GOP Live Operator ‘Patch-Through’ Calls Target Dems on Abortion, Medicare Cuts

ABC News’ Teddy Davis reports: The campaign arm of House Republicans is unleashing a series of live operator calls today, targeting vulnerable House Democrats on abortion and Medicare cuts. They are paid for by the National Republican Congressional Committee. These are live operator calls – not robocalls – so there is no audio clip of them available. The NRCC is not releasing the exact number of calls being made. Friday's live operator patch-through calls on abortion amd Medicare cuts follow a recent round of robo calls from the NRCC warning that various House Democrats were under pressure from President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to "ram through" the health-care bill. The following will get calls on Medicare cuts: Leonard Boswell (IA-03); Gerry Connolly (VA-11); Suzanne Kosmas (FL-24); Harry Mitchell (AZ-05) and Kurt Schrader (OR-05). And the following will get calls on abortion language: Steve Driehaus (OH-01); Baron Hill (IN-09); Alan Mollohan (WV-01); Tom Perriello (VA-05 and Zack Space (OH-18). These are “patch-through” calls, so the listeners can be automatically patched through to the Democrats’ district offices to voice their concerns. Here are the scripts: Abortion Language Script: “Hello, this is ______ calling on behalf of the NRCC with a Code Red Action Alert on Health Care.  Congress is debating a national healthcare plan that allows federal funds to be used to pay for abortions. Your Congressman Zack Space is considering changing his position on abortion and voting YES for this bill.  The only way to make sure that your tax dollars will not pay for abortions is to stop the bill in its tracks.  1. Do you believe that federal funds should be prohibited from being used to pay for abortions? a.  Yes (go to Q2) b.  No  (Thank you for your time and views.  This call was paid for by the National Republican Congressional Committee and was not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.  202.479.7000.) 2. Would you like to call Zack Space to let him know that you do not want him to cave to pressure from his party’s leadership, you want him to protect the life of the pre-born, and you’d like him to vote "No" on any healthcare legislation that allows federal funds to be used for abortions? 1001   Yes (Go to Q3) 1002   No   (Thank you for your time and views. This call was paid for by the National Republican Congressional Committee and was not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.  202.479.7000.) 3. Thank you very much.  I’m going to transfer you right now, with no charge to you Zack Space’s office. It might sound like I’m hanging up, but that is just the transfer.  I will now patch you through to Zack Space’s office where you can let his/her staff know that you want him to vote "No" on any healthcare legislation that allows federal funds to be used for abortions. 2001  patched through 2002  did not patch through Thank you for your time and views. This call was paid for by the National Republican Congressional Committee and was not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.  202.479.7000.” Medicare Cuts Script: “Hello, this is ______ calling on behalf of the NRCC with a Code Red Alert on Medicare.  Congress is debating a national healthcare plan that will cut Medicare by almost 500 billion dollars and your congressman Gerald Connelly might vote for it.   The only way to make sure there are no painful cuts in services for Northern Virginia seniors is stop the bill in its tracks.  1. Do you believe that Medicare funds for Northern Virginia seniors should be cut? a.  No  (go to Q2) b.  Yes  (Thank you for your time and views.  This call was paid for by the National Republican Congressional Committee and was not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.  202.479.7000 2. Would you like to call Gerald Connelly to let him know that you want him to vote against hundreds of billions of dollars in cuts to Medicare? 1001   Yes (Go to Q3) 1002   No   Thank you for your time and views. This call was paid for by the National Republican Congressional Committee and was not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.  202.479.7000 3. Thank you very much.  I’m going to transfer you right now, with no charge to you Connolly’s office. It might sound like I’m hanging up, but that is just the transfer.  I will now patch you through to Connolly’s office where you can let his staff know that you want him to vote "No" on any healthcare legislation that will cut critical Medicare funding for thousands of people in Virginia. 2001  patched through 2002  did not patch through Thank you for your time and views. This call was paid for by the National Republican Congressional Committee and was not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.  202.479.7000.”