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Are Dems Looking to Sell Voter Info to Retailers?

Feb. 5, 2013 6:14pm
Report: Democrats Consider Selling Voter Data to Retailers & Activists Groups

President Barack Obama. (Getty Images).

Republicans lost big in 2012 for a number of reasons, chief among these being the left’s mastery of technology and acquiring voter data.

Voter data digging, when applied correctly, enables one to reach an enormous base. It also helps campaigns tweak their “get out the vote” efforts. However, as noted by several conservative commentators, the GOP’s attempts in 2012 to compete with Team Obama in this field ended in magnificent failure.

“No amount of planning to conduct Skype sessions or Google+ hangouts with activists or really cool plans to do snazzy demographically-targeted Facebook ads (hint: My mother can do those, too) or Internet radio advertising is going to overcome that basic deficiency,” writes conservative consultant Liz Mair.

“What will is actually recruiting genuine technologists from, you know, tech companies to come work on GOP campaigns. But this is something the GOP isn’t doing as well at as we should,” she adds, explaining what, she thinks, the GOP has been doing wrong.

The point of all this is to underscore the crucial role voter data plays in elections. It’s pretty obvious. Therefore, it comes as a bit of shock to read that Democrats are considering selling this data to major retailers and various activist groups.

No, really. From ProPublica:

Now, the record of what people told Democratic volunteers may go up for sale — and not just to political groups. Democrats are looking into whether credit card companies, retailers like Target or other commercial interests may want to buy the information. …

But local Democratic parties also have information about voters’ views and preferences collected over many campaign cycles. (We wrote about Minnesota’s data-collecting “Grandma Brigade” last month.) Some states have used this raw data to create sophisticated estimates of how likely any voter is to vote for a Democrat, support Barack Obama or have certain opinions, say, on abortion or gun control.

As the co-op moves into its second year of selling data in an already crowded marketplace, it’s looking for new potential clients — and companies who may use the data for commercial purposes, as opposed to political ones, are on the list.

“That’s one of our growth areas,” said Drew Brighton of TargetSmart Communications, which helps administer and market the Co-op’s data. “Over the next six months, we are going to go ahead and make the rounds with some corporate prospects.”

Brighton said retailers, for example, might be interested in figuring out if their customers are primarily Democrats or Republicans. “People want to know who shops in their stores,” he said.

Democrats involved with the co-op do not know what companies might be most interested in buying their voter data.

“What the co-op is doing is saying, ‘Look, there’s a wealth of information here, that could potentially benefit your corporation or your business interests,’” said Ken Martin, a member of the co-op’s board, and the chairman of Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

If Democrats go down this road and sell their voter data to retailers, they might as well kiss their data digging/tech edge goodbye.

“In the future, voters will become a lot more cautious about sharing that kind of information, once they realize that Democrats sold it for a few bucks.  Talk about killing the goose laying the golden eggs,” writes Hot Air’s Ed Morrissey.

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Featured image courtesy Getty Images.

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Comments (27)

  • media-bias-steals-elections
    Posted on February 6, 2013 at 8:56am

    Why would you buy something you can get on the internet for free? Just use the search term “voter registration” then whatever name you want to look at? OK, match that up with a phone book database?

    Why would you pay the Democrats for that?

    Report this comment

    media-bias-steals-elections  
  • betterpart
    Posted on February 6, 2013 at 3:08am

    No amount of technology can convince people to do anything or not. It all begins in the brain, that is, is ya ain’t got one you’ll vote for bo-bo.

    Report this comment

    betterpart  
  • RDavis49
    Posted on February 5, 2013 at 10:55pm

    This administration and the democrat party will trick, trade, rob, swindle, decieve or whatever it takes to get their hands on the all mighty dollar. So, yes, they likely are looking to sell you SUCKERS out and you deserve everything Obama and his goons do to you EVERYTHING…..

    Report this comment

    RDavis49  
  • Michael
    Posted on February 5, 2013 at 10:33pm

    I think that the 08 election was in favor of “the new black guy”. That got them started. During the term, he told everyone what they wanted to hear and set up his plan of attack for the 12 election. They had a well organized operation, whether it was illegal, legal or whatever, it made no difference. The attack mode of the left against the right was outstanding, they made people believe lies and the worst things that could be said about the right, and got away with it. It was by far the dirtiest campaigning that I have ever seen. If I was going to run for office, I would want these people working for me. Power and control was the motive and they made it work. What you are going to see now is going to be a more productive left because all of the promises will not be carried out and some form of control will be administered to change the government. It is bad enough now that almost all of the congress is in favor of this different government or they are afraid to stand up and fight it. After all, their career’s are on the line if they fight. The majority are going for the party in command. We, the citizens, will be supporting those who do not care to earn their own living because they are using our money to get what they want and are living better than we are. The country is constantly going down hill. It is just a matter of time. Why can’t the people see what is going on. It is there, right out in front of you. God Bless America.

    Report this comment

    Michael  
  • PA PATRIOT
    Posted on February 5, 2013 at 8:44pm

    Why not,
    They have already sold their souls to the devil.
    What could it hurt?

