GOP Rep Leaves Threatening Messages On Couple's Home Phone After Letter To Local Paper

Denver Post:

The following is a text of two voice messages that Rep. Doug Lamborn left on the home telephone of Jonathan and Anna Bartha.

FIRST MESSAGE: "Hello, this is Doug Lamborn calling for either Jonathan or Anna. Something very serious has happened. There was a letter to the editor that you both put in your names to the editor of the Woodmen Edition and there is something that is blatantly false in that letter.

"I would like to get together with you and show this to you and appeal to you as a brother and sister in Christ. You didn't give me that opportunity but I am happy to overlook that and deal with you on that level because I think that is the right thing to do and show you where you made a blatant, wrong statement.

"Now there are consequences to this kind of thing, but I would like to work with you in a way that is best for everyone here concerned. So please call me at your earliest convenience. It is now 2:40 (p.m.) on Saturday afternoon.

Read the whole story: Denver Post

Comments

[sinnerjizm]

well, what was the letter about,or did i miss something?

Did they call him a pedophile or a serial killer?

Take it in context until further details appear(otherwise we are acting no different than the wingnuts)

[Birdman]

In case you did not know, making a threat of any sort is against the law. Basically if you say you will deal with a situation and indicate that the action is undesirable it matters not if you say specifically what that action is. Saying that you will kill someone, or threaten to break their legs, none of that is required to make a threat, slothough those situations woudl be far worse in a crimminal court. Although all it really takes is the threat itself even if he were indicating he was going to sue for slander which is his right, his threat to do so is not his right.

[syllepsis]

This story should be all over the place.
Law abiding citizens should not associate themselves with the GOP.
And this from the party of so-called 'law and order' religious zealots.
Not only did the U.S. Representative make threats on an answering machine, but he cited his party chairman as endorsing this crime.
It is appalling, but no more appalling than what we already knew- that the GOP is a criminal organization.

[RanTalbott]

So, if my cable TV company sends me a letter saying "We're going to cut off your access to CSI:Miami if you don't pay your past-due bill", it's illegal?

But, if I write back and say "I'm going to call the sheriff if you don't stop sending me these illegal threats", they can have me arrested?

Pull the other one...

[seasalt]

Most of us do our homework on these articles.

Just Google his name and look on the News page. You'll get the full story.

[chucknoblet]

Holy crap! That is frightening! This needs to be huge news, like on CNN and other mainstream news outlets! (no offense, Arianna) The audio needs to be broadcast over and over instead of the Larry Craig audio-tapes.

[seasalt]

The Denver Post is flogging it hard, which is great.

This man's constituents need to know what a creepy b*stard he is.

Eugh.

[TJTelecaster]

Republicans are Fascists American style Fascists but theocratic hypocritical thieving repressive fascists none the less..!

Republicans = Fascism..!

Corporate Theocratic Fascism..!

[Where is Jesus?]

My first question is: Is this really true? Did this really happen? I'd like to see more on this story, more background. Having said that, I know deep in my heart of hearts it is probably true because of all the other stupid, hypocritical things the Republican office holders have been caught doing for some time.

Those people should nail the ass-wipe and file some kind of charges against him--probably just some misdemeanor charge but they should not let him get away with that kind of threat. Confront him and demand he explain exactly what he had in mind regarding his threats. Make him say on the record, then run the story.

[wijg]

I would also like more background. What was the letter to the editor about?

[Birdman]

It does not matter a threat is a threat regardless of the motivation.

What you are trying to use is the response fits their letter. Even if these people stated that he had a third Eye or was gay etc. He shoudl have responded with a request to have a meeting, if they refused then he should have consulted a lawyer to see what his options were rather then make a threat especially an opened ended threat that could be construed as anything. The letter has no bearing in him breaking the law.

[Naithom]

They brought up that he had taken contributions from companies involved in gambling and then voted against a gambling bill involving dog racing. Public records prove that the couple was correct in their information.

The representative claims he returned that money but there is no proof that this actually occured.

[BuzzingAlong]

Article:
"Lamborn message has couple in dismay"
By Erin Emery Denver Post Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 09/02/2007 12:02:04 AM MDT
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_6782060

Read: Jonathan and Ann Bartha's letter, which appeared in the Aug. 24 edition of The Woodmen Edition.
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_6773515

[scooperss]

Denver Post has the letter and story.

