Political vandalism

Vandals Try To Break Window At Alaska Democratic Party HQ

Christina Bellantoni | March 29, 2010, 4:16PM

Alaska Democratic Party officials think hot rhetoric over health care led to someone trying to break the windows at the entrance to their headquarters in Anchorage. After logging some threatening phone calls last week, staffers on Sunday found that someone attempted to shatter one of the floor-to-ceiling windows at their prominently labeled office.

"We are on heightened alert and will be taking extra precaution," Patti Higgins, chairwoman of the Alaska Democratic Party, told me in an interview today. "I'm not going to say I think it was tea partiers or Republicans, but I think the heightened rhetoric out there will encourage people will go out and think it's okay to 'send a message' and be angry."

Higgins said it seemed "coincidental" the incident happened over the weekend, as former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was declaring that Republicans should be the party of "Hell no" at a political rally in Nevada. "These are violent words: 'Fire 'em all, take 'em out,' and put together they fit into a pretty cohesive running theme that is fairly violent," Higgins said.

Read more »

Health Care

No August Repeats: How The Dems Are Approaching Recess With HCR Victory Behind Them

Christina Bellantoni | March 29, 2010, 9:08AM

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) signing the bill that passed the House; a protester at a health-care town-hall meeting last summer

Play offense and "don't run away" from health care reform.

That's the advice Democratic leadership is giving rank-and-file members as they fan out across the country to their home districts with a health care victory in their pocket. For all the celebrating, there are real concerns about the next two weeks of Congressional recess spiraling out of control.

Democrats tell us they are confident the rowdy town halls from August won't be duplicated, and are peppering members with data and facts about the health care bill to make sure they are armed with information. Last summer, members were caught unprepared and were faced with angry voters, loud protests and televised meetings that portrayed them in many cases as fumbling and unsure of how to talk about a bill that didn't actually exist yet.

Read more »

Threats to Congress

Steele Declines To Sign DNC 'Joint Civility Statement'

Christina Bellantoni | March 26, 2010, 5:57PM

DNC Chairman Tim Kaine and RNC Chairman Michael Steele

The Democratic National Committee says that Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele has declined to sign on to a joint statement written by DNC Chairman Tim Kaine that condemns threats made to members of Congress from both parties. The draft text of the statement says that while Steele and Kaine disagree on the health care bill, they would "together call on elected officials of both parties to set an example of the civility we want to see in our citizenry" and ask "all Americans to respect differences of opinion, to refrain from inappropriate forms of intimidation, to reject violence and vandalism, and to scale back rhetoric that might reasonably be misinterpreted by those prone to such behavior."

DNC spokesman Brad Woodhouse told reporters that Kaine sent the letter to Steele today and then phoned him asking the chairman to release a joint bipartisan statement "condemning the threats and acts of vandalism over the past week, calling for an end to such tactics and urging a more civil tone in our politics." "This afternoon, Chairman Steele, through staff, declined Chairman Kaine's offer," Woodhouse said.

RNC spokesman Doug Heye told TPMDC that Steele did reject the request. He said Steele was among the first to condemn threats in an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press" with Kaine last weekend.

Read more »

Anti-Health Care Violence

Nooses And Broken Windows: A Week Of Threats And Vandalism

Rachel Slajda | March 26, 2010, 5:37PM

Clockwise, from top left: Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY), Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-SC), a broken window, the stage prop coffin used in the demonstration on Rep. Russ Carnahan's lawn, and Rep. Louise Slaughter

As the health care debate came to its conclusion this week, the high-running emotions of many finally crested, taking the form of threats and acts of vandalism at the offices of several lawmakers, most of them Democrats. Here, a roundup:

The FBI is investigating a severed gas line at the home of Rep. Tom Perriello's (D-VA) brother. A local tea party group had posted the brother's address online, thinking it was Perriello's and calling for a protest there.

Read more »

Republicans

Living Dangerously: Republicans' Most Incendiary Rhetoric on Health Care Reform

Rachel Slajda | March 26, 2010, 5:23PM

RNC Chairman Michael Steele, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) and former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK)

Yesterday, House Minority Whip Eric Cantor accused Democrats of exploiting threats against them for political gain and "dangerously fanning the flames" by suggesting Republicans were behind the anger and violent rhetoric of the right.

Read more »

Threats to Congress

Rep. Weiner's Office Sent 'White Powder And A Threatening Letter'

Christina Bellantoni | March 25, 2010, 4:05PM

Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY)

Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) said in a statement to reporters today that his Kew Gardens, New York office is closed until authorities complete their investigation into a suspicious package sent there. It's the latest in a string of incidents threatening members of Congress since health care reform passed over the weekend.

Weiner's statement:

Earlier today an envelope containing white powder and a threatening letter was delivered to my community office in Kew Gardens. The NYPD was immediately alerted and have responded appropriately by sending a Haz-Mat team. Any questions related to their response should be directed to the NYPD. My first priority is the safety of my staff and neighbors, and the authorities are currently taking steps to investigate and resolve the situation.

Threats to Congress

Dahlkemper Turns Over To Authorities 'Threatening' Letter Charging She Will 'Never Sleep Through Night'

Christina Bellantoni | March 25, 2010, 3:18PM

Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper (D-PA)

Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper says she has received "threatening communication" she believes is tied to her vote in support of health care reform.

Dahlkemper released a statement to reporters today detailing multiple "emails, letters, faxes and phone calls that are threatening or menacing in nature as a result of my vote in favor of health care reform." She said her office hasn't been able to trace the senders of the messages and noted that while some are from Western Pennsylvania, she does not believe the majority of the messages are from her constituents.

The pro-life Democrat -- who agreed to support the legislation after Rep. Bart Stupak and leadership forged a compromise on an executive order handling abortion language with the White House -- said she has told authorities about a "threatening letter" sent to her Armstrong, Pa. district office on Tuesday.

