RNC, afraid of criticism, reroutes all such calls to DNC.

[SirNitram]

Link

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."

Let's just be honest here: The RNC is full of thin skinned whiners who can't take actual criticism, and freak the fuck out at it. Remember how criticizing Bush is 'TREASON!', and even the tiny criticism of a bumper sticker could become grounds to remove you from a town hall?

[Intio]

The RNC is full of thin skinned whiners who can't take actual criticism, and freak the fuck out at it. Remember how criticizing Bush is 'TREASON!'

Agreed.

But as for the story, one party urged for a shit load of calls to be made to the switchboard of their opponents. Their opponents redirected them back to the group whose idea it was.

So what? The only thing the DNC can whine about is the fact that any influx of calls that bother them, originated from their own idea to have people call the RNC.

If the RNC were genuinely inciting mob behaviour, then that needs to be dealth with, but the actions of the DNC could be interpreted as a deliberate attempt to overload the RNC with calls. If that was the case, then they had their own behaviour directed back at them. Fuck 'em.

Yes, the RNC look like childish twats, but if they want to redirect complaints they are too lazy to handle - the public will judge them on that.

[General Zod]

If the RNC were genuinely inciting mob behaviour, then that needs to be dealth with, but the actions of the DNC could be interpreted as a deliberate attempt to overload the RNC with calls. If that was the case, then they had their own behaviour directed back at them. Fuck 'em.

How does sending back the calls to where they were trying to get to in the first place count as "attempting to overload the RNC"? It's impossible to interpret it that way without a lot of spin.

[Batman]

At the end of the video, the DNC instructs people to call the Republican National Committee to express outrage.

I presume Intio is talking about this.

[Intio]

How does sending back the calls to where they were trying to get to in the first place count as "attempting to overload the RNC"? It's impossible to interpret it that way without a lot of spin.

As Batman said, it is in reference to the DNC specifically 'suggesting' that their supporters suddenly call the RNC. For all I know, the RNC could have easily handled the call load (hence they look like "childish twats" by sending them back), I am talking only about the possibility of the DNC trying to cause something for their opponents which then rebounded onto them.

If the DNC meant it in a civic-minded way, it could be interpreted differently.

[Duckie]

It's somehow taboo to tell people to call the RNC because the RNC did something wrong? It's not "attempting to overload them", it's showing them how dissatisfied the public is with them (mitigated only by 90% of people never hearing about their bullshit like corporations sponsoring intimidation at health care town halls) beyond the 30% of True Believers.

[General Zod]

As Batman said, it is in reference to the DNC specifically 'suggesting' that their supporters suddenly call the RNC. For all I know, the RNC could have easily handled the call load (hence they look like "childish twats" by sending them back), I am talking only about the possibility of the DNC trying to cause something for their opponents which then rebounded onto them.

If the DNC meant it in a civic-minded way, it could be interpreted differently.

That seems like a lot of mental gymnastics. People are angry at the RNC, so the Dems are telling them to call the RNC. The idea that there's some sort of ulterior motive is bizarre.

[SirNitram]

It's evil treasonous liberals, must be ulterior motives. Insert your eyerolling image of choice here.

There's no logic to this 'Trying to overload' claim, nothing in the article supports it despite it's slant, so I can only surmise it came from a paranoid mind or a GOP Talking Point list.

[Intio]

How does sending back the calls... [snip]... count as "attempting to overload the RNC"?

It's not "attempting to overload them"

There's no logic to this 'Trying to overload' claim

You will note of course that General Zod quoted only the end of the sentence, the preceeding part was:

... could be interpreted as

It is not a claim. I even made mention in my second post that this was contingent on the "possibility" of this being true. I also italicised the "If" in the sentence following the part Zod quoted.

Of course there is no logic in it, since it was a musing: which I clearly didn't define enough.

[General Zod]

It is not a claim. I even made mention in my second post that this was contingent on the "possibility" of this being true. I also italicised the "If" in the sentence following the part Zod quoted.

Of course there is no logic in it, since it was a musing: which I clearly didn't define enough.

I didn't say you claimed it, I asked to explain why someone would leap to that conclusion. It's pure nonsense if you can't even do that.

[Thanas]

Is the GOP organizing angry mobs as the Democrats claim? I would like to know more about this issue, does anybody have information regarding this?

[General Zod]

Is the GOP organizing angry mobs as the Democrats claim? I would like to know more about this issue, does anybody have information regarding this?

There's no solid proof either way as far as I know, (though I wouldn't be surprised if it were true), but CNN has an article on it.

[SirNitram]

The GOP may be the prime mover. Here is known data:

Tea-Party members have received a memo, now leaked, from FreedomWorks, readable Here. Link contains the instruction 'Do not have an intelligent conversation.'. FreedomWorks also organized the 'Tea-Party' protests earlier this year, and is chaired by former Republican House Leader, Dick Armey.

Americans For Prosperity, another lobbyist/GOP propaganda arm, is openly busing protestors around, to the point even Fox is admitting folks from outside the districts involved are part of it. Busing and Fox Admission, complete with an embedded video if you'd like to see.

A GOP Alert went out, readable here, certainly seems to promote the activity.

Rep. Sessions gave his blessing to them, and announced 'The age of civil town halls is over'. Link.

The NRCC sent out messages and releases supporting these mobs. Link

So I clearly think so.

[Lonestar]

RNC, afraid of criticism, reroutes all such calls to DNC

Yeah, or, alternatively, the RNC may feel they have better things to do than deal with calls from swarms of irate people. It being a large organization whose job is, ultimately, to worry about making Republicans happy, not Democrats.

