My dad called me today all excited that a congressmen left a message that he wanted to give me an award. He played back the message over the phone and it certainly did sound legit with Patty Cleaver working for Congressman Tom Cole of the National Republican Congressional Committee wanting to award a Congressional Order of Merit so call her back at 1 (866) 264-3583.
Of course my bullcrap detectors were tingling pretty hard at this point. First, they can’t even get my name right (having a hyphenated name sure helps with junk filtering). Second, I’m not really happy with any current party but I certainly don’t see me identifying myself as a Republican any time in the near future. Third, I guess I’m a decent guy but as far as I can recall I haven’t ran into any burning buildings or donated my kidneys to feed starving orphans recently. But then again you never know so I did a quick google (don’t know what I would have done before internet). Luckily there’s a couple blog posts reporting similar experiences. Once you call in, they apparently hit you up for a $500 donation to some ad campaign.
So I thought I’d throw this post up to help warn other people since this seems really really dirty to me. Tom Cole is either selling awards or defrauding people in order to finance his campaign. I don’t see how anyone could look at this and not consider it completely immoral. Any politician that does this deserves to be voted out of office/impeached.
Update: Another (excellently titled) report here (Thanks Alex).
Allem | 24-Jan-08 at 6:24 pm | Permalink
Yeah I thought it was bull as well when I got my call today on my ans. machine so as well googled and seen your post so thanks to Google we don’t have to be gullible fresh meat for unethical
people that have much more money than we do.
Medal caller | 24-Jan-08 at 10:25 pm | Permalink
Thanks for the heads up. I never heard of him till tonight. I save the message as a joke for some friends but not waste my call
ScottS-M | 24-Jan-08 at 11:10 pm | Permalink
Glad I could help. Hard to believe they’re still trying this. I hope somebody with some clout calls him out on this.
And smart idea saving it. I wish I would have recorded my message. Pull it out at a job interview and I’d be a shoe in.
Gait Keeper | 26-Feb-08 at 12:30 pm | Permalink
They tried hounding our CEO for months, I had to forcefully tell them he was not interested and to stop calling. Well now they are calling for me. Wow, they must think I did such a great job of keeping them away from the boss, I deserve merit for my efforts!!! What a scam, no offense but its a typical political back handed compliment. I most certainly would not support anyone who only has my wallet in their hands as their best interest.
Thomas Nusunginya | 27-Jun-08 at 12:39 am | Permalink
I was given an award in Feb. by Tom Cole; Congressional Order of Merit.
Thomas Nusunginya