[gvincent]

I just love the fact that things have changed so much that the average congressman is as qualified to be there as any random guy of the street.
http://www.crookedinc.com

[FromWayDowntown]

Ironically, you have actually described the democratic ideal. The problem is that the majority of "random guys" in our midst are either dumb or dishonest or a deadly combination of the two. My guess is it's mostly the latter.

[Nuzzy]

Actually, that's only *half* the ideal.

The other half is that any random guy off the street should, in fact, BE qualified by virtue of education and sense of civic duty.

[grainger5]

From ColoradoPols.com:

"When it comes to counting your 'brothers and sisters in Christ,' Anna and Jonathan Bartha may consider eliminating Congressman Doug Lamborn from their 'ecclesiastical family tree' after his threatening phone calls last weekend.
Simply exercising their First Amendment rights, the Colorado Springs couple wrote a letter of concern about Lamborn's vote against a bill to strengthen penalties for dog fighting as well as two contributions he'd received from gambling interests.

Their concerns were based on public records - and in part on Lamborn's public statements last year. What they didn't anticipate were two phone messages personally from the 5th District Congressman demanding retractions or else!"

And now you know...THE REST OF THE STORY.

[justanotherbushhater]

thanks... the context was missing

[Naithom]

I love the fact that he claims that these are lies and that lies have consequences. Public record shows that what they stated was truth.

Is he planning on calling and threatening all the folks that write negatively about him. What's he going to do, use Fox Security or Halliburton?

[seasalt]

He's running for Cheney's job:

Most Darth-like Rethuglicon Threat-Meister.

[malcontented]

Maybe he was planning on siccing O'Reilly's Fox Network enforcers on them.

[RanTalbott]

Actually, you don't.

Lamborn claims (perhaps truthfully, perhaps not) that he never accepted the contribution from the IGT PAC. The cited "public record" only shows that it was _sent_.

Lamborn also claims to have returned a contribution from an _employee_ of a casino. What we don't know ("The Rest of the Story") is when that happened, and whether it was accepted because they didn't find out until later that he was part of a "gambling interest".

Given that one of the signers of the letter works for the slimy and dishonest Focus on the Family, and the other worked for one of Lamborn's political opponents, it's entirely possible his claim of a "smear" is true.

And, btw, if you read the actual bill they're bitching about, it's one of those largely-symbolic "show the rubes we're Tough on Crime (tm)" pieces of fluff that appears to have the side-effects of making it a federal crime for a commercial TV station to run a documentary on dog-fighting or cockfighting, or for a trucker to haul confiscated cockfighting equipment across state lines to be melted down and recycled.

[syllepsis]

Irrelevant.
Calling someone and threatening unspecified "consequences" is a crime.
It's amazing I should even have to say this.

[Naithom]

Well, OpenSecrets.com shows the contributions as being recorded and doesn't show any listing of the contribution being returned. While you may not like where this guy works or the fact that this woman supported his opponant, the information they are writing about and questioning has merit. Public record shows him taking donations and then voting as he did.

Had he been a class act he could have written them a letter explaining that the donation had been returned and given the reason why he voted against the bill.

But he acted like a thug and threatened them which gives their view a bit more credence.

[Naithom]

Actually, when you read the article, Lamborn claims to have returned the money but the casino doesn't verify that.

It was sent and received.

[seasalt]

Nonsense. The facts were gleaned from public election records, verified by various news agencies AFTER the threatening voice mail was left.

Google it yourself.

Why are you defending this b*stard?

[mickyd]

How dumb could a guy be, most evangelicals even have more brains than this lol......

[seasalt]

He was probably toasted when he made the calls.

Drinking and dialing is a big no-no for a reason.

Now he's blustering around like Larry Craig, trying to do damage control and just making it worse.

Idgets.

[Chubbster]

Wierd stuff on the loose in America.

[eurydice]

How can you be a brother and sister in Christ? Is this guy a hermaphrodite?

Honestly, can't we just round up all the Evangelicals AND all the Mormons and just shoot them?

[sinnerjizm]

And after that, who do we shoot next?

[takemeaway]

Do we have to shoot anyone else?

Why don't we just get started? We can always decide later about who's next.

