Posted on 03/25/2010 4:39:52 PM PDT by presidio9
Republicans took to the House floor Thursday to plead with those who oppose the Democratic health care overhaul to refrain from violence and threats.
Opposition to the health care bill that President Barack Obama signed into law Wednesday is "no excuse for bigotry, threats or acts of vandalism and I condemn such things in the strongest possible terms," said Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana, the House's third-ranked Republican.
"Some of our colleagues have received threatening phone calls. A brick has been thrown, a window has been smashed. This is not the right way to respond," added Rep. Joseph Pitts, R-Pa., a leading anti-abortion lawmaker.
The remarks came a day after House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said Democratic lawmakers were worried about their own safety and their families because of a rash of threats that followed the House vote Sunday sending the landmark health care legislation to the president.
While not directly criticizing Republicans, Hoyer warned against lawmakers against encouraging protesters into acts that might cross the line into threatening behavior.
"The bottom line is, we need to be very careful in public life that our rhetoric doesn't incite to violent acts," the Maryland Democrat said Thursday on a network morning news show. He said dealing with difficult issues in a civil and peaceful manner is "at the core of our democracy."
The FBI is working with lawmakers subjected to menacing obscenity-laced phone messages. In some instances, bricks were hurled through congressional offices, including Rep. Louise Slaughter's district headquarters in Niagara Falls, N.Y.
At least four Democratic offices in New York, Arizona and Kansas were struck and at least 10 members of Congress have reported some sort of threats, congressional leaders have said. No arrests had been made as of late Wednesday, but the FBI is still investigating.
Hoyer had said Wednesday that lawmakers who felt at risk were to get attention "from the proper authorities." He declined to say whether any were receiving extra security. Normally only those in leadership positions have personal security guards.
Slaughter, a Democrat, is chairwoman of an influential House committee. She said someone had left her a voice mail that used the word "snipers."
Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., said "it's an effort to kind of hijack the debate by coercive elements. I'm glad the Republican leadership colleagues denounce it. But they were very late to do that."
Hoyer on Thursday did not single out any member of Congress or political party as having made statements that could encourage such acts. But he did say he thought some of the rhetoric "has been far beyond legitimate debate."
"In our democracy," he said, "we resolve things, not through violence, not at the point of a gun. If we don't do that, we will devolve into a society that we're not going to like."
"It is unacceptable in America," said Sen. John McCain. The Arizona Republican said angry citizens should channel their rage into voter registration for the next election and efforts to repeal the health care law.
House Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio said in a statement that while many Americans are angry over the bill's passage, "violence and threats are unacceptable."
Some of the anger spilled over in a flood of threat-filled phone and fax messages to the office of Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich. Stupak vowed to oppose the health care package unless given greater assurance that it would not allow federal funding of elective abortions. He voted in favor after the administration agreed.
Stupak's office released some of the messages, declining further comment.
"I hope you bleed ... (get) cancer and die," one male caller told the congressman between curses.
A fax with the title "Defecating on Stupak" carried a picture of a gallows with "Bart (SS) Stupak" on it and a noose attached. It was captioned, "All Baby Killers come to unseemly ends Either by the hand of man or by the hand of God."
The vandalism and threats surprised a researcher at a think tank that monitors extremist groups.
"I think it is astounding that we are seeing this wave of vigilantism," said Mark Potok of the Alabama-based Southern Poverty Law Center.
Hoyer said earlier that people have yelled that Democratic lawmakers should be put on firing lines and posters have appeared with the faces of lawmakers in the cross hairs of a target.
While not directly criticizing Republicans directly, he said "any show of appreciation for such actions encourages such action."
Gun imagery was used in a posting on the Facebook page of Sarah Palin urging people to organize against 20 House Democrats who voted for the health care bill and whose districts went for the John McCain-Palin ticket two years ago. Palin's post featured a U.S. map with circles and cross hairs over the 20 districts.
McCain defended Palin Thursday, saying it was commonplace practice and "part of the lexicon" to refer to "targeted" congressional districts.
In Virginia, someone cut a propane line leading to a grill at the Charlottesville home of U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello's brother after the address was posted online by activists angry about the health care overhaul. Perriello also said a threatening letter was sent to his brother's house. The FBI and local authorities were investigating.
Tea party activists had posted the brother's address online thinking it was the congressman's home. The post urged opponents to drop by and "express their thanks" for the Democrat's vote in favor of the sweeping health care reform.
