AP Photo David Martin, US Rep John Lewis
Telephone threats left on a congressman's answer machine, a congressman spat upon, another called a sexual slur while still another called the "N" word. These all happened in recent days leading up to the vote for the Healthcare Reform Bill. All targeted at US representatives voting for the bill commonly called the Obama bill and much of it coming from Republican supporters inflamed by the rhetoric of their leaders. Much of it from Tea Party activists who are welcoming more members daily including a dangerous fringe and still others who are fearful of what Republicans called "death panels" and other crazy anti-Democrat, anti-bill categorizations.
"I think when you use totalitarian tactics people begin acting crazy and these are people who can say whatever they want, it's not appropriate but they have every right to smear someone if they want," said Congressman Devin Nunes R-CA. "I would stop short of saying the 20-thousand people who were protesting were doing it."
The smears were of Congressman John Lewis D-GA who is black and who is seen in the photo speaking at the anniversary of Bloody Sunday in Selma, AL. The target of the sexual slurs was Congressman Barney Frank D-OH who is Gay. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver D-MO who is also black was spat upon allegedly by members of the Tea Party. The protestor who spit on Cleaver was arrested and turned over to Capitol Police.
“They were shouting the N-word,”
Capitol Police surrounded the group and escorted them across the street to the Capitol. Cleaver's office decided not to press charges taking the high road in what was an ugly incident.
A nasty message was left on Representative Bart Stupak's answer machine calling him a "baby killer" and saying he "and your whole family" should be thrown into the Potomac." Another voice mail said he "should get cancer and die," another saying "millions across the country wish you ill." A fax showed a picture of Stupak with a noose around his neck and the wording "Bart (SS) Stupak." Stupak who is an abortion foe gave in and brought several others with him when the President signed a legislative order probihiting the bill from permitting the use of government funds to pay for abortions. Government funding of abortions has been illegal for years.
Where is the GOP in all of this? Minority leader John Boehner R-OH from the floor screamed to his colleagues about how the healthcare bill supports abortion. Abortion has been the most divisive issue in the US in the past 30 years and continues to see violence as a means of making people's points against abortion rights.
Representative Paul Ryan R-WI tried to calm down the Republican members because "we're grownups" insisting on no shouting and no screaming during the vote, which is against House Rules anyway. His point of view to Politico.com is simple, calling the leaders of the government today "liberals."
"The people who are running the government today are very left of center who believe that we should replace the American idea with this kind of cradle to grave society," said Ryan. "I don't think they are evil, I don't think they are sinister, I just think they are wrong."
He seems to be one of the few leading a charge of civility because the debate and the GOP rhetoric over the last year since Mister Obama was elected, has been anything but. The weekly radio addresses tell you that much. Then someone yelled "baby killer" in the house during the debate and that caused everyone concern. Ryan said "it was horrible." Congressman Steny Hoyer D-MD went further.
"I was very disapopinted in that and it says something about the appeal to the most radical elements of our society and that is not a policy that a party ought to pursue," said Hoyer. "I think certainly during the past week there was an appeal to those who were the most strident opponents of this legislation and it is not good to incite and inflame people."
He went on to push the point blaming Republicans for stirring up fear.
"You heard the same kind of misplaced, erroneous, scare tactic rhetoric about socialism, government take over of all those things and they are simply not true," he said "To the extent they (the Republicans) think they can use this in the campaign thinking Americans will resopond and say 'yes we don't like this bill' they are making a big mistake."
In regards to the Tea Party and it's participation?
"To the extent the Republicans are the home to the most strident confrontational people in America I think they are unwelcoming people who do not fall into their narrow brand of beliefs," Hoyer added.
Hoyer called on the GOP to denounce the potential violence as at least 10 Demoractic law makers have received threats since the vote. Boehner has condemned threats of violence but in the same breath used the bill as the reason.
“I know many Americans are angry over this healthcare bill, and that Washington Democrats just aren’t listening,” Boehner said. “But, as I’ve said, violence and threats are unacceptable. That’s not the American way. We need to take that anger and channel it into positive change."
The Republicans are targeting that change as removing Democrats from office in November. They've heavily targeted speaker Nancy Pelosi and the new RNC website features Pelosi with flames behind her and two clenched fists; "Fire Nancy Pelosi." The mood of the Republican National Committee is the same one set in the Bush presidency and it is a direct appeal to the conservative base with no eye toward compromise. The far right is made up of groups who are at the least dogmatic.
The bill itself isn't perfect and while the GOP vows to make as much political hay as possible in working over the Democrats there are two schools of thought on this. One says it will work the other says it won't - that it will backfire and by November it may all be forgotten over a sour economy, unpopular wars and who knows what else.
The question remains; If you threaten a public official does it make you a criminal, a terrorist or both? And if the official is a member of a minority group does it also qualify as a hate crime? Or is it just a political movement?