Read more »

Eric Cantor

Cantor: It's The Democrats Who Are Fanning The Flames of Violence (VIDEO)

Rachel Slajda | March 25, 2010, 12:38PM

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA)

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor just gave a brief speech accusing Democrats of using reports of recent threats of violence for political gain, and saying someone shot a bullet through the window of his campaign office this week.

"I've received threats since I assumed elected office, not only because of my positions, but because I am Jewish," Cantor said. "I've never blamed anyone in this body for that. Period. Any suggestion that a leader in this body that would incite threats or acts against other members is akin to saying that I would endanger myself, my wife or my children."

Read more »

Nancy Pelosi

Pelosi Calls On GOP-ers To Condemn Threats

Rachel Slajda | March 25, 2010, 12:11PM

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

In her weekly press conference, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Republicans have a responsibility to condemn the threats against lawmakers.

Leadership, she said, has a responsibility to serve as "an example of how we express our differences and understand the impact that our words have on others. The best way to do that is to very clearly state that this is inappropriate."

"It's inappropriate for members of congress to stand up and cheer when these sentiments are expressed," she said, referring to an incident during Sunday's debate in the House when two tea partiers screamed "Kill the bill!" from the House gallery, to cheers from some Republicans. The protesters were removed from the gallery and arrested by Capitol Police.

Read more »

Health Care

Markey Got Threatening Phone Calls Before Vote

Rachel Slajda | March 25, 2010, 10:40AM

Rep. Betsy Markey (D-CO)

Rep. Betsy Markey (D-CO) says she received two threatening phone calls the day before she voted for the health care bill.

Markey announced she would switch from no to yes on Thursday. On Saturday, one of the callers told a staffer, "Better hope I don't run into you in a dark alley with a knife, a club or a gun."

Read more »

Bart Gordon

Right Wing Blogger: I Had Nothing To Do With Image of Noose Faxed to Stupak

Evan McMorris-Santoro | March 25, 2010, 9:57AM

Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI)

Kevin "Coach" Collins, a right-wing blogger and former NYPD cop, told TPMDC that he didn't send Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) a threatening fax depicting a noose. A post from his blog, and his name, appears on the document, which arrived in Stupak's office yesterday.

Collins, who runs a blog on which he posted an entry that was reprinted on the Stupak fax (with the addition of the gallows imagery), says he sent Stupak something to protest his vote for health care reform, but the fax was not it.

"Here's what I sent: A hand written note saying I thought he would be in a tough reelection so I was sending him a donation of thirty dimes," he told me last night. "I included my name address my occupation and the fact that it was not corporate funds that I sent but my own money."

"If anyone wants to make an issue of this he or she will be barking up a tree with a nasty dog sitting in it's branches," Collins added.

Read more »

Health Care

Protesters Bring Coffin To Rep. Carnahan's Home

Christina Bellantoni | March 25, 2010, 9:10AM

Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-MO)

Missouri press are reporting that Rep. Russ Carnahan's (D-MO) home was targeted by protesters with a coffin over the weekend after he voted in support of the health care reform bill.

Local television stations reported the coffin was brought to Carnahan's St. Louis home. KMOV posted an item suggesting that a Tea Party protest held at Carnahan's district office on Wednesday included a coffin.

A Carnahan spokesman this morning confirmed the account written by the Associated Press:

Read more »

Bart Stupak

Stupak Receives Threatening Fax With Drawing Of Noose

Rachel Slajda | March 24, 2010, 7:24PM

Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI)

Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) received a fax today with a drawing of a noose and gallows, labeled "Bart (SS) Stupak."

[RELATED STORY: Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC), who is African-American, received a fax depicting a noose. Click for here full story.]

The fax also a included a printout of a post from a blog called the Collins Report, a screed against Stupak for voting for Health Care Reform. (There is no reason to believe that anyone connected to the Collins Report added the noose and gallows or sent the fax to Stupak's office. The person who runs The Collins Report did not immediately return a request for comment.)

You can see the fax here.

Read more »

Jim Clyburn

Clyburn Says Noose Depiction Faxed To His Office After HCR Vote (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | March 24, 2010, 7:16PM

Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC)

The right-wing protest movement that amped up during the final debate over the health care reform bill in the House has stepped up another notch, according to one of the most senior black lawmakers in the Congress.

[RELATED STORY: Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) received a drawing of a noose faxed to his congressional office. See the full story here.]

In an interview with CNN tonight, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC) said that his office had received a fax that depicted a noose.

Clyburn told CNN's Wolf Blitzer that the Republican leaders were partly to blame for the extremist rhetoric (and now imagery) that has been flying at Democratic members directly before and after the health care reform vote.

Read more »

Democrats

Amid Death Threats, Dem Rep Driehaus Points The Finger At GOP Leadership

Brian Beutler | March 24, 2010, 3:05PM

Rep. Steve Driehaus (D-OH)

In the wake of the passage of the health care bill, Democratic members of Congress are receiving death threats and implicit threats against their families. One of those members--pro-life Rep. Steve Driehaus (D-OH) who voted for final passage--has had to deal with more than his fair share. Last week, the anti-reform advocacy group the Committee to Rethink Reform published an ad in The Cincinnati Enquirer featuring a photo of Dreihaus with his children. (Both the Committee and the Enquirer have retracted and apologized for the ad.) Now, conservatives are planning a Sunday protest outside of his house, after a conservative blog put his address--complete with directions--on the Internet.

Speaking to me and another reporter outside the House chamber this afternoon, Driehaus said Republican leaders are to blame for the vitriol--and implied that they will bear some responsibility if reform opponents' anger bubbles over into violence.

Read more »