Washington, D.C. (CNN) - The Democratic National Committee went after Republicans for using a violent movie clip to incite unity at a House Conference meeting Tuesday.
In the scene, from "The Town," actors Ben Affleck and Jeremy Renner hold a short pep talk, where one tells the other that he needs his help as they go "hurt some people." They then drive off to an apartment and bludgeon two men.
DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz called the use of the clip a "sad metaphor" of how Republicans have acted during negotiations to raise the debt ceiling.
"They could have used 'Hoosiers,' 'Rudy' or 'Band of Brothers'," Wasserman Schultz said in a press conference Wednesday. "But this was the choice they made."
Affleck, who also wrote and directed "The Town," responded to the incident Wednesday from Turkey, where he's working on his next movie, "Argo."
"I don't know if this is a compliment or the ultimate repudiation– but if they're going to be watching movies, I think 'The Company Men' is more appropriate," Affleck said in a statement.
In 2010's "The Company Men," Affleck stars as a white-collar worker who loses his job when the recession forces his corporation to downsize.
The Florida congresswoman interpreted Tuesday's movie clip as Republicans wanting to hurt either the Democrats and President Obama in the debt talks–or the American people through entitlement cuts.
"Now is the time for compromise, not for pain," Wasserman Schultz said.
Republicans, meanwhile, brushed off the attacks and said the DNC is focused on the wrong issue.
"With our country in the midst of a debt crisis, Debbie Wasserman Schultz should spend more time pushing her president to put forth a debt ceiling plan and less time holding press conferences about movies," said Kirsten Kukowski, press secretary for the Republican National Committee.
Schultz was joined by Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, who said Americans deserve better behavior among lawmakers.
But when asked by a reporter if Democrats had ever shown violent movies to "fire up the troops," Clyburn recalled a time when "Braveheart" was shown at a caucus meeting after Republicans took over the House majority.
Clyburn said the clip was used "as a metaphor for us maintaining our own faith in the process."
From CNN Politics
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CNN – check with your sister company, Warner Bros. Pictures....did WB approve and clear usage of that clip? I didn't think so.....
Well this what has come to our government. If they don't pass the debt ceiling, then President Obama should consider invoking the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. It appears that we don't have a government in Congress and someone must act now.
Is anyone surprised?
But when asked by a reporter if Democrats had ever shown violent movies to "fire up the troops," Clyburn recalled a time when "Braveheart" was shown at a caucus meeting after Republicans took over the House majority.
Sounds like TLH to me! (Typical Liberal Hypocrisy)
So what happens when another extremist decides to take matters into his own handgun by going out and hurting some people?
Democrats do it, Republicans do it. Wasserman Schultz just forgets conveniently, she fails to realize that most of us don't forget what either side does.
the republicans, are no better than the taliban or alqueda
Oops! She went off again. And worst, this time to attack the same kinds of ads used by Democrats in the past. Don't this idiot know when to shut her big TRAP. This "excuse of a woman" is being an embarrassment for Florida's voters. What a shame!
I'm glad Wasserman says it is time for compromise. The democrats haven't done any compromising over tha last 75 years and we have an approaching 15 Trillion Dollar National Debt to prove. So get to compromising Debbie.
I'm sure that if Republicans had used a clip from 'Hoosiers,' 'Rudy' or 'Band of Brothers', the DNC would have called it racist or militaristic or homophobic. Why is this even an issue? Could it be that democrats can't run on their own record this election cycle and instead focus on how evil Republicans are. Ah, the art of misdirection.
The partisanship never ends. Both of them are disgusting.
Democrat's movie metaphor choice: "Braveheart": About a guy who led his people to freedom
Republican's movie metaphor choice: "The Town": About some guys who rob banks.
Need I say more?
It has become an existing phenomena for GOP to incite hate, violence, bigotry, and what have you, through subliminal signs. For them to still retain loyalty and support from the American people, is an overt evidence that many of us are depraved. Depraved enough to send such messages and depraved enough to receive them. They know what they are doing and society condones it. It's the attitude of incinerating the nation when they are not in power. That's their understanding of patriotism.
So braveheart, a gory, violent and extremely aggressive movie , is shown at a gotp gathering as a metaphor? Do you rethug idiots ever stop to think that everything you say about the democrats is really something you morons have done?
You people are truy delusional and completely insane!!!!!
You should use your murdoch people as killers of people's brains!
The GOP is trying rile the violent tea Party members to harm the POTUS. Secret Service I'm sure you are watching.
So Democrat supporter or gorup has an ad where "Paul Ryan" pushes someone in a wheel chair over a cliff. Sounds light selective outrage to me. Sounds like both sides need to be less dramatic.
The new Republican way- threats and intimidation through violence inducing imagery (think of sister Sarah's gunsights) and holding everything hostage to there truly extreme ideology (corporations over people). The Republicans are right about the "End Times" talk they pander to because it sure seems that they have reached theirs. I can't think of a single thing they have done real, or symbolic that is good for America or Americans in recent times. I think they are finished, if not as a political party, then at least as a positive force in our society. They certainly do more harm than good, and bring nothing of value to the table for the vast majority of us.
I guess the tea-bagging crowd of "don't retreat, reload(Palin)", "2nd amendment remedies(Lots of 'em)", and "people armed and ready" (Bachmann), must be spreading faster than we thought.
Well, the Dems wanted to hurt the GOP in Obamacare and want to hurt American taxpayers with the endless "entitlements" for welfare bums.
What goes around, comes around.
Debbie Blabbermouth Schultz is a sad example of the Loser Left.
Oh BOO HOO HOO... Enough with the synthetic outrage you most vile of bimbettes. Its a metphor for sticking together to fight the Demoscum, like YOU.
Get over it Dems, it is just a Movie. Anything to beef about Wasserman Schultz is right there hammering away.
Really? This is how the Republicans are spending their time?? Wow, how sad. They won't be happy until all this bad mouthing and not focusing on the real problems destroys everything so they can say "Look what Obama did!" and use that to get back in power. So sad.
...you guys don't know violence.....
So it's not ok for the Republicans to do it but ok for the Democrats to do it? Typical.