Has Your Member Of Congress Condemned McCain's Robocalls?

John McCain's nationwide robocalls, which charge that Barack Obama "worked closely with domestic terrorist William Ayers," continue to roil down-ticket races. Already, four Republican Senators have condemned the tactic and called on the McCain campaign to stop the calls.

But several McCain supporters in races across the country have yet to take a position. Below, we've posted the contact information for several Republican candidates and members of Congress who have yet to speak out on the matter, according to public accounts.

If a candidate in your state/district is listed below, give them a call and then report back. The question to ask is: Does [the candidate] believe that John McCain's robocalls about William Ayers are appropriate, yes or no?

Email [e-mail] with the response -- try to be as detailed as possible, including listing the name of the person you spoke to. We'll update the list below in real time with the latest responses.

SENATE

John Sununu (NH)
[phone]
[phone]

Gordon Smith (OR)

Status: Condemns

Story continues below

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Steve Pearce (NM challenger)
[phone]

Elizabeth Dole (NC)
704-633-0014

Status: Reportedly Condemns

They said Senator Dole does not approve of the calls. I asked if she was going to make a statement to that effect and was told they didn't know. When I pressed they said Senator McCain doesn't call Senator Dole for campaign advice, that the Senate is out of session and they won't be seeing each other for a while (of course they were together here last week) and that she is involved with her own campaign. Therefore her office says she doesn't support the calls but she hasn't made nor plans to make a statement. -- Joe

[Staffer] didn't give name... something like... "The McCain campaign is very negative, and we're trying to run our own campaign. We have no control over what they say in their campaign. We're trying to run a positive campaign. Do you want the number for the McCain campaign?" -- Clay

Previously: No Comment

"She's focused on her campaign; they've been getting a lot of calls regarding this issue; she has no comment."

Sen Dole's campaign office states: "She does not endorse nor does she 'not endorse' these calls." And that's a quote. -- Anne

Mitch McConnell (KY)
(502)-458-8400
[phone]

Status: No Position

Tried to call his DC number - no answer. Called the local number, stated my case. Guy on the other end of the line asked me on whose behalf I was calling. I said, "Me." He again asked. I told him (truthfully - as I am livid about this crap) me. He said I must be reading a script from SOMEBODY. I said no. He said, "Well, that's a coincidence because we are getting a lot of these calls." Duh. Maybe that is because a lot of people want to see this vile form of "campaigning" stopped? But since Mitch McConnell has been plastering our airways with the very same stuff, well, what do you expect. But I digress. He said that Senator McConnell is busy on the campaign trail and has not made a statement on this issue. He then reiterated that I must be calling on someone's behalf. I said I resented his implication, he said he resented the fact that I was a liar and hung up on me. - Pam

Bob Kelleher (MT challenger)
406-565-5711

Saxby Chambliss (GA)
678 589-4888
202-224-3521
912-232-3657

Status: Reportedly Supports

I called the office of Saxby Chambliss from Atlanta, GA. ... [A staffer] told me that he had been receiving numerous calls asking the same question and wanted to know what did the robocalls stated. I said that the robocalls tried to tie Senator Barack Obama with terrorists. He told me that Saxby Chambliss will not denounce the calls because they are true and factual. He continued to say that Barack Obama is tied to terrorists. -- Lila

GOVERNOR

Pat McCrory (NC challenger)
[phone]

Status: Reportedly Would Condemn

Called the office and spoke to his sister who works in the campaign office. She said she hadn't seen the spots and wasn't aware of them. She put me on hold and came back and told me the Governor hadn't seen the spots and didn't know about them, however, if they are negative he wouldn't support them, as he doesn't support negative campaigning. I asked if he was going to make a statement to that effect and was told he was busy traveling and they didn't know. When I expressed my doubt that they hadn't seen or were unaware of the spots, they stuck to their story. -- Joe

Dino Rossi (WA)
[phone]

Joe Kenney (NH challenger)
603-670-8470

HOUSE

Sam Graves (MO-06)
[phone]
[phone]
816-233-9818

Status: Won't Say

Britney said she wasn't sure and thought they weren't happening. I told her they were happening in swing states across the country including here in Missouri. She asked me to wait a moment while she asked a senior campaign aide. She came back soon and reported that Sam Graves "won't say either way" if he condemns the robocalls or not. Britney further said they are trying to run their campaign on the issues and are not aware of the robocalls happening and are not concerning themselves with them. I told her several prominent GOP leaders have come out publically condemning this action and encouraged her to persuade Sam Graves to do the same thing. We continued to talk a little more and then I thanked her and hung up. -- Lisa

Dean Heller (NV-02)
775-686-5760
702-255-1651
202-225-6155

Status: No Comment

"We're getting lots of calls; no comment right now; focused on campaign."

