Congressman Tom Reynolds: Shame On You!

OK, Congressman Tom Reynolds. I played along.

I listened patiently to your underlings who told me I had been awarded a National Leadership Award and then hit me up for $500 to place my name on an attack ad in the Wall Street Journal.

I took notes as they told me that I would receive my gavel and plaque regardless of whether I donated money or not...for I was a National Business Leader. I specifically asked the 3rd operator who assisted me if I would receive the gavel and plaque even if I didn't participate in this giant charade (although I don't believe I used the word "charade.") He said yes...grudgingly.

In fact, I blogged about the whole thing here. It's one of my most-commented-on blog posts, as it seems I was not alone in being awarded a national leadership award by a congressman far outside my district.

And I might have let it die there if you didn't screw me, but you did.

Today I received a packet in the mail from you. Among other things, it included the following:

1) A handsome photo of our current president.

2) A letter personally thanking me stamped by you in which you invite me to "other high profile Washington events -- like the annual President's Dinner." I assume the operative word here is like.

3) A piece of paper that is definitely NOT a plaque naming me Honorary Chairman of the Business Advisory Council.

My first order of business? Correctly defining the word plaque: a thin, flat plate or tablet of metal, porcelain, etc., intended for ornament, as on a wall, or set in a piece of furniture, versus paper: a substance made from wood pulp, rags, straw, or other fibrous material, usually in thin sheets, used to bear writing or printing, for wrapping things, etc.

4) A certificate for a Speaker's Gavel that is completely dependent on me contributing $200 to the NRCC! What?!? To paraphrase Jon Stewart, "I have to inform you: your pants are on fire."

The only thing that separated this from an outright scam in my mind was that regardless of my donation to your group, you were sending me a gavel and a plaque.

Even the copy on the I.O.U. was cheesy, coming across like a late-night informercial: "I'll rush your handsome replica of the Speaker's Gavel that Speaker Dennis Hastert [sic] uses on the floor of the House when you return your contribution."

Congressman Tom Reynolds: Save your soul! Send me my damn gavel. (You can keep the plaque.)

Rich Brooks
Gavel Me, Baby

Comments

[G.W. Davis]

Mr. Brooks,
Bravo! I too was contacted today (1/10/07) from the illustrious Congressmans' office informing me of my "award." Being the perpetual Doubting Thomas that I am, I Googled the Congressmans' name and was delighted to come across your blog. What makes this even more hilarious, is that I currently work for the "liberal media" at a major metropolitan newspaper. My Senior Editor will get a huge kick out of this!
The only thing I can figure out why I was "chosen" was because I recently started a side business and developed an LLC. My name and business venture must have been picked up from a list somewhere.
Keep up the fine work and I sincerely hope you receive your gavel soon!
Sincerely,
G.W. Davis

[Debbie Dauenhauer]

I received the call and recorded message today from the congressman from New York. I was skeptical as I live in Nevada and as such had never heard of the congressman. So when I did a web search using the Congressman's name to find out what district he represented, I came across your blog site. I appreciate the time you spent digging around to uncover this scam. It certainly answered my number one question as to why they would have contacted me. Thanks...

[Randy Ray]

My call came today while I was at work. My wife called me up to tell me that I had been selected by the congressman to recieve this National Leadership Award. I appreciate your website, saving me the hassle of returning this scandalous phone call.

Now back to work(an honest day's wage for an honest day's work!)
Randy

[Rich]

Thank you for your research, and your fun yet professional sarcasm. I too received a call that I had won today, though mine was from Tom Cole. I immediately knew it was a scam since I am from California and Mr. Cole was not on the November 7 ballot. I searched the web to find that he is, in fact from Okalahoma. So, thanks again for your outstanding NATIONAL LEADERSHIP by bringing this scam to light. I hope you receive your gavel someday.
Rich

[Kim]

Hi, I came across your website comment when I typed in the phone number that was left on my message machine. At first I tried reverse directory, but they were going to charge me $14. Forget that! Anyway, thanks for your information, I won't bother calling them to claim my honorary award.

