# I'm pitting whoever is behind the phone calls attempting to suppress the Dem vote in Wisconsin. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 5, 2012, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pitting-whoever-is-behind-the-phone-calls-attempting-to-suppress-the-dem-vote-in-wisconsin/624160 "2012-06-05T15:18:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pitting-whoever-is-behind-the-phone-calls-attempting-to-suppress-the-dem-vote-in-wisconsin/624160/61 "2012-06-05T17:42:53Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > If the situation were reversed, and the robocalls were directed at Republican voters with the same message, this would be the general response from the Dope: > > “Whatever, I don’t really see the big deal. If those stupid fucker Republitards can’t figure out that it’s not true, then they don’t deserve to vote anyway.” Anyone who believes this is incredibly stupid. I agree with **LonesomePolecat** inasmuch as robocalls of any type should be banned and anyone using them should be deported. (maybe LPC didn’t go\* that\* far…) I am a centrist democrat. This practice, if true, is despicable. But I have to ask…has there been any news source that has a report of this that doesn’t come from the campaign? Because the link in OP doesn’t say ‘it happened’. It says ‘they say they are being told it happened’. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pitting-whoever-is-behind-the-phone-calls-attempting-to-suppress-the-dem-vote-in-wisconsin/624160/62 "2012-06-05T17:46:39Z")
How else could you do it? Is there likely to be an opportunity for an unbiased observer to witness such a thing first hand? ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pitting-whoever-is-behind-the-phone-calls-attempting-to-suppress-the-dem-vote-in-wisconsin/624160/63 "2012-06-05T17:47:05Z")
**Typo Negative** , you seem to be conflating robocalls in general, which admittedly can be annoying, with intentionally misleading calls (not even necessarily automated) that are intended to suppress turnout. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pitting-whoever-is-behind-the-phone-calls-attempting-to-suppress-the-dem-vote-in-wisconsin/624160/64 "2012-06-05T17:53:11Z")
Its a no-lose proposition. Even if they get busted for it, they lawyer up, pay a fine, and life goes on. The damage will have been done. Even if you could, by some magic, conclusively prove that the election was swayed by such efforts, all you will get for it is “Well, darn shame about that, but the people have spoken, we win, you lose, neener neener.” ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pitting-whoever-is-behind-the-phone-calls-attempting-to-suppress-the-dem-vote-in-wisconsin/624160/65 "2012-06-05T18:20:49Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Its a no-lose proposition. Even if they get busted for it, they lawyer up, pay a fine, and life goes on. The damage will have been done. Even if you could, by some magic, conclusively prove that the election was swayed by such efforts, all you will get for it is “Well, darn shame about that, but the people have spoken, we win, you lose, neener neener.” And realistically, the chance of getting caught approaches zero, as long as they covered their trail enough. There is little appetite for going after these fraudsters. Also, another great technique is to place these kind of robocalls, cover your tracks, and then blame your opponent for trying to smear you. Win win win. We can see the “blame the other guy” technique being used on these very boards. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pitting-whoever-is-behind-the-phone-calls-attempting-to-suppress-the-dem-vote-in-wisconsin/624160/66 "2012-06-05T18:21:01Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Which means that Walker’s team, or someone supporting him, could have decided that despite their massive lead in polls and virtual certainty of winning, they should do this as well, just to seal the deal. > > Or Barrett’s team, or someone supporting him, could have decided that they were destined to lose, and at least this tactic would give them a excuse to counter the inevitable “Unions lost!” theme that a Walker victory would produce. > > Right? This is fucking rich after several posters went wild on **mister nyx** for trying to ask the same question towards an apparantly pro-recall mailing. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pitting-whoever-is-behind-the-phone-calls-attempting-to-suppress-the-dem-vote-in-wisconsin/624160/67 "2012-06-05T18:28:57Z")
Okay. Some people on here asked for a phone number for these calls. My post #60 gives a number and links it to Walker and the Republican Party. You asked for it. There it is. You skeptics all seem to be ignoring it. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pitting-whoever-is-behind-the-phone-calls-attempting-to-suppress-the-dem-vote-in-wisconsin/624160/68 "2012-06-05T18:30:22Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Its a no-lose proposition. No, it’s a very lose proposition. Think about it. Telling people that they don’t need to do something is going to have the exact opposite outcome. Don’t think of a pink elephant. See my point? ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pitting-whoever-is-behind-the-phone-calls-attempting-to-suppress-the-dem-vote-in-wisconsin/624160/69 "2012-06-05T18:31:36Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > **Typo Negative** , you seem to be conflating robocalls in general, which admittedly can be annoying, with intentionally misleading calls (not even necessarily automated) that are intended to suppress turnout. Actually, I am not. But I will ask again…Is there anything about this in any news source that doesn’t come directly from the Barrett campaign? [sub]Please do not take this question to mean that I believe this is ever an acceptable practice. I do not.