Dem Congressman Dennis Moore: I've Gotten Threats Over Health Care Bill
Another Democratic Congressman now says he has received threats over the health care bill: Dennis Moore of Kansas.
Moore told the Fox affiliate in Kansas City that he has received two separate threats in the last ten days. Moore also said that because of the threats, and because of the examples he's seen from other members' town halls, he won't be hold any town halls himself.
"I expect to have differences with people, differences of opinion. And, I respect people's opinions. But, I expect exchanges we have to be respectful and not threatening," said Moore. "As a former prosecutor, I certainly do not tolerate threats well and that's why I contacted the police department."
Rep. Brad Miller (D-NC) and Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA) have also announced that they've received threats. Also, a district office of Rep. David Scott (D-GA) was recently vandalized with a large swastika.
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
ah, yes. Democracy at work.
August 12, 2009 11:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hey TMP. Remember the interactive map during the campaign you created for disturbing commercials.
Lets have a threat map where people are being intimidated from the kooks.
There is a pattern developing that needs to be chronicled.
August 12, 2009 11:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
Great suggestion.
August 12, 2009 1:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, but I don't understand his reasoning. So, he's going to be cowed by fringe elements? I sure hope this is being covered in his local papers.
August 12, 2009 11:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Also, is he reporting these threats to the FBI?
August 12, 2009 11:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is bad precedent. This is what they want. Remember bullies are cowards. Have the town hall and have the cops there and FBI there. Put traces on phone calls to congressman's offices. Make a new law that this is a federal crime. Do whatever to make them understand this is no joke and it stops now. Get metal detectors at events. Arrest guys that show up with weapons. These guys talk tough but a lot are loony losers and when they see a show of force they will hide again. They might yell about stormtroopers but come on already--get tough.
August 12, 2009 11:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Your analysis of the disaffected infantry in the AETNA Army makes me think the motto for the Teabaggers should be "Rock! Chalk! Chickenhawk!".
August 12, 2009 12:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
It wouldn't stop Claire McCaskill. She is FEARLESS.
August 12, 2009 11:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
She actually did a great job in her town hall meeting. It must be really tough when your audience is stacked with loons that are bussed in to shut you up and ignore your points. McCaskill handled the situation magnificently. I hope the other dems watch what she did and copy it. Treat the canned anti-reform audience for what they are and make them look like fools. That will get you press and get out the message that the anti-reform/pro-insurance crowd is selling a bunch of lies to kill reform.
August 12, 2009 11:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
Kansas Democrat. Is that a contradiction?
August 12, 2009 12:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Moore was first elected in 1998 to what was then a mostly Republican suburban district (he is a Blue Dog), but in 2008 his district actually went for Obama, the only one of the 4 Kansas districts to do so.
August 12, 2009 3:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Moore was first elected in 1998 to what was then a mostly Republican suburban district (he is a Blue Dog), but in 2008 his district actually went for Obama, the only one of the 4 Kansas districts to do so.
August 12, 2009 3:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
what a coward.
August 12, 2009 12:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
For those of you who like me live in Bagger Free America, a taste of townhall courtesy Yahoo!Buzz (where I stay in touch with the latest in proto-fascism)
August 12, 2009 12:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dennis Moore is one of the few Congressional Dems from KS to be consistently reelected. He's a decent representative and no coward. There are plenty of crazies in this neck of the woods, and just recently one of them shot Dr. Tiller if you recall. In any case, he is (I believe) the lone KS supporter of Obama's healthcare reform, including a public plan option. Personally, I think he's sensible to avoid townhalls. Video clips negatively skewing or misrepresenting his support for healthcare would no doubt be broadcast endlessly on local news channels and online, and holding on to his seat in this state for years is one of the few success stories for the KS Dems.
August 12, 2009 12:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
You are right Krada. Dennis is a good guy and he has been a good Congressman for the State of Kansas third District. He was the DA of our county for many years before that and he did a good job. People around here like Dennis even though the 3rd District is heavily Republican. I doubt that the Republicans could beat him now. I think he has been re-elected four or five times.
That is not to say that there are not crazies around here. The animal that shot Dr. Tiller lived in Mission, KS which is in Dennis district.
The Moose
August 12, 2009 12:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dennis Moore is no coward. There are too many crazies in this part of the world for him to take the risk. I just sent him a "non carborundum illegitimi" email.
August 12, 2009 2:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's not surprising with psychos like Glenn Beck fueling the fire.
This is the video of Glenn Beck's show from last night (8-11-09) condensed into 10 minutes.
I have never seen so many health care scare tactics and talk about eugenics in such a short period of time.
You have to watch.
http://progressnotcongress.org/?p=2505
August 12, 2009 1:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've been worried about another Oklahoma City for some time now, and that worry is increasing daily. There is some seriously sick shit going on in this country.
August 12, 2009 2:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Same here Steve. There is some sick shit going on in this country. Whatever is disruptions at the Dem town hall meetings from rabble rousing to violent breakouts to Senator Specter getting threatened by a man that he'll feel the wrath of God because of healthcare reform. On top of that we got people sneaking in weapons into these events. Yesturday for christ sake a man in NH was able to bring in a loaded gun at the meeting President Obama held. That's some scary shit.
I'm not proud of my country right now and I believe some might agree. These mob acts show that nothing has changed since Obama got elected except the fact that there's more white hated in some parts because a "Negro" is running the WH. That scares some people.
Tommorrow me and my mom will be going up to Kittanning, PA to watch Senator Specter hold a town hall meeting there and i'm scared. Scared of the mobs, scared of the rabble rousers. Well be bringing the truth. I got the 1,000 plus page House bill on healthcare reform and i'm bringing the general makeup part of it and the public option part of it. I'm bringing facts with me and so is my mom. These people say we need to keep the status quo because we got the best healthcare in the world and my mom will be bringing her premiums to show that completely false.
Were living in a scary time right now Steve, that's all I can say.
August 12, 2009 3:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Do you think the underlying issue is less health care than race? That what "they" see as the indignity of having a black man in the White House, pursuing a policy that will make a deep wound in the Southern Strategy, as instituted by Reagan and Atwater, which the latter admitted was designed to hurt blacks more than whites?
Or is it the likelihood that President Obama will undertake the issue of immigration in the future, which will further agitate those hell bent and determined to maintain white privilege?
I see racism all over this teabagger protest business. The video of the man snatching the poster from the black woman at McCaskill's town hall was just one little arrow pointing to the real problem. I hope Nixon and Reagan are both roasting in hell for setting this country back so far in coming to grips with its problem with race.
August 12, 2009 7:57 PM | Reply | Permalink