Nigel Coleman, chairman of the Danville Tea Party, said he re-posted the comment that originated on another conservative blog, including the address, Monday on his Facebook page. The posts were taken down after the mistake was discovered.
"We've never been associated with any violence or any vandalism," he said. "We're definitely sorry that we posted the incorrect address."
Which democracy is that? I have news for you, buddy boy; we've already devolved into a society we don't like.
Precisely what response from the American people did these little King Georges expect after what they pulled this week? Flowers and a case of Scotch?
Who said “We’ll do whatever it takes”
Who said “Bring it on”
If you’re going to talk the talk be prepared.
Previous attempt...Republican President(Ford)by a drugged-out hippie POS leftist.
Last President assassinated...by a radical America-hating communist leftist....(despite the cBS's man-on-the-street attempts to claim that it was "one of those right winger's")
Trust me David Shyster, Madcow, tingle leg, Olberdork and the rest of the lying MSM...if/when the next American Revolution begins...you'll KNOW it's U.S.!
What did they expect? Cookies and Milk?
Excellent point (about the history of lib threats and fascist tactics on the left). These folks want us to remain civil? The Democrats have elevated demagoguery into an art form!
Definition of a demagogue: a person, esp. an orator or political leader, who gains power and popularity by arousing the emotions, passions, and prejudices of the people.
When we dare speak for liberty, we are called RACISTS. When we strive only to keep what we earn, we’re called selfish, heartless, and cruel. Our religion is mocked on a daily basis. We’re called backward bible-thumpers for speaking for the value of life and ignorant, gun-toting fools for believing in self defense. Now you tell me, who’s being uncivil here?
Republicans plead for civility, restraint as pro-health care House Democrats report death threats
We don't know any more than that except that Democrats report receiving death threats every time they do something they know is unpopular and whenever they need some sympathy in the government media.
“Civility and restraint” got us to the point where the democrats will soon have control over whether we and our children get medical treatment.
F’ “civility and restraint”.
These bastards are lucky it is not 1765....they would be tared and feathered...
I don’t think this tactic is going to work anymore either. It’s not going to change how people vote in November. People are just pissed and I don’t think they’re going to forget about it.
STUPID REPUBLICANS ... they are accepting the PREMISE that the violence is “RIGHT WING” ... geez, why don’t we just put ourselves all in jail, hang our heads and apologize. (STOP IT ... The LIBS are the violent ones ... just ask Coulter)!
We told them and told them and told them that we didn’t want ObamaCare. Or Porkulus, or the bailouts, or cap-n-trade, or the business takeovers ... it’s been a long list of abuses. But they refused to listen to us.
They wouldn’t listen at the town hall meetings. They ignored us on the phone, on the Internet, by fax and snail mail. They wouldn’t even listen when a quarter-million patriots descended on Washington on Sept. 12!
Now a few bricks are thrown and their panties are in a wad? Threats? Mere threats and no well-deserved hangings?
They have no idea how bad things are going to get if they don’t wise up and start listening to us.
I have said from the get-go that the election of that socialist to the White House was going to end in blood flowing in the streets. I don’t know if the statists will draw blood first or the freedom fighters.
Since when is violence unacceptable?
Speeches and protests didn't get rid of Nazi Germany. Violence in Europe did.
Letter writing campaigns and Get Out The Vote drives didn't stop the North Korean incursion into South Korea. Violence on the Korean peninsula did.
Sit-ins and protests didn't stop the spread of Communism in South East Asia. Violence in Vietnam did.
What stopped the USSR from taking over Western Europe? Dozens of divisions of American troops ready to do violence across Europe and the North Atlantic.
Violence or at least the credible threat of violence is the ONLY thing that's ever stopped ANY tyrant.
That's what the Second Amendment is there for. It's a threat to politicians that the citizens have the capacity to do violence to tyrannical despots in government.
I agree that traditionally we in the US have not used violence to pull down our political masters and remind them that they are servants very often. The Battle of Athens is all that comes to mind at the moment.
But the credible threat of violence was instituted directly in the Bill of Rights for a reason.
The weasels in Congress want us to back down, calm down, stop being angry. Well of course they do. They want to get back to business as usual...ignoring us.
So the pussbags in Congress are scared, are they? Worried about some citizen dragging them out in the street and introducing them a little more directly to a rock or a brick?
Good. They're supposed to be afraid when the trample on our rights.
Nope, not working anymore. Our eyes are wide open. We control the conversation now.
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