\* Anyone\* involved in it, IMHO, should do _hard_ time. [/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pitting-whoever-is-behind-the-phone-calls-attempting-to-suppress-the-dem-vote-in-wisconsin/624160/70 "2012-06-05T18:31:41Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Okay. Some people on here asked for a phone number for these calls. My post #60 gives a number and links it to Walker and the Republican Party. No, it doesn’t. Not for these calls, as you yourself admitted, in that same post #60. Apart from the fact that in the same links people say that the calls from the number were from Kathleen Falk. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pitting-whoever-is-behind-the-phone-calls-attempting-to-suppress-the-dem-vote-in-wisconsin/624160/71 "2012-06-05T18:32:07Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > No, it’s a very lose proposition. Think about it. Telling people that they don’t need to do something is going to have the exact opposite outcome. Don’t think of a pink elephant. > > See my point? No. Is it behind the elephant? ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pitting-whoever-is-behind-the-phone-calls-attempting-to-suppress-the-dem-vote-in-wisconsin/624160/72 "2012-06-05T18:34:18Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Okay. Some people on here asked for a phone number for these calls. My post #60 gives a number and links it to Walker and the Republican Party. > > You asked for it. There it is. You skeptics all seem to be ignoring it. C’mon man. Facts is hard. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink. He’s already full of KoolAid. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pitting-whoever-is-behind-the-phone-calls-attempting-to-suppress-the-dem-vote-in-wisconsin/624160/73 "2012-06-05T18:34:20Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Actually, I am not. > > But I will ask again…Is there anything about this in any news source that doesn’t come directly from the Barrett campaign? > > [sub]Please do not take this question to mean that I believe this is ever an acceptable practice. I do not.\* Anyone\* involved in it, IMHO, should do _hard_ time. [/sub] It’s not a news source, but see my post #60. Also, and this is admittedly anecdotal, MSNBC is reporting it on air. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pitting-whoever-is-behind-the-phone-calls-attempting-to-suppress-the-dem-vote-in-wisconsin/624160/74 "2012-06-05T18:39:46Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Also, another great technique is to place these kind of robocalls, cover your tracks, and then blame your opponent for trying to smear you. Win win win. We can see the “blame the other guy” technique being used on these very boards. On these very boards? How about in this very thread? ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pitting-whoever-is-behind-the-phone-calls-attempting-to-suppress-the-dem-vote-in-wisconsin/624160/75 "2012-06-05T18:39:47Z")
I know you’re joking **turnip** , but I think my point still holds. The tactic of telling people that they don’t need to vote is counter productive regardless of the message. The only possible outcome is bringing out the vote of the opposition. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pitting-whoever-is-behind-the-phone-calls-attempting-to-suppress-the-dem-vote-in-wisconsin/624160/76 "2012-06-05T18:39:50Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > No, it’s a very lose proposition. Think about it. Telling people that they don’t need to do something is going to have the exact opposite outcome. Don’t think of a pink elephant. > > See my point? I’m afraid that as much as you’d like to think that’s how it works, sadly it does not. Voter suppression is a tried and true technique, and it works. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pitting-whoever-is-behind-the-phone-calls-attempting-to-suppress-the-dem-vote-in-wisconsin/624160/77 "2012-06-05T18:42:02Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > No, it’s a very lose proposition. Think about it. Telling people that they don’t need to do something is going to have the exact opposite outcome. Don’t think of a pink elephant. > > See my point? If blatant bullshit didn’t work, people wouldn’t bother sending spam email. In other words, even if only 2% of the targets fall for the bullshit, that may well be enough to justify the effort. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pitting-whoever-is-behind-the-phone-calls-attempting-to-suppress-the-dem-vote-in-wisconsin/624160/78 "2012-06-05T18:42:56Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > I know you’re joking **turnip** , but I think my point still holds. The tactic of telling people that they don’t need to vote is counter productive regardless of the message. The only possible outcome is bringing out the vote of the opposition. Wow, that’s some spin. I think it’s making me dizzy. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pitting-whoever-is-behind-the-phone-calls-attempting-to-suppress-the-dem-vote-in-wisconsin/624160/79 "2012-06-05T18:45:28Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Wow, that’s some spin. I think it’s making me dizzy. What spin? I have had one singular point. One! And the point is that if you tell somebody not to do something, they are probably going to do it. How is that fucking “spin”? ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pitting-whoever-is-behind-the-phone-calls-attempting-to-suppress-the-dem-vote-in-wisconsin/624160/80 "2012-06-05T18:55:58Z")
So if I tell you that it’s not necessary to vote and you believe me, that will make you more likely to vote? Keep in mind that we’re discussing people who signed a petition, so they’re already politically engaged and don’t need a reminder, positive or negative, to get them out to the polls. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pitting-whoever-is-behind-the-phone-calls-attempting-to-suppress-the-dem-vote-in-wisconsin/624160.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pitting-whoever-is-behind-the-phone-calls-attempting-to-suppress-the-dem-vote-in-wisconsin/624160.md?page=5)