[heath]

Funniest. Name. Ever.

ROFLMFAO!

[wndrwrthg]

Vegatarians.

[silentobserver]

Thank you, very much! Who is going to be next? If you expect someone else not to be an idiot, why be one to make your point?

[FromWayDowntown]

eurydice (See profile | I'm a fan of eurydice)
How can you be a brother and sister in Christ? Is this guy a hermaphrodite?
——————————————————————————

Oh! LOL! — L O bloody L!!! Thank you, eurydice, for you have unwittingly given me a mental image that will make it even more fun to dump salt on the slimy hermaphrodite slugs that nightly climb my garden wall.

[Nuzzy]

eurydice said: "How can you be a brother and sister in Christ? Is this guy a hermaphrodite?"

That just makes it all the easier for him/her to go Cheney him- herself.

[Wilburrr]

Then who would we have to laugh at?

[MJG2007]

LOL. More like right-wing pseudo-Christian leaves threatening messages on right-wing wing pseudo-couple's answering machine.

Jon Bartha is employed by Focus on the Family which, much like the republicans in congress has as much credibility as Star Jones public denials of gastric bypass surgery (until she finally fessed up).

I have no sympathy for either of them.

[freethink]

"Brothers and sisters in Christ"?? Is this guy for real? What is this, the Taliban wing of the GOP?

[syllepsis]

MJG2007: Slander the victim, it is a typical GOP tactic.
And there is no other wing of the GOP other than the Taliban wing now.

[TXfemmom]

You have to admit that it is fun to see the PUKE people, devour one another, at any level.

[seasalt]

It's not about having sympathy, silly.

It's about the Constitution.

You know, freedom of speech? Being able to call our elected officials to account? Not being slapped down by intimidation and threats when YOU write a letter to the editor?

There's a principle involved that is MUCH bigger than any of the individuals in the story.

[Magog]

All we need more idiot's in congress.

[SirReal1]

It's a well used "folk wisdom" that every village has its "idiot",

but, who would have thought that the vast majority of those villages would inevitably put their "idiot" into elected office?

[Rosanneofpgh]

ANOTHER rethug with less brains than God gave a flea!!!

What do those idiots smoke???

[scootmandubious]

It helps to actually read the entire story than seeing the mere snippet that is posted here.

As it turns out, those threatened people are actually right-wing zealots themselves. Mr. Bartha is apparently an employee of Focus On The Family, the virulently anti-gay, anti-choice group whose sole existence is to foment religious hatred and divisiveness.

Once one knows this, who the hell cares how these geeks rattle their sabers against each other. They enjoy the fruits of intimidation and intolerance that they themselves so aggressively foster.

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_6782060

This story is a joke.

[silentobserver]

Nope, you are wrong, defending what is decent and right should not apply only when it is applicable to the so-called 'good guy'.

If this action by this representive is wrong, it does not matter to whom his targets are.

WRONG SHOULD BE WRONG!

[ElkoJohn]

ah, perhaps he wanted to discuss the social teachings of Jesus: "when you saw me hungry, did you feed me? when you saw me thirsty, did you give me water? when you saw me homeless, did you give me shelter? when you saw me naked, did you give me clothes? when I was sick, did you visit me? when I was in prison, did you come to see me? for I say to you, in so far as you have done these things for the least fortunate among you, then you have done these things onto me."

[fact finder]

Never the less, A threat is a threat.

[joedirtfromaz]

Focus on the family..
No wonder the guy used Christ as a crutch
to try to get these people to talk to him.
"in the name of Jesus, will you two pick up the phone and cover up my mess?"

[seasalt]

You couldn't be MORE wrong.

Back to Civics 101 for you!

No elected official in America has a right to thow his weight around and attempt to intimidate ANYONE into giving up their Constitutionally protected right to free speech!

NO ONE.

These people wrote a letter to the editor pointing out facts that are supported by Federal campaign contribution records. That is their right as citizens, whether you and I think they are right-wing nut jobs or not.

Wrong is wrong.

[HarveyD]

If "Jesus" was actually a real person, instead of some mythological, completely fictional character, and he were to show up to see how some of these Bible thumping hypocrits are comporting themselves in his name, ol' Jesus would not be able to stop throwing up.

[helonias]

As they nailed him to a cross