Boehner's staffer just called me retarded! [phone]

[DesEtoiles]

I called him to say he was using McCarthy tactics when Boehner called Russ Feingold a terrorist.

The staffer insisted Feingold cared more about terrorists than Americans and called me retarded!!!!!

[gmoney]

1. Sweet...

Take it to the media. Seriously. Boehner must be stopped.

[Tiggeroshii]

2. Call them again, get them to say it again and record it. n/t

[BlueManDude]

3. Here in Boston that's "Re-tah-ded" n/t

[AllieB]

6. What ah u, re-TAH-ded?

:o

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. I can't call because I'm at work

But I'm wondering if a bunch could call in and say the same thing and see if you get the same answer. Is it legal to tape a phone conversation? If so, it would be good to get such a statement on tape.

[reichstag911]

10. Taping...

"Is it legal to tape a phone conversation?" -- Depends on the state, and I'm not sure about the controlling legal authority on interstate calling. Here in Illinois, you need dual-party consent. Others only require one party's (i.e. the taper's) consent.
:think:

[Not Me]

12. The current administration seems to think it's perfectly legal.

Actually, I believe the law changed some years ago on recording. Private individuals can record a conversation if they are one of the parties in the conversation. Recording someone elses conversation is ILLEGAL.

[reichstag911]

16. I know for a fact...

...that Illinois requires dual-party consent. As I said, it varies from state to state. As for the administration, f**k them and what they think about anything (a sentiment with which I suspect you agree, judging by the bon mot).

[Teaser]

13. Legality depends on your state

check your local wiretap laws

[CBHagman]

5. Okay, now I'm going to have to make my calls.

I had planned a message of support to the Feingold office (his poor staff must be completely exhausted by now), but I will also make it a point to call my senators and ask for their support. Ditto for Harry Reid (whose staff must also be exhausted by now).

I find that the best thing to do is stick to a bland, fact-based message, regardless of who it is you're calling. Staff has been known to cut people off.

However, I am with you on the use of the term "McCarthyism" in this case, for the attacking of opponents' patriotism, rather than their actual actions or stances, is the weapon of choice for the GOP these days. I've even met with that at work (e.g., high-ranking person in the company where I work told me I was "hateful," "anti-American" and in favor of more terrorist attacks). The jackass had no idea that the first friend I made in college lost a member of her family and that my cousin lost hundreds of co-workers on September 11th.

[Sammy Pepys]

7. Guy or gal?

Get a name?

[HughBeaumont]

8. "It's BAY-NER, Damn it, BAY-NER!"

Guy's SUCH a tool . . . he, BootBlackwell and Rawn Hood are three reasons my state sucks elephant wang. I can list many many more, but we don't have the server space. I don't call it Duh-HIGH-Ah for nothing.

[zulchzulu]

9. Classic bonehead Repug response....

[peacebird]

11. did ya give him the classic retort? "I know you are, but what am I?"

:sarcasm:

Sorry - couldn't help it - the thought of a congressmans staff calling a citizen "retarded"?!? My - that does say a lot about our level of intellectual discourse, eh?

sigh.

[Rosie1223]

14. Right up there with

"go fuck yourself"

[Bill McBlueState]

15. well

If Feingold's supporters are retarded, call me retarded.

[CrazyOrangeCat]

17. Okay, everybody call and ask to speak to

"That Boner guy".

[grasswire]

18. is Boehner bigoted against disabled citizens?

As the parent of a "retarded" child, I am infuriated. Boehner's disabled constituents beware! There's no compassion in that office.

[NYCGirl]

19. You might want to read this info about Boehner:

http://www.publicintegrity.org/report.aspx?aid=789

Meet the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss?
Boehner's travel and PAC spending aren't a huge change from DeLay's ways
By Sam Stein

WASHINGTON, March 17, 2006 — When Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, was elected House majority leader on Feb. 2, he presented himself as a new kind of leader — someone who would rise above doing business as usual, a departure from the aggressive tactics and ethical tight-rope walking of his predecessor, Tom "The Hammer" DeLay.

But the Center for Public Integrity's examination of Boehner's political financial activities during his 15 years on Capitol Hill indicates that the way he does business might not be so different from DeLay.

While Boehner may not be a hammer, he has been a highflyer.

Federal Elections Commission records and House travel disclosure forms reviewed by the Center indicate that Boehner used his leadership PAC "Freedom Project" to build a network of political and business relationships not unlike Delay's own.

(Lot more info at the link)