Oregon AG warns campaigns about robo calls

Font Size:  Default font size  Large font size 


Friday, May 16, 2008 | 1 comment(s)

PORTLAND (AP) — The campaigns for Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama have apologized for violating a new Oregon law that bans them from making automated phone calls to households on the federal no-call list.

The Oregon attorney general got a few complaints about unsolicited automated calls made from the Clinton campaign, said Stephanie Soden, spokeswoman for the attorney general’s office.

Isaac Baker, a Clinton campaign spokesman, said the campaign relies on automated calls to tell people about events and to urge them to vote. Campaign officials agreed to stop making the “robo” calls after the attorney general informed them about the law that took effect Jan. 1.

The law does allow candidates or campaign workers to make live, unsolicited calls, even to numbers on the no-call list. There’s also an exception allowing candidates or businesses to make automated calls to people with whom they’ve had previous relationships. For example, a credit-card company can call customers.

Violating Oregon’s law brings a maximum penalty of $5,000 per call. The calls could also backfire by angering voters.

Anne Stacey of Portland said she got a recorded call from Chelsea Clinton despite adding her number to the federal no-call list more than a year ago.

“It was in the evening, probably 7:30 to 8:30,” Stacey told The Oregonian newspaper. “I was just really upset.”

Though it was calls from the Clinton campaign that generated complaints, the Obama campaign acknowledged it had also made such calls.

“If someone who should not have been contacted received a call, then we deeply regret it and do apologize,” said Nick Shapiro, spokesman for Obama’s Oregon campaign.

“We will make every effort to ensure that it does not happen again.”
Previous Email this story to yourself or a friend Print this story Next

Have you checked out The World Link Forums?

Comments

The comments above are from users of theworldlink.com and do not necessarily represent the views of The World or Lee Enterprises. Participation Guidelines

Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Comment Policy

The World welcomes your comments about stories, and we encourage a robust dialogue on this site. All comments must meet reasonable standards of decency and civility.

Please follow these basic rules:

  • No defamatory comments about individuals or businesses.
  • No deliberately false information.
  • No obscenity or racially offensive language.
  • No harassment, verbal abuse, threats or personal attacks.
  • No information that invades another person's privacy.
  • No business solicitations or charitable solicitations.
Comments that violate these standards will not be posted. Users with repeated violations may be banned from future posting.

Comments will be approved throughout the day during business hours. After hours and weekend comments may not appear until the following business day. It may take a couple of hours before comments are approved.

The World generally does not edit comments, but we reserve the right to edit any comment that does not meet our standards.

Close Guidelines

Joe Sixpack wrote on May 16, 2008 11:17 PM:

A good chance to make money for cash starved state!

(optional)
   

Advanced Search
Web Search powered by YAHOO! SEARCH

Blogroll

Editors Note | Blog The World Forums

Most Popular


» View Past Poll Results
» Suggest a Poll

Marketplace



Special Sections

More Special Sections
Click here for your local weather!