Republicans Condemn Violence, Threatened Democrat Not Satisfied

Republicans and Tea Party activists condemned the threats and violent actions directed at a host of lawmakers this week in the wake of the passage of health care reform, but warned Democrats not to make a political issue out of it.

Top Republicans, including House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said on Wednesday that they do not condone the violence, which has included broken windows at campaign offices, threatening phone calls and faxes, and a severed gas line at the home of a lawmaker's brother.

"I do not condone violence," Cantor said on Capitol Hill on Thursday. "There are no leaders in the building, no rank and file members that condone violence, period."

But Cantor admonished Democratic National Committee chairman Tim Kaine and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chair Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) for "dangerously fanning the flames by suggesting that these incidents be used as a political weapon." (The DNC recently sent out a fundraising e-mail asking supporters to give $5 or more to lawmakers that have received threats for their "yes" vote on health care reform.)

Here are the latest threats leveled at lawmakers and responses from Democrats and Republicans:

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Boehner Addresses Threats

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GOP House Minority Leader John Boehner addressed the recent spate of aggressive threats on Thursday at a press conference, where he repeated much of the same rhetoric that he had put out in an earlier written release: "I know many Americans are angry over this health care bill, and that Washington Democrats just aren't listening. But, as I've said, violence and threats are unacceptable. That's not the American way. We need to take that anger and channel it into positive change. Call your Congressman, go out and register people to vote, go volunteer on a political campaign, make your voice heard - but let's do it the right way."

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GOP House Minority Leader John Boehner addressed the recent spate of aggressive threats on Thursday at a press conference, where he repeated much of the same rhetoric that he had put out in an earlier written release:

"I know many Americans are angry over this health care bill, and that Washington Democrats just aren't listening. But, as I've said, violence and threats are unacceptable. That's not the American way. We need to take that anger and channel it into positive change. Call your Congressman, go out and register people to vote, go volunteer on a political campaign, make your voice heard - but let's do it the right way."

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sailor422 said on 25 Thursday 2010 pm31 3:26 pm: How is in not appropriate to point out that your opposition is inciting violence against members of congress? The republicans are more than willing to embrace the tiger (the teabaggers) but when it eats one of the nieghbors they want to say don't blame me. Sorry guys. You can't have it both ways.

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Comments

[cincinnati]

10:46 PM on 04/06/2010

Regarding Cantor, the shot was not even at his office! It was not even close, but at the same large building.

I would check out the guns of his staff, it would be a typical young Republican trick to gain sympathy.

[cincinnati]

10:26 PM on 04/06/2010

I think it was Himmler, Hitler's right hand killing machine, that in the last couple months of World War 2 managed to save some Jews, maybe "selling " them, in order to prove he wasn't such a bad guy.

The GOP has been preaching hate speech for decades, and it got worse against Obama. As close to fascism as I have ever seen in the US.

ONLY with the polls showing public reaction AGAINST the hate speech have some of the GOP suddenly found moderation. It was only a few days ago that nutty John Boehner claimed over and over, that reform was going to bring on the End of Days !

This was to fire up those nuts that think Obama is the anti-Christ or whatever. To get them to brain-wash their friends, to get their money. Of course Bush was the anti-Christ, although we might be nice to him a little since he has learned to keep his mouth shut, Cheney is still trying to save his skin in the view of history.

[Margo Arrowsmith]

09:23 AM on 03/28/2010

Its like the guy who tickles a little kid until the kid is hysterical and crying and then gets upset with the kid for being annoyingly hysterical and crying (or giggling without stop or whatever)

They riled them up and then are appalled at what happens.

Some of them may even be honestly surprised, but not all of them. For some one them this is exactly what they wanted.

[JudgeCCrater]

06:02 PM on 03/27/2010

"There are no leaders in the building, no rank and file members that condone violence, period."

Condone, no. Encourage, yes.

[JohnBryansFontaine]

07:46 AM on 03/27/2010

Fox News Largely Ignoring Tea Party Racism And Immigration March
Reported by Ellen - March 22, 2010

I can't swear that Fox never covered the big immigration rally yesterday but it certainly got far less coverage than the tea partiers. Fox Even worked them into their coverage of Bart Stupak's press conference announcing his momentous decision to support the health care bill. This, despite the fact that, as Think Progress noted, the immigration rally was significantly larger. Fox News' support for the tea partiers has been widely noted here and elsewhere. Similarly, the "fair and balanced" network has played down racial issues involving the tea partiers. Can there be any doubt that if Obama supporters had hurled anti-white epithets toward Republicans that Fox News would be covering it 24/7? Yet, as our friends at Brave New Films reveal via their Facebook page at Cuentame, there is much disturbing racism among the tea partiers. Why is Fox News not covering this more closely?...

http://www.newshounds.us/2010/03/22/fox_news_largely_ignoring_tea_party_racism_and_immigration_march.php

[RitaS]

11:46 PM on 03/26/2010

Ha, the Repugs whipping up the hatred via the tea baggers then BLAMING the Dems for the results.... Typical...

