Republican Congressman Criticizes Palin Rallies

Veteran Republican Congressman Ray LaHood criticized his party's vice presidential nominee Friday, saying that Sarah Palin's vitriolic campaign rallies ""don't befit the office she's running for."

Rep. LaHood, who has represented Illinois' 18th district for seven terms and is retiring in January, told WBBM Radio that Palin should control the racially-charged heckling at her rallies:

"Look it. This doesn't befit the office that she's running for. And frankly, people don't like it."

Some of the names Obama is being called, which include "terrorist" and "traitor," "certainly don't reflect the nature of the man," LaHood said to WBBM.

LaHood supports John McCain's candidacy, but warned that the heckling could backfire on the Republican ticket.

Comments

[ObserverOZ]

Let's be honest, Sarah Palin is ridiculous. McCain tried a gimmick and it isn't working. Apologise to America and just bring the elections forward and stop wasting people's money and time. The whole concept of this woman running for an office of such importance is making a mockery of America's standing in the world. John McCain must be crying in his soup and at the very least should fire the idiot that put her name forward. Things must be bad when members of your own party seriously question your running mate and publicly state she demeans the office she is running for. The Republican Party must have had a better option, or not????

[Outsideadog]

GOP stalwart, former Governor Milliken, backing away from McCain/Palin in Michigan too.

See http://www.mlive.com/grpress/news/index.ssf/2008/10/former_governor_milliken_backs.html

[Shiral]

Thank you Congressman LaHood for speaking out so clearly. Your party could use more people like you.

We not only don't like Palin style rallies (I fear they're not far from giving the straight armed Nazi salute and a heartfelt Sieg Heil) we find them revotling and frightening.

The only good thing about that is, we're seeing Palin's true colors well before Election Day while there's time to avert potential disaster for the country.

[ajax88]

Hello to all commentators,

All the commercials, pundits, gaffes, personal attacks, and the MSM will not dictate the outcome of this election. THE GROUND GAME IS WHERE ELECTIONS ARE WON, AND LOST!

Before you go to the next left leaning article to comment on, or right leaning article to start an argument with a repug (which will no doubt end with them calling you an unpatriotic socialist wimp) I suggest that you get in the game.

Please visit my personal fundraising page below:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/craigcubberly

If you cannot afford to donate money there are many other ways to help below :

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/statepages

Take a look. It is a lot of fun, and very satisfying to get involved. You will really feel as though you are making a difference.

Thanks Craig

[Ferro821]

Thank you, Congressman Ray LaHood! Its nice to see that politicians have morals. You've restored my faith in mankind.

[doctorkeys]

The Republican party's campaign events are monstrous. They look frighteningly like a Slobodan Milošević rally - demagoguery at its most hideous. I pity anyone who would vote with this unseemly mob of hateful slobs.

[sposton]

The nature of our two party system invariably forces our two political parties to be umbrella-like in order to attract people with differing political viewpoints. What we are witnessing now is the self-destruction of GOP. Bush has inflicted the critical mass of damage and Palin may be driving the nail in the coffin. At the end, they will have driven all but the fundamentalist religionists from their party. Republicans must reinvent themselves in order to remain relevant.

[desertbloom]

There are some courageous and principled Republicans who have stepped forward to say No to Palin and McCain. These people are the true mavericks.

[afgail]

The really scary part of this story is that these hateful people at the Palin rallies are the Republican Party base. They are the gatekeepers who dictate who will run for president and vice as the Republican nominees. Explains alot doesn't it?

[Carsy]

I can't help thinking that in the next election cycle that the Republicans are going to start moving away from this base and concentrate on the independents. This neurotic base won't vote Democrat, they will just not vote at all. Is that any great loss to the country?

[PKSSK]

There are decent republican's out there and obviously this man is one. Although they have been few and far between.

[FemiMommy]

And yet he still says he supports the M/P campaign! How can he still want to elect these people if he truly believes what he's saying?

[ILOVELOSANGELES]

Everyone should read Rolling Stones article about McCain.

[desertbloom]

The REAL McCain.

[justobserve]

Yes, the link again:
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/make_believe_maverick_the_real_john_mccain

[ILOVELOSANGELES]

Nothing McCain/Palin have presented to the U.S. voters represents any kind of reform. In fact it harkens back to the worst of times in U.S. history when racial and gender intolerance were the norm. Obama/Biden will provide 'the change we need' to compete in a 21st century global economy and restore the USA's position as leaders of the free world with dignity and honor.

[redsongia]

He were's that report about Palin and all her shady dealings up in Alaska?

[TrueIndy08]

its out....

it's official... she ABUSED her power as Governor of Alaska....

although it wasn't illegal, it sheds light on her moral character... and she is as immoral as they come!

Its like Clinton, he didn't break any laws, yet they tried to impeach him....

Let's hope the good people of Alaska see what kind of a shady character they are dealing with and send this b i t ch packing

[UncleHomer]

The report came out and from what I saw on the news it concluded that Palin did abuse her power but did not violate any laws.

[demfriend]

The degree of hatred and anger the two GOP candidates have been whipping up is beyond belief in this time.That the attacks on a decent good man whose only desire is to help us as a country and the very notion that the crowds calling Obama a terrorist and yelling to "Kill Him" should never be in our politics and I am angry not ashamed angry that after 8 years we have endured with Bush we should have these tow further dragging our country into a muck full of racism. How can MSM and the gOP condone this? Why is it that we as citizens have to have these people allowing their followers to encourage such hate? I am tired of those who can and should stop this hatred and racism not doing a damn thing about it.

[SgtLucifer]

Rolling Stones Mag. - Make-Believe Maverick
A closer look at the life and career of John McCain reveals a disturbing record of recklessness and dishonesty

By TIM DICKINSON Posted Oct 16, 2008

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/make_believe_maverick_the_real_john_mccain

[desertbloom]

Should be required reading for all American voters.

[Semper]

Well if Palin is a Christian, one of the commandments is "You shall not bear false witnesses against your neighbor. She sins every day. That's the problem with the Christian Right. They don't walk the walk. They wear religion like a tee shirt. It makes me sick. And they worship false idols, and they don't even know it. A christian never judges, they are always working the to better themselves because they are challenged every day. Most are humble, have a love for people, and know its going to be tough to get into heaven.

[Lotus19]

I know Christians, I've lived around Christians. Some of my closest friends are Christians. Palin is no Christian.

[thatgirlinnewyork]

and a "pro-life" one, at that. what kind of person who values life incites death threats in humans, and shoots defenseless animals to boot?

[redsongia]

It's true. Maybe we should let them post those 10 commandments in the courts like they want to. Seems like they need a cheat sheet.