Two Quit Call Center Jobs Over Anti-Obama Robocalls

At least two people have quit their jobs at call centers over scripts that accuse Barack Obama of working closely with Bill Ayers. The Charleston Gazette reports on a woman in West Virginia:

Chaylee Cole, a student at Fairmont State University, lost her part-time job in Weston last Friday after refusing to make telephone calls attacking Barack Obama.

McCain-Palin 2008 and the Republican National Committee were paying for the calls, according to a "work paper" handed to Cole and her co-workers at the Weston offices of 1.2.1 Direct Response, a company based in Philadelphia.

"I was working at the call center," Cole said. "We got a campaign ad talking about how Obama had been part of terrorist attacks on the Capitol, the Pentagon and a judge's home and had ties with Bill Ayers.

"Last Thursday, I told them I did not want to read it," Cole said. "They said, 'Either you read it or you go home.'

"I told them I wasn't going to read it. They made me go home without pay for the rest of the day."

...

"I talked to one of our 'coaches,' which is what our supervisors were called. I said I was unhappy with the situation and I quit," she said Tuesday.

And WKOW finds a man in Wisconsin:

Voters in more than 13 states, including Wisconsin are getting calls from people accusing Barack Obama of having ties to terrorists. Some of those calls are made from right here in Madison.

A local man made dozens of calls bashing Barack Obama, but when the campaign got ugly, he quit his job.

...

Zoromski said, "This was different than I was told I was going to be saying, and [Sitel] said the script changes on a daily basis."

So Zoromski quit, fed up with what he perceived as scare tactics.

Comments

[23000Days]

Folks working in call centers are on the bottom rung of the ladder.These are obviously poor, honest people, who need to be rewarded for their righteousness. Maybe someone can set up a site where we can all send them a buck or two.

[peterg76]

You can't fire an an employee for refusing to lie - I smell a lawsuit!

[pgurlatl]

I 2nd that notion. The American people have been voicing their outrage with their wallets but not in huge donations, 5, 10 bucks here and there. I have been so proud of us!

There has got to be a way to reward true heroism and true patriotism.

[breezyholler]

These call centers are nothing different than the sweat shops that served the "robber barons" of a hundred years ago...One rung on the ladder above slavery !

[PlantGod72]

Perhaps Gloria Allred should get involved.......now THERE'S a pitbull in lipstick! And I mean that in a GOOD way!

http://www.gloriaallred.com/CM/Custom/Contact.asp

[diane12]

that's a great idea.

[Cathyv]

Real heroism is a way of life, living by principles, and integrity. Developing the kind of character that is universally respected starts very early in a childs life and starts with parents. a child's first teachers. This young woman clearly has a strong sense of right and wrong, and couldn't compromise it for a job. Her parents should be proud of her. I am.

[breezyholler]

RIGHT ON !! Cathyv....real good words..

[LisaSurfing]

I love this!! Maybe she can get a job with the Obama campaign. I'd like to buy her lunch.

[roshni]

People with a conscience! And the rethugs have to pay to spread hate.
There are so many volunteers working their hearts out for Obama because they believe in his positive message.
There is hope for this country yet.

[radical1]

I just got a second in a week, lying, smear mailing about Barack Obama in this morning's mail. Repubs are STILL, after the many corrections of the Ayers smear, wasting their money by sending these to staunch Democrats. I promptly emailed Obama's smear report site AND also made another donation to the Obama Campaign. This is how we counteract Republican smears because they have NOTHING to stand on.

I believe intelligent Democrats KNOW the difference concerning Biden's comment about a possible attack on an American domain early in the next Administration. He meant Obama is the candidate who is steady, unwavering in emergencies and competent to handle any such situation, and we can rest assured that we'll be protected better than with the Bush/McBush debacle .

.

[BlueBoomer]

Wow!...every day I'm more proud to be a WestVirginian (altho' I can only claim it for the last 3+ years)...
first those miners who walked out on the NRA and now this...Isn't it great to see principles in action?!!

Maybe there's hope for us yet!

[Heaphy]

The striking thing here is that the McCain campaign is relying on PAID phone bankers. The Obama campaign has legions of volunteer phone bankers making massive numbers of persuasion calls to undecided voters in the battleground states. Who do you think will be more persuasive - a paid caller or a highly motivated volunteer? Congratulations, by the way, to those who resigned from the McCain slime machine rather than compromise their own integrity.

