Fundraising phone call

[Catamount]

I usually don't gripe too much about my personal experiences in life, as my dilemmas seem so trivial in comparison to the daily horrors others face in our day and age. I usually don't even pick up the phone unless the number is listed on the caller ID--and I wish I hadn't today, when it came up as 'Unknown'.
But I'm self employed and sometimes get calls from clients with unlisted numbers and I'd hoped that's what the call was after being without work for the second month in a row.

However today, I swore at a so called 'Obama' fundraiser, who would not come off his script no matter what I told him about my financial situation, which included that I recently had to take out a loan just to pay my rent, but had donated $25 out of that very recently anyway and that I donated on a regular basis when ever I could, always on-line and would continue to do that as soon as I could.

Normally people stop the pressure when hearing sad little facts like that, but he ran back to his script of how awful McPain&Co(my spelling) were and how Obama needed at least $300 from me, and if I couldn't do that how would $100 be?

Obviously he just wasn't listening to me, and I got really angry--pointing out that the Obama campaign had raised more than $ 60,000,00.00 in August, and that I couldn't give any more just now, but that I had signed up to canvas the neighborhoods and really, really wanted-needed Obama to win, and that I was doing everything in my limited power to help, and probably knew more about how awful the opposition was than he, but he wouldn't give up. Finally I swore in frustration, but it made no difference.
He then asked when I could give my next $25!

This kind of pressure is not the right way to raise money in my opinion and I finally banged the phone down, feeling pretty upset.

Now I ask myself--was this truly an Obama supporter or someone deliberately doing this to registered supporters to piss us off? Is this really an anti Obama fundraiser?
I'm old enough to know that nothing negative could ever really surprise me anymore, but I'm wondering has anyone else had this, or a similar experience just recently?

If it was a true Obama supporter trying honestly to help--he needs to learn to listen, and not piss people off who are obviously struggling.

[treestar]

1. Not everything is perfect - maybe obama has one overzealous

supporter.

But then that would be a very insidious Rovian sort of thing. Maybe we should try it. :hide:

[zanne]

2. Tell them you're volunteering in lieu of money...

That's what I'm doing, and that's what I tell them. I can't afford to donate, so I give my time. If that isn't good enough for them, I just thank them for calling and hang up. Everybody is different, and that does not exclude Obama fundraisers. Anybody can be pushy and overbearing. Don't feel bad about just saying "no".

[Catamount]

6. I did tell him that!

And I continue to promote him and my democratic feelings are quite clear as my car is covered in stickers going back to Gore (minus Lieberman.)
That's why I got angry.
And then put on my tinfoil hat!

[Speck Tater]

3. You must enjoy debating? You could have simply hung up, but chose not to. NT

[Catamount]

7. Sometimes--yes but I'm also paranoid. n/t

[Cant trust em]

4. Hell. I have to put on the hard sell to get people to volunteer, but...

at a certain point the jig is up and that person is tapped out on time, health, family issues, or whatever.

[Eric J in MN]

5. The magic words are "You called at a bad time. I've got to go."

I've found that even zealous fundraisers say Bye after that.

[alcibiades_mystery]

8. Easier to yell at somebody and get furious

Oh, wait. No it's not.

[rove karl rove]

9. don't worry about it

he was reading off a script - they're told exactly what to say when.

[Catamount]

10. Okay --thanks all--I guess I'm calm now.........

[goodgd_yall]

13. They need to tell them not to come off as robots.

Really, if that's what volunteers are told, it reflects badly on the campaign.

[JPZenger]

11. Paid fundraisers???

It is possible that the campaign is using paid fundraisers. I never donate over the phone - it may be fradulent, and you may see a high percentage of your contribution go to a telemarketer. I told the guy who called yesterday: "Thank you, I'll donate over the web, like I usually do."

[goodgd_yall]

12. He is either an idiot, or wasn't trained properly, or both

hope his trainers didn't tell them to just push through with his script no matter what. Things like that, if they happen enough, reflect badly on a campaign. If the overall message is one about caring about the American people and their economic hardship, it appears as a disconnect when a campaign volunteer appears insensitive. I'd call the local campaign headquarters and tell them the same thing you wrote here.

[PuppyBismark]

14. Fundraiser probably vetted by same people as Sara Palin N/T