Posted on 01/12/2011 11:27:50 AM PST by kristinn
TUCSON, AZ -- Trent Humphries, the leader of the largest tea party group in this mourning southern Arizona city, has nothing but praise for the way President Obama has led the nation through the aftermath of Saturday's mass shooting at a constituent event for Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ). But Humphries won't be there tonight when Obama speaks at a memorial rally intended to unify Tucson after six people were killed in the tragedy.
Humphries says he's been getting threats at his home from people who seem to hold him and his organization partially responsible for the shootings Saturday.
Humphries told TPM he thinks Obama's visit will help put an an end to the political debates and let Tucson refocus on healing after the deaths of six of its citizens. Humphries told TPM he's called the Sheriff's department more than once in the past few days to make them aware of threatening phone calls.
"We got a not-so-veiled threat," Humprhies told me. "The Sheriff's deputies told me to stay away from public places."
The Pima County Sheriff's Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Humphries said the threats have coincided with Saturday's shooting and began nearly right away.
"We had people say, 'too bad it wasn't your family that was killed,'" Humphries told me. Other angry calls have come in as well. "'The blood of that little girl on your hands,'" Humphries recalled one message saying.
But it was a new call that came in this week that Humphries said had him staying out of public view for a while.
"It was something like 'we hate you and we're going to stand against you and we're going to use our First and Second Amendment rights to stop you,'" Humphries told me.
(Excerpt) Read more at tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com ...
Is anyone surprised?
That is reprehensible.
Those aren’t threats; they’re just dissent, the highest form of patriotism. And if, God forbid, someone should actually carry out a threat, there will be absolutely no connection between the hatred being spewed by the left and the act.
Words don’t cause (left-wing) wackos to hurt (right-wing) innocent people.
Dont give in, stay strong!!!!
What a wimp..
If Obama does not condemn this type of anti-Conservative rhetoric, he is equally guilty of spreading hate and division in this nation.
Condemn it? He’s loving it.
No nut surprised and Im sure Palin will have an increased number of threats also.
He calls the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, the same government agency that basically blamed him and his party of this mass murder?
What did he expect from them?
Threats wouldn’t stop me from attending to see Obama if I wanted to go.
However listening to the drivel that he will be putting out would.
I’m not surprised that the Sheriff’s office told him to stay away.
WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG
But it was a new call that came in this week that Humphries said had him staying out of public view for a while.
“It was something like ‘we hate you and we’re going to stand against you and we’re going to use our First and Second Amendment rights to stop you,’” Humphries told me.
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Check the caller ID. Sounds like Sheriff Dupnik again as usual.
$hit I wouldn’t go anyway. Who wants to look at that pencil neck big eared freak.
There is only one appropriate response: a MASSIVE Tea Party rally and no few attendees making it clear that they are recording everything any opposition might say or do.
Rally, Rally, Oh really? I thought this was a damn Memorial Service.
I won’t be watching. I smell a Wellstone redux.
This reminds me of the Peanuts film, "Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown." Peppermint Patty keeps cheering Charlie Brown, each time he speaks or gestures, "You're leading, Chuck! You're really doing it, you're leading!"
All anyone not personally involved can do is say a prayer for the victims and their families/friends. We needed Zero to "lead" for that? Piffle.
I don’t see the problem. The Second Amendment is a civil right!
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