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Hillary Hater Makes Robo Calls in South Carolina
We've gotten reports from two TPM readers in South Carolina that they received a negative robo call this morning about Hillary Clinton. Here's TPM reader RB's description:
I am listening to a robocall smear against Hillary Clinton repeating all kinds of rumors from the Bill Clinton years, like an FBI agent said on inauguration day that Hillary Clinton was in a fury--screaming and ranting because she couldn’t have Al Gore’s office, “when Bill dropped his pants” with Monica Lewisky and his “harem in the White House,” she had “affairs with Vince Foster,” etc. The call repeats “Can you trust her?” over and over. Says things like Hillary treats women like they are “invisible.”Caller ID said the number was “unavailable,” but at the end of the call, the voice says, “Robert Morrow on behalf of everybody who has been violated by Hillary and Bill…Hillary sure says a lot of things, but can you trust her…”
TPM Reader SB also got a call from a Robert Morrow this morning, which he described this way: "This morning we got a robocall -- recorded message -- about Hillary Clinton. It talked about Vincent Foster and about cats." The caller ID said "out of area," he says.
So who is Robert Morrow? And how many calls should South Carolinians expect from him?
Well, he seems to be a kind of amateur smear artist, a self-employed securities trader who works from home in Austin, Texas, and who "describes himself as one of the nation's premier experts on Hillary and Bill Clinton," according to a Chicago Tribune piece on "Hillary haters" this summer. He's somewhat infamous in journalistic circles for his frequent emails. Luckily enough, TPM is on his mailing list, so we got his latest, which had the subject line, "Hillary was screwing BOTH of her law partners Vince Foster and Webb Hubbell (Chelsea) & Hillary is a lesbian (bisexual, really)." From the Tribune:
"You've got to believe there's going to be a thousand people like me in the general election exposing the Clintons' track record of violating people and criminality," said Morrow, who calls the former First Couple "sociopaths and thugs."
I gave Mr. Morrow, who's contribued $1,000 to Ron Paul's campaign, a ring this morning to ask about the calls, but he wasn't in. We'll let you know if he gets back to us.
Morrow doesn't seem to be affiliated with any particular groups, which raises the question of whether this onslaught was self-financed and whether he jumped through the appropriate legal hoops.
And if any more readers have gotten a similar call, please let us know at tips(at)tpmmuckraker.com.

You're not going to get any sympathy for Hillary. The game is over. She came across last night as a cold, hard shrew -which she is - with nothing to back her up. Hillary is trying to put old style politics in 2008. Thats the conflict.
January 22, 2008 11:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
Isn't Robert Morrow the doctor from Northern Exposure?
January 22, 2008 12:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, since the game's not played like that in Chicago, the Obama campaign couldn't have anything to do with it (despite the commenter's views above). So, no need to disavow anything. Feelin the unity!
January 22, 2008 12:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
You miss the point... its dirty, nasty, politics and I am sick of it...I have a tendency to intensly dislike the messenger..reminds me of all the little "hot snots" and their nasty little tongues and rumors in high school. Then they spout Bible verse and Christian morals...can't fool God..! Stick to the issues not the personal attacks...you think what we have now, in the White House, is any better...?
January 22, 2008 12:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wanted Biden. Now I'm supporting Edwards and do not carry a brief for HRC.
That said, I have to also say that these tactics are disgusting and should be criminally prosecuted.
I'd hope that any victim of these tactics -- Dem or GOP or whatever -- would respond quickly and forcefully with mail, robocalls, press conferences or all of the above.
January 22, 2008 12:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Apparently the South Carolina robo-call laws aren't enough to scare even individuals.
January 22, 2008 12:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
I missed something...what about cats?
January 22, 2008 12:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
If Obama can't handle the heat from Hillary he has not hope in the general. His present votes and slum lord past will be put out there loud and proud by the GOP slime machine. He sounded like Kerry last night defending his votes back in 04, look where that got us.
This Vince Foster being mudered crap was found to be false by Ken Starr and the indy cousnel before him. All this has been out there for years, and Hillary is used to fighting back against such smut.
January 22, 2008 12:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
chabuka - you're not alone. I'm sick and tired of Rovian politics. UGH. Enough is enough.
January 22, 2008 12:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Get used to it--this is what the general election will be like.
