No-Call-List Candidate Calls Blogger for Third Time!

About two months ago, I began receiving robo-calls from Michael E. Carter, a candidate for Missouri’s lieutenant governor post who is exploiting the average Joe’s immense dislike of automated phone calls (a.k.a., “robo-calls”) by — you guessed it — using the very tactic he purports to dislike. Below is a chronological review of my communications with Carter:

Two months ago, I began receiving robo-calls from Carter. The first call merely aggravated me, while the second provoked me to share my thoughts about Carter’s tele-tactics in a post, Missouri Politician Exploits Do-Not-Call Registry.

In turn, my thoughts prompted Chad Carter, a representative of Carter’s campaign whom I suspect is related to the candidate, to post several comments of concern and a comment skirmish ensued. Three days later, we both picked up our virtual balls and went home.

Today, I received my third robo-call from the self-proclaimed do-not-call-list candidate. His message contained familiar do-not-call-list content with an added explanation about why “TIME & TEMP” appeared in my phone’s Caller ID screen. Carter, it seems, operates a time and temperature phone service in the area.

After receiving the call today, I conducted a bit of online research and learning something shocking: According to a March 16 Suburban Journals article by Steve Pokin, Carter’s robo-calls to my home number were part of a massive plan to bombard voters across the state with 50 million automated phone calls delivered by robo-dialing between now and the Aug. 5 Democratic primary.

In addition, Pokin reported this interesting tidbit:

“I would say that I’m actually reaching out to the public in a public-relations way,” Carter said. “If they have concerns about it - I have not started them yet - let me know and maybe I can get you off the rotating calls that we will make.”

One would think that Chad Carter might have taken the words below — that appeared in that post along with several of my comments — as an indication that I should be removed from his call list:

Apparently, the Democrat will live up to his telephonic promise not to call me again ONLY IF I register my name, phone number and e-mail address on his web site. In other words, his do-not-call ploy is merely an offer to trade phone calls for e-mails and snail mail.

Apparently, writing blog posts about a candidate like Michael Carter isn’t enough to get one’s number off the list. Perhaps publication of two blog posts will do the trick.

Chad, are you reading this post? If so, please remove me from your list.

-- Bob McCarty Writes