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DCCC uses ‘outside the box’ thinking in wake of NRCC prank

The Thanksgiving dinner table has turned

Jenna Rivera, of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, loads donations bound for So Others Might Eat outside the DNC on Tuesday. The boxes were donated by the National Republican Congressional Committee. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
Jenna Rivera, of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, loads donations bound for So Others Might Eat outside the DNC on Tuesday. The boxes were donated by the National Republican Congressional Committee. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

What was intended to be a political stunt by the National Republican Congressional Committee has inspired some ‘outside the box’ thinking this Thanksgiving.

The NRCC at the end of October sent empty boxes to the Hill offices of House Democrats in battleground districts, most of which were flipped from Republican in 2018. They are expected to remain competitive next year.

[Democrats facing tough races receive suspicious packages after impeachment vote]

The “suspicious packages,” which were intended as a symbol that Members should “get packing” next November, prompted an investigation by Capitol Hill police that was ultimately cleared, according to spokeswoman Eva Malecki.

The NRCC was criticized by its Democratic counterpart, which responded with a little creativity. 

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee obtained the box delivered to Rep. Joe Cunningham and used it Tuesday to deliver canned goods to So Others Might Eat (SOME), “an interfaith, community-based service organization that exists to help and support residents of our nation’s capital experiencing homelessness and poverty,” according to its website.

“It’s what people should be coming to Washington to do — to leave the place better than we found it,” DCCC chairwoman Rep. Cheri Bustos told HOH Wednesday.

The Democratic organization filled five “gigantic” boxes with canned foods including soup, vegetables, tuna, pasta and other items for families in need this Thanksgiving.

SOME hosts various charity events around the District including “Trot for Hunger,” an annual Thanksgiving Day 5k race.

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