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Andrew Cline has been editorial page editor of the New Hampshire Union Leader since October of 2001. His writing has appeared in more than 100 newspapers and magazines, including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and National Review.Hang up, NH!
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By JOSEPH W. MCQUAID
New Hampshire Union Leader Publisher
Thursday, Dec. 20, 2007
HERE IS what New Hampshire people should do regarding all the annoying telephone "push-polls'' promoting Gov. Mike Huckabee at the expense of his rivals: Hang up!
Political calls are exempt from telemarketing bans, and the ones about the Jan. 8 primary are apparently exempt from the state law against the "push-poll'' tactic.
Some clown calling his Virginia company "Common Sense Issues'' says he is making nearly 100,000 such phone calls a night on behalf of Huckabee. He boasts that he will continue to do so (with a break for Christmas) right up until the primary.
"Common sense'' isn't what this guy has. He is doing his candidate no favors. He says Huckabee is not responsible for the calls and Huckabee's campaign has asked that the calls be stopped. That seems unlikely to happen, so the next best thing for New Hampshire people to do is to simply hang up if they hear "Huckabee'' or "Common Sense.''
It will make Christmas more peaceful, for one thing.
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YOUR COMMENTS
Actually I recommend putting the phone down on a table, but don't hang up. Make the call take as long as possible, to prevent the start of another call. Even if they hang up their line, it is still busy and unable to call again until you hang up or you hear the off the hook noise.
I've on occasion given the phone to my 8 month old to telemarketers.
- Dave, Bedford
The calls should be in the candidate's own voice and speak only of his issues. There should be no outsiders doing this, and the calls should be short sweet and not live, which leaves too much room for trouble.
- Annie M., Manchvegas
It's great to see unbiased reporting. Yeah right! Exactly whatI expect from the media. If it's not your candidate, it is appauling. At least I get calls from someone attached to Huckabee. Still waiting on calls from Mccain and Romney. Go Huck!
- Jay Peroni, Bedford, NH
I hang up on ALL unsolicited calls.
- Tim, milford
Push-polls are a type of phone scam designed to steal your vote. Of course they should be illegal. Then again, even legal polling has gotten out of control. Polls are to elections what ticks are to dogs. Worse, actually, because they can skew the results and create a perception of tiers of candidates, ranging from "top contenders" to "fringe" candidates. Push-polls, "legitimate" polls, or straightforward calls from campaign workers "just to see what kind of support our candidate has in your area," all get the same treatment from me. My vote is my business and you will find out what the vote is when you count the ballots. Anyone who chooses a candidate simply because he or she is ahead in the polls is not honoring the process. Listen to what the candidates have to say, do your own thinking, and ignore the polls.
- Pat, Littleton
I'd suggest not listenning to any of them. If you tell them to put you on their "do not call list" they will stop botherring you even though they are exempt from the law. At least they say they will.
- Ken, Merrimack, NH
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