I am writing today to announce the closure of the Michigan Messenger. After four years of operation in Michigan, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news into a single site, The American Independent at Americanindependent.com. This is part of a shift in strategy, towards new forms [...]
An abstinence-only presentation provided to numerous school districts in Calhoun and Eaton Counties in October of this year provided false and misleading information to students about HIV, experts allege.
Two county registers of deeds filed a class action lawsuit Monday on behalf of Michigan’s 83 counties alleging that the Mortgage Electronic Registration Services owes millions of dollars in property title transfer taxes.
Despite evidence of the impact of mercury on children and public health, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last month joined with 24 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to scuttle new EPA regulations that would reduce mercury emissions from power plants.
I don’t know how the McCain camp got my phone number, let alone my mailing address, but nevertheless I received my first “robo-call” from John McCain last night:
“Hi, this is John McCain, and I’m calling independent-minded voters like yourself who are frustrated with all the partisanship and backroom deals in Washington.
Our convention begins tomorrow, and I think you will like what you see. In fact, I’ll have my campaign send you an absentee ballot application which will arrive by mail in the next few days, and I hope you use it to ensure your vote is submitted and counted.
Again, I hope you will watch our convention, and I would be honored to have your support with the absentee ballot application you should receive soon.
Thank you very much.”
Then another robo-person’s voice says:
“This call is paid for by John McCain 2008, 703-418-2008, 21235 South Park Street, Suite M, Arlington, Va. 22202.”
I called and spoke with Mary Helmbrecht, the clerk for Meridian Charter Township, to ask about the robo-call’s promised absentee ballot application. She tells me that she wasn’t aware that any campaigns had been making robo-calls in Michigan, but that sending absentee ballot applications “is absolutely acceptable.”
She further explained that Michigan law now requires a photo ID when you go to the polls to vote. However, voting by absentee ballot requires nothing more than your signature on the application, which is checked against your signature on your absentee ballot when you mail it in.
Audio of the robo-call mccain-robocall. (Note: The date/time on my answering machine is incorrect.)
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