Carter takes stance on robo-dialing -- interviewed
in Kansas City on Channel 9 ABC affiliate.
click here for full 10 minute
interview.
KMOV channel
4/KTVI Fox 2/SE Missouria/Columbia Tribune/KY3/KSDK 5/KMOX/KTVO3/Springfield
News-Leader/KWOC/KFVS12/KOAMtv
Democrat's campaign pledge may
violate law
By Chris Blank
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wednesday, Apr. 09 2008
(FOLLOW UP STORY 4-11-2008)
JEFFERSON CITY — A pledge from a Democratic candidate for
lieutenant governor to donate part of his salary could leave him
returning even more money to the state.
Michael E. Carter, an attorney from St. Charles, made the pledge
on his campaign website.
"If the effectively part-time office of Missouri Lt. Governor
cannot be given a more meaningful purpose — justifying the
salary received — then I will give no less than $10,000.00 back
to the state treasury or charity," he wrote.
It's against state elections law to promise to take a lower
salary or pledge a portion of a public official's paycheck to
charity to attract votes. The penalty is one year in jail or a
fine of less than $2,500.
Carter, 36, said he isn't worried and stands behind the promise.
"If it is the case that you can't pledge to look into an office
that's overpaid, that's a mistake," he said.
Carter said he thinks the state law is unconstitutional because
it puts restrictions on political speech by limiting candidates'
ability to speak candidly about what they would do while in
office. . .MORE
Carter: Hired legal team to defend him
on pay-cut promise
By Jo Mannies
Mike Carter, the
St. Charles real estate lawyer who’s a Democratic candidate
for lieutenant governor, announced this afternoon that he
has “established a legal team” to respond to allegations
that he may have broken state law with
his pledge to give
“meaningful purpose” to the post — or take less money.
Carter said in an interview today (Wednesday) that he didn’t
know who had spurred the Associated Press to look into the
matter.
”It is interesting to think that an AP reporter was
monitoring the websites of down-ballot campaigns and thought
to look into the possibility of obscure laws that have never
been applied; however, we have assessed the matter and,
while we feel certain no violation has occurred, we would
cooperate fully with any regulatory authority suggesting
otherwise,” Carter said in a statement.
Carter also complained because the AP had sent its story
over the wire without his comments; he says he called the
reporter within an hour of being contacted.
His statement adds: “Carter stands by his pledge to
analyze and critique the office of Missouri’s Lt. Governor
and in the event it cannot be given meaningful purpose -
justifying the salary received - give no less than
$10,000.00 dollars to the state treasury or charity.
“At the heart of Carter’s pledge is the analysis of the
Lt. Governor’s office and its understood part-time nature.
The current Lt. Governor commented in 2004 about this during
his campaign and the Late Senator Tom Eagleton
held the post and commented that the biggest part of his day
while Missouri’s Lt. Governor was watching the Missouri
River flow by his office window,” . . .
MORE
POKIN
AROUND: Attracted by obscurity
By Steve Pokin
Michael Carter, a St. Charles attorney, wants to be your next
lieutenant governor and he also wants you to know, right now,
that you'd better visit his Web site if you don't want to
receive the dozen or so automated voice messages he plans to
send you.
Carter plans to bombard voters across the state with 50 million
automated phone calls delivered by robo-dialing between now and
the Aug. 5 Democratic primary.
If you think all those automated calls might be a bit, well,
annoying, he suggests you visit his Web site,
www.Vote4Carter.com, to
escape the robo-Carter blitz.
To me, this seemed a strange way to run a campaign.
"I would say that I'm actually reaching out to the public in a
public-relations way," Carter said. "If they have concerns about
it - I have not started them yet - let me know and maybe I can
get you off the rotating calls that we will make."
He promises to respect state and federal no-call lists, even
though, he says, as a purveyor of political speech he doesn't
have to. . . . . MORE
Michael Carter is a Senior Lecturer for the University of
Missouri System who knows first hand the importance and impact
of Missouri educators on our youth.
Michael has worked for the Missouri Attorney General's
Office, Missouri Western District Court of Appeals, United
States Senate, major Missouri corporations, his real estate
law firm, the University of Missouri, and was package truck
driver for UPS.
How Can We Provide a Real Voice for
Missouri's Seniors?
Too much lip service is given to helping senior citizens
across our state and country. One certainty is that
"Baby Boomers" do not consider themselves "senior citizens" in
the traditional sense. They will dictate new ways for
government to deal with their needs. Not only do Baby
Boomers control much wealth and represent a very large swath
of the general population, they are very aware of the moneys
they've contributed to government.
How is It That Veterans Have Put Up
With the System for This Long?
Michael's grandfather served many years in WWII and, now,
must travel over 100 miles to receive the care he rightfully
earned when serving his country.
KMOV channel
4/KTVI Fox 2/SE Missouria/Columbia Tribune/KY3/KSDK 5/KMOX/KTVO3/Springfield
News-Leader/KWOC/KFVS12/KOAMtv
