Can you hear robo call responses now?

Let's just say candidates should be glad they couldn't hear what the voter on the other end of the phone had to say to their automated calls.

It wasn't "hello."

There is a different message many of you have for political candidates who use massive numbers of automated phone calls, known as robo calls, to reach out to voters.

"Stop" would be putting it politely.

Or else, as one reader suggests: "I think it will come back to bite them in the butt."

Voters in the 14th Congressional District were inundated with phone calls -- some of you describe more than 10 calls a day, at all hours -- in the heated race between Democrat Bill Foster and Republican Jim Oberweis to win the special election filling the seat vacated by Republican Dennis Hastert.

I asked y'all to weigh in after a few ticked-off readers questioned the onslaught of political calls which are exempted from the national Do Not Call list.

"This is just ridiculous and the loophole needs to be closed," said Laura Navigato of Algonquin, who said it felt like she got 200 calls.

Did anyone really think the calls would make anyone want to vote FOR a candidate?

Turn off

Marcia Haier is one of the outraged northern Fox Valley residents who said the "abuse of our phone line by politicians was horrendous."

"I can't imagine anyone voting for the candidate because of such a phone call ... but I can imagine that it turns off most people and, therefore, they will not vote for a candidate who uses such tactics," Marcia said.

That's for sure.

Apparently, some federal lawmakers are concerned they'll turn people off to voting altogether.

U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat, and Sen. Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania Republican, are pushing to pass Senate Bill 2624 to limit the calls. If approved, the legislation would restrict political calls to two a day between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., require callers to disclose up front who is paying for the call and ban them from blocking the number from Caller ID.

It's a start, though one wonders if that measure will ever get out of committee in an election year.

I suspect the most effective deterrent will come when voters reject the candidates who call for the candidates who don't.

Oh deer

By the way, one Hampshire resident -- who just spotted 36 deer in her yard! -- called to ask me to make it clear it's not just Jim Oberweis who was making those robo calls. Consider it clarified, deer lady. It's lots of candidates. And they all need to stop.

Almost!

Re-mark your calendars. New East Dundee restaurant Abanazz -- a joint venture between Lavender Cafe's Gayle George and Klaudia Crawford and former big league baseball pitcher Juan Acevedo -- will hold their grand opening Tuesday. Stop by for lunch or dinner. Executive chef Klaudia will make it worth your while. Tequila-glazed half roasted chicken, anyone? Voodoo shrimp? How about flat iron steak with a teriyaki marinade and grilled pineapple?

More yum!

Beth Shepley and the generous folks at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church once again invite us all to partake of their St. Joseph's Day Table in honor of St. Joseph's Day. It's from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at the St. Charles Borromeo school, 288 E. Jefferson Ave., Hampshire (take Route 72 west to State St. Turn north to Jefferson, then right).

You'll find tables overflowing with homemade pastas, salads, breads and desserts, a feast to feed hundreds.

The St. Joseph's Day tradition began after a severe famine in southern Italy prompted farmers to pray for relief hundreds of years ago. When their prayers were answered, the wealthy celebrated with special feasts, inviting the sick and poor to share. It's since been said that those who feed anyone entering their home on St. Joseph's Day will never want for food.

How can you not celebrate that?