Liberals Using U.S. Campaign Software

[scribblet]

Oh no, made in U.S. software, couldn't they find any homegrown software? My goodness, they must be in 'lockstep' with the U.S. now -

http://www.ngpsoftware.com/products/database

[jdobbin]

Oh no, made in U.S. software, couldn't they find any homegrown software? My goodness, they must be in 'lockstep' with the U.S. now.

The Liberals have used U.S. made software for years. It is called Microsoft and Apple.

Obama uses Canadian-made software. It is called Blackberry.

[scribblet]

Actually I was referring to software, not hardware. However, I see nothing wrong with purchasing the best program there is, but my point was, if this had been the CPC there would have been screams about Harper being in 'lockstep' with the U.S. etc.

[Smallc]

Some people would scream...rational ones wouldn't.

[scribblet]

True ... the double standards are quite apparent.

[scribblet]

Well, it hit the Globe and Mail yesterday - oh dear, say it isn't so nice ponzi scheme LOL

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politi...article1201268/

Conservatives are crying foul over an attempt by Liberal senators to stick taxpayers with the bill for a $60,000 voter-tracking database.

The Tories point out that none of the Liberal senators will have to stand for election, and suspect the pitch was a backdoor attempt to have the Senate pay for technology that would help Liberal MPs politically. Tories have long boasted of their prowess at using similar software to win the past two election campaigns.

Having a large database of potential supporters is a key element of modern campaigns as it allows parties to target e-mails and letters seeking financial donations and identifies supportive voters on election day.

Conservative Senator Gerald Comeau was in a closed meeting of the Senate's internal economy committee several weeks ago when Senator Grant Mitchell requested the funding on behalf of his Liberal colleagues.

“It came as a surprise to me,” said Mr. Comeau, who described the proposal as unacceptable. “I cannot see why members of the Senate of Canada would want to have a voter ID program. We're not in the business of identifying voters. That, to me, is a party issue.”

Mr. Comeau said the Liberals should not have even made the request. “Why should the taxpayers, through the Senate administration, take on contracts that are basically destined to benefit a party?” he asked.

The Liberal Senate caucus asked the Senate to cover the cost of a sole-source contract with a U.S. firm to purchase software called the Voter Activation Network.

In a memo to the committee obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers' Federation, Mr. Mitchell said the software was not meant for electioneering, but rather to help senators stay in contact with Canadians through their Liberal Senate Forum website. In a statement, Mr. Mitchell confirmed making the request and that it was turned down.

“Ultimately the decision was taken not to proceed and consequently the computer program was never purchased,” the statement said. However, the senator refused to be interviewed about the proposal. Other Liberal senators on the committee were also unavailable for interviews.

The Liberal Party already uses the same U.S. company's technology to track supporters, but the Conservatives feared the senators' proposal was an attempt to gather new contacts for the party's national database.

Daniel Lauzon, a spokesman for the Liberals, said the senators acted on their own. “The Liberal Party was not aware of the senator's plans – and no sharing of information was anticipated.”

cont...

Kevin Gaudet, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers' Federation, said Elections Canada should investigate. Mr. Gaudet said he isn't prepared to accept the Liberal assurances that there was no partisan intent. “It's those types of lines that raise the type of joke, ‘How do you know when a politician's lying: When his lips are moving.' ”

[scribblet]

Well, it hit the Globe and Mail yesterday - oh dear, say it isn't so nice ponzi scheme LOL

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politi...article1201268/

Conservatives are crying foul over an attempt by Liberal senators to stick taxpayers with the bill for a $60,000 voter-tracking database.

The Tories point out that none of the Liberal senators will have to stand for election, and suspect the pitch was a backdoor attempt to have the Senate pay for technology that would help Liberal MPs politically. Tories have long boasted of their prowess at using similar software to win the past two election campaigns.

Having a large database of potential supporters is a key element of modern campaigns as it allows parties to target e-mails and letters seeking financial donations and identifies supportive voters on election day.

Conservative Senator Gerald Comeau was in a closed meeting of the Senate's internal economy committee several weeks ago when Senator Grant Mitchell requested the funding on behalf of his Liberal colleagues.

“It came as a surprise to me,” said Mr. Comeau, who described the proposal as unacceptable. “I cannot see why members of the Senate of Canada would want to have a voter ID program. We're not in the business of identifying voters. That, to me, is a party issue.”

Mr. Comeau said the Liberals should not have even made the request. “Why should the taxpayers, through the Senate administration, take on contracts that are basically destined to benefit a party?” he asked.

The Liberal Senate caucus asked the Senate to cover the cost of a sole-source contract with a U.S. firm to purchase software called the Voter Activation Network.

