(CNN) White House spokesman Sean Spicer is kidding himself if he truly thinks the wave of protesters swarming Republican congressional town hall meetings from coast to coast represent a flash in the pan, or some less-than-authentic paid lobbyist campaign. The town hall protests appear to be driven by an authentic concern about the future of health care reform and troubling reports about Russian meddling in the November elections. Reporters who investigated allegations that paid protesters disrupted a recent town hall in Utah found none, and even some Republican lawmakers targeted by protesters in Iowa and upstate New York acknowledge the anxiety of their constituents is real. JUST WATCHED Town hall attendee: You work for us Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Town hall attendee: You work for us 01:27In the words of Rich Lowry, editor of the conservative National Review : "In the normal course of things, it's not easy even for a well-funded and -organized group to get people to spend an evening at a school auditorium hooting at their congressman. Confronted by journalists, Spicer later hedged a bit: "I think some people are clearly upset.

Source: CNN February 23, 2017 01:50 UTC