WASHINGTON (CNN) - National Republicans turned the tables on their political counterparts Wednesday by redirecting angry telephone calls coming into their switchboard to the Democratic National Committee.
The DNC released a Web video early in the morning accusing the GOP of inciting mob activity at town hall meetings.
At the end of the video, the DNC instructs people to call the Republican National Committee to express outrage. Callers who dial the RNC's main number to voice their concern about the DNC's charges are told to press 1, which sends them to the DNC's main switchboard.
DNC spokesman Brad Woodhouse described the RNC's redirection as a "neat trick," but said it just further proves the Democrats' point about the GOP.
"The RNC is inciting angry mobs to shout out legitimate discussion at public events across the country and now they want to ignore people who deplore their tactics," Woodhouse said. "Republicans don't want to have a discussion about the future of health care reform – they want to shout out – and now completely ignore – anyone who disagrees with them."
RNC spokeswoman Gail Gitcho dismissed the DNC's charge and accused Democrats of "trying to divert attention from the widespread opposition to President Obama's government-run health care experiment.
"The fact is many Democrats are opposed to the president's plan, including many Democrats in Congress," she said. "We wanted to make sure that callers who believe only 'rabid extremists' are opposing the president's health care plan have the opportunity to express those concerns to the DNC."
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
The Republicans have no interest in a rational discussion on health care reform. Their sole goal is to stop ANY legislation from getting thru Congress hoping to embarrass Obama.
Everyone knows those angry mobs showing up at town hall meetings across the country are being coordinated by conservative websites, most of them don't even live in that district. Their purpose is to intimidate these congressmen into voting against reform.
Once again the Party of NO demonstrates it's bankrupt of ideas and decency, and has only deceit and cowardice left in its quiver.
Today's RebirterTea Party members are thugs, bullies and pussies.
Democrats mad GOP is playing their game now. Good, you losers deserve it.
DNC you have to be kidding!
Only this mob revolt will force Obama and Pelosi to listen to the people and stop wasting money, stop ruining the healthcare system, stop all this nonsense. Until the next election when we can vote them out the only thing we can do is protest.....loudly!
My God! For once, can we have a civil debate on the merits and ideas for healthcare reform. Its not about who's right and who's wrong but whats best. We're looking at a health system in which Medicare will be insolvent in a decade or less, where a family of 4 will be paying 1/3 of their family income to insurance companies for health premiums, where at least 1/3 of everything done in healthcare is waste, and over 2 million Americans go bankrupt from medical bills every year.
The time is over for partisan games!!
Republicans are tasteless and tactless. Have they no decency? Have they no shame?
Am I the only one noticing how many GOP articles CNN has posted today? A day in which the Obama White House achieved a great success, in freeing the imprisoned journalists?
The GOP has ALWAYS opposed every social program put forth by the Democrats here is a list.........
Medicare
Medicaid
Unemployment benefits
Minimum Wage
Social Security
SCHIP
ETC....
What's new? The Grand Old Obstructionist Party is continuing its campaign of hate, lies, fear & division!
Geez! The RNC has devolved into using Frat tricks. Real mature people.
Is that legal? Should it be? Why isn't that sort of phone hacking covered by the same laws that cover Denial of Service attacks?
GOP Just the thought of it starts me laughing. This just proves the administrations point. incite, instigate, lie, decieve. What great republican values. Laughing continues.
Typical cry-baby losers. These scumbag repubs know they don't have a clue and so they incite violence just like terrorists. This is the last resort of a dying party. Only a MORON would call themselves a republican.
LOL the children are fighting again!!!!
I love it! Good job GOP!!!
Republicans have always been better at dirty tricks... cause they think everything is a game.
GOP is still a party? After 8-year Bush/Cheney experiment?
They are really street-smart and no-shame.
It's called being beat. You were beat, DNC. You try to incite "calling riots" to counter the evil GOP who apparently incited "rally riots", and they easily defeated your pitiful strategy.
Applaud, congratulate them, and move on. Well played, GOP.
The DNC is nothing but arrogance in sheep's clothing. Liberal posters and Democrat leaders are the most arrogant people alive, yet they pretend to be the opposite.
This president of ours is short on class and integrity. Ever since the 1970's, the media declared it was the people speaking and acting on their own if it furthered the left's agenda. It has been proven repeatedly and brazenly that the left has organized, bussed, and/or paid demonstrators. They even boasted about it on national TV.
Yes, the left and right may do this, but does not prove it in this occurance. CNN, report facts not wishful thinking! Find the truth and report NOT report and adjust the truth!