    Report this comment

    PA PATRIOT  
  • Ghandi was a Republican
    Posted on February 5, 2013 at 8:34pm

    Sorry– Obama LOST 15% of his 2008 vote. No way he won the election anyway, anyhow except fraud. “Get out the vote prowess” is a farce to attempt to explain what did not happen. It was fraud. This further corroborates it. Using fraud to explain fraud.
    You really have to wonder the fraud affect of 2008 after 2012. MCcain Palin went up 5%. Dems dumped the fincrisis in one fell swoop 3 days later, abruptly for maximum impact. But Obama still barely won. Obama may be illegitimate 5 ways to Sunday TWICE!
    Most of the 15% was a flip against, which makes it a 30% turn away from obama. We are to believe Lowbawma overcame this?

    Report this comment

    Ghandi was a Republican  
  • Stelex
    Posted on February 5, 2013 at 7:55pm

    Most morons have been selling themselves out daily, Facebook, Google, Twitter. The populace give the gov all the info it needs to play and manipulate the masses. Ever notice how everything and I mean everything is broken down to “what it costs” Everything but the Gov that is. A very effective way of turning us on eachother. Hey, you cost me, hey no, you cost me more. Yet is the Federal Government costing us the most. Wake up people……..please……wake up. The Federal Government is Using You.

    Report this comment

    Stelex  
  • Eddie_DC
    Posted on February 5, 2013 at 7:12pm

    The Democratic Party doesn’t have the big data. That was the Obama campaign, (now Organizing for Action). Big difference, because whoever runs after Obama is going to have to start from scratch. Organizing for Action will then be just another outside interest group.

    Report this comment

    Eddie_DC  
  • Motoko53
    Posted on February 5, 2013 at 6:57pm

    The Dems are already doing this. My sister and her husband (beknighted, undying liberals) are getting bombarded by AARP with junk mail to join their organization. When she asked me if I was getting the same mailings, I told her no, that AARP was only doing it to democrats.

    She is so mad she threatened to change her registration to Republican. I told her not to bother, we have enough RINOs as it is.

    Report this comment

    Motoko53  
    • CatB
      Posted on February 5, 2013 at 7:10pm

      I’m just happy that AARP has decided to leave me alone .. I “fired” them years ago during their support of Obamacare .. got my refund (which you have to request or they will not send) and have since joined AMAC.

      Report this comment

      CatB  
  • chips1
    Posted on February 5, 2013 at 6:50pm

    Every time I receive an unsolicited request for donations, I fill in a democrat politicians info. They can afford it more than I can.

    Report this comment

    chips1  
  • InfiniteSolutions
    Posted on February 5, 2013 at 6:44pm

    I think we should give away for free all the democrates home addresses, where they go, who all there family members are, drug test them all, put them on the same laws, healthcare, pensions and other stipends and benefits we live with in private industry (non union too), what car they drive, how much energy they use, what assets they own and all there phone conversations, email, letters and any correspondence and their voting record made public. I vote yes, any other voters out there interested. And, why we are at it, lets set federal term limits, congress – 4 two year terms, senate – 2 6 year terms, leave president but the supreme court – 1 eight year term – ANY VOTERS AGREE OUT THERE!

    Report this comment

    InfiniteSolutions  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on February 5, 2013 at 6:42pm

    No surprise there the Democrats are honorless and immoral across the board – they will sell anyone down the river in a heartbeat.

    Report this comment

    Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • CatB
      Posted on February 5, 2013 at 7:16pm

      Don’t forget … they will make certain they are EXEMPT … evening SNOW ;-)

      Report this comment

      CatB  
    • FISH_BONE
      Posted on February 5, 2013 at 7:17pm

      True but not true. I hate democrats, liberals, lefties, socialists etc…. with a passion. However, I will give them this: When one of them does something stupid (which is quite often) the rest rally around and support the one who has acted stupidly. In contrast, Republicans abandon other Republicans and distance themselves at the drop of a hat if a questionable comment is made or a bad act is commited.

      Report this comment

      FISH_BONE  
  • WillG
    Posted on February 5, 2013 at 6:33pm

    Dems would sell their own mother. I for one am not surprised.

    Report this comment

    WillG  
    • BODYBAG
      Posted on February 5, 2013 at 6:48pm

      Google is in the communist party’s back pocket.
      Heii, Eric Schmidt is a senior advisor to the Kenyan King

      Report this comment

      BODYBAG  
  • TRUTHandFREEDOM
    Posted on February 5, 2013 at 6:33pm

    “In the future, voters will become a lot more cautious about sharing that kind of information, once they realize that Democrats sold it for a few bucks.”

    Democrats don’t care about much beyond winning. Election day is a combination of superbowl and Christmas on the left. They Vote for entitlements and redistribution and socialism and hope their team gets the win.
    They won’t even make the connection that “Capitalism doesn’t work” advoctes are using them AND capitalism to fund campaigns to gain power, but if they do, as I said, they just care about “winning”.

    That’s what I see.

    Report this comment

    TRUTHandFREEDOM  
  • woodyee
    Posted on February 5, 2013 at 6:28pm

    They’re selling out our Country – so this is news?

    Report this comment

    woodyee  
  • netmail
    Posted on February 5, 2013 at 6:23pm

    Everything is justifiable and anything goes in La La Land.

    Report this comment

    netmail  
  • love the kids
    Posted on February 5, 2013 at 6:22pm

    Those voters are too stupid anyway to realize what happened. If they do figure it out, they will just feel like part of a club and get a warm feeling

    Report this comment

    love the kids  

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