Comments
Call me different, but I find the entire situation hilarious.
Bob: the real message will sent to the Democratic Party in November. Then we'll see how happy most of the people in the U.S. are about the Obama Administration ramming something like this down the throats of people who are already over-taxed.
I will not let extremists drive the government. Just saying no works for two year olds, some of the time. It does not make democracy. Bargaining and mediation drives government. I think the republicans underestimate the electorate. My patience with tactics of inflaming the public has been stretched to the limit. I have always been a moderate, voting for the best candidate.
Republicans want the 4th Reich
I'm sure Republicans condone this but seriously , would a rational person allow psychotic people like this run anything? So when did it become acceptable to threaten people. If you have a problem with what happened go sign up and vote. Acting like this only shows who the real Nazis are
The health care industry has been working so well the last 10 years hasn't it? Why change it? I mean, I've never been seriously sick or had any type of serious disease, and my insurance has been great in the last 9 years I haven't used it. Why would anyone want to mess with that? I don't see any reason to modify health insurance. I never get sick.
Try walk in someone else's shoes....
My ex-girl friend has Crohn's disease. It took her a year to find a health insurance company that would take her on and her premiums are unbelievable. She has to get Remicade treatments once every 2 months. A Remicade session costs $3000.00. Remicade keeps her from having agonizing attacks due to Crohn's. Before she got insured she weighed 85 pounds because she couldn't eat. Ask her about health insurance.
These people who appose health insurance reform obviously don't have Crohn's, or any other issue. Otherwise they would truly understand the issue. Walk in someone else's shoes. Morons
As a small business owner with self health coverage for myself and my family, I am following this as closely as I can. I think Flatiron is right in calling it "Health Insurance Reform" NOT "Health Care Reform". Health Care Reform is what we need. What upset me is that on today's AM news radio (KNX-LA) I heard a report about a RIDER on this bill that has nothing to do with health care. Typical Washington politics...
So essentially since one racist a few racist individuals makes the tea party and all republicans racist? I don't think I can stick my head that far up my ass but if you say so.
anybody can go on youtube type in "racist teabaggers" and you will find more than one "isolated incident" of racism within this hate group....not a legit political movement at all....
Please...death threats are so common on most who are in the media...they just don't make it a big issue as the little protected democrats have...woe is them...grow up and face the music as others do instead of whine!
Actually, no.... we don't need HEALTH CARE Reform. We need reform of the HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES. Our Health Care industry is the best on Earth. It's INSURANCE that gets in it's way. People say they don't want Government making health decisions for them. Right now we have PROFITS of the INSURANCE COMPANIES making health decisions for us. Remove the convolution of PROFITS of a COMPANY and the decision will truly be left to YOU and your DOCTOR. Frigging people just don't get it. This is about HEALTH INSURANCE reform, not our HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY. This bill that has passed tries to iron out the real issue, INSURANCE. The bill that passed is weaker then it should be because people just don't get it. Their politics get in the way. If we had a single pair insurance system that took the profit out of the insurance system our problems would go away. But many people don't understand that. They want to cry socialism. Some things shouldn't be driven by PROFIT. PROFIT or YOUR HEALTH?
The "N-Word," eh? Where's the video?
And how about Eric Cantor (REPUBLICAN - VA) who's office was just shot up?
How quickly we forget the REAL violence coming from the LEFT during the G20 meetings, the black panthers intimidating voters during Obama's election (who the attorny general decided not to protest - can you imagine if they were Tea Partiers instead?). The SEIU rally where a wheel-chair bound black man was brutally beaten (all on video - unlike this "n-word" incident.")
Then, of course, the MASSIVE vandalism of Bush/Cheney offices back in 2000 and 2004. The movies about how to assassinate George W., the effigies of Sarah Palin burned, effigies of George W. burned, the plot to blow up the pentagon by Obama's friend and personal hero Saul Alinsky, Alec Baldwin calling for Henry Hyde to be killed...
...What is becoming increasingly clear to those with a brain, is that the so-called Tea Party Patriots are actually fake patriots who will eventually drown politically in their own bile-based tea. They drink from self-poisoned cups; drink deeply from a brew of hatred and stupidiy. History will not treat them kindly.
The Tea Party is a terrorist organization, no doubt about it!
Hey Carl,
You ever had a serious disease? Have you ever really needed your Health Insurance? I don't mean for a broken arm or removing those hemorrhoids from your dumb ass? You know, many of us did want this insurance reform bill. One day you might experience what my ex-girlfriend did, then you might understand the real problem. So if the Dems lose in November then so be it. My ex-girlfriend is finally insured and in 6 months she won't have to worry about losing it again, for the 3rd time, due to her treatment costs.
Of course what do you care, right? Your worried that your $250K a year income might get taxed an extra 3%? Your insurance works great when you pull a muscle so screw it.
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