[MayaE]

11:01 PM on 03/26/2010

I cn't believe how much whining I'm hearing from Republicans over this issue. They've incited the violence and they know it.

[bleeplander]

10:03 PM on 03/26/2010

Seriously, Canter is the only Jewish Republican in the House, and he's a denier of this holocaust?
Take a look in the mirror Cantor.

http://kathygregg.wordpress.com/2010/03/26/eric-cantor-you-lie/

[Bingolong]

08:19 PM on 03/26/2010

Well the local right wing AM radio blowhards were singing a different tune here in Arizona. They attacked Pelosi, said she was crying & how they " Play this up as being a victim & always try to gain sympathy..." & then they got ugly, hateful & even more hypocritical.
The were inciting more than ever. A lot of hate festering.
Everything connected to the Govt is now bad, except the privileges they enjoy.

[qthedancer]

08:08 PM on 03/26/2010

Back to acting classes, Eric.

[Mark Twaine]

08:28 PM on 03/26/2010

Now if he could just walk without skipping!

[Kathryn Newborn]

06:11 PM on 03/26/2010

DITTO

[batspaul]

05:49 PM on 03/26/2010

Despicable- the GOP gins its ignorant, lunatic base up into paroxysms of violent anger, and then accuses anyone who says anything about the resulting behavior of "playing politics."
This is a party that, in its desperation, has abandoned all principle and decency.

[Imzadi]

05:54 PM on 03/26/2010

Hear, hear! I heartily concur.

{{ FANNED!! }}

[LA Crystal]

05:48 PM on 03/26/2010

Cantor may have come closer to achieving his apparently disingenuous desire not to make a political issue of this domestic terrorism if he had focused on reining in violence and violent tendencies without trying to 'vilify the victims.' How is that emphasis NOT an attempt to make political points or at least 'damage control' from the situation. He is trying to turn the tables to re-frame the news and that is not constructive but it does is show us how screwed up his priorities are.

Dems absolutely should make this a political as well as a legal and moral issue. This is the kind of tactic that has been the Republican M.O. since at least 2000, when the fake 'mob' tried and succeeded in intimidating the Florida vote counters. They should have been arrested. That was NOT a peaceful assembly - it was a freaking mob interfering with the democratic process. That is exactly what is happening with the current threats and violence.

If the Republicans do not come out in a fierce opposition to such tactics, it only proves how unfit they are to be in office. Boehner's comments implied that the activity was somehow justified - they weren't being 'heard.' That made the rest of his little commentary very weak tea indeed. Now, Cantor is a joke when we learn the truth of the bullet angle, etc. Puleeze.

Rational independent voters are getting an eye and earful. I hope the memories of this extend until November.

[MighteeAphrodite]

09:10 AM on 03/27/2010

Well said.

[blinkthink]

01:28 PM on 04/08/2010

HERE'S REPUBLICAN STEVE KING:
"Now who are we up against? I want to define that enemy. They are: liberals, they are progressives, they are Che Guevarians, they are Castroites, they are socialists, more enemies on this list, Gramsciites, ring anybody’s bell? Trotskyites, Maoists, Stalinists, Leninists, Marxists. They are all our enemies.
The Democratic Socialists of America is the playbook that I have seen unfold. I ask you to go to the website and address that. And I could read you some things off of that, but the big pieces of the Obama agenda have been: cap and tax, socialized medicine, comprehensive amnesty. I believe that any combination of those are transformative to America and debilitating to our liberty and our freedom. I want them all dead. I want to kill all those bills."--Rep. Steve King, CPAC speech
This guy insidiously put a target on every liberal. Will he be arrested?????????

[davidmnc76]

05:40 PM on 03/26/2010

Why does my blood pressure rise after I see a picture of Cantor and Boehner?

[Imzadi]

05:55 PM on 03/26/2010

It's an autonomic response to danger or things that will make you ill...

[blinkthink]

10:28 PM on 03/26/2010

Or you know you are about to get pick pocketed so they can give your $$$ to their rich friends.

[cincinnati]

10:38 PM on 04/06/2010

Nice.

[CPAwADD]

11:15 PM on 03/26/2010

Cantor makes me think of the movie Eraserhead and Boehner makes me think of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

[sunshine14]

05:04 PM on 03/26/2010

Republicans playing a Rove? accuse others, but republicans are really the ones really doing it. What ever republicans accuse others falsely of being or doing, know republicans are what they accuse others of being and doing it under the radar themselves.