[Phil Case]

Hi Rich,

Thanks for this blog entry, I too received "the pitch". As it sounded suspicious, google guided me to the enlightenment you've provided.

If I had a gavel, I'd send it your way for "Excellence in Service".

Will the republicans ever stop giving me reasons to vote democrat in 08?

Thanks again :)

[C. Glenn]

recevied my award memo this morning from Tom Cole...seems the Oklahoma Congressman wants me on board as an Honorary Chairman from Florida...I think I'm going to respond and tell them that I want them to pay me $300 to use my name! Ha!

[Andy]

Just got the call this morning. Though I am Republican (though more of a 'conservative' than a Republican), I think this whole mess stinks to high heaven. Someone in the MSM needs to be alerted so any congressman involved in this can get the requisite amount of public disclosure and embarrassment. They can keep my ersatz "award". Now, if they'll offer to make me Most High Emperor of Subterrania and send me a trident (actual, not a photocopy) we can start the paperwork...

[Steve Bostedor]

I just went through the exact same crap. I wonder if anyone actually paid them the money that they request.

They have turned a long time Republican into a Democrat with one phone call. Congrats!

[Rikki Grace]

I received a similar phone call this morning. Having always been registered as a democrat (and only a "small business owner" for a few months, I wondered why I, of all people, was receiving this prestigious leadership award, and being asked to participate on such a committee.

I decided it would be all too much fun to not only receive the certificate of award (not a plaque in my case), a photo of the president, but also have the opportunity to screw up the all-important committee work being done to elect and re-elect republican candidates. I would be more than happy to let them know where I stand on issues such as tax cuts. I would even weather the nasty anti-liberal spewings of those who assumed they were in good company, just for such an opportunity. I might even go to some of those presidential dinners, if they were all-expenses-paid. Ha ha.

Then she asked for money. $500-$700. And my name in that lovely full-page attack ad. I told her my husband's income wouldn't allow for such a gift, and I'm not yet breaking even with my business (not to mention student loans). I also told her I didn't want my name on the ad. "I understand" she said. Sure. Maybe $50 or $100 dollars would be better. "You don't understand" I said. We're scraping to pay bills.

So I mention that it seems--the longer we talk--that it is not my "help" that is needed, but rather my money. She assured me that this was not the case. By then, it was time to take my son to school for endless testing, so as not to get left behind (endless may be an exaggeration). So I pulled out the big guns. I told her I'm liberal and I found the recorded message to be rather offensive.

"Thank you and have a nice day," she said. Funny, no more mention of my award.

[Andre]

As a Canadian/US Resident, I also received the call. It wasn't as blatant since they only wanted to nominate me for the award. I was amused none the less and found this blog after googling some of the keywords. Pretty funny since I detest George W. Bush and I can't even vote! Since I recently registered for a LLC company, I am guessing that is where they are getting the calling list from.

[Cathy]

I too received this offer of such a wonderful award. Thinking it was a scam - I googled and found this article. I thought maybe someone actually wanted to award for being a small business owner, working 7 days a weeks... I believe I will save the phone call and file this under "scam".

[Beth]

I came home to the same recorded call this morning from someone that works for Tom Cole. I am so glad that I researched this before I returned the call. I did not understand how or who nominated me for a leadership award. I run a salon out of my home! This is definately a scam and they should be ashamed for deceiving people into donating to their cause. I will definitely take this into consideration when I go to the polls in the next election.

[Rob from Las Vegas]

Odd how I am a registered libitarian and got this phone call from the RNC on behalf of Tom Cole. Further, I am not registered under ANY small business in my state, Nevada, or any other! All the same, I plan to call them back, JUST TO WASTE THEIR TIME AND MONEY. And hey, maybe I will get a cool target for the range ;). I suggest others do the same.

[Lisa]

Thank you for posting this...my sister-in-law was contacted by Tom Cole's office. I suspect they are getting names off corporate license records, since my number is listed in a corporation we recently formed, but her name is listed as an officer. The only way they would have called her on my phone number would be if they got it off the corporate filing. So glad I googled it. Thank you.

[Bob Smith]

I was just left a message about this "award".