- Jim Heaphy

[LateBoomer2]

So true, Jim. As someone who phone-banks for Obama, I am going to be tres proud at my weekly phone-banking session this week. Proud that I do this out of love, not money. Proud even when the occasional jerk says something nasty (it's only happened once, but it was unpleasant), because he is being a jerk to someone who is doing something out of love not hate, and not for money either. And proud that even if you paid people money, those with a conscience wouldn't support the other guy's sleazy tactics. Good for those two people who independently quit, thereby saying said "Enough!!!"

[atpeaceinoregon]

I don't blame them... look how robotic McCain has become...

http://www.minimovie.com/film-128460-McCain-Obama%20Dance-Off

[rahmanya]

slightly off-topic but I must pour out my emotions! Please if you would excuse me!

OMG! I've just finished watching Obama live Event in Richmond VA, watching him give his final closing speech about how our fathers and mothers and grandfathers and grandmothers have sacrifice for us so that we could be were we are today i e able to go to school, start your own new small business, able to vote and all that! Tears was dropping from my eyes! You can see how Much his Grandmother means to him and how much he cares for this country and the people of America!

If McCain cares that much why does he keep on attacking OB, why don't he present the American people with his Vision of how he is going to lead America out of the economic crisis!
If McCain cares why will innocent call center workers lose their jobs at the expense of his negative attack? (that's one Middle class American left in limbo! )

If Sarah Palin sees America the way she claims, why would she be basking in an Heavyweight Shopping Spree to revamp her wardrobe!nice to see how hard -earned tax dollars is being spent on playing dress-up Barbie! Is she a Maverick of a Fashion Icon? No I guess she is just an average "Joe-Six-Pack- the Plumber, with her Million + Bank account, Diamond-encrusted flag pin, $150K + Wardrobe with her winking eyelid deceiving Americans!
I am Sick! of all these!!!!!!!!aaaaaaaaaaaggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

[qxav949]

That's alright, let it all out. We got you.

[rahmanya]

oh! Thanks qxav949!

[shengirl]

that's her economic recovery package-- go shopping!

[roshni]

Participate in our campaign to get Obama elected. People still need phone bankers and rides to polling booths. It will make you feel good, I promise.

[LateBoomer2]

You're not alone, I started tearing up too when he talked about parents and grandparents sacrificing. :)

[Nightbender]

I do not know what the state statutes are in W Virginia, but here in California, termination or discipline based on an employee's political identification is discrimination; and actionable as wrongful termination.
Perhaps someone in the ACLU, or some other legal champion can offer pro bono representation to this young woman of character, Ms. Cole. That is how this junk will end...if it eats their wallets!

[hadenough23]

Must see video on John McCain's tax policy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8EyGpOU3qM&eurl=http://www.dailykos.com/

[larrywb59]

OH NO JOHN McCAIN IS A SOCIALIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[starbright]

I wonder what kind of country McCain thinks he is contributing to by pumping aural sludge directly into tens of thousands of Americans' homes. Beyond sad.

[snruB]

YES

True patriots

[shengirl]

absolutely, these 2 and the 440 miners in W. Va. We need to work up a roll call.

[Lagniappe]

A few words about the cpompany bhind many of the GOP slimeathon calls and smears:
.

Feather Larson & Synhorst DCI
From SourceWatch

Feather, Larson & Synhorst DCI (FLS-DCI) are "Specialists in Telephone Contact Business." The telemarketing company used to be known as Feather Hodges Larson & Synhorst DCI. In
FLS-DCI has been one of the largest corporate receipents of funds from the Republican National Committee in 2004. FLS-DCI has close ties to key White House advisor Karl Rove and the GOP.

FLS-DCI specializes in creating phony front groups to make it appear as if there's a groundswell of support for its clients' issues.

On its web site, FLS-DCI states:

"We use state-of-the-art technology to target and communicate with key constituencies. We have a reputation for connecting the right message to the right people. Our team has experience designing and implementing successful phone programs in all 50 states.

"Our client list consists of the last five Presidential Campaigns including Bush/Cheney 2000. We also provide services for the Republican National Committee, the National Republican Congressional Committee, and hundreds of Republican State Parties and candidates on all levels,
Advisor to President George Walker Bush, Karl Rove's endorsement of FLS-DCI reads:

"I know these guys well. They become partners with the campaigns they work with. From designing the program to drafting scripts; from selecting targets to making the calls in a professional, successful way they work as hard to win your races as you do."

[catzoned]

I suspect it was another no-bid contract as well.

[Brandij]

VOTE EARLY!

[VirgoGrrrlie]

So yet again we have examples of hard-working underpaid Americans in low-level 'service' jobs being forced out of work by McCain and his GOP ideology!