Absolute Must Read: LA Times article

[TayTay]

free registration may be required. it's worth it.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-rncdnc24jul24,1,6334292.story

Parties Are Tracking Your Habits
Though both Democrats and Republicans collect personal information, the GOP's mastery of data is changing the very nature of campaigning.

By Tom Hamburger and Peter Wallsten Times Staff Writers, Times Staff Writers

COLUMBUS, Ohio — At first glance, Felicia Hill seems to fit the profile of a loyal Democrat: She is African American, married to a General Motors union worker and voted for Dukakis, Clinton and Gore in past presidential elections.

But in the weeks before election day 2004, the suburban mother of two was deluged with telephone calls, invitations and specially targeted mailings urging her to support President Bush. The intense Republican courtship of Hill, 39, was no coincidence.

A deeper look at her lifestyle and politics reveals a voter who might be persuaded to switch sides. Among the clues: she is a church member uneasy about abortion; she lives in a growing suburb and she sent her children to a private school.

Hill and millions of other would-be Bush backers in closely contested states were identified by a GOP database that culled information ranging from the political basics, like party registration, to the personal, such as the cars they drive, the drinks they buy, even the features they order on their phone lines. The "micro-targeting" effort was so effective that the party credited it with helping to secure Bush's reelection.

Anyone else remember the Senate Commerce Committee hearing on Identity Theft/Data Brokerage Services? Anyone remember Kerry's rather pointed questions about Choice Point selling their data to Political Consultants. Well, it's obviously step 2.
http://commerce.senate.gov/hearings/witnesslist.cfm?id=1491

Interesting stuff. Seriously must be read.

[whometense]

1. Nice job tying in

that committee meeting to the article. Interesting article. It brought to mind that Andy Card comment on not rolling out new products in Auguest. Since the other side really does see this as one big marketing job, I guess that has to be countered. I was glad to see it didn't work on her, though, and the more people find out about the *ies, the bigger the wall they will have to climb to overcome voters' natural preferences.

I do find every time I see a black republican on tv I want to scream. (I feel the same way about jewish republicans.)

[whometense]

2. The Carpetbagger

has a great post up about this article, titled Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean someone isn't watching you.

[Island Blue]

3. So all we are to them is a bunch of consumers

and their job is to learn enough about us so they can convince us to buy more crap (Repuke candidates) that we don't need. Hey, I guess that's much easier than coming up with sound ideas and policies for folks to rally behind. :crazy: What's next, presenting candidates on the Home Shopping Network?

[TayTay]

4. Choice Point tracks you medically, financially

and so much more. There is no law that says that info can't be sold to the highest bidder, including political campaigns. This can get so much worse.