Is this Repub campaign ad PROOF that Democratic phones are being tapped?

[Richard Steele]

(Thanks to DUer 'NewsJock' for posting in LBN: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2573261)

From the Utica Observer-Dispatch: http://www.uticaod.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061020/NEWS/61020019

SNIP> Three Central New York television stations have chosen
not to run an advertisement from the National Republican
Congressional Committee that alleges Michael Arcuri made
calls to a sex hotline while at a conference in New York City.
...
Documents provided by both the NRCC and the Arcuri campaign show
a call lasting less than a minute to an 800 number that is now a sex line.

Arcuri said that number was dialed by accident by Sean Byrne,
the executive director of the New York Prosecutor Training Institute,
who was meeting with him and others in the hotel room.
Byrne also said that was the case, and records show immediately
following the call to the sex line, he called the same seven digits,
but with a 518 area code, not an 800 prefix.
ENDSNIP<

So, long story short:
A repub is trying to run a campaign ad.
A campaign ad BASED ENTIRELY on a detailed knowledge of the phone calls
made from a hotel room his opponent briefly used.

The fact that the call was OBVIOUSLY just a misdialed number
is hardly the point, in my opinion.

What I want to know is: HOW does a repub have such detailed
knowledge of his opponent's hotel room phone records in
the first place?

Think about it:
The Democratic candidate has a meeting in a hotel, while at a conference in NYC.
Someone in the room dials a wrong number, hangs up in under 60 seconds...
AND THE REPUBS KNOW ALL ABOUT IT.

[buddysmellgood]

1. Yep...I think you nailed it.

[Richard Steele]

18. Not this time, I'm afraid. See #2 below. Sorry.

[MADem]

2. He got the guy's travel files with a FOIA is how--it's called OPPO

research. Good thing the guy didn't order any booze with his room service, because the'd rag him for that too.

Anyone can see that stuff. It's public record. When you travel on the government dime, you file a travel claim, and attach receipts. Some turd went through every page, called every number, and eagerly thought they hit paydirt because they didn't realize this guy often used a government phone card where you dial in an 800 number first, and he transposed and spaced out. If he were going to call a sex line that conveniently had the exact same seven digits as his office, he'd surely stay on the phone longer than a minute--that's not enough time to give your credit card details, fachrissake!

There's no tapping going on here in this case. This was simple, rather shitty oppo work. Emphasis on the word SHITTY. It shows how desperate they are, first, that they would latch on to this story, and second, that they would try to flack it knowing full well that it is a load of horseshit.

Of course, every time the story is repeated, one idiot who can't read or who doesn't pay attention thinks the guy calls sex lines on the government dime....which is why they keep pulling this crap out of their behinds...

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

6. It's pretty stupid.

It's one of those things that's *technically* correct. Technically, he *did* dial a phone sex line on the government dime. But the people who put this together are morons. The backlash from this is almost certainly going to be larger than whatever damage the ad does itself.

Honestly, if this is all they've got left, I think we're in pretty good shape.

[Tin Man]

8. Thanks for your clear explanation

I agree your scenario is most likely how the info was uncovered.

[Richard Steele]

13. Yes, I bet you're right. No "tapping" was necessary for this one. Thanks!

[unhappycamper]

3. Nice work.

Sir Authur would be proud.

[Richard Steele]

15. Upon further investigation, not so nice work after all.

Turns out those phone records would be public records,
and nothing illegal was necessary to get them.
I really thought I was on to something for a minute there!:silly:

[exlrrp]

4. Not necessarily proof....

But a damn good indication.
We already know the republicans will bug Democrats from way back in the Watergate days, break into their offices and steal their documents too. Its already been done by Republicans so they can't say "who, US??"
You bet the Republicans are bugging Democrats illegally, its a Republican tradition

[Richard Steele]

19. But not this time, it seems. See #2 above. Sorry.

[Canuckistanian]

5. Either that or they illegally obtained hotel phone records

A serious breach of privacy either way.

[onenote]

9. probably not -- see post #2

why don't people read the posts in a thread before they post?

[never cry wolf]

10. Exactly, or follow the links first

The ad, while a despicable attempt at deception, clearly states the phone call was on the hotel bill paid for by the county, obviously public record.

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. Holy shit!

This is frightening!

[Richard Steele]

17. Nope, I seem to have gotten worked up over nothing. See #2 above. Sorry.

[Bjorn Against]

11. self delete

[Frazzled Educator]

12. The Arcuris lived next door to my grandmother in Utica for ever

My grandmother is as close a family friend as anyone can be.

They both lived on James Street and Brinkerhoff Aveune, in a two family yellow house if my memory serves me well. His parents names are Fran and Freddy. My grandmother and my mother were either upstairs with Fran Arcuri, or downstair with Fran and Freddy.

My family, the Arcuris and the other next door neighbor on James Street (Mrs. Reilly, who I miss dearly because she was a wonderful woman) were the best of friends for the past 50 years.

My grandmother is 94 and still lives in Utica. My Cousin, Johnny, owns a restaurant on Pellatari Avenue, three blocks south of Bleeker Street called "Joe's."

My family can say they know the family every well.

This is pure bullshit what they are saying about Michael Arcuri. This is nonsense. They are good people and a wonderful family. When I visited my grandmother, The Arcuri's house was like a second home we were over there so much.

Give them hell, Michael. . .and when you're at your Aunt Fanny's grave. . .please tell them Isabella Cristalli misses her deeply.

[KittyWampus]

14. whaaaa.............. ?

[Richard Steele]

16. Sorry, much ado about nothing. See #2 above.

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

20. I'm going to lock this at the OP's request.

Please read post #2.

best,
wakemeupwhenitsover
DU Moderator