GOP Live Operator ‘Patch-Through’ Calls Target Dems on Abortion, Medicare Cuts
EmailABC 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.”
Obama: 'Now Is the Time For Common Sense Action' 
Romney Takes Aim at Conservatives
Question 1
What are republicans for?
…no answer….
Posted by: watching | March 12, 2010, 11:29 am 11:29 am
Republicans are for a government that represents the Constitution and the will of the people…remember the Constitution? the will of the people? and representatives that were elected to represent the people who elected them…….it is called DEMOCRACY
Many have forgotten the basic principles this country was founded on
Posted by: marg | March 12, 2010, 11:56 am 11:56 am
I remember the constitution… the one Repubs violated for 8 years under Bush Jr…
the one that allowed for slavery and discriminating against non whites and women’s voting rights.
Why I believe its still being followed today as closely as a 21st century world will allow. It has been amended 27 times to attempt to remedy some of the larger issues that we can agree on.
You wouldn’t be suggesting we attempt to turn back the progress we have made and try to live by a 223 year old document written before most people could read and write would you?
Maybe you need to learn more about history… because Republicans used to be the ones who championed civil rights… and defeated the “Whips” who were the old rich white guys trying to control America with fear and money.
Turns out the defeated Whips took over the republican party and the champions of the constitutions true spirit had to form the Democratic party.
If you think Today’s Repubs are champions of the Constitution you are mistaken. Maybe you were seeking the Libertarian party.
Posted by: DewyB | March 12, 2010, 12:17 pm 12:17 pm
The Repubs should have no trouble finding out-of-work cold call telemarketers to make these calls. I usually just hang up, but, sometimes its fun to just put the phone down and turn on the nearby vacuum or blender.
Posted by: BBear | March 12, 2010, 12:18 pm 12:18 pm
Republicans are a political party that represents a variety of views that in general are diametrically opposed to Democrats in terms of cost and application.
Individuals representing the party are generally for their own self-interests unless third parties(read as voters) impose their will on them through the election process and through direct contact. This is true also of Democrats.
Posted by: bobtherepublican | March 12, 2010, 2:07 pm 2:07 pm
When talking about all the billions at $110.00 a month how many Trillions would Americans have to pay to big insurance companys if this health care plan goes through???
Posted by: Gandar | March 12, 2010, 2:17 pm 2:17 pm
Tired of it all, malpractice insurance is issued by and insurance company. Lawyers feed on malpractice and create the problem along with the people on the jury. If everyone including the judge, who is a lawyer, would take each case by its merit instead of how much can the attorney get for himself you would see a drop there. Insurance rates can come down. Did you know Medicare costs $110.00 a month to pay 80% of the claim. Medicare Supplement insurance starts at $130.00 a month to cover 20% of the claim. Why can’t the Supplement coverage be 20% of Medicare or to make a profit 30%?
Posted by: Dan | March 12, 2010, 2:34 pm 2:34 pm
***Did you know Medicare costs $110.00 a month to pay 80% of the claim. Medicare Supplement insurance starts at $130.00 a month to cover 20% of the claim. Why can’t the Supplement coverage be 20% of Medicare or to make a profit 30%?
Posted by: Dan | Mar 12, 2010 2:34:31 PM***
Because priviate insurance, unlike Medicare, takes its administrative costs from the premium paid while Medicare’s costs for administration is near non-existant because its adminstration is figured into the budget for Dept of Health and Human Services.
Additionally Medicare Supplement insurance plans also pay for copays, coinsurance and deductibles for Medicare recipients, which could be a substantial reducution in cost for a senior.
Also they make up some of the cost if the senior has to see a non-paticipating medicare physician, which Medicare doesn’t reimburse as much for but at times is unavoidable.
Posted by: bobtherepublican | March 12, 2010, 4:02 pm 4:02 pm