RNC Mailer Typo Directs Recipients To Phone-Sex Line

Oh, Republican National Committee, this is just not your week, is it? Hard on the heels of Monday's nonsense with the bondage-themed Young Eagles sexytime nightclub jaunt, news is breaking of a mailer the RNC sent out that includes a phone number directing callers to a phone sex line.

Politico's Jonathan Martin has the story:

A voter in Minnesota received the mailer and called the number intending to complain about the attempt to raise money with a form that looks like a government document.

But the Minnesotan was instead directed to a second toll-free number that greets callers as "sexy guy" before offering them the chance to talk with "real local students, housewives and working girls from all over the country."

The individual then forwarded the mail piece to the voter's congressman, a Democrat, who shared it with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

The problem was a typographic error, in which "1-800" was included instead of the correct, and decidedly unsexy, "1-202." Honest mistake! We've all been there.

Of course, it seems like an oddly fitting thing to happen to the RNC given the shenanigans they were trying to pull with this mailer. That Minnesota voter's complaint? It had to do with the fact that this was one of the RNC's "census" mailers, fundraising asks that are dolled up to look like official census forms. This was another one of Michael Steele's stupid ideas that nobody liked. Last month, House Republicans made their opinion on these mailers known:

170 Republicans voted to ban the RNC letters, and Issa and Chaffetz blasted Steele's tactics in a recent committee hearing on the matter. "I have seen the Republican Party send out documents that say 'census.' I think it's wrong, I think it's deceptive, and I wish they wouldn't do it," Chaffetz said. Steele recently defended the mailers, saying, "If it's against the law, I won't [send them]. Until such time, this is an aggressive fundraising season."

So, the story here, I guess, is we have some measure of karmic backlash against a terrible idea that was executed with a minor example of the incompetence we've come to expect from the RNC these days.

Here's an audio snippet from the phone sex line in question. Definitely treat this as Not Safe For Work, because I doubt that any of you have Michael Steele's inexplicable job security.

LISTEN/NSFW:

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Comments

[Milash]

12:36 PM on 04/05/2010

Many republicans probably already recognize that number from their speed dial.

[DarkWitch]

05:27 PM on 04/04/2010

Too funny. Something along the lines of just desserts comes to mind.

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

11:01 PM on 04/03/2010

Although it's NOT about bondage, this article about media and what our tax dollars pay for is so good... must read. HInt: it has to do with $100 million of tax payer money.

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2010/033110.html

[thucy3]

10:55 PM on 04/03/2010

Hey, let's cut these guys some slack.

After all, it's just been revealed that the RNC spends a significant amount of money on "office supplies" purchased at area liquor stores.

Think of all the trouble you'd have mailing out the right phone number, after pounding a half dozen shots of tequila. Besides, when you're that blasted, your fingers automatically rap out the number you're most used to dialing.

And let's face it, who among us would want to be sober, working for the RNC?

[Hailey73]

12:46 AM on 04/04/2010

Remember this?
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/04/02/reporters-want-hillary-clinton-get-phone-sex-line/?fbid=YmKmVLqI0ue

People need to proof things.

[JayInDallas]

05:54 PM on 04/03/2010

This wasn't a mistake. It was a teaser for the bondage club party the GOP just threw. Where's the outrage over THAT, Teabaggers? THIS is how your money is being spent.

[darter22]

04:34 PM on 04/03/2010

The number was not a typo. Please refer to this as "lunch" on your expense report. Under comments, write "the chicken tenders were delicious".

[hypnotoad72]

09:49 AM on 04/03/2010

It may have been deliberate. GOP policies have weeded out, from our educational system, overpriced concepts such as "quality control", "double-checking your work", and so on.

(I know, the issue transcends that lot, but still -- too good to resist. :-D )

[Rockwell]

12:46 AM on 04/03/2010

"Hi this is the Michael Steele Hot Line"

"If you would like to chat with a fully loaded Tea Party Patriot while stroking your gun, Press 1"

"If you would like to spit on a democratic congressman, Press 2 for a complete list of local campaign stops."

"If you would like to throw a brick though a democrats window, Press 3 for a complete list home addresses in your area."

"If you would like to threaten their family members, please hold and a helpful Patriot will assist you in locating schools and houses of worship in your area.:

"God Bless America"

[CynAnne]

12:04 PM on 04/03/2010

For shame, Rockwell, making a girl cough her coffee sideways, whilst giggling at such delicious snark... ;)

[Rockwell]

12:37 AM on 04/03/2010

So apparently the RNC can afford Lesbian Bondage parties but can't afford a proof reader for their mailings.

[quindy]

11:44 PM on 04/02/2010

One typo, just check this. This is the base the repubs preach to.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/galleries/teabonics_the_flawed_language_of_protest/teabonics_the_flawed_language_of_protest.html

[Grannysue]

11:42 PM on 04/02/2010

Cut em some slack would you they just bought all their office supplies at the liquor store!

[thucy3]

10:56 PM on 04/03/2010

I'll drink to that!

[MidRoaderTurnedLeft]

08:53 PM on 04/02/2010

1-800-M_S_T_E_E_L_E

[callingemout]

04:59 PM on 04/02/2010

Great thinking RNC! at least they get something in return for their money...

[jdrourke]

04:52 PM on 04/02/2010

The GOP is the party of family jewels, er, values...

http://jdrourke.wordpress.com/

[patisok]

01:13 PM on 04/02/2010

I think these GOP no sin on me types have their minds in the gutter. So the number was messed up. They were thinking ahead to that evening's entertainment. Silly callow fellows.