What WOULD be nice (but will never happen) is if ALL the candidates respond by denouncing these calls--not just the intended target.
And Rob Morrow WAS the Dr. in Northern Exposure.
January 22, 2008 12:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
If Obama can't handle the heat from Hillary he has not hope in the general. His present votes and slum lord past will be put out there loud and proud by the GOP slime machine. He sounded like Kerry last night defending his votes back in 04, look where that got us.
This Vince Foster being mudered crap was found to be false by Ken Starr and the indy cousnel before him. All this has been out there for years, and Hillary is used to fighting back against such smut.
January 22, 2008 12:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry about the double post, there was a problem with my server here...
January 22, 2008 12:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
While not a fan of billary, I repudiate any tactics such as this one.
January 22, 2008 12:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
I called it, didn't I?
An entire generation for whom the tired old charges from 1992 are brand spanking new. The Hillary haters don't even have to bother to come up with new lies, they can sink her with the same ones they've been using for 16 years, with the added patina of respectability by claiming that "Hey, these charges have been around for 16 years so there must be something to them."
If Hillary really cares about a Democrat in the White House come January she must step aside. Or we all better get ready for a McCain/Romney administration.
January 22, 2008 12:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think this is the cats story:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,303808,00.html
Not exactly Carter-like levels of animal cruelty. (I doun wanna widdle bunny in my iddy biddy boat).
January 22, 2008 12:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
gcs---
Please step away from the computer...Your meds are calling!!!
January 22, 2008 12:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
The one thing I am sure of is the political satirists are gonna make a kill'n off this election.
January 22, 2008 12:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I made up my mind yesterday-Hillary got my vote. Obama's defence in face of attacks from Clinton and Edwards was reminiscent of Kerry. I want a fighter in face of the smear that will surely come from the GOP smear merchants.
January 22, 2008 12:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey Jimmijazz: you're a sexist pig.
January 22, 2008 12:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow, I've seen spin before (as I've recently been alive), but that cat story spin is AMAZING stuff.
The campaigns ought to snap that writer up!
daryl wrote on January 22, 2008 12:29 PM:
I think this is the cats story:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,303808,00.html
--------------------------------------------------
January 22, 2008 12:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
I got one of these calls today. It was so long that my answering machine cut it off!
It sounded pretty amateurish to me.
January 22, 2008 12:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Hill had a profile of Morrow last Thursday - sounds like quite an interesting person!
The Hill
January 22, 2008 12:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
The link didn't work:
http://thehill.com/cover-stories/anti-clinton-activist-and-ron-paul-fan-delivers-rants-from-texas-home-2008-01-17.html
January 22, 2008 1:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
A steady drip of this will eventually erode her support. She's irritating to a lot of people, policy aside. A stream of slime will amplify her negatives, even after the sources of the slime are considered.
January 22, 2008 1:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry about the double off-topic, strident post, there was a problem with my server here...
Fixed that for ya.
January 22, 2008 1:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Folks if Hillary is elected this is what the Presidential election is going to look like. Read the post from yesterday about the $250 millionFreedowm Watch foundation set up by Republican affiliates.
The Republicans cannot wait to run against Hillary. They abhor nothing more than running against Obama - his ability to garner independent votes is going to hurt in the general election.
January 22, 2008 1:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was wondering when the lesbian thing would come up ... thought it might be in the context of the cats, however.
January 22, 2008 1:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Has anyone else noticed that "Robert Morrow" is an anagram for "Barack Obama?" Oh, wait. Never mind.
January 22, 2008 1:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Socks the Cat
Abandoned by the Clintons when the poor cat was no longer valuable to the Clintons.
January 22, 2008 1:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
After the dirty tricks at the caucuses, I certainly have no sympathy.
January 22, 2008 1:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
The general election IS GOING TO BE NASTY, horribly, viciously nasty.
Hillary is the only Dem. who can take it, and dish it out . I don't particularly like her baggage, but I'm with her on policy and principal. I would almost prefer Obama or Edwards but we need to win.
HILLARY CLINTON 08!!!!!
January 22, 2008 1:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
So, let's remember just what happened to the smear campaign when it was taking place not that long ago....
