Hecklers Crash Gore Call

ByABC News
October 18, 2000, 4:46 PM

W A S H I N G T O N, Oct. 18 -- An apparently freelance band of conservative Republicans crashed a conference call today to heckle Al Gores campaign staff.

Ron Klain, senior adviser to the Democratic presidential candidate, and spokesman Doug Hattaway were repeatedly drowned out by noise and insults as they tried to outline campaign strategy to national reporters. Somehow, restricted dial-in information and passwords for the call made their way to Free Republic, an online discussion board for conservatives.

Low-Brow Protests

As Klain and Hattaway tried to criticize Republican candidate George W. Bushs plans and tout those of Gore, the intruders belched, made chicken noises and called people socialist slimebags. One even flushed a toilet into the phone.

When is Al Gore campaigning in China? one heckler asked.

That was me belching, another call-crasher boasted on the discussion board after burping into the phone.

Is there anyone left on this line who is not either a Gore campaign staffer or a Bush saboteur? asked a frustrated reporter from the Tampa Tribune.

Hostile Takeover

Some of the hecklers even posed as reporters, and drew the Gore aides into answering their questions. Some of the real reporters left the call in a huff after it erupted into a riot of button-pushing tones, shouting and laughing.

What a bunch of idiots, an angry call participant huffed.

Yeah, baby, a triumphant call-crasher replied.

The intruders stayed on the line after the Gore staff and reporters left to use the teleconference room.