in sackcloth and ashes. Yeah, bet they'd win in a landslide. Might even get some folks from the religious right, what with all the biblical undertones and all.

[Mass]

27. You can see that robbedvoter has never worked in that field

Scenarii have been written months ago.

It is not exactly as if Kerry had not called for money for Katrina more than once and is not doing something concrete about that either.

[ldf]

25. i got hit up, too

last time it was "for the children", so i gave.

this time it was to "fire rove". i said no, but not to firing rove, but to the democratic leadership.

however, this time i told them flat out that i was part of the party they were calling "fringe, and leftwing". you know, their "core base".

i said that i would NOT give any money to the current democratic leaders, and especially the DLC. they were the reason we were in the position we are currently in.

in their headlong rush to the "center" and to be more like the republicans than the republicans, they have completely abandoned the base of their party and the core principles this party was built on.

and until they wake up and address us, they are going to see fewer of us even going TO the polls. and without us, the will ALL lose.

the lady suddenly turned rather snippy and said, "thanks for your time", and hung up.

[OzarkDem]

33. I would tell him

Kerry (and any other Dem candidate) had better earn my support by supporting Dems who are being attacked by the GOP over the hurricane disaster.

If they can't protect our own leaders and use the media to call attention to Bush's failure, well, I don't have any time for them.

The candidate who jumps in now and shows some leadership will get my money, time and support.

So far, I guess that's just Al Gore.

[LittleClarkie]

35. Clark too

And I've heard some things about what Boxer's been doing to circumvent this fubar admin. Kerry just got back from Iraq so I don't know what he's been doing. Reid has been pushing Frist to drop estate tax from the agenda and get to victim relief this next week.

Dean dropped pretty much everything to help. Don't know exactly what he's doing, but I bet it's something.

[OzarkDem]

36. Someone needs to get them some face time

We need responses to Bush's attacks on Dems.

[TheDonkey]

40. He was in Iraq and came back to work in the Senate

It would be nice if he were Pres leading the relief effort in LA but he has an important job in DC to take care of now.

(this is a reply to the post below not yours! opps)

[NYC Liberal]

38. They've called me as well and wouldn't stop.

It was about a month ago. First time, they called asking for money. I said, "No thanks, not right now. When I donate, I'll do it online." They kept trying to get me to give over the phone, but I kept telling them I would do it online.

About a week later, they called again, and the conversation was basically the same.

Then they called again...same thing.

Finally, they called a fourth time and told me that I had pledged a hundred dollars and wanted to know if I had sent in a check yet, since they hadn't gotten it. I was like, "Um, I never pledged any money. Please do not call me again. If and when I want to donate, I will do so online."

They stopped calling me after that.