"The apparent resurgence for Mr. Clinton has come swiftly -- and is surprisingly pronounced. Not only has the months long slide in his personal ratings halted but, in a marked shift from only a week ago, Americans also trust him more as a leader, like him more, are less inclined to think he committed perjury before the grand jury and increasingly believe that the scandal is a private matter that has little to do with his job as President... 78 percent of Americans, and 65 percent of Republicans, said [the videotape] should never have been released. People said they objected to the committee's prying into what they regard as a private matter and that it was unnecessary to make public salacious details about sex. In addition, 65 percent of Americans said Republicans in Congress were unfairly trying to weaken the President and the Democrats; 39 percent of Republicans saw it that way as well. (The New York Times September 25, 1998)
January 22, 2008 1:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Do not look Hillary Clinton in the eye--not even through your tv set. NEVER look the Devil in the eye. You'll end up like Vince Foster.
January 22, 2008 1:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why is this an important story?
January 22, 2008 1:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Green heron: Do not look any Republican candidate in the eye either, you end up like 3,000 dead American soldiers and a trashed economy.
January 22, 2008 1:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Politics ain't beanbag.
Lying is okay.
You give it.
Expect it in return.
Anybody know where I can send $$ to aid the smear?
January 22, 2008 2:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Robert Morrow is a freelance loon, and scary crazy.
I wouldn't believe for a moment that he needs (or would condescend to) any coordination or assistance or even tacit encouragement from anyone, least of all Obama's campaign, to make these attacks.
This is in no way intra-party dirty tricks. If he's associated with any candidate it's Ron Paul, and Morrow is a GOP precinct chair (bet those caucuses are fun to attend!)
Click on my name for a link to The Hill's recent profile of this nutcase. Or just google his name + austin. For what it's worth, his personal contact info is all over the place if you want to be added to his rant list.
January 22, 2008 2:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jeez, people, its not "dirty politics," its just one lone guy with OCD in need of some medication and a restraining order, not necessarily in that order.
January 22, 2008 2:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama had better be careful. If he wins a few more primaries he might end up clinically depressed. Before you know it, he will have comitted suicide in Ft. Mercy Park.
January 22, 2008 2:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hillary is a part of the problem as she and Bill have been incredibly nasty. Playing to her base of partisan Democrats is only poisoning her chances against the Republicans in the GE, as moderates, including women who won't vote on gender, don't like her. She'll neither have the public or media sympathy on her side in the GE either.
Hillary may be working her name recognition and Bill's status for the primary, but all that turns against her in the General Election. She'll lose against McCain.
January 22, 2008 2:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
There was, or is, a "Robert Morrow" who frequently posts RW, anti-American comments at TheWashingtonNote. He's a real cheerleader for the downfall of the US.
January 22, 2008 2:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
After what Billary did to Stan Lee I've become even more disgusted with them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9hpMhcIcC8
BTW - The evidence used to rule Vince Foster's death a suicide has since been shown to be totally unreliable.
F.B.I. Abandons Disputed Test for Bullets From Crime Scenes
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/02/politics/02bullets.html
That doesn't make his death a homicide but it is no longer a confirmed suicide either.
January 22, 2008 2:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
If she knew she would get away with it, would Hillary kill to gain the presidency?
January 22, 2008 2:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Buk - I believe the question isn't whether she would kill, but how many would she kill.
January 22, 2008 2:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
SC politics attracts all of them doesn't it..
January 22, 2008 2:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
To quote something I saw on another blog about these calls :
"Unfortunately he doesn't have the details on how Hillary had lesbian sex with a female Bigfoot on a UFO in the Bermuda Triangle. . .
. . . but I'm sure he will soon."
It seems he's also leaving his cut-and-pasted diatribes on every web-page that allows comments. Some hobby you got there buddy.
My guess is he became an "expert" on Hillary after reading a few of the hate-based books or websites devoted to her. The great thing about conspiracy theories is you can make claims and not provide evidence, because the LACK of evidence only proves how deep the conspiracy goes-- "It's TOO perfect-- they expertly covered up the evidence!"
January 22, 2008 3:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh by all means, let's not nominate Hillary because it will upset the Robert Morrows of the world. I think it's important that people like him have a voice in the Democratic nominating process. What incredibly twisted logic.
Maybe if Obama gets nominated, and they start these kind of attacks on him, we can quickly withdraw the nomination and pick someone else, until we get a candidate the right wing hate squads like.
