"US Chamber" is buying ads for Saxby Chambliss.

[Laelth]

O.K. I was snookered. As you can read below, I got all in a tizzy about a robo-call I received this morning. Turns out it was a neat trick, but not the outrage I initially thought it was. The federal government, it seems, is not behind this robo-call. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is, supposedly, and they are not part of the Department of Commerce. I called Jim Martin's campaign and ate some of their time, sadly. But it's a private outfit. The url provided "http://uschamber.com" should have given it away. It's not a .gov site.

While I could have deleted the whole thread, I thought I'd leave this up as a warning to others who might get similarly fooled. Live and learn.

-Laelth

It was 9:35 A.M. in Georgia, October 30, 2008.

I just received a recorded robo-call message that Caller I.D says came from this number: 877-458-1316. A female voice started touting all the supposedly "good" things Saxby Chambliss wanted to do to make access to health care more affordable for Georgians, including tax credits. The woman invited me to call Senator Chambliss and thank him for all the good work he is doing on my behalf. She invited me to call this number: 770-763-9090. I called the number and it's Saxby Chambliss' local office.

I thought little of this robo-call at first. I became outraged at the end, however, when the recorded voice told me that the call was paid for by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. That's right. "We the people" of the United States are paying, trough our tax dollars, to help re-elect Saxby Chambliss.

This can't be legal, can it? Could the U.S. Army endorse Obama if they wanted to and then spend their budget helping to elect him? I doubt it. The brazen disregard for the law displayed by this administration is astounding. They continue to show that there's very little they won't do to keep power.

I am forwarding this information to the Obama campaign. Please, flood the bolded number above and complain.

:mad:

The United States is a LIBERAL Country.

:dem:

-Laelth

Edit:Laelth--corrected to apologize and explain how I was fooled by this robo-call.
Edit:Laelth--re-edited to further clarify.

[onenote]

1. uhh...the US Chamber of Commerce is not an agency of the government

Its a private, not-for-profit federation of businesses. It has every right to endorse and support candidates.

[Laelth]

5. We have a commerce department, of course, and it's part of the fed. govt.

The outfit that called me, however, is clearly not a part of the fed. govt. as I explain in my correction above. Thanks for the clarifying response.

The United States is a LIBERAL Country.

:dem:

-Laelth

[onenote]

8. to further clarify your clarification

Your clarified OP still suggests that there is a government agency called the Chamber of Commerce. That is not the case. There is a Department of Commerce, which has been a cabinet agency since 1903 (when it was originally the Department of Commerce and Labor; that cabinet post was split into two separate agencies in 1913.)

The US Chamber of Commerce has been around nearly as long -- since 1912.

There was no trickery involved in the call you received.

[Laelth]

9. Very good, and thanks for the historical info. n/t

The United States is a LIBERAL Country.

:dem:

-Laelth

[billyoc]

2. Are you mistaking the Chamber of Commerce with some sort of government agency?

[Laelth]

6. I did mistake the people who called me with a fed. govt. agency, yes.

Thanks for the kind correction.

The United States is a LIBERAL Country.

:dem:

-Laelth

[predfan]

3. I've raised so much h*** with our local chamber over the National Chamber's politics

My wife and I are small business owners, at least this month's note got made.....can't promise November. We try to support our local businesses, and the COC locally does that. But it really pisses me off that they pay dues to the National Chamber, who have no problems supporting republicans.

So do this......call your local grocery store, furniture store, dry cleaner, and ask for either the manager or owner......ask if they belong to the Chamber, and then lite in on them with both feet....vow to quit shopping their until they call the local Chamber and raise hell with them.

Won't help, but you'll feel better.....I always do after bitching at the poor local folks.

[SharonAnn]

4. I'm thinking of dropping our local Chamber membership. The US Chamber positions are appalling

and the local Chamber doesn't seem to be much better.

They don't provide us with much, and I just don't want to support that naked right-wing propaganda. If it was really related to the promotion of things that are good for business, then maybe I'd understand. But frankly, being against the minimum wage, against universal health care, and for monopolies doesn't make things better for business. It makes them worse.

[Laelth]

7. I am not a member of the local chamber. Wouldn't want to be.

I see no advantage to donating money to an organization that supports Republicans.

The United States is a LIBERAL Country.

:dem:

-Laelth

[predfan]

10. In our little southern town, some of the business owners make it easy to decide where to shop.

Two main street businesses have McCain signs ON THEIR DOOR........you litterly have to touch them to get in...........Look, I'm as partisan as they come, but I've been in business long enough to know I've got good friends and customers who're Republican, we just agree to disagree on some things and go on. No political signs, local , state, or national, on my business......I can do enough at home and on my car.

[Laelth]

11. Same here. If I didn't work for any Republicans, I'd be out of business.

I discuss politics with many of my clients, but I steer away from the topic if I suspect one of my clients might be a Republican. I have one Republican client, though, who I've gotten into some "tense" but not heated exchanges. She just hired me to handle an appeal for her, so it hasn't hurt our relationship. Competence overcomes politics, usually, in my line of work.

But I would never put a sign on my business door. That's brazen.

The United States is a LIBERAL Country.

:dem:

-Laelth