RNC Sends Out NEW Phony Census Mailer - TPMMuckraker

[WillyT]

Even After Law Aimed At Banning It, RNC Still Sending Misleading 'Census' Mailer
Zachary Roth | April 26, 2010, 9:38AM

<snip>

The Republican National Committee is continuing to send out a misleading fundraising mailer labeled "Census Document," just weeks after Congress passed a law aimed at banning such mailers.

In response, the Democratic member of Congress behind the new law slammed the RNC for "trying to make a buck on the Census." But Michael Steele and co. are claiming the law doesn't cover their mailer.

An RNC mailer obtained by TPMmuckraker bears the words "Census Document" and, in all caps, "DO NOT DESTROY/OFFICIAL DOCUMENT," on the outside of the envelope. In smaller letters, it says: "This is not a U.S. government document." The new law requires, among other things, that such mailers state the name and address of the sender on the outside of the envelope -- something the RNC's missive doesn't appear to do. Inside, a letter from RNC chair Michael Steele, dated April 12, asks recipients to fill out a questionnaire about their political views, and solicits donations of as much as $500 or more.

See the mailer here: http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/documents/2010/04/rnc-congressional-census-mailer-sent-41210.php?page=1

Last month, in response to virtually identical RNC mailers, members of both parties cried foul, raising the concern that the mailers could reduce the response rate for the actual Census -- which was mailed to Americans last month -- by confusing some voters. "Nothing could be more wrong," declared Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) -- not a lawmaker known for a commitment to bipartisanship. Congress quickly passed a law -- the House vote was 416-0 -- requiring that mailers marked "census" state the name and address of the sender on the outside of the envelope, and contain an unambiguous disclaimer making clear that the mailer is not affiliated with the government.

Based on a PDF image, the mailer obtained by TPMmuckraker does not appear to state the sender's name and address on the outside. And the words "DO NOT DESTROY/OFFICIAL DOCUMENT" would appear to make the disclaimer that it's not a government document less than unambiguous.

<snip>

Link: http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/04/even_after_law_aimed_at_banning_it_rnc_still_sendi.php?ref=fpa

:wtf:

[yellowcanine]

1. Mikey Steele just doesn't get it. Fake government mailers are a good way to raise money.

How many times can one person shoot himself in the foot before he has no feet left to shoot?

[lame54]

2. some high profile arrest should take place

[WillyT]

3. Ah... If Stupidity Were A Crime...

:evilgrin:

[Warpy]

6. Sending out fake government mailers like this IS a crime

The only question is whether or not they'll bother to enforce that law.

If a miracle occurs and buried appointees from the last 8 years are overruled, then expect the RNC to be hit with a fine. We can only hope such a fine is more than the contributions such deceptive mailers solicited.

Those bastards will just continue to ignore any law they find inconvenient until and unless it costs them.

[SpiralHawk]

4. Faux Bondage Wide-stance Family Pharisee mailers? How perfectly republicon.

eom

[denverbill]

5. Wouldn't it be refreshing to see, just once, Republicans do something honestly and straightforwardly

Honest debates instead of lies and scare tactics.

[WillyT]

7. But Then They Wouldn't Be Republicans...

At least not modern day Republicans.

:shrug:

But I too wish it were so.

:hi:

[d_r]

8. hey they've got to raise money somehow

boring white guys aren't going to get into trendy LA bondage clubs for free, you know.

[mopinko]

9. DH got this thing

i haven't opened it. but he worked as a "republican, wink wink" election judge, so apparently he is now on the rnc mailing list. should be interesting.

[cal04]

10. DNC Slams 'Disturbing' RNC 'Census' Mailer

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/04/dnc_slams_disturbing_rnc_census_mailer.php

Picking up on TPMmuckraker's report from this morning, the Democratic National Committee is slamming its Republican counterpart for sending out a misleading fundraising mailer marked "Census Document", even after Congress last month passed a law aimed at banning such mailers.

DNC chair Tim Kaine accused Michael Steele and co. of "flouting a law passed by Congress unanimously, and signed by the President, as a direct result of the RNC's previous efforts to confuse people on this very issue."

The new RNC mailer can be seen here.

Here's the full statement from Kaine:

The United States Census is critical to our country. Full and accurate results are necessary to ensure that American communities get the resources and the funding they need to flourish. Unfortunately, the Republican National Committee continues to send out fundraising documents that strongly suggest they are official census mailers, threatening Americans' responsiveness to actual Census documents and potentially distorting Census results.

It is disturbing that the Republican National Committee is flouting a law passed by Congress unanimously, and signed by the President, as a direct result of the RNC's previous efforts to confuse people on this very issue. The RNC should stop trying to raise money in a way that could scare and confuse voters as well as disrupt the census process. Most immediately, they should stop using mailers that fly in the face of a law meant to stop just this sort of activity.