I just formed a corporation also which must be the sources for their pursuing an award.

Unbelievable

[Angela Flynn]

Thank you for sharing this information. I received a call today, 2/13/07, from an Herb Chaney (sp?) associating himself with the NRCC and Congressman Tom Cole. I was immediately suspicious as to why conservative Republicans would want to recognize me. I recently started a business - Green Evolution. My first product on the market is an organic t-shirt with my design of George Bush morphed with the Grim Reaper. I dubbed him the Dim Reaper. A part of me would like to receive this award solely for the irony. But I will save my money for more important matters.

[Denise Sloan]

I have to say that thru this great process of instant information via the internet, I have truly enjoyed my inherent skepticism of things that don't fit in pretty little boxes. Because without skepticism and the internet, I may have entertained myself with the call I knew would be for an ulterior motive, and would have let someone who probably would have bored me to death (as Republican's tend to do), in fact, bore me to death - but instead I found all of you and had many a chuckle for your responses. Thanks for making my day a little brighter people! P.S. I will definitely buy your "Dim Reaper" shirt Angela. I love Irony.

[Just Me]

Add us to the list that received the call, googled it, and found your blog. Thanks! But, our call came from Congressman Tom Cole. Reading the posts, I'm not sure why my husband was even called. Neither of us own, run, or even work at a small business. But, alas, we won't be calling back to find out.

[Wesley]

I have received this phone message with Tom Reynolds' name twice in the 5 years my LLC has been in business. I figured it was bs the first time because my business was so young I was barely breaking even. This year I decided to google it and found this.

Gotta love those f'n scams! Slowly turning us all into cynics!

[That Guy]

I received the call from Tom Cole this morning. I thought it odd as well, and like others landed here after doing some Googling. The funny thing is that my wife started up a small business a couple of months ago, but I am not on her LLC application at all. My only involvement with her business was that I registered her Internet domain name from her company's website. Obviously that in and of itself makes one a TRUE leader in the eyes of a Congressman from some other state!

[Siu Yan Scott]

Thanks so much for posting this. I am in Cleveland, OH and got this call today. My first reaction was that if this was TRULY a national award, I would get an official letter in the mail.

Not this crap.

[Susan]

I received this phone message yesterday from Tom Cole's "office". I have, within the past couple of years switched from Republican to Independent and have been involved in many peace and social justice issues. I recently started my own small business and obtained an LLC. Something about the phone call didn't feel right to me, so I googled it and found tons of interesting comments!!! Thanks for the heads-up!!!

[Dale Penning (PennCo Refrigeration)]

I have received both of these phone (phony) messages a couple of times in the last two months. I am also a skeptic by nature. But unlike many of you, I have yet to file my LLC documents with my state. I did file for an assumed name though, and thats when all HELL broke lose on my answering machine
I got home late after work tonight, and just for giggles thought I would try and find out more about why they would want to honor me, of all people, with a National Award. Thanks for all the info. Yes, they will get a call from me in the morning. But, at least, I will be a caller that is well informed. Thanks again for the heads up! :o)

[Mary]

Thanks to all of you who posted comments about what is undoubtedly a deceptive solicitation for campaign money. Like all of you, I was suspicious when I received a call (and then a fax) from Congressman Tom Cole's office. But for such comments, I, too, might have wasted my time in responding to the call.

[Jay]

Shame. Shame. Shame. Reynolds about 6 months ago. Cole today. Our own congressmen trying to deceive the same people who put them into office. When will this stop?!!
Maybe the response should be...
"I'm so glad to hear from you. As a matter of fact I was about to donate 10K to local charities in the area. However, I would much rather donate to the wonderful cause you're promoting. As soon as I receive the plaque expect a money gram directly to you. Hence forth."
This is a business call right. Show me yours then I'll show you mine.
Hmmm. If you ever receive then plaque, send them a money gram for $0.01. Since, you never actually said you'd give them the 10K did ya?

[Diane Jones]

FYI: I've been getting these faxes for about a year at my office. At first, I called the number to tell them to stop interrupting our fax machine, to no avail. They are all (Tom Reynolds and Tom Cole) coming from fax #314-513-0058 in Missouri. We hope to block faxes from that number and subsequent numbers. We'll see how high-tech they are.