Hell, I don't like the RNC at all, but I can't fault them for just saying "You know what? Fuck it." *reroutes all phonecalls to DNC*

[Batman]

You gotta be fucking kidding me. 'You can't blame' the RNC for referring people wanting to complain about REPUBLICAN behavior to the DEMOCRATS?

[Lonestar]

You gotta be fucking kidding me. 'You can't blame' the RNC for referring people wanting to complain about REPUBLICAN behavior to the DEMOCRATS?

If the rival organization is telling their own members(because, let's be honest, how many Republicans do you think made phone calls based upon the Dems recommending it?) to call and troll the hell out of the RNC(which, again, is the intent here), then no, I cannot Fault the RNC for just redirecting the calls to the DNC.

[General Zod]

You gotta be fucking kidding me. 'You can't blame' the RNC for referring people wanting to complain about REPUBLICAN behavior to the DEMOCRATS?

If the rival organization is telling their own members(because, let's be honest, how many Republicans do you think made phone calls based upon the Dems recommending it?) to call and troll the hell out of the RNC(which, again, is the intent here), then no, I cannot Fault the RNC for just redirecting the calls to the DNC.

The fact that the people were complaining to the RNC well before traffic was rerouted tells me that it's not just Democrats who were calling the shit out of their centers. That tells me they're not willing to listen to their own constituents, never mind Democratic ones, which I'm pretty sure is in their fucking job description.

[KlavoHunter]

I stopped sticking my fingers in my ears and going "LA LA LA LA I CAN'T HEAR YOU" as an argumentative technique back in elementary school. The Republicans clearly feel no shame in falling back on it now.

[TimothyC]

The fact that the people were complaining to the RNC well before traffic was rerouted tells me that it's not just Democrats who were calling the shit out of their centers. That tells me they're not willing to listen to their own constituents, never mind Democratic ones, which I'm pretty sure is in their fucking job description.

It's a question of timing. If the calls from republicans were being listened to, before the Democrats started Spamming the RNC phone system, then I don't see where you are coming from.

[General Zod]

The fact that the people were complaining to the RNC well before traffic was rerouted tells me that it's not just Democrats who were calling the shit out of their centers. That tells me they're not willing to listen to their own constituents, never mind Democratic ones, which I'm pretty sure is in their fucking job description.

It's a question of timing. If the calls from republicans were being listened to, before the Democrats started Spamming the RNC phone system, then I don't see where you are coming from.

Perhaps you should re-read the article. There's nothing suggesting that Democrats have indeed spammed the phone system, or that any Democrats had actually called. Only that:

1) The RNC was receiving angry phone calls

2) the RNC promptly redirected all angry phone calls about the health system to the DNC.

3) The DNC told the people who were getting rerouted to call the RNC as they planned to.

This is the mindset of a child sticking his fingers in his ears and screaming "NYAH NYAH I CAN'T HEAR YOU!"

[TimothyC]

Perhaps you should re-read the article. There's nothing suggesting that Democrats have indeed spammed the phone system, or that any Democrats had actually called. Only that:

1) The RNC was receiving angry phone calls

2) the RNC promptly redirected all angry phone calls about the health system to the DNC.

3) The DNC told the people who were getting rerouted to call the RNC as they planned to.

This is the mindset of a child sticking his fingers in his ears and screaming "NYAH NYAH I CAN'T HEAR YOU!"

My point is that I am not entirely sure that the RNC started redirecting calls before the DNC asked its members to call the RNC. If someone could confirm that I would agree with you.

[SirNitram]

'To it's members'? What, are we assuming they released super-identity-scanning code in the video, so it only shows for DNC members?

Or is it more likely that the 70% of Americans that want a public option and a reform of healthcare decided to call the party that is openly and proudly trying to kill it?

[Terralthra]

The fact that the people were complaining to the RNC well before traffic was rerouted tells me that it's not just Democrats who were calling the shit out of their centers. That tells me they're not willing to listen to their own constituents, never mind Democratic ones, which I'm pretty sure is in their fucking job description.

It's a question of timing. If the calls from republicans were being listened to, before the Democrats started Spamming the RNC phone system, then I don't see where you are coming from.

Perhaps you should re-read the article. There's nothing suggesting that Democrats have indeed spammed the phone system, or that any Democrats had actually called. Only that:

1) The RNC was receiving angry phone calls

2) the RNC promptly redirected all angry phone calls about the health system to the DNC.

3) The DNC told the people who were getting rerouted to call the RNC as they planned to.

This is the mindset of a child sticking his fingers in his ears and screaming "NYAH NYAH I CAN'T HEAR YOU!"

I think you have the timeline backwards. The DNC released the video first. At the end of the video, the DNC advises people to call the RNC. The RNC, upon getting a deluge of calls, redirect the people calling based on the video to the DNC switchboard.

The article doesn't describe the events in chronological order.

[SirNitram]

Is there any data supporting either timeline? I've found none, hence I was simply asking why it isn't more credible that the large majority didn't have enough people in it to be angry about, say, hanging a pro-reformer in effigy, or the angry mob chasing another while shouting, seeming threatening enough that police got involved.

[Lonestar]

The fact that the people were complaining to the RNC well before traffic was rerouted tells me that it's not just Democrats who were calling the shit out of their centers. That tells me they're not willing to listen to their own constituents, never mind Democratic ones, which I'm pretty sure is in their fucking job description.

Did you read the article?

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.

In other words, the rerouting specifically targets the folks most likely to watch DNC material to begin with. In otherwords, Democrats. It's hilarious that this thread has so much outrage at the RNC not willing to play ball with the Dems telling their constitutents to go troll the fuck out of the RNC.