From a press release by Ms. Dominique Jones Albuquerque, NM:
"2010 Congressional District Census" is an Unethical GOP Survey Mailed to Voters Throughout the U.S.
The Republican Party sent a political survey to voters across the nation titled "2010 Congressional District Census" that people could easily assume is from the U.S. Census Bureau. This is a political survey, not a government document. Voters may think they have to answer because the document looks official. Although Republicans have likely looked into the legality of this, it is clearly unethical to impersonate the 2010 census document when distributing a political survey. This is akin to impersonating a Census Taker.
Thanks to Dominique Jones of Citizen Strategy Think Tank for two informative posts exposing an unethical and possibly illegal scam by Republicans. The first begins:
"Today, a friend received something from the Republican party in the mail entitled '2010 Congressional District Census.' The Republican party is sending them to a sample of the population--all parties."
The most incriminating line from the "census" is at the end, where they ask for donations, and then there's an option:
"I cannot send a donation at this level right now, but I am enclosing $15 to help defray the cost of processing my Census Document. Please make your checks payable to the Republican National Committee."
The clear implication is that the recipient must send $15 dollars whether or not they wish to make a donation. This is where the scam may have crossed the line between unethical deception and illegal fraud.
Following is her original post followed by a press release Dominique is circulating to bring this deception to the attention of the public as well as the proper autorities:
From: Dominique Jones
To: Citizen Strategy Think Tank
Sent: Wed, January 13, 2010 10:05:29 PM
Subject: Republican Survey in New Mexico
Today, a friend received something from the Republican party in the mail entitled "2010 Congressional District Census." The Republican party is sending them to a sample of the population--all parties.
It's shameful and despicable that they are using the census year and making a survey that looks official and invokes the word "census." I should not be surprised, but below are some of the questions, which are worded to be used to make statements of fact that can be used to their advantage no matter how they are answered. More fuzzy math... Of course the questions are multiple choice. They make the choices.
Also, if people return these surveys, don't they make a great target to be taken off the voter rolls for election day if at all possible--if they answer the "wrong" way to these questions? Does your name match anyone who's ever been arrested...?
I don't know what the New Mexico Republicans will be doing with the responses they gather, but I imagine it will be used to predict, coerce, and exclude people in a systematic and unethical fashion. Surprise, surprise.
Even if Democrats & Independents they send this to answer in support of themselves and against the republican ideas--with the way they word their language, I can already hear the republican ads... Democrats don't believe the record trillion dollar federal deficit they are creating with their out-of-control spending is going to have disasterous consequences for our nation. Are Democrats crazy? Do you want them spending even more of the pittance the corporations provide you for your 60 hour work week...? (OK, maybe I added some sarcasm of my own in that last line... This in response to question 3.5 noted below.)
So they will use the responses for political gain no matter how folks answer. Is this happening more widely than in NM?
A few of the Questions:
1.8. How much does it concern you that the Democrats have total control of the federal government? Very much/Not Too Much (for which they could still say Americans are concerned if folks chose this answer)/Not a concern/No Opinion (for which they could spin this to say only those who answered not a concern are not concerned).
2.1. Do you think things in this country are generally going in the wrong direction, or do you feel things are starting to improve? Wrong direction / Starting to improve / Unsure
2.2. Please indicate the top 3 issues that you believe are most important to people in your area: Jobs/Economy, Government Expansion, Taxes, Health Care, Medicare/Medicaid, Federal Spending, State Spending, Social Security, Foreign Policy, National Security, Immigration, Energy, Environment, Education, Protecting Traditional Values, Other____
2.3. Which political party fo you feel is best able to handle each of the following? List with Republican, Democrat, and No Opinion check boxes... War in Iraq/Afghanistan, War on Terror, Economy, Taxes, Health Care, Federal Spending, Social Security, Foreign Policy, Environment, Immigration, Energy, Education, Protecting Traditional Values
2.4. How do you rate the Obama Administration thus far when it comes to dealing with America's major problems? Approve/Disapprove/No Opinion
2.5. How do you rate the Democratic-controlled Congress? Approve/Disapprove/No Opinion
3.4. Do you believe the huge, costly Democratic-passed stimulus bill has been effective in creating jobs or stimulating America's economy? Yes/No/No Opinion
3.5. Do you think the record trillin dollar federal deficit the Democrats are creating with their out-of-control spending is going to have disaterous consequences for our nation? Yes/No/No Opinion
3.6. Would you like Congress to pass tax cuts to further stimulate our nation's economy?
3.7. Do you worry that the Obama Administration is committed to greatly expanding the government's role in your life?
3.8. Are you concerned with our current levels of government spending?
4.3. Do you trust the Democrats to take all steps necessary to keep our nation secure in this age where terrorists could strike our country at any moment?
