January 03, 2008
Locally Known Pollster A Big Part of National Story

A client for Moore Information, a well-known GOP pollster in the Pacific Northwest, appears to be the source for anti-Mormon telephone calls under investigation in New Hampshire. Based on available coverage, including here and here, it seems the NH AG's office needs help figuring out who Moore's actual client is that paid for the "survey" since the Oregon court involved in the matter is waiting until January 16th to hold a hearing on relevant legal issues.

UPDATE: in response to a query in the comments, here's a link to some of the first coverage on the anti-Mormon calls in question, which were conducted in Iowa and New Hampshire. The link provides coverage as well as another link to an AP story as well. It is illegal to do such calls in New Hampshire without identifying the source. Romney's campaign, as well as McCain's for that matter, asked the NH AG to investigate accordingly.

Posted by Eric Earling at January 03, 2008 09:16 PM | Email This
Comments
1. I guess that might be a hint as to just what the country club Republicans think of their unpaid foot soldiers, the "religious right".

Or maybe I just have a vivid imagination...

Posted by: Independent Voter on January 3, 2008 09:28 PM
2. Who really gives a damm. MOrmons suck

Posted by: JL on January 3, 2008 10:01 PM
3. Whoever you are Poater #2, your statement is unbelievable. First, you have made a bigoted statement about a whole group. Second, just on political terms, Romney was governor of Mass and so far as I can determine, he was no weirder than Ted Kennedy or Barney Frank. Do you have any press reports that say he tried to push his religion down people's throats. He is a conservative and governed primarily that way, but I have not been able to determine that he governed on the basis of his religion. If you have research or news articles on that, please list as many of us are researching candidates. I don't support any candidate, but when I choose one it will be on the basis of issues.

Posted by: WVH on January 3, 2008 10:07 PM
4. Wasn't this the pollster that had Bush up something like 5 points, in Oregon, about a month before the 2004 election?

If that's what they're "well-known" for...

Posted by: Benjamin Johnstone-Anderson on January 3, 2008 10:31 PM
5. My Xmas wish was not received this year- trolls should give their same handle each time posting and not shotgunning their handles.

Rumors abound on the source of the cash. There are even rumors that Romney was behind the push-polling against himself.

And, Ed Rollins needs to retire.

Posted by: swatter on January 4, 2008 06:43 AM
6. Someone cries "push poll!" but neither of these stories even cite or report on what actually was said in the phone calls. How about some facts? How about some details on what was said in the call, not just the whining that seems to be going on? Wouldn't be surprised if the supposed "push poll" was just a simple "Would you vote for a candidate for President who was Mormon?" or some other legitimate poll question. I might even bet a bottle of Old Number 7 that I'm right. Did anyone stop to think, if someone/some campaign was going to do a hatchet job on a candidate, who would hire a real polling company to do attack phone calls? Why not do it in secret?

Posted by: Whiskey Dick on January 4, 2008 07:58 AM
7. And I forgot what's most irritating about this...if the people in New Hampshire don't want to have to put up with presidential politics, phone calls from pollsters, invasion of media hordes, etc., then stop breaking your neck trying to be first in the nation.

Posted by: Whiskey Dick on January 4, 2008 08:01 AM
8. I agree I would like to hear more details on the questions about the different phone calls that are received.

However, in this case the Mormon question was well reported and it is a good thing you didn't bet the farm. The question was somewhat like- Did you know Romney was a Mormon? Did you know that Mormons believed in such and such? And the such and such was a commentary on one of the creeds of the religion that isn't shared by all religions. I won't indulge with the particulars.

Huckabee even played that game.

Lastly, the person who paid for the push-polling paid a company who did the actual hiring of the telemarketers.

Posted by: swatter on January 4, 2008 08:04 AM
9. That link only details calls in Iowa -- not in New Hampshire. and the AP story link is bad.

It still doesn't make sense that someone just has to cry "push poll!" and the big bad attorney general starts throwing around lawsuits.

Posted by: Whiskey Dick on January 4, 2008 08:29 AM
10. Whiskey Dick, denizen of the famous chukkar hunting canyon outside E'burg, I agree with you there.

Wasn't it the US Supreme Court that said politicians can lie in their politicking as a form of free speech? What is the AG doing in the middle of this?

Posted by: swatter on January 4, 2008 08:41 AM
11. swatter, I believe it was the Washington Supreme Court, not SCOTUS, so it has no relevence in NH. Also, the issue isn't so much the lie, it's identifying who it is that's speaking the lie.

Posted by: Mike H on January 4, 2008 09:14 AM
12. And so, the question is not one of what was true or not, but one of disclosure? Does a state have a right to obtain copies of private contracts (or details) between two parties? What if it is political, and if so, does that give the state right to pass such a law demanding it?

You know, a lot of McCain-Feingold has already been tossed out of court.

Posted by: swatter on January 4, 2008 09:34 AM
13. Yes mormons do suck. I dont want to be paying 10% extra of every paycheck to the church or the Federal Government. We all know thats what he will try and do.

As far as him being a conservative, thats laughable at best. I guess what he truly is, is a flip flopper which makes him conservative, liberal, republican, democrat, and everything else rolled into one. The Dems will have a heyday with him, just like we had with Kerry. I cant imagine a crappier candidate than Romney. If he's the nominee, I will vote for a Democrat for President for the first time ever

Posted by: Jl on January 4, 2008 10:42 AM
14. Well, Jl or whoever you are:

1. So, since you don't like Romney, you are willing to repeat again that a whole group of people of which he just happens to be a member, sucks. So, you hate children and the babies as well because they are Morman? Every individual in that group, sucks, right? Gee, that is the same logic used by Hitler against Jews, by Muslim groups in the genocide in Darfur, and Pol Pot. You certainly are in great company.

