RNC Refuses To Accept Calls About New DNC Ad

The Republican National Committee has taken note of the DNC's new town hall "mob" ad, which hit the airwaves last night. They don't want to hear your thoughts about it.

The automated voice at the RNC number featured in the ad says: "If you're calling in regards to the Democratic National Committee's recent advertisement, please press 1." But if you press 1, you'll be transferred to the DNC.

A DNC operator said she knew about the switch, as she had received many calls from people expecting to talk to the RNC.

A spokesperson at the RNC's press office appeared surprised that the transfers were happening. "I'm not aware of that, sir," he said.

Michael Steele has taken credit for the trick during a conference call with reporters, saying he "thought it was a good idea,"

"Don't sit there and think you're going to direct a bunch of angry liberals to call the RNC when I know full well what that's all about," said Steele. "I get the joke. My response was, talk to your own party, because they're the ones ginning this up."

An RNC spokesperson said: "Well, if you do call us and you want to talk to us then you press 2 for comments and questions, for regular comments and questions, but if you want to talk about the RNC and their mob mentality then you get redirected to the DNC."

* * * * *

Update (3:34 EST)

The RNC is no longer rerouting calls to the DNC. It is now manually offering the DNC's number as its own. After pressing 1, a voice says:

Thank you for calling the Republican National Committee. We are so glad you called to give us your feedback on the Democratic National Committee's advertisement. Please call the following number to give us your input: 202-863-8000. Again, that's 202-863-8000. Thanks so much and have a great day.

The number, 202-863-8000, is the official phone number of the DNC.

"These tactics just prove what we've been saying -- the RNC is inciting angry mobs to shout down legitimate discussion at public events across the country and now they want to ignore people who deplore their tactics. Republicans don't want to have a discussion about the future of health care reform -- they want to shout down -- and now completely ignore -- anyone who disagrees with them," said DNC spokesperson Hari Sevugan.

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Comments

[logicalchoice]

You mean the Rs are actually putting out a pure lie? No? Not them? Not the religious, moral elite? They don't even have the guts to answer for their actions!

[CRUMBOWSKI]

'STUBBORN STUPIDS'
"Under Karl Rove's sorcerer's spell, Republicans learned how to exploit the intelligence gap, herding the dopey faithful to the polls, and depending on their docility between elections. "

There are substantial powers to be obtained by catering to stupid stubborn people...The Republican Party/RNC.­..understa­nd stupid people VERY well....To whit..They are not..simply..dumb, their minds are not physically crippled in any way. Its that they have CHOSEN..TO BE STUPID BECAUSE THAT OFFERS IT'S OWN KIND OF 'POWER' !

To win a great many SMALL CONTESTS OF WILL, they needed only to IGNORE ALL EVIDENCE... Bright people would break down trying to argue with them. It's like trying to reason with a box of rocks. If the RNC'S VISION of a permanent Republican majority comes to rotten fruition, America may well DEVOLVE INTO THE MORONIC DYSTOPIA of Mike Judge's movie "IDIOCRACY"—a mentally handicapped superpower buried under a mountain of garbage where the Fox News Channel is the sole source of information.

Folks! We are in Deep Water here...I'm starting to think the Mayans have figured the "End" correctly..2012 seems about right...

[fiorastar]

Well written and right on! Faved!

[mprove]

Instead of contacting the RNC about the protestors (who may or may not have been directed by the RNC); why not call the Conservatives for Patients' Rights?
It's a lobbying group run by Rick Scott, a former health care Exec. forced out during a fraud investigation.
They are promoting & endorsing this activity on their website (http://www.cprights.org/townhalls.php).
Unfortunately, search as I might, I can't seem to find any contact info for them on their website.
Thank goodness for Google though.
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Conservatives_for_Patients_Rights
Conservatives for Patients' Rights
700 12th street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: [phone]CPR
Email: info AT cprights.org

Or contact Freedom Works - The organization is chaired by former U.S. House Majority Leader Dick Armey and the President is Matt Kibbe.
601 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, North
Building, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20004
Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]
Toll Free: 1.888.564.6273
they're providing an "August Action Kit" for download on their website that walks people through going to these town hall meetings to defeat healthcare & the climate change bills.
http://www.freedomworks.org/publications/august-recess-town-hall-meetings

[logicalchoice]

the freedomworks is better with google maps showing you the closest meetings. I'm going with bells to shout down any wackjob teabagger that thinks they can take my vote away.