Jon Porter (NV-03)
202-225-3252
702-387-4941

Status: No Comment

"No comment; focused on our campaign."

I asked ... "Does John Porter think the Republican-sponsored robocalls trying to link Obama with Ayers are appropriate?"

[A staffer] became nervous and said "John Porter has nothing to do with those calls, he does not take a position on them one way or another. He does not want to get involved in that discussion. Please direct your questions to the McCain office, not ours." -- Carol

Steve Chabot (OH-01)
[phone]
[phone]
[phone]

Status: No Comment

Chabot's congressional office sent me to his campaign office & someone by the name of Katie, who laughed at the question, called back & said "that's a national election so he is not taking a position." -- Ann

Chris Shays (CT-04)
203-853-7429
[phone]
202-225-5541

Status: Reportedly Condemns

I ... called and got transferred to someone who "could help me", Rob. Rob made the following comments:
* Chris Shay's has not made a statement on robo-calls because they are not happening in CT
* Chris Shay's does not approve robo-calls, would never do them
* Chris Shay's would never run a negative campaign, like McCain is running.
* If Chris Shay's were to make a statement he would be against it, he feels the campaign McCain is running is not a positive campaign, and is disappointed.
* Rob said he is disappointed in the campaign McCain is running (not sure if the is Chris Shay's position as well).
* Rob is going to vote for Obama
-- Joe

Phil English (PA-03)
202-225-5406
[phone]

Status: No Position

I was told that Phil English did not have a position and that he was unaware of the situation. I responded "he must live in a cave if he is unaware", then the young lady that answered the phone said, "well he doesn't have a position." -- Rose

Thelma Drake (VA-02)
757-497-2222
[phone]
[phone]

Status: Unaware Of Calls

Thank you for emailing the campaign office of Thelma Drake for Congress. However, we are not aware or familiar with any such phone calls. Therefore, we are unable to comment. -- Rosetta

Kirk Schuring (challenger OH-16)
330.455.9199

Keith Fimian (challenger VA-11)
[phone]

Steve Stivers (challenger OH-15)
614-358-0800

Status: Staffer Denies Knowledge Of Robocalls

I called and asked to speak to Steve Stivers concerning the robocalls. I asked if they are in support of them. They did not have an answer one way or the other. ... I was then transferred to Rob Nichols. He told me he was not aware of the robocalls. They have been focusing on their own campaign. -- Kaci

Lee Terry (NE-02)
[phone]
[phone]
[phone]

Robin Hayes (NC-08)
[phone]
[phone]

Status: Staffer Denies Knowledge Of Calls

Placed a call to his office and asked the question. The person who answered the phone first denied knowledge of the spots and then started to tell me how the Obama campaign was doing the same thing. I cut him off and asked for a yes or no answer. He asked for my phone number which I provided and he said he would call back. He said Hayes does not spend time with the candidates but when I told him Hayes was with the candidates just last weekend he was stumped. If you recall Hayes was the NC rep that put his foot in his mouth, denied it and then the tape emerged. -- Joe

Marilyn Musgrave (CO-04)
[phone]
[phone]

Status: No Position, Concentrating On Campaign

I called the number provided in this article and got her office where I was referred to her campaign headquarters at 970 330-5378. I spoke with someone there named Kyle who said he didn't know if Ms. Musgrave had ever heard about or listened to the call and asked me what it were about. I explained to him the nature of the Robocall and told him that he or Ms. Musgrave could listen to it any time on YouTube. I further explained that his and Ms. Musgrave's lack of awareness on this issue was an indication that they are uninformed about issues related to the national Republican party, a state of affairs that also has a bearing on deciding my vote. He said they were concentrating on Musgrave's campaign, not on McCain's and wanted to give me John McCain's headquarter number. I had to reiterate several times that where Ms. Musgrave STANDS on this issue and not McCain's decision to run the call is of concern to me. He said he would get back to me and asked for my contact information. I gave him my first name and phone number and declined to give him my last name. He questioned my refusal to give him my last name and I said I wouldn't give it to him because he didn't need it to call me back. I'm still waiting for a call back from Kyle. -- ND

Tom Feeney (FL-24)
[phone]
[phone]
[phone]

Status: Staffer Denies Knowledge Of Calls

I contacted Tom Feeney (FL-24) campaign office ... the woman I talked to insisted she had not heard of the robocalls. She asked what I thought of the robocalls ran by Feeny, I said I hadn't received one yet, and she said well the same way you can't comment on them, we can't comment on McCain's: "exactly." -- Robert

Jeb Bradley (challenger NH-01)
[phone]

Jennifer Horn (challenger NH-02)
603-212-9888

Steve Austria (challenger OH-07)
[phone]

