FUNDRAISING: GOP Telemarkets Deep Pocket Doctors

      The National Republican Congressional Committee has been telemarketing physicians, calling their offices to inform them they have been "nominated for a national leadership award given to doctors, dentists and community leaders," the Washington Post reports. Since March, thousands of doctors have been invited to join House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) in "pulling out all the stops to finally allow physicians like [them] to have a voice in the health care debate" by serving on an honorary "Physicians Advisory Board" for a minimum $300 contribution. Democrats charge that the promotion is "shameless" and "deceptive," but House Republicans defend the solicitation as "one of the committee's most successful programs." Jim Wilkinson, communications director for the House Republicans, said: "This is a voluntary program. If people support us, they give us money. If they don't like us, they don't give us money. It's called freedom." Wilkinson reported that the telemarketing calls have generated only one complaint -- from a Democrat (Allan, 6/11).