January 22, 2008 4:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
One of the reasons your candidate Obama is tanking is because of his illiterate, rabid, Hillary hating followers, like the ones that post on this blog. They remind me of George W. Bush's crazed followers, who make excuses for everything he does.
Fortunately, it will be over in two weeks. And if you can't support Clinton, then pick a Republican and watch the country go to hell.
Women voters will put her over the top. For once, you're thankfully irrelevant.
January 22, 2008 4:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Re jimijazz, the first commenter: I cannot stand when people use words like "shrew" and "shrill" to describe HRC. I do not think that such terms are a valid part of the political dialogue. They are loaded, gendered terms. The public won't stand for racially-charged criticism of Senator Obama, and it should not stand for sexist claptrap about Hillary either. Jimijazz, you are a pig.
January 22, 2008 5:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Remember, it was Hillary who led the Clinton's machines dirty tricks effort when they smeared, and retaliated against Paula Jones, Monica Lewinski, Juanita Broadrick, Kathleen Wiley, Gennifer Flowers, Sally Perdue, Dolly Browning etc.
She sent her surrogate, James Carville out on the pundit circuit to suggest "walk through a trailer park with $100 bills and see what crawls out" (with reference to Paula Jones)
Did she apologize to these woman once the truth came out about Bill philandering compulsions? No.
And even after she knew the truth about this she remained a silent enabler while Bill looked the nation in the eye and said "I did not have sex with that woman...Monica Lewinski."
Her character and Modus operandi are remarkable consistent when it comes to gaining and maintaining power.
Karl Rove already announced the GOP HRC strategy is just to raise her negatives a few more points. Looks like he will not have to as the Clintons are now fanning the flames of disgust within their own party.
Now her new surrogates have the gall to launch "sisterhood loyalty" attacks accusing Oprah of betraying woman.
I hope the dems realize what they are getting back into before they lose the chance to change directions and nominate an electable candidate.
January 22, 2008 7:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Who donated to Ron Paul"
Who cares? There was an article recently and I really can't find it because all I remember is the line ", a Democrat" (an issue not relevant to the story but designed to make the reader think the person is some kind of "dirty dem" for having a dissenting opinion), but the point is it's an irrelevant statement.
What if he had donated to Dennis Kucinich because he (robert morrow) had ALSO seen a UFO and wanted the conspiracy to be uncovered? Would you mention that?
Loonies will associate with anything, but that doesn't mean anything will associate back.
January 23, 2008 1:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry I can't edit my previous comment but here's the story, I did find it a second too late:
http://reddit.com/r/politics/info/65vxf/comments/c02xmbu
January 23, 2008 1:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
bm wrote on January 22, 2008 1:30 PM:
Socks the Cat
Abandoned by the Clintons when the poor cat was no longer valuable to the Clintons.
-------------------------------
Seriously? The Clinton Haters say this with the same serious they say all that crap about Vince Foster? IIRC, Socks was given a good home in Washington, DC by someone on Bill's staff who was particularly fond of him. Why? Because the Clintons couldn't take him to New York. He was Chelsea's cat, and I'm sure she concurred with this decision.
January 23, 2008 9:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
These calls are an epidemic and are invading the privacy of All American Voters.
Our members are taking a stand and saying enough is enough at the National Political Do Not Contact Registry at StopPoliticalCalls.org.
Here is a quote from a member this morning:
"I find it very frustrating... I tend to get calls at the WORST time. I have a one year old daughter, and it NEVER fails that the phone will ring when I put her down for a nap or for bed. Also my vote is PRIVATE... so who do you think you are calling with a survey to find out who I am voting for!!! Stop calling me."
Regards,
Shaun Dakin
CEO and Founder
http://www.stoppoliticalcalls.org
January 23, 2008 9:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
John Edwards has tremendous steel, with good manners.
He also has the intelligence to talk clearly without rambling, perhaps because he thinks clearly.
January 23, 2008 9:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Got the same call this morning from the same guy.
