Politician or telemarketer?By Lisa Myers and the NBC News Investigative Team
NBC NEWS
Nov. 10 — When telemarketers take advantage of consumers, Congress is often the first to cry foul. But what if the telemarketer is himself a politician? NBC News obtained never-before-heard tapes from a controversial fund-raising effort by House Majority Leader Tom DeLay — tapes that some critics claim are a congressional bait-and-switch.
AIR FORCE CHAPLAIN James Helton says he was flabbergasted when he first heard the news from his wife. “She told me you’ve been selected for a national award by Congressman DeLay, and they really want you to call the office.”
Helton wondered why a powerful Republican leader would want to honor a humble Air Force reservist and quickly returned the call. He was so upset by what he heard that he invited NBC News to record the conversation when he called back a second time.
First there was a recorded message: “This is Congressman Tom DeLay. I’m asking you to serve as an honorary chairman on our business advisory council, and you will be recognized with our national leadership award.”
Then, a telemarketer came on the line: “You’d be invited to private dinners with congressmen and quarterly strategy sessions in Washington.”
In the call, Helton was also promised an exclusive black-tie president’s dinner and his name in a newspaper ad.
Then came the pitch from the telemarketer: “We’re asking each chairman for a one-time gift of $300 or $500 for the ad. Can we count on your support?”
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http://msnbc.com/news/991699.asp?0cv=CB20