In a memo to the committee obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers' Federation, Mr. Mitchell said the software was not meant for electioneering, but rather to help senators stay in contact with Canadians through their Liberal Senate Forum website. In a statement, Mr. Mitchell confirmed making the request and that it was turned down.

“Ultimately the decision was taken not to proceed and consequently the computer program was never purchased,” the statement said. However, the senator refused to be interviewed about the proposal. Other Liberal senators on the committee were also unavailable for interviews.

The Liberal Party already uses the same U.S. company's technology to track supporters, but the Conservatives feared the senators' proposal was an attempt to gather new contacts for the party's national database.

Daniel Lauzon, a spokesman for the Liberals, said the senators acted on their own. “The Liberal Party was not aware of the senator's plans – and no sharing of information was anticipated.”

cont...

Kevin Gaudet, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers' Federation, said Elections Canada should investigate. Mr. Gaudet said he isn't prepared to accept the Liberal assurances that there was no partisan intent. “It's those types of lines that raise the type of joke, ‘How do you know when a politician's lying: When his lips are moving.' ”

[punked]

The NDP use software built by an NDPer in Canada.

[jdobbin]

The NDP use software built by an NDPer in Canada.

So they don't use Microsoft or Apple products?

[punked]

So they don't use Microsoft or Apple products?

Not to track supporters, or identify voters like we are talking about.

[Remiel]

You guys honestly see some kind of similarity between software for keeping track of supporters and advisors telling you how to run your campaign? Like, really? Sheesh...

[CAMP]

The NDP use software built by an NDPer in Canada.

Might be why they hardly ever win...lol

[Keepitsimple]

Does anyone have a rational explanation for why a Liberal Senator would ask for funding for the software when senators aren't elected and don't need voters?

Conservative Senator Gerald Comeau was in a closed meeting of the Senate's internal economy committee several weeks ago when Senator Grant Mitchell requested the funding on behalf of his Liberal colleagues.

Edited July 1, 2009 by Keepitsimple

[jdobbin]

Does anyone have a rational explanation for why a Liberal Senator would ask for funding for the software when senators aren't elected and don't need voters?

I know the Tories keep calling it a voter tracking system but is sold as a constituent tracking system and senators, just the same as a MPs, have constituents.

[punked]

Might be why they hardly ever win...lol

You do know right now they run 2 of the 10 provinces and are official opposition in 2 more right?

[Keepitsimple]

I know the Tories keep calling it a voter tracking system but is sold as a constituent tracking system and senators, just the same as a MPs, have constituents.

That's a bit of a stretch - a big stretch - no, actually it's just wrong. Senators are appointed and represent an entire province - they don't have a riding and therefore don't have constituents. I'm sure very, very few people know - and even less care - which senators represent their province.

[jdobbin]

That's a bit of a stretch - a big stretch - no, actually it's just wrong. Senators are appointed and represent an entire province - they don't have a riding and therefore don't have constituents. I'm sure very, very few people know - and even less care - which senators represent their province.

Their riding is the province and that is where their constituents are.

The software as far I can tell tracks who calls, writes, drops by or participates in forums with a politician. It collects this data by gender, age, issue and the like. Indeed, it can be used as a vital tool for elections but it is an office management tool for constituent tracking.

It is no different from any office of any government official I know. In the absence of this software, the data is still collected in this manner even by Tories. Before the advent of computers in offices, data in MPs and Senators offices was stored on cards.

The Tories in the Senate are free to deny funding for the software but they are joking if they say they don't collect data on people who are in contact with them.

[Shady]

Actually I was referring to software, not hardware. However, I see nothing wrong with purchasing the best program there is, but my point was, if this had been the CPC there would have been screams about Harper being in 'lockstep' with the U.S. etc.

Unfortunately, but not suprisingly, your point sailed way past Dobbin's tiny little brain.

[jdobbin]

Unfortunately, but not suprisingly, your point sailed way past Dobbin's tiny little brain.

Ah, there's that personalizing we have come to expect from the right wing conservative Republican supporters.

I have already gone over this previously that the Liberals already use software from the U.S. with no problems.

Edited July 1, 2009 by jdobbin

[Smallc]

Well, seems like whatever they're doing is helping with funding. According to a party post on Facebook, the Liberals took in 3.9M in the 2nd quarter.

[M.Dancer]

Well, seems like whatever they're doing is helping with funding. According to a party post on Facebook, the Liberals took in 3.9M in the 2nd quarter.

Do the doners know they gave ?

[Smallc]

I'm pretty sure that they do.

[M.Dancer]

I'm pretty sure that they do.

With the Liberals you can't be too careful. Perhaps someone should call everyone who the Liberals claim gave just bto be sure.