Charlie Dent (PA-15)
202-222-5118
610.758.9080
610-861-9734

Jean Schmidt (OH-02)
[phone]
[phone]

Status: Reportedly Supports Idea

On the call [a staffer] did state 'all of us would like to hear what is the full extent of the relationship ... ya' know full disclosure ... it goes to his credibility." I repeated the question then asking what her position was specifically on the robocalls. He said she had not heard the call, so I've sent him a link via email. -- Ann

Mark Souder (IN-03)
[phone]
[phone]

Lincoln Diaz-Balart (FL-21)
202 225 4211
305-827-3400
954-443-5022
[phone]

Virgil Goode (VA-05)
[phone]
[phone]

Joe Knollenberg (MI-09)
[phone]
[phone]
248-723-1477

Status: Staffer Guesses He's Against Them

The first contact I made was with "Lindsay" at [phone] at approximately 3:23pm (est) today. She said she had not spoken to Mr. Knollenberg about his position but "my guess is he would not be in favor of them. In a previous debate he indicated he did not like the use of robocalls and he has had them used against him and he didn't like it. However, like I said I haven't spoken to him directly but that is my guess." -- Sandra

Brian Davis (MN-01 challenger)
507.424.2010

John Kline (MN-02)
202-225-227

Eric Paulsen (MN-03 challenger)
[phone]

Ric Keller (FL-08)
[phone]

Tom Rooney (FL-16 challenger)
772-463-4733

Mario-Diaz Balart (FL-25)
305-225-6866

Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-09)
573-751-2077

Melissa Hart (PA-04 challenger)
724-779-4750

Lou Barletta (PA-11 challenger)
570-454-0635

Ed Tinsley (NV-02 challenger)
575.257.2040

Tom Latham (IA-04)
202-225-5476
515.232.1000

Denny Rehberg (MT at large)
202-225-3211
[phone]

Status: Staffer Denies Knowledge Of Calls

I spoke with his campaign manager, Eric. I asked him if Rehberg felt that McCain's robocalls about William Ayers were appropriate. Eric said he didn't know and he hadn't heard about the robocalls.

-Ruth

Comments

[greatblue]

An Ode to Thelma Drake.

http://vagreatblueheron.wordpress.com/2008/11/02/an-ode-to-thelma-drake/

[honestpolitician]

Happy to see that this type of campaign behavior is not accepted by most of the American voters. I've already recieved one of these calls and have made my complaint.­.. please do the same if you receive one of these calls..tha­nks =)

POLITICAL TV AD ATTACKS!! http://politicaladattacks.blogspot.com/

[independent32955]

The republicans are going to look back at this election cycle and realize one salient point...th­at their negative campaigning style is OUT...

they're actually going to have to go back and figure out what they stand for (if anything) and rebuild their party from the ground up.

frankly, i say good riddance to bad rubbish...­the GOP hurt this nation in unimaginable ways all for the sake of power and control. now they will have neither and rightly so.

[zetacplus]

I agree 100% They are like any other product that has lost its usefulness. They are lost because they only know negative campaigning and have used it for so long they dont' know anything else. The entire republican party is imploding and i say the same thing: good riddance

Republicans do not support Americans, they support corporations and over the past 8 years that has cost us dearly.

[packerfans]

I received a harmless, but irritating, robocall yesterday in MI. The voice only said,
"For McCain, select 1. For Obama, select 2." So, I pressed 2, and it said, "I'm
sorry. Two is not a valid option." And then kept repeating the same message,
over and over.

[NU81]

Even McCain's own party is distancing themself from him now. Is it any wonder?

************
Quoted above, in part: "If a candidate in your state/district is listed below, give them a call and then report back. The question to ask is: Does [the candidate] believe that John McCain's robocalls about William Ayers are appropriate, yes or no?"

None of these candidates are in my state, but I strongly encourage HuffPo readers to get involved by calling if your state/district is listed above. We have to ensure this type of evil is not part of our presidential campaigns and national history!

Thanks to everyone getting involved.

[zetacplus]

I will call my representatives today and post the result

[Rita at Goldivas]

I don't like any robocalls. They are annoying and I wish they were illegal.

[Crozier]

My first cousin works for a principal Wal-mart vendor, and lives in Bentonville AR. Northwest AR is Buckle of the Bible Belt Republican. The congressman is Republican­....and they would vote for an elephant if need be. The Democrats do not even bother to field a candidate. Bill Clinton always lost this area of AR...and even saw his first political defeat trying to defeat the predecessor of this Republican incumbent. So much for the fact that the Walton or Tyson or Hunt families support Democrats. Dixiecrats who vote Republican, maybe....b­ut the elephant article is best. Congressman Bozeman, an optometrist, is "challenged" by a Green party candidate.

