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Reid Fires Back Over Spoof Robocalls

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Wednesday accused opponents of health care reform of making robocalls to lawmakers’ offices using a questionable phone spoofing technique that makes it appear as if the calls are coming from his office.The controversial robocalls are the latest in a string of bitter attacks and pranks Democrats, Republicans and their various interest group supporters have waged against one another as part of the health care fight.Over the last several days, House and Senate lawmakers have received automated phone calls highly critical of the Democratic plans to reform the nation’s healthcare system. The caller ID lists Reid’s office as the source, although they have actually originated from a still-unknown outside source.“An unidentified organization is dishonestly using Sen. Reid’s office number to mislead people and to create yet another distraction from the important issues our country needs to address,— said Reid spokesman Rodell Mollineau. “American families are suffering and every day that defenders of the status quo spend on misleading and disruptive tactics like this is a wasted opportunity to be working on finding real solutions.—Although a highly controversial and questionable practice, Congress has thus far refused to make the use of spoofed numbers illegal.The Reid incident comes as Members face angry protesters at town-hall meetings across the country and as party organizations and advocacy groups increase their attacks against one another over health care reform proposals. Republicans have recently accused the Democratic National Committee, through its Organizing for America grass-roots arm, of “scheduling— meetings for constituents with lawmakers that did not exist to try to ramp up anger against the GOP.

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