[James]

I have received numerous calls over the last 3 months from representatives of Tom Cole about being selected for a Leadership award and be recognized by the NRRC. I deciced to google and of course my suspicions are correct. What a way to do fundraising. Almost an embarrasment and an insult!!

[Liza]

Yep, I just got the call from Tom Cole's group. My first move was to Google "National Leadership Award," and yours was the ONLY site I clicked on. Thank you for the original blog item, and the subsequent comments!

[Nick]

Just wanted to add my name to your list of those who the "NRCC" tried to scam. So glad I found your blog. As I high school senior, I could have easily been taken in by this since I've applied for many awards and scholarships in the past few months.

Reading individual comments helped me put this all in perspective. Shame on Tom Cole!! Shame on the Republicans for allowing this!!

It ranks right up there with the Peeople to People Student Ambassador Program! Yeah right...award my arse!

[Robin Zurovec]

Well I got my call today. Wow an honorary chairman for me and I don't even own a company. Amazing. Wonder why a congressman from another state is interested in me I have no idea. Would love to know where they got their mailing list. I think I will keep my money and I may use it for firewood at least that would keep me warm.

Thanks for the posting on this - It may keep some people from being needlessly separated from their hard earned money.

[Lizzy]

I just took a message for my dad about this Award from Tom Cole. I had no idea who that was. Id love to see my dad get something but realy, a National Leadership Award? My dad is a school buss driver and farmer in Kentuckey. Now i must say that, if anyone deserves some awards in this Country its buss drivers and farmers. Will that ever hapen? When pigs fly. So I googled this "Tom Cole Congressman" and found out he is not one of ours. I looked some more and found this. It was very intertaining in an insulting sort of way, so im off to call my local paper and share the fun.

[Sean]

I too received the call from tom Cole just tonight. Why would a Rep Congressman from Oklahoma want to nominate a card carrying Union Electrician from New Mexico to his committee? I am going to see if I have any dead relatives in OK District 4 so I can cast my vote against him!!

Thanks to the Blog for saving me time. Luckily I am skeptical enough I didn't need it to save money...

[Mark]

I got the voicemail from Tom Cole's office this afternoon! At my work number in which I don't give out to people. I think they got my number off of the national do not call list! I signed on to that a few months ago and put my work number in as well. Stupid! I'm sure glad that we have forums like these to warn others about this.

[Bryan]

I have been receiving phone calls for about three months now from Tom Cole's "office" about how he wants to recognize me. I was suspicious (I had only been in business a few months), but somewhat interested, so I returned the call. I should note that I live in Oklahoma (Tom Cole is our Congressman).

Once I returned the call, I realized almost immediately that I was talking to a telemarketer, not someone from Tom Cole's office at all. As a republican, this is especially offensive to me. I understand fund-raising is important, and there are similar devices used by other elected officals. However, perhaps the most offensive part to me about this is just how blatant the lie is that is hiding the request for money! I would much more prefer that the request for money be direct, and not hidden behind some fake award.

[Susan]

Count me in on this one....got the call as I was rushing out of the house yesterday on my way to work. Didn't know who TOm Cole was til I got home last night and saw the fax they sent me asking me to accept their award and become their official representatative from Oregon! And yes, I was invited to attend a spring dinner with Bush...which of course was tempting if nothing else so I could be thrown out when I told him what I really thought of him and his nasty name calling republicans who are trying to swindle money out of us hard working little guys in the name of putting "those liberal democrats" to shame. I am an Independent, asked where they got my name, the telemarketer could or would not tell me. Said they get their lists from the Chamber, which I do not belong to. I've had a small biz for 5 years and this is my first honorary award! This should be illegal, does anyone know if we can do a class action lawsuit against these guys for peddling or something? Count me in if we can, this shouldn't be allowed to happen to us just because they are cronies of the Bush Cartel.

