Politics

GOP Sends Out Fake "Census" Forms

By Anne Landman

The Republican National Committee (RNC) has sent out fund raising mailers that mimic the appearance of the 2010 U.S. Census forms, which started going out this week. The letters are sent in plain white envelopes that bear the words "2010 Congressional District Census" and "Do Not Destroy, Official Document." They word "census" is spelled with a capital "C," the same as the U.S. Census Bureau. The letter says it contains a "Census Tracking Code," and asks leading political questions, like "Do you think the record trillion dollar federal deficit the Democrats are creating with their out-of-control spending is going to have disastrous consequences for our nation?" and, "Do you worry that the Obama administration is committed to greatly expanding the government's role in your life?" A RNC spokeswoman defended the document, saying it was clearly marked as an RNC mailer and it was not an attempt to mislead voters. Democrats claim the letter is part of a deceptive pattern by Republicans. The U.S. Census Bureau spokesman, Michael Cook, said he has received several complaints about the forms from voters who thought it was misleading. The U.S. Postal Service declined to investigate the matter. One recipient of the letter was the Democratic governor of Montana, Brian Schweitzer, who got his at the governor's mansion.

Full post as published by PR Watch on January 27, 2010 (boomark / email).