Mike O'Neal, Kansas House Speaker, Apologizes For Email, Says He Wasn't Urging Obama's Death

By Lily Kuo

WASHINGTON--A Kansas Republican leader under fire for sending an email invoking a bible verse to suggest that Democratic President Barack Obama's "days be few in number" apologized on Thursday but said that he would not resign.

Critics said the email forwarded by Speaker of the State House Mike O'Neal, that was later published by the Lawrence Journal-World newspaper, called for Obama's death.

"The forward contained a single verse and was only intended as election commentary regarding the president's days in office. I have apologized, and I am sincerely sorry," O'Neal said in an email.

O'Neal's email sent to friends and colleagues cited part of Psalm 109:8 which in some interpretations reads: 'Let his days be few; and let another take his office.'

The following verse reads, "May his children be orphans and his wife a widow."

Two pastors delivered a petition signed by 30,000 people demanding that the speaker resign. O'Neal issued an apology, but his communications director said the speaker would not be resigning.

"He is using sacred scripture to flippantly suggest people should be praying for the death of the president," said Michael Sherrard, a spokesman for Faithful America, an online interfaith community based in Washington that organized the petition.

(Reporting By Lily Kuo; Editing by Eric Walsh)

Copyright 2012 Thomson Reuters. Click for Restrictions.

Comments

[09Athena]

11:53 PM on 01/20/2013

Mike O’Neal needs to be removed from office. This man's offenses are serious and many. He has abused his power in office. He has declared treason. He has demonstrated a lack in human compassion. He has shown disrespect for our Commander and Chief. This isn't about religious differences. No one in public office should be allowed to behave in this manner--period!

[RedSunn]

07:34 PM on 01/20/2013

He should be tried for treason, and burned at the stake of justice.

[jdaj19]

01:29 PM on 01/20/2013

Mr. O'Neal has done what most fundamental Christians do these days; parsed scripture for personal reasons. Christianity today finds scripture to condemn everything it doesn't like while simultaneously ignoring the Biblical directives to judge no one and love all. They lament the growing numbers of people who choose to stop attending church and fail to realize that Christ said," If I be lifted up, I will draw all men to me." So churches they must be lifting something other than Christ. Recently they have found Biblical directives to gun ownership in Luke, instead of realizing the metaphorical sword is the message of Christ. So it is no wonder this man has fallen on the sword of his ignorance. He should resign and be investigated for treason.

[Rusty Yates]

12:50 AM on 01/20/2013

I think Mike O'Neal's days as Kansas house speaker will be few in number.

[David Balluff]

07:57 PM on 01/19/2013

What is wrong with these people? He needs to be removed from office. It's disgusting, nasty and reprehensible, but sadly, consistent with Republican rhetoric.

[MizLiz]

01:01 PM on 01/19/2013

He most certainly WAS. The GOP loves to talk treason and sling mud, but when there's a general outcry they retreat behind the lame pathetic "well, if anybody was OFFENDED, I regret...blah blah"

[Gale Burke]

01:10 AM on 01/19/2013

Have you ever noticed that most Republicans who say stupid, derogatory and hateful things always come back and apologize? Sorry, I don't believe they are truly sorry for anything they've said. It becomes expedient to walk it back once their constituents call them on it.

This guy needs to resign.....he won't, so the good people of Kansas need to remember this and vote him out next election.

[chicagurl]

05:55 PM on 01/18/2013

....................and, don't tell me. This windbag tells everyone he's a good Christian?

[MizLiz]

01:02 PM on 01/19/2013

This is what "good Christians" do in the Kansas GOP, I guess.

[09Athena]

11:54 PM on 01/20/2013

People should try harder to be good human beings rather than good Christians. It would be a kinder world for sure.

[Corrie Gillikin]

01:03 AM on 01/18/2013

He needs to resign!! End of story. Apology not accepted, because he knew what he was saying and what he meant when he sent it out. He is full of hate and does not deserve to have that office.

[Elusian]

07:44 PM on 01/16/2013

Clever Mike has a problem refraining from grinning over causing insult and outrage by implying his rectitude of quoting the Good Book, which must be alright (right?)? Many pity good Kansans having to endure the continuing presence of this reprobate representing them in office. A dreadful situation which will continue as this awful creature will never resign.

[rossitheaussi]

02:22 AM on 09/28/2012

?????????? you are kidding right

[rossitheaussi]

02:27 AM on 09/28/2012

The Republican Party sure as hell cannot deal with an Obama Presidency, Good luck and good wishes Obama for 2012 hoping you win big time. The free world needs some sanity in the White House.

[Dianne Lawrence]

03:28 PM on 09/14/2012

Typical right wing fundamentalist response when they have stepped out of bounds....."When I said I thought the president should DIE, I didn't mean he SHOULD die!! Sorry"

[Ehtisham Qureshi]

12:03 PM on 09/14/2012

threatened no doubt, probably wanted support from the GOP for this one for something. i wonder how much he won, is the other side of the coin.

[endunagazi]

05:02 PM on 09/13/2012

Apology not accepted.

[IonaTrailer]

10:31 PM on 09/10/2012

I think Mike O'Neal needs a little schoolin' fromthe Secret Service about threatening the President of the United States' life.