Bob McCarty Writes

Michael E. Carter

Two days after learning Michael E. Carter had lost his Democratic Party primary bid for Missouri’s lieutenant governor position, I thoroughly enjoyed writing the headline, Missouri Robo-Call Candidate Loses in Landslide. Today, however, my post-primary bliss turned to disappointment upon learning the “robo-call candidate” has reinvented himself and pulled “a Lieberman.”

Remember Lieberman?  Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut?  After losing the Democratic primary in 2004, he surprised everyone by switching parties and running — and winning reelection — as an independent.  Carter, on the other hand, became an independent and hopes to win the same post he lost — in a Democrat primary landslide Aug. 4.

Carter was the only candidate campaigning for the Show-Me State’s number two post who, despite launching his campaign with a pitch against the use of automated phone calls during campaigns, called me at least six times during the recent primary season.

Such a hypocritical pest was he, I made him and his campaign tactics the subject of posts April 19 and June 14 before writing and publishing what I assumed would be my final “Robo-Call” Carter post (i.e., the one mentioned in the first paragraph) Aug. 6.  We all know what happens when we assume.

About two hours ago, Carter’s message darkened the earpiece of my telephone handset one more time in a way only a politician’smessage can.

His latest pitch?  Carter says he’s against the use of so-called “redlight cameras” and wants potential supporters who also hate being photographed while driving through intersections a tad late to visit StopCameras.com.

Unlike the previous campaign web site where he attempted to collect personal data on every visitor by exploiting his association with the National Political Do-Not-Call Registry, the new site is set up as a forum where people can chat in a virtual environment.  But don’t be fooled!  It’s still aimed at collecting data.  One must register in order to participate in the forum.

I hope this will be my last post about “Robo-Call” Carter, but find myself wanting to say, “Never say never.”