More Hatred At Rallies: "Off With His Head"

After not attacking Obama in last night's debate as forcefully as his campaign had in previous days, McCain was back on the offensive today at a rally at Lehigh University with his running mate Sarah Palin.

As seen at recent McCain events, this afternoon's crowd was vocal in their support for McCain and their anger with Senator Obama. At one point one man could be heard yelling, "Off with his head," when McCain spoke about Obama's tax plan. That enthusiasm was even more present during Palin's remarks, and as other observers have reported in the past, today there was a sizeable number of people making their way towards the exit after McCain's running mate left the podium.

Read the whole story here.

The incident follows previous outbursts at McCain-Palin rallies this week.

Yesterday, a member of the crowd at a Palin rally in Jacksonville, Florida yelled "treason!" after Palin accused Obama of criticizing U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

And on Monday, a supporter shouted "Kill him!" when Sarah Palin started attacking Obama's association with William Ayers at a rally in Clearwater, Florida.

Comments

[LemonMeringue]

I am ashamed to live in a country where people behave this way.

[moreupnorth]

If it helps I won't hold you responsible for their actions. Even if you know and work with them. :)

[lindy1968]

me too

[whit4brains]

I know how you feel. And these h.ate mongers have the nerve to call us unpatriotic. It makes me mad as h.e.l.l.

[Farrapo]

Nothing happens randomly at McCain-Palin events. My suspicion is the people making the recent inflammatory comments are plants from their campaign. The goal is to rouse indignation and anger. It's disgusting and the Secret Service needs to investigate and put a stop to it.

[ajax2]

Exactly right. Everything is scripted. I hope the Secret Service knows this and goes right to Steve Schmidt the director.

[retrocozayshin]

More like Steve Goebbels the director.

[CatoTheCensor]

"Off with his head?" "Treason?" Why are Republicans sounding like something out of Lewis Carroll?

[Coinyer101]

desperation. they are about to be rested from power and that frightens them.

[peacegurl48]

Christian values, integrity, honor and, oh yes, "a culture of life"...what hypocrisy. This is an outrage perpetrated while the world watches.

Win at any cost, just the way we fight our dirty wars.

[ranchosx]

watching these rallies reminds me of the brown shirts in Germany. The republicans are dangerous brown shirts.

[Coinyer101]

yes .but we are americans and we practice our 2nd amendment rights. if the wrong colored 'shirts' come to my home,they'll get what fer.

[JustAProgressive]

Anarchy remains possible. American history is littered with violence. Rhetoric is incendiary, and needs only to incite the most violent to action. No one on the Republican side has condemned this rhetoric. Without that, we are on the slippery slope, and the bottom could be at any depth.

I want to agree with you. I just have much less confidence than you do.

[BethStuart]

Ernst Roehm (leader of the brown shirts) would feel right at home at a McCain/Palin rally.

[JohnDewey]

Nah, McCain/Palin supporters would have despised the head of the SA - he was gay as an Easter bonnet.

[shengirl]

I'm just waiting for a Krystallnacht [sp?]

[ajax2]

"Off with his head," is speech to incite violence against a presidential candidate. Since all Republican events especially Palin events are closed, screened and scripted, one would think the Secret Service would be able to go to the event director and easily find the source.

[gdcb1128]

Yes, what ARE they doing? This really scares me! I called the Secert Service yesterday and was told in very general terms that they take these things very seriously. Why was it that I didn't feel very reassured?

[armadillious2002]

If they're gonna have a civil war - I hope they have it while I can still shoot straight.

[Coinyer101]

these people are disgusting. im white and they make me ashamed of my race. oh . i forgot. i'm 1/4 choctaw. wooohooo! FIRST AMERICANS FOR OBAMA!!!!!!

[RealLife]

Ever since I first heard of Palin's comments and the hatred that ensued from the crowd around her, I've been thinking about what happened in Israel when Netanyahu and others on Israel's Right whipped up fervor against Rabin. I believe I read in the aftermath of Rabin's death his widow never forgave Netanyahu for the way he added to the insanity that led to what happened. Honestly - if I could have asked John McCain a question at the "town hall" debate - it wouldn't have been about the economy, which I know he'd just b.s. about - it would be about whether or not he's afraid that he and Palin are playing with fire by putting matches to this kind of incendiary hatred.

[thebluecrayon]

My father brought up the same exact point when we were discussing all these incidents yesterday. Politicians realize that what they say and how they say it matters. They know these are tense times and it won't take much to stir violence. The fact that the McCain camp won't condemn these incidents speaks volumes. When people look back on the Rabin assassination, there were clear events like these that led up to it. Shame on McCain for not speaking out.

[JustAProgressive]

This is very dangerous stuff - not only for the individuals involved, but for democracy. This kind of rhetoric feeds on itself and escalates into nasty and violent actions.

Think 1930's Germany. That's where this stuff could go. And the fact that the 20th century's worst spiral combined the Great Depression with radical politics was no coincidence. Now, look around us at the economic state of us and the world.

Could history repeat itself?

[Coinyer101]

those folks in germany didnt have a 2nd amendment. many democrats are well-armed and rightfully so. if right-wingers want to get radical and violent, then it's time we thinned them out some.

[JustAProgressive]

They also didn't have the nearly instantaneous view of the world that the internet provides. Yes, there is reason to hope we will not repeat history. But we must remain vigilant, and be quick about it.

[GotRights]

They also elected the Nazis.

[Arleen1]

When we talk like that we are no different to the way they talk. Be careful how you frame your own anger.

[laragale]

RACISTS - THE MCCAIN/PALIN TICKET IS PROMOTING IT, LIVING IT, BREATHING IT - AND THEY KNOW IT

[oldugly]

come on not on this one I've been suggesting that we behead politicians, or hang em, by the bunch for years and of late both.
that one is a pass...
all the other stuff, well...

[truthx2]

McCain & Palin's hate mongering & inciting violence at public rallies would have any other person arrested & charged with domestic terrorism under the Patriot Act & rendered to Camp G. The public needs to send a message loud & clear to the McCain camp that we won't tolerate their racist attacks. I'd like to see some officialdom step up to the plate to denounce them but I bet it won't happen. It's up to all of us. Find the campaign headquarters in your community, organize coordinated protests around the country & denounce these scum of the earth for the hate mongering pigs they are.

[gdcb1128]

Yeah, who are the terrorists here?

[Bec01]

Could it be the same guy screaming all this crap out?

[GeezerusMaximus]

Someone needs to get an audio tech to do an analysis to see if there is a match on those shout outs. The results might be interesting. Testing McCain campaign workers in the area even more so.

[RaineyDay5]

I doubt it... One dude was in FL and this is in PA.

[Arleen1]

It could be if he travels with the campaign.

[Wim1974]

You know, I was beginning to think why so many people hate America. I guess that after the last few days, I know the reason. Good PR your voters are giving to the world John McCain. Next time you see someone burn an American flag on television, I advise you to start thinking.

[ExpatNL]

Americans are barely tolerated here any more. Used to be well liked but now just tolerated.

[roshni]

I know. When I travel abroad, I always begin by saying I never voted for Bush. It's disgraceful what the rethugs have done to our reputation.

[obama4president-now]

McCain needs to get control of his crowds or be SHUT DOWN by the Secret Service, it is their job to protect both candidates and arrests need to be made IMMEDIATELY!

[clearthinker2008]

Their too busy arresting the kid who hacked into Palin's yahoo account, because that's more important than death threats.