Consumer Law

I hate candidate (and fundraiser) phone calls

By Sam Glover

‘Tis the season of phone calls from candidates’ phone banks. Or, if you are really lucky, for dumb recordings of candidates’ sound bites.

My wife, formerly a fundraiser, tells me that these phone calls are essential to campaigning, whether for political office or for an organizational fund raiser. I don’t buy it. There is nothing worse than walking out of the grocery store to be accosted by someone shoving Clinton pamphlets (at the upscale market) or PETA literature (at the co-op) in my face.

Nothing makes me less likely to vote for a candidate or contribute to an organization than a phone call from some phone bank volunteer. Knocking on my door earns an organization a trip to the bottom of my list of organizations to which I will contribute in any given year. I cannot banish candidates entirely, unless I elect not to vote at all, but among the several candidates I am likely to vote for, the ones who do not call (or who call the least) are the ones more likely to get my vote.

I am sure my small protest is completely futile, but I have a teensy bit of hope that someday someone will realize that there are better ways to solicit votes or financial contributions. To my mind, phone banks and street organizers are roughly as effective as junk mail, but far more annoying.

If McCain (or Obama, or Ron Paul, or Clinton, or whatever candidate) himself (or herself) wants to call me, my phone line is open. But I won’t hold my breath.

Full post as published by Caveat Emptor on January 28, 2008 (boomark / email).