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
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Are there any Repubicans that can act like an adult? Any? You really need to step up.
This should successfully highlight the fact that the only people who oppose substantial healthcare reform are the screaming fanatic right-wing lunatic fringe. Cry all you want. We're doing this.
Real Americans are tired of Republicans' extremism, incompetence, lies and corruption. Yes we can and yes we will!
If they would spend as much time trying to help this country as they do with cooking up these mean spirited ideas, we could solve a lot of problems.
But, to do that would risk having the president being successful with his agenda for the American people.
Is there any doubt these people are the property of big companies?
This Democrat is all for the Plan. Who is with me.
petty and childish
1. Screw the DNC. They wanted to portray the tea-party protestors as tools of the RNC, and now will try to do the same to the health care protestors.
2. Print THIS CNN!
I said the lie cheat and steal. They are just proving my point. The republican party is an endangered species. Maybe Obama can get congress to help you lost souls. But with your people with no guts allowing Rush Limbaugh to be your mouthpiece, no wonder you are in trouble.
Once again the GOP does not want to listen to the truth.
If they think they're so clever, we should instead swamp the phone lines of individual Republican Congress Critters or other elected officials. Maybe go after your own state party instead of the chickens at the RNC. They can dish it out, but the cowards can't take it.
Typical behavior from the Republicans.
How can any civilized person support them?
dems are such babies. this is who we have running our country? what a mess
What the Republicans are doing is nothing short of terrorism in th efirst degree. To them there i sonly one voice in AMERICA and that is lies and more lies. It takes a twisted mind to be a REPUBLICAN.
Bill
So we now have a parallel universe which means the disagreeable folks who show up to harass and harangue Republicans and GOP candidates were instigated by the left leaning liberals?
Seems to me accusations from any side is not addressing the issues and is more to the liking of those who want the Government tit to keep nourishing them through higher taxes, redistribution of wealth earned honestly by others, or allowing freeloading by tax evaders who fail to pay.
Let's just put the money in a big pot and let each of us draw from the trillion dollar lottery an equal share and we can remedy the economy since we all know how to spend when it belongs to us.
The GOP has turned into a fringe group.
Proof once again the Republicans have no good answers so they do stupid, 2nd grade phone jokes instead.
The Republican Party... the party of Dirty Tricks since Richard "Dick-less" Nixon.
What a bunch of losers...
"Come now children, settle down."
And these jerks (BOTH sides) are deciding our future?
Hey you Boneheads! We're in trouble out here. Stop all your CRAP and get some real work done!
That is very amusing and clever. Now, if they'd just redirect that effort towards something constructive...
Again, the GOP makes statements that no one said. No one said "only rabid extremists" oppose the reform. They said that the GOP incites rabid extremists, which they of course do, and have always done.
As far as the immature tactic of forwarding their calls, well, it just add it to the list of bad ideas from the GOP.
The Republicans are doing what they do best,relying on ignorance and fear to breed hate in this country. Hate radio,hateful GOP senators and congresspersons. Hate and greed are all they know.
Just like the last story on this I bet the RNC and their partners are right now getting a group of people together to shout down posts about the story.
I gotta admit, this is kinda funny in a fratboy prankish sort of way. Still, it only reinforces the notion that the GOP should be kept as far away from decision-making as possible
how old are these people? this is just about the most immature stunt i've heard of in a long time.
Many of us 'wacko democrats' would have liked to do this when ol' Georgy boy came to town – but only republicans were allowed to attend his meetings – the rest of us were kept a mile away.
Perhaps we should do the same with these 'shouters' and see what they say to that?
Haha, that's actually pretty funny. Unfortunately the politicians won't listen to the people, so therefore we're destined to live the lives that these elitists want us to live.