[Jamie]

The internet saves us again. Like everyone else here I got a call from Tom Cole about getting a National Leaderhsip Award. Google to the rescue as I found this page. I know I'm going to contact my local chamber of commerce to alert them to this scam. Like this lifetime libral needed another reason to vote against a republican. Thanks for posting the information about this scam and saving all our time and money!

[Bruce Boyd]

Thanks for the blog. I have been called twice, both by Tom Cole. Yeah, Google to the rescue. I had to insert the word "scam" to get the URLs I needed to get here. The big question though..... Are the politicians themselves pulling this scam; or is this a full-blown criminal con illegally using the politicians' names?

[Bill]

Hey! Come on--how many of you have won this fine award TWICE within 4 months? Huh? Top that! I got my second award notice today. I probably won't be receiving any gavel due to my rudeness, though. Darn!

[Trickster]

let's see how i can break this case open. number 1 all the messages are left by infocision. they have call centers in ohio, west virginia, and also pennslyvania. most of them are in ohio and the main office is in akron ohio. 2. all the inbound is taken by infocision. don't give the people a hard time on the phone, they are telemarketers trying to make a living. what you say to them holds no merrit to anyone. contact steve brubaker senior vice president of coperate affairs. remember these congressmen agree to this, its very lieing and deceptive but they do it for a living. take out telemarketing in this country and look at all the lost taxes that are getting paid by them. last i leave you a copy of the script.

hello my name is script viewer calling for congressman tom cole and the national republican congressional committee in washington. We wanted to reconize joe with our National Leadership award and i need to speak with him about a press release we want to send out. please have joe call me back as soon as possible at 1877-213-0603 thank you.

[Jacob]

God bless Google for directing me here! I'm partners in an LLC and I got a call today from 'a respresentative of Tom Cole' asking for my partner's information so they could put her name in a press release. When I asked why she was nominated and not me as well and where did you get our information anyways, the guy got all snippy. I guess I'm not Tom Cole material.

[Kathy]

Thank you very much for the time you put into researching this scam and sharing your findings. I have received one message per day - each from a different person - letting me know Congressman Cole wanted to recognize me in a press release for a National Leadership award. It sounded like a fraudulent call from the get-go. Another interesting point is that I'm on the state and national Do Not Call list.

Thank you again and God Bless!

[Lori]

Wow, my boss just got the same call from that "nice" Tom Cole!! Hmmm...wonder if I should give him the message; he might believe it is a legitimate prize and get an even swellier head! Yikes!

[Mark]

Thanks for the website. I got the message on my voice mail, knew it was a scam, but love having a place to publicly shame these guys. I"m a long time republican and this is example A1 of how the party has lost it's way and looks like morons.

Why don't we just start selling knives on infomercials?

[Jeff]

I got my call today. If these political figures know this is going on they shuold be thrown out of office. It is hard to believe the things that go on today and are accepted.

[Dr. Fred Lord]

Count me in with the cast of thousands. My wife, who has a marvelous ability to pretty much tune out the political BS that passes for public discourse in this great nation from time to time, had no idea what was going on and called me at work with the message. This blog is the result of the inevitable Google search and I add my thanks to the rest of all y'all for the existence of this information. The thing is, I got a similar thing from another congressman a few years ago, so I was already suspicious. The nerve of some peoples' children.

[Robert Dickson]

It's nice to see that I'm not the only one who is disgusted by this whole thing. If a charity tried deceptive tactics like this, they would be nailed to the wall by the same politicians who are currently using them for their own gain.

[Pete Troy]

Thanks for the heads up. Like most here I was quick to turn to Google: Congressman Tom Cole, and finding your Blog.

Thanks for the Certificate. I PhotoShop'd my name onto it to save me the aggrivation of returning their call.

Cleveland, Ohio 3/28/2007

[Steve]

I am disappointed to learn that I probably got the call because I started a business. I was sure it was because I had sent a letter to the president a few years ago. With all the wars he's waging, I congratulated him for at least winning one: his war on the environment. I already received a signed photo and a thank you note.

[Bruce Cates]

I received my call yesterday on the answering machine. Had to play it a couple of times to believe what they were saying. My thanks to Google and Flyte Blog for saving me the return call.