January 23, 2008 4:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, I'm from Charleston, SC and I got the same call. I got to tell ya', it was hilarious to listen to the ramblings as he jumped from Hillary's sexual liasons to Hillary being someone who doesn't care about cats. I gotta' tell ya', it was a hoot. Certainly didn't hury her...made me almost want to vote for her this Saturday. I might have if it hadn't been that I already voted for someone fromn Arkansas this past Saturday. LMBO ;-)
January 23, 2008 7:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
First of all, who cares if 83% of Republicans hate Hillary? Do you think these cretins are going to vote for any Democratic candidate? (If you do, by the way, you're as ignorant as they are.)
Secondly, does anyone believe that, whoever the Democratic nominee is, he or she isn't going to come in for slime attacks just as vile as those directed as the Clintons, Jimmy Carter, Michael Dukakis, Al Gore, John Kerry, etc. etc. etc.?
The Republican ugliness has grown more despicable every election. They are in such a desperate state this time around that the next year is going to be worse than anything we have seen, regardless of who the candidate is.
January 23, 2008 7:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
I personally despise these tactics in politics but considering the way the Clintons have acted throughout the past month or so, their supporters can hardly complain now that the GOP is using smear tactics against them. Now a Ron Paul supporter is smearing them with robocalls, oh well, that's hardball politics.
January 23, 2008 10:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
This sort of thing is easier than ever before. I know of several services that allow users to upload an mp3 and a phone list and start making calls on the fly for pennies per call.
January 23, 2008 10:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
I bet you hill and bill let this shit loose so as to ligitimize some finger pointing in the opposite direction, them two whores don't know their limits.
January 24, 2008 2:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
This could only have been done on behalf of Republicans, whether sanctioned or not. A Democratic candidate would never stoop this low. It was one of the most vile, disgusting things I have ever heard. Let's get all the lies and horrible acts of the current administration on a recording and let it loose to the registered Republicans out there, and ask if we should trust anyone in that party????? At least that recording would be telling the truth!
January 24, 2008 7:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
I picked up the phone yesterday (1/24) to hear this vile drivel. Listened to the entire spiel just to hear who would recycle the same, tired wingnut paranoia.
I have no idea whether anyone (other than Robert Morrow) was behind the smear call. But, it confirms my worst fears of a Clinton candidacy: we'll be starting in a hole before her first speech as a candidate. When nearly half the voters begin with a negative view of the candidate, we'll be fighting an uphill battle the entire campaign.
IF she wins then it'll be a narrow victory with little mandate. All her "experience" won't be able to change a polarized electorate into a positive force for change.
But, the best reason not to nominate Sen. Clinton is because this election (and the Supreme Court) is too important to risk losing to the rabid right wingnuts.
January 24, 2008 9:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
I am voting for the Democrat in November, whoever it is. That said Hilary is not my first choice this Saturday. I received one of those robo calls and it is vile. Hopefully no reasonable person buys this junk. When the press and everyone "piles on" I am almost convinced to vote for her as a protest ! Thanks for TPM
January 24, 2008 3:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Received the call this morning at 9:40. Caller ID reads all 000-000-0000.
"High" points from the call:
"FBI agent Gary Aldrich states that on Inauguration Day 1993, Hillary was furious because she couldn't have VP Gore's office.
Hillary treats people like they're invisible; can you trust her?
Covered up Bill's rape of Juanita Broderick.
Hired Jack Paladino to terrorize Kathleen Willey; nail-gunned her car tires and stole or killed her cat, Bullseye. Hillary thinks cats are expendable -- can you trust her?
After Bill exposed himself to Paula Jones, FOB James Carville said, "You drag a $100 bill through a trailer park and you never know what you're gonna get."
Hillary told Time magazine in 1996 that she was considering adopting a child. This was to draw attention away from Bill's affair with Monica and the harem he had at the White House. During this time, Hillary was having affairs of her own with Vince Foster and Webb Hubbell. (yuck)
This message was paid for by Robert Morrow, on behalf everyone who has been violated and abused by Hillary and Bill and treated like they were invisible. Can you trust them?"
What a whack-job! If this pant-load lunatic expects me to believe this flight of fancy,he had better first pull up my skirt and make way for the monkeys to fly out my ass.
January 24, 2008 7:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
512-306-1510
Know what that is? It's Rob Morrow's telephone number - found it in another post at another website.
Told him to leave SC alone, we can decide who to vote for without his trash - not a pleasant fellow....
January 24, 2008 7:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
"She came directly to me as soon as she hit the door. I had been there only a few minutes, I only wanted to