There are more, but this was some of them. Plus, at the end, they ask for donations, and then there's an option: I cannot send a donation at this level right now, but I am enclosing $15 to help defray the cost of processing my Census Document. Please make your checks payable to the Republican National Committee.
They are gearing up to use their stupid stupid crappy language to create fear and chaos and gain influence. Not one of those questions was about how the republican party can help people or improve our democracy.
This sure is helping me to confirm how insidious they are and how they know exactly how destructive they are going to be (endlessly) to everyone but their own elite. Oh yeah, let's all spend our precious lives striving to be one of the Republican Elite.
I have to admit it is invoking the reversal of my digestion.
In Albuquerque, a republican mayor was elected a few months ago, and I can't believe it because Martin Chavez, our soon-to-be-ex-mayor, did a great job revitalizing businesses here and getting our city greener (we were #14, I think, on the list of green cities last year). I'm afraid this result will happen more widely.
Yours in skewed statistics,
Dominique Jones
For Immediate Release
"2010 Congressional District Census" is an Unethical GOP Survey Mailed to Voters Throughout the U.S.
The Republican Party sent a political survey to voters across the nation titled "2010 Congressional District Census" that people could easily assume is from the U.S. Census Bureau. This is a political survey, not a government document. Voters may think they have to answer because the document looks official. Although Republicans have likely looked into the legality of this, it is clearly unethical to impersonate the 2010 census document when distributing a political survey. This is akin to impersonating a Census Taker.
Albuquerque, NM. January 14, 2010. Voters across the nation are warned that the Republican party mailed an official-looking survey titled "2010 Congressional District Census" that may be easily confused with an official U.S. Census document. Within it, they ask a series of survey questions designed to be used to gain political power. No matter how respondents answer, the language has been designed to be of benefit to the Republican party, so the survey itself is skewed for political use, and is not an ethical information gathering tool. They also request contributions of $15 or more, both political and to "help defray the cost of processing my Census document."
The fake Census survey has been reportedly received in various versions from November, 2009 to the present. It is likely the Republican party, or GOP, has confirmed the legality of distributing this survey, but it is clearly unethical to invoke the Census in an official U.S. Census year. It's similar to impersonating a Census Taker.
U.S. Citizens are required by law to answer official Census surveys, and these surveys are important to our communities. This GOP survey has been designed to confuse recipients and urge them to respond as they would respond to an official U.S. Census Bureau letter. Several recipients of this letter in New Hampshire, New Mexico, and Florida are worried that many people will be confused and return it even though they would ordinarily not feed the Republican party information and money if they did not feel their answers were required by law.
Chuck Larntz, of Albuquerque, New Mexico said, "I am worried about senior citizens primarily. They may answer the questions and write a check thinking they have to. Republicans will then use their answers and money to make ads that present a false set of facts about what seniors believe, since no matter what they say on the survey, it can be spun by the Republican ad-makers to either claim false support for the GOP agenda or to spread fear. It's shameful the GOP feel they need to stoop this low and create false statistics to support their politics."
For example, one of the questions included is: "Do you think the record trillion dollar federal deficit the Democrats are creating with their out-of-control spending is going to have disastrous consequences for our nation?" Respondents can choose from answering yes, no, and unsure. If a respondent answers yes or unsure, the Republicans can count that as a statistic in their favor, stating that the respondent supports them. Even if a respondent answers no, the future GOP campaign ads will then appear as something akin to: "Democrats do not believe the record federal deficit they created with their out-of-control spending is going to have disastrous consequences for us. Are they crazy? Vote Republican!"
Many people may answer no or unsure simply because the question is faulty. Democrats did not create the federal deficit. Out-of-control spending is not easily defined. Many people are worried about their survival as the result of corporate corruption over the past several decades. The majority of people want the government to be responsible, as well as the campaigns of our major political parties.
Recipients are urged to ignore the survey or to report it to their local census office. If there are any questions about mail that is received that uses the word "Census" in the title, such as this GOP survey, please contact the U.S. Census Bureau to confirm the authenticity of the document at www.census.gov or at 1-800-923-8282. The U.S. Census Bureau has 12 regional offices throughout the U.S. In addition to local offices in most cities. The U.S. Department of Commerce conducts surveys in addition to the official 2010 Census.
About Dominique Jones:
Dominique Jones is an independent poet and writer in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Contact :
Ms. Dominique Jones
13170-B Central SE #191
Albuquerque, NM 87123
(505) 280-9667
(505) 254-3873 Fax
domi@swcp.com