Has anybody heard that the RNC has disquised a political survey as official US Census?

[icymist]

I'm currently working as an enumerator for the US Census in Washington State and yesterday while canvassing a neighborhood I heard stories that the RNC had already been to that neighborhood, saying that they were working for the official US Census and handed people very pointed, political questions. Now I'm having trouble getting people to answer the real census or even answer the door. So far this is all hear-say as I don't have physical proof of this. I'm going to bring this issue up with my crew leader this afternoon. Has anybody heard of the RNC doing this by either a mail survey or by canvassing a neighborhood?

[DURHAM D]

1. no - we have all been living in a cave

[icymist]

4. This is no joke. I need to know of other actions of this manner.

I intend to bring it up in an official manner.

[DURHAM D]

8. Don't bring it up. You will appear late to the party.

Everyone already knows about this.

I am surprised you were not provided talking points to overcome the misinformation. Someone didn't do their job.

[icymist]

11. What do you mean 'don't bring it up'?! This is tampering with offical federal business!

You had better believe that I will bring this up that the people in this neighborhood had been tampered with by a political party impersonating an offical government function.

[DURHAM D]

14. The height of indignation about this peaked a couple of months ago.

What I meant was - don't bring it up as if you have just "discovered" something. They already know about it and you will look like you are way behind the learning curve. Bring it up as a problem you are encountering. Like I said, they should have already trained you to deal with the issue because they certainly knew full well the RNC had done/was doing this.

If you want to be mad at someone be made at the people who trained you. Putting you out to canvas without properly training you is beyond disrespectful.

[icymist]

18. The RNC mailing to this neighborhood went out just last month, right after our classes,

according to some of the people I talked to. It is now being addressed in such that a special team that may have to canvass that neighborhood and educate the people there about what happened.

[Wednesdays]

17. Everyone? FWIW, this is the first time I heard about it.

:shrug:

[arcane1]

2. Even worse: it was a plea for money n/t

[Bitwit1234]

3. This happened about a month or so ago.

[babylonsister]

5. Yes, I've heard/read both scenarios...links here...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35067802
GOP fundraising letter looks like census form

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=3&ved=0CCQQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indianasnewscenter.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2F94666369.html&rct=j&q=fake+census+worker&ei=Rmb9S6SACcL78Aac3ai8Cw&usg=AFQjCNGgpQmFj1hrr5QADRqxuwrPRTgX3w&sig2=sqOU2C6WPoZEt-zl9PhAWg

Fake Census Worker Reported In Warsaw

http://www.propublica.org/article/republicans-send-out-a-census-form-thats-really-a-fundraiser-210
Republicans Send Out a ‘Census’ Form—That’s Really a Fundraiser

[icymist]

12. Thank you for the links, I'll be bringing them to the meeting today.

Do you know if this is nationwide or are they zeroing in on certain states or areas?

[babylonsister]

16. The rethugs got told to cut it out-the House stepped in:

The Stakeholder
Campaign 2010


Breaking News: House Bans GOP FAKE Census Surveys

http://dccc.org/blog/archives/breaking_news_house_bans_gop_fake_census_surveys

[EFerrari]

6. Thom Hartmann was all over this when it was happening. n/t

[icymist]

9. I've been working my but off for this community project.

I haven't had the time to do much else since we started last month. Thank you for telling me.

[EFerrari]

10. I don't know how searchable his site is

because they just redid it. But, yeah, he described the actual document and talked about it several times.

[elleng]

7. Sounds SERIOUS to me, especially if people won't answer.

Haven't heard of such. Good luck to us all.

[rainbow4321]

13. i refused to sign a petition at the train station

Some guy was walking around my downtown train station with a clipboard and asked if I wouln his "petition" about universal health care...I didn't even look at his stuff, I just told him no. I had read about the repukes trick of fake petitions and while this guy may have been legit,I really didn't want to chance it. Not really wanting to give out all my private info to a random anyone wandering around with a clipboard, anyway.

[kirby]

15. Old news...

Did you consider using google?

I just googled 'rnc census mailing' and the first link says:

RNC 'census' mailer draws fire - Ben Smith - POLITICO.com
Jan 25, 2010 ... “The mailing appears to be designed to resemble official census ... Patrick McHenry, has also raised concerns about the RNC mailing, ...

And here is a recent link:

Despite Legislation, Misleading RNC ‘Census’ Mailers Continue
by Ryan Knutson, ProPublica - May 17, 2010 8:59 am EDT
http://www.propublica.org/article/despite-legislation-misleading-rnc-census-mailers-continue