[nini516]

Michael Steele any comments on Todd Arkin's jokes?

[nini516]

Someone has started a petition, check it out:

http://www.petitiononline.com/PubOp676/petition.html

[Nancy84]

I read something recently that said "A star needs more darkness in order to shine it's brightest". This made me think that the more the right acts out foolishly, the more satisfied I am with my choice to leave that party and become an Independent. I could never align myself with what they are doing and it seems to get worse day by day. I wish these people would individually sit down and soul search...... is this really what is best for this country or their children? Do these actions really align them with their religious beliefs? We all could do that from time to time.

[fiorastar]

Yes. I do soul search regularly, which is why I remain firmly in the liberal/progressive camp. I'm glad you have begun your directional change.

[lisaman]

Am I missing something? Aren't these people elected to represent us? We are completely reliant on people like Michelle Bachman and John Boehner to help pass the laws that govern this country. Then they have tea partys, websites that claim Obama is not a citizen, just as they made numerous claims of Obama supporting terrorists during the election. It would seem now with this latest kick in the pants to democracy in America that they never wanted democracy in the first place, at least not the kind that allows the majority to rule. Maybe they prefer the democracy of Iran.

[nini516]

Steele - Man Up take the calls!! Or has the RNC reduced you to nothingness?

[nini516]

So Michael Steele I guess you're down with Todd Arkin joking about lynchings. Get a good laugh out of that?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/06/todd-akin-jokes-about-dem_n_252766.html

And your town hall guest carrying around swastika's too!!

Your legacy will be pretty pathetic!!

[judiNJ]

Send faxes. They keep changing their phone numbers but we can swamp them with faxes.

[TuoulumneFlower]

RNC fax number: 202.863.8820

Bury 'em with our petitions to redress our grievances!

[Greywolf Borealis]

This does not surprise me one bit. Republicans haven't been listening to our views on anything the past nine (almost) years, so why should they start now?

[Liberal2]

This is just the ordinary behavior of rethugs. Anyone recall the paid rethug shills who pounded on windows and walls during the Florida vote recount???

[jade7243]

Call the HNIC at the GOP

Main 202.863.8500
FAX [phone] or try

Office of the Chairman
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

Office of the Co-Chairman
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

Administration
Accounting, Human Resources,
Building Management, Network Operations
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: Administra­tion@gop.c­om

Communications
Press, Media, Television, Radio
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: RNCommunic­ations@gop­.com

Counsel
Legal
Redistricting
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

Political Campaign Operations
Voter Programs
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

Finance
Marketing
Donor Programs
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

National Committee Member Services
Address Changes
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: Membership­services@g­op.com

National Committee Member Relations
Winter Meeting
Summer Meeting
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: MemberRela­tions@gop.­com

eCampaign
Website Questions
www.GOP.com
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

Strategy
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Government Affairs
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Coalitions
Grassroots
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

[biglith]

Good work fellow soldier for progress.

[jade7243]

Have to hit them where it hurts.

[legalactor]

The GOP has never been interested in anyone's opinion but their own.

[isadora]

This is an old trick used by the anti choice gang. Which is worse, the RNC dodging responsibility for the ugly behavior of their rent-a-mobs or women in desperate situations unable to receive appropriate medical counselling and other services? And how do we fight this? With the truth, which is hard to get out when the other side is screaming lies and half truths. But we must.