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 ...
Because the local deragned sheriff has been inciting hatred against innocent people.
If any harm comes to the innocents, remember who incited this.
Tea Party chapters from neighboring cities and states should drive/fly/walk there and stand in support of the Tucson chapter.
Let there be no politics? Are you joking?
That is all the left and those in government had done since the shooting stopped...They have blamed innocent Americans for mass murder for Gods sake...You going to hide in your home after being falsely accused and threatened?
Screw whoever said the word "rally". Their idiots.
I am talking about this Tea Party leader coming out of hiding from inside his home, and setting people straight by by letting the media know their totally outraged and offended by their accusations. I don't care if he stand on his front lawn. The media will show up and he ought to stand up for everyone that was blamed for this mass murder.
A Memorial Rally? What is that? I’ve heard of Memorial Services but never a Memorial Rally.
I get it. I was speaking about the memorial only. Absolutely agree about him coming out of his home of course.
Really. I thought he had done not much.
Well this IS the Sheriffs department that IGNORE the shooters threats to other people. To busy protecting illegals I guess.
Amen.
There’s nothing for him to do. Most people are perfectly capable of saying, “Oh, how sad!” without the President’s telling them to.
Of course they're not available. They -- led by that pathetic excuse for a sheriff -- are busy rushing to microphones to blame Palin, Limbaugh, the Tea Party and other conservatives for a massacre THEY COULD HAVE PREVENTED!!!!!!
Ehhh... It’s a “rally” now? OMG.
Who the hell is this guy? What has Obama done that deserves praise? He's read his teleprompter and praised the sheriff with most proximate fault... the one that immediately put Humphries in the cross hairs after the massacre!
THAT deserves praise from a TEA Party guy?!?!?
Lay the blame at the feet of a zealous, liberal sheriff who couldn’t keep his extremely biased opinions to himself.
Because consevatism is now winning the day with independents, leftists are frightened out of their wits. Since we are driving THEM crazy, their messed-up little minds have concluded that every act of craziness is caused by the same phenomenon.
It’s safe enough for Brewer, Obama and Napalitano.
Cowering under the bed because of a veiled threat isn’t going to help the Tea Party image. My advice would be to grow some stones, attend the meeting, and get right up close to the President where the best security that tax dollars can buy will be hanging out.
“...Sheik Obama led the country...”
That is MSM jargon.
“Has he done anything else?”
Don’t wake sleeping dogs. You don’t want to have Obummer do anything else.
You’re right. We know how we are supposed to feel, and we know how to react. And if we don’t, there is something wrong with us that a speech from the President won’t fix. On the other hand when things are bad knowing we have a leader who is in charge is comforting, but a partisan rally won’t comfort us. It will just remind us why we are already angry.
Someone down in Arizona needs to replace this so-called Tea Party leader, who is hiding in his home, and then tell him to stay in his home.
Gezzzz
Leadership - competence, at least - was needed at the level of local law enforcement before Jared-whatsis shot a dozen people. Unfortunately, it failed. Now we have the usual suspects looking to make political hay out of the injured and dead. Maybe it will be comforting to some of the victims’ families or friends, at least.
I’m going to check back later to see what Michelle was wearing. I hate myself sometimes ...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.