Pope group doing misleading robocalls on high-cost lending bill

It used to be that the right-wingers at Art Pope’s Americans for the Prosperous pretended to be about a commitment to an actual “libertarian” philosophy. It was deranged, mind you, but apparently sincere.  Now, it’s increasingly clear that these folks are nothing more than a front organization for Republicans and selected (mostly rapacious) corporations.

Case in point – yesterday a friend of NC Policy Watch who lives in the Durham area received a robocall message from the group touting the predatory rate hike bill from the consumer lending industry that’s on the House floor today.

Here’s the transcript of the message given voice (rather awkwardly)  by a woman who appears to be African-American (note that the folks who received the call do not actually live in the district of the lawmaker identified, so at least there’s some solace in the fact that AFP is as inept in its grassroots organizing as it is inaccurate and misleading in its messaging):

“Hello, this is Joan with America for Prosperity North Carolina (sic). If State Representative Winkie Wilkins can help create local jobs by supporting home town lenders and access to credit for small business and families. House Bill 810 would update consumer finance laws, making sure that when you need a small installment loan, a home town lender is able to offer you one if you qualify. Access to responsible credit is important for small business and families. It is important to help create local jobs. Please call Representative Winkie Wlikins at 919-715-0850 and ask him to support House Bill 810, the consumer finance bill. For more on House Bill 810, please visit afpnc.org. This call paid for by AFPNC and we can be reached at 919-839-1011.” 

Note also that the “home town lenders” mentioned in the call are dominated by two giant multinational corporations (Citi and AIG) whose “home towns” are most certainly not in North Carolina.