2. Bigots like you generally never post facts or articles just your hate filled opinions. Do you have any newspaper articles or reports that he did not "govern as a conservative?" Bigots like you always hide in the shadows.

3. So, do you have any facts about Romney's goverance or do you just base your opinions on hate? What are you going to do if Obama gets the dem nomination? Well, I suppose you can always write-in the name of your favorite KKK Grand Wizard or Aryan Nations leader.

4. This site is entering maturity. At some point the site gurus will have to consider some sort of registration with traceable e-mail addresses, like on the public blog.

Posted by: WVH on January 4, 2008 10:59 AM
15. Wow. Willard lost to Hickabee. That must be why.

Posted by: Willard's booster on January 4, 2008 11:30 AM
16. JL @ 13, so you'd be happy to see Hillary on the white house just so it thwarts Romney? How shallow can one be? Oh, you answered that.

Posted by: PC on January 4, 2008 12:02 PM
17. I see baptized dead people.

Posted by: Independent Voter on January 4, 2008 01:01 PM
18. I am not a mormon, but from what I see, they have high respect for the family unit, respect others and the environment, are very good with their finances, etc.

I have employed more than a few mormons of the years, and always find them to be decent people, hard workers, and I can't recall them every being any trouble.

Yes, their church does have an aggressive missionary campaign and I've been annoyed on a Saturday or two from the bicycle boys in their starched white shirts, but then I've also gotten a "pitch" from a lot of other organized religions and political organizations on the right and left. Big deal.

(The mormons seemed like they were the only ones that actually respected my wishes when I got around to posting a "no solicitors" sign on my gate.)

When it comes down to it, I think I'm more likely to vote for a candidate because they are mormon. I don't share their religion, but you have to respect them as people and members of the community. I can't believe how intolerant some people on right - and on the left - are about them.

Posted by: johnny on January 4, 2008 01:18 PM
19. I probably won't know who I am going to vote for until close to the election. When I make up my mind, it will be on the issues. I certainly would not vote against Romney solely because he happens to be Morman. I am looking at his stands and I will be watching him and the major candidates over the next several months. One thing though, I am very proud of this country because with the exception of a few vocal bigots, most people are willing to judge candidates on their stands on the issues. It is conceivable that in my life time there will be a woman or Black president. I expect that like Thatcher in Britain, they will probably be conservatives.

Posted by: WVH on January 4, 2008 01:34 PM
20. Independent Voter: Around here, we've been seeing voting dead people.

Posted by: katomar on January 4, 2008 01:49 PM
21. Oooh... I am the leader of the Aryan Nation. I support Obama. ooohhh! I've come out of my way to post on some stupid conservative hick blog...ooooh the horror!!! I am here to taunt you WVH with my wicked and evil ways....ooooohhh!! Come to the dark side WVH....come....we are calling you....ooooohhh!!

Ooooohhh my email is fake....ooooohhhh the horror....oooohhh the pain

BTW, it's Mormon, not Morman. Get it right next time.

Love,
I am the leader of the Aryan Nations

Posted by: I am the leader of the Aryan Nations on January 4, 2008 02:04 PM
22. I am not convinced that 21 is the leader of the Aryan Nations.

Posted by: brent on January 4, 2008 03:54 PM
23. Aryan Nations Dummie,

I don't want to be president. I do however want competition in education so that we can deliver a good basic education to all children. Hopefully, we will produce fewer hate-filled idiots like you. People like you will never vote for Obama simply because he is Black, like bigot Jl is against Romney simply because he is Morman. Bigots of a feather flock together. I suppose you, like the KKK hide behind a sheet because if your real identity were exposed people would be surprised at the fact you are well known, but not surprised that it is you.

So, this e-mail address is:

idiot@wvhforpresident

Posted by: WVH on January 4, 2008 04:05 PM
24. Swatter, I have hunted the Yakima Canyon for chukkar the past 32 years. Lately, the only thing that I bag by the end of the day, is sore legs. But a face to face encounter with a Big Horn Sheep every few years, makes it all worth while.

Posted by: Moondoggie on January 4, 2008 06:59 PM
25. Moondoggie

Just maybe, you don't know how to hunt?

Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on January 4, 2008 08:51 PM
26. Army Medic/Vet,

At my age (50), I'm lucky not to have a heart attack when a covey flushes. I have never hunted with a dog, but back in the late 70's, there were so many birds that it didn't matter. We could chase them around all day up and down the hills, and always have something to show for our efforts. But you are right, I'm more like Patrick McManus now, than Danial Boone

Posted by: Moondoggie on January 5, 2008 08:05 AM
27. And if Mitt Romney hadnt of nominated a liberal activist judge, maybe the Washington family a Massachusetts convict killed would still be alive today. At least Huckabee doesnt have THAT on his shoulders

Posted by: JL on January 6, 2008 05:33 AM
28. And to be honest, since Helens blew and ruined nesting areas and the noise from the oil rigs in 1980-81, I haven't really gone back there. However, it only took me one year after the big blow to wise up.

Posted by: swatter on January 7, 2008 06:29 AM
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