This is the state where the Democratic governor Beebe, is as homophobic as his predecessor, Mike Huckabee. It is a state where the US senators, Pryor or Lincoln, are true Dixiecrat DINO's who vote with the Party only when they must. Their campaign literature, my cousin says, and Pryor is running, NEVER mentions the word Democrat. I still want these wannabees because they give us a "majority" to organize the body.

My cousin says that Bozeman does not even bother to worry about opposition. Sad....

[unionave]

For any condemnation by a member of congress to be made known the MSM would have to publicize it and with the MSM's candidate behind in many states there is not much chance the MSM will let us know who is condemning the mud slinging .

[wanj]

This is a good article!

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1853025-1,00.html

[Culturemaven]

Hard to believe that so many of them claim to have no knowledge of the robocalls. Do they expect us to swallow that? Yes, they do think we are stupid.

[Wcritiquing]

WHAT IS WROMG WHTH ROBOCALLS ?
OBAMA USED AGAINST HILLARY CLINTON
Myself receveid one of them.
If Obama used before....­why condem them?

[retrocozayshin]

I myself could care less about the use of robocalls. What DOES bother me tremendously is the slanderous nature of McCain's robocalls. But hey, what do you expect from a campaign that hasn't told the truth once?

[ColeenRowleyMN2]

The robo-calling itself is the problem as many Republican incumbents have used the "Tele Town Hall" robo-calling to manipulate voters and substitute for all real face to face town halls and public meetings with constituents. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/coleen-rowley-and-peter-smith/teletown-halls-cross-eth_b_72516.html

John Kline, Minnesota's other right-wing Bush sycophant, is considered Michele Bachmann's mentor as he is more savvy than to try and play Hardball with Chris Matthews but he's slightly even more "out-of-whack" voting-record wise with his district than Ms. Bachmann. http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2008/05/exposing-john-kline-and-devious-tactics.html

Kline was one of a half dozen Republican incumbents who pioneered, at taxpayer expense, the "Tele-Town" robo-calling method in the lead-up to the 2006 elections. It's worked so well that over a hundred other incumbents, including Kline's protegee, Ms. Bachmann, signed on for the robo-calling service provided by Rodney A. Smith, the former Republican National Finance Chairman's company.

[The Lorax]

Called Gordon Smith's office and yes, he's condemned the robocalls. I think I am still voting Merkeley though.

[cardinal1234]

Elizabeth Dole is in the process of using the same dirty, filthy tactics as John Mccain. Her campaign has just release a disgusting homophobic ad against Kay Hagan:

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/10/23/north-carolina-republicans-send-out-homophobic-mailings-against-democratic-senate-candidate-kay-hagan/

**snip**
The North Carolina Republican State Executive Committee has sent out homophobic mailers targeting Senate candidate Kay Hagan (D), who is challenging Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R). The mailings warn that Hagan seeks to advance a “radical homosexual agenda” that includes legalizing gay marriage, removing “Under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance, and forcing the Boy Scouts to accept gay and atheist troop leaders.
**snip**

Thank God Liddy Dole will soon be a footnote in history and good riddance!

All this to say that I do not expect Liddy Dole to denounce any dirty tactics and, if she had the $$ to spare, would probably be making a few robocalls of her own.

(Liddy Dole just loaned herself an additional $3,000,000 to her own campaign).

[packerfans]

Please, voters of NC. Please vote this woman out of office.

[JayeSF]

THIS is just GREAT....

I wonder if mccain/palin EVER contemplated that the negativity and ruthlessness of these calls would create this wonderful dynamic of forcing republican candidates across the nation to disavow their own party's top of ticket....

in order to have an icecube in hell's chance of holding onto their seat.....

this is truly amazing...­.

....btw: to whoever the BRILLIANT republican hack was who came up with claiming that:

"we aren't aware of the robocalls.­..we've been focusing on our campaign" (!!!!???!!)

Holy crap...wha­t a boilerplate piecs of Sh#t response !!!!! LOL !

...did they imagine that the followup Q to that WOULDN'T be:

"gee if you are so oblivious or dense as to NOT be aware of the robocalls.­....why in the world SHOULD anyone vore FOR you...and what the h#ll makes you think you have any business being in Congress ????

hahahha...­...

[retrocozayshin]

Do you kiss your mother with that mouth? But seriously, the most insane aspect of this (the fact that because of tactics like this the GOP down-ticket is trying to distance themselves) is that it will just encourage the McCain camp to turn up the dial. They honestly seem to WANT to lose this thing. But whatever, they'll be remembered for this disturbingly poorly run campaign for the rest of U.S. history. That makes me smile.

[tjslo]

Every member of Congress should condemn these calls. Because they never know when they might be used on them.