"Obsession" Mailing to "Real Virginia"

By: Clemgo3165
Published On: 10/20/2008 12:05:42 PM

My 80-year-old mother, a resident of Smyth Co. in "Real Virginia" received a copy of the movie "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West" in her mail recently.  This is the same film that was placed in the Sunday papers in several swing states by The Clarion Fund.  Receiving the DVD is not the problem, but its how they got her name that concerns me.  Due to the way her name is printed on the mailer, it quite obviously came from the County - either donor rolls or property records.  

I have a call in to the SBE but haven't gotten an answer yet - does anybody know if this is a legal use of those lists?

Comments



We received one in Virginia Beach (Great Blue - 10/20/2008 12:45:36 PM)
It may be linked to new voter rolls.  The DVD was addressed to my son, who registered for the first time this year (just turned 18).  OR, it may be related to applications for absentee ballots, but I tend to doubt that.  Both my son and daughter are voting absentee, and my daughter didn't get a DVD--she's been on the rolls for some time.
Both are being inundated with GOP mailings, though.
As a candidate, you can get access to lists of registered or newly registered voters, those applying for absentee ballots, etc.  It's public information.
As far as I'm concerned, they can send us 100 racist DVDs and waste their money.  We have 4 votes  (and encouraging more!) for Obama in "real Virginia!


Strange... (Clemgo3165 - 10/20/2008 4:39:13 PM)
My Mom's been registered in Smyth Co. for 28 years and she's not voting absentee because she has no real reason to (and isn't comfortable fibbing).  I know its public information, but is it being gathered and sold?  


Got on in PWC yesterday (pmcmscot - 10/21/2008 11:08:08 AM)
Won't watch it. Actually, it was addressed to my son -- using his full name -- who is away at school. He already sent in his absentee vote for Obama.

If I mark return to sender, will the PO return it to Clarion at their expense? I want them to p/u the postage.



Friend received one last week (hereinva - 10/20/2008 5:09:30 PM)
A  Repub friend received one in the mail last week. He said it was addressed to his formal name and the only other types of mailings he recieves similarly addressed are Repub political mailers. Coincidence-perhaps.
It didn't matter either, he voted Sat. for Barack/Joe.

I never play unsourced/unsolicited DVD's on my pc/laptop, as its another way to pass along a virus.

 



Odd (Dave N. - 10/21/2008 8:25:11 AM)
We received one in the mail yesterday addressed to my wife, and we live in "not real Virginia", Northern Virginia; the "purplish-turning-blue" Loudoun County, to be exact...wonder how that happened?

BTW, it went right into the trash.



Spoke with someone at the SBE today... (Clemgo3165 - 10/21/2008 10:10:14 AM)
She's looking into it as she believes it may be an illegal use of the information - The Clarion Fund is a 501(c)3 organization and only those who work to get voters registered are permitted to use that information.

I'm thinking of watching it just to see what people are watching - maybe Halloween night...



Hate DVD (DSD - 10/23/2008 8:13:24 PM)
Is there any organized action against this? I'm a happy atheist, but this type of thing incites hate and I think people should make a stink about it.