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msnbc.com
In light of today's shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), it's remarkable to watch this NBC video from March 2010 of her discussing vandalism and harassment during the health care debate, when the front door of her office was "kicked out or shot out." She says she is not fearful, though "the rhetoric is incredibly heated."
She is asked, are the threats real, or are Democrats using the violent incidents as a political opportunity to characterize Republicans as violent or extreme?
"Chances are, you're going to have a couple of people, extremes on both sides, frankly, not just the Republican side. We have Democratic extreme activists as well," Giffords said. "Most of our country is in the middle, but we do have these polarized parts of our parties that get really excited. And that's where again community leaders, not just the political leaders, all of us need to come together and say, there's a fine line here."
Reports of death threats, vandalism and harassment have Democrats on edge as they're preparing to head home for their spring recess. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., who is one of the Democratic leaders targeted, discusses.
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No matter what YOUR problem is, you have no right to take anothers life!
it's been said by professional killers you do one and then it's like eating peanuts.
how could I say a gun is a good idea to settle a question but just think of how confused this country is we are losing our kids in af& ir and we are surprised??? what we all need is a life not a death march.
savannahmama
With all the hatred out there, it was just a matter of time... Everyone - EVERYONE in a position of authority (or just has loyal followers), needs to dial it down. One persons rhetoric is anothers 'command' to commit an act like this.
Well., Glenn beck for president. let this country truly go to the dogs. How sad.
Welcome to (the new and improved!) America. I imagine this person was just exercising his 2nd. amendment rights, huh?
The problem with the true believers is that they CANNOT be wrong, as they are doing 'Gods work'. This is the problem with the Muslims, and it's a problem with the Christians. You can foam at the mouth if you want, but it is undeniably the truth.
Not ALL the Christians are like that, ya say? Well, you ALSO said all the Muslims are terrorists, so I thought the logic applied across the board. These people in the media that keep talking about this being the "end times" need to knock it off (I'm looking at YOU, Glenn Beck).
If you think your God is about to 'call you home', take your own life. Leave the rest of us alone.
WHat in the world has this got to do with Muslims???????
STOP MAKING THINGS WORSE!!!!! STOP inciting people with your rhetoric!
It's all about muslims. They are watching us and helping us kill each other, soon they will be marching in to collect their spoils!!!!!!
unfortunately, this country has a long history of political violence. we've had 3 presidents assasinated, 2 other attempted assasinations, dozens of other killings, and dozens of bombings. The startling fact is that with the exception of Reagan, most of this violence comes from the extreme right. It's starts with rhetoric, coming mostly from so called leaders. Every republican leader needs to stand up against this. Every preacher needs to speak out against this or they are just aiding and abetting
Did any of you idiots not read what the congresswoman said???
She said:
"Chances are, you're going to have a couple of people, extremes on both sides, frankly, not just the Republican side. We have Democratic extreme activists as well," Giffords said. "Most of our country is in the middle, but we do have these polarized parts of our parties that get really excited".
I'm a republican. Sad there are not more like this congresswoman!! God bless you Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and your family. AND GOD help us all. I'm glad I'm nearing the twilight of my life and I won't see just how terrible this is going to get before it gets any better. I just worry for my children.
Hey jack, i think you are using to much smack or maybe one too many smacks to the head.
YOU must be one of the extremes that the congresswoman was talking about!!! Just by your inane comment you show your true colors. HIDE?? Only care about my own?? Where did I say this?? It is you who should take a look in the mirror while repeating the congresswoman's words.
What did people think was going to happen?! When we have people like Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh on the radio daily, basically - or outright - goading people to get rid of "LIBERALS," who is surprised that this finally happened? And to all the Republicans who are trying to push this off on what the Congresswoman said, are you kidding?! She said what all politicians say, which is to try to see both sides.
Since I"m neither Democrat or Republican, I can tell you what I've listened to on right-wing radio over the years, versus what "left-wing radio" says: on the right it is about VIOLENCE and gaining absolute control of America with FUNDAMENTALIST views. On the left it is a bunch of people who have no clue what has happened to this country and still think they are dealing with people who are willing to have sane discussions about issues.
Are you kidding me?! These tea party people have ONE THING on their mind: complete, FUNDAMENTALIST control of America! Take a listen to past radio and television shows if you don't believe me. There is no middle-ground with these people. You just wait: someone is going to say these people "had it coming" because they are "COMMUNISTS," or whatever verbiage is being used by the right-wing leaders on any given day.
American has gone straight to h###.
AMEN MARIE
I AGREE, You can not run into a theater and yell Fire, But you can go on TV and Radio and advocate Violence and thats OK
I'm going to correct one of my statements: "She said what all politicians say, which is to try to see both sides."
That's what USED to happen. Now you've got a bunch of FUNDAMENTALISTS in Congress who have absolutely NO INTENTION of trying to see any side but their FUNDAMENTALIST side.
Buncha' bi-polar idiots! Beck stirring 'em up like Hitler, foaming at the mouth, hiding behind religion, and on the other side, you have Boehner that can't stop crying. God help us all!
The news reports said that one of the known fatalities in the attack was a well-respected Republican judge. Whatever the motives were behind this atrocity, it's going to affect the accessibility to the public's representatives no matter what their party affiliations. I just hope we're not going to end up like Pakistan, where elected officials are being killed for speaking out against extremism.
"not going to end"....started with Kennedy, MLK, Bobby...now anyone with an intelligent point of view that might stir up the seething blood lust that the reich have harbored,is NOW coming to fuition, with the justification that President Obama has no right to "sleep in the Lincoln bedroom".
People are crazy, and the majority on prescription drugs!
Thinkprogress has a screen grab a Sarah Palin's web page that showed a map with gun cross-hairs over the districts whose Congressional representatives voted for the health care reform law:
http://thinkprogress.org/2011/01/08/democratic-rep-gabrielle-giffords-shot-at-event-in-arizona/
I guess it's still possible that the gunman was just deranged and didn't act on any coherent political motive, but no responsible politician should engage in the rhetoric and symbolism of violence and the "lock and load" crowd does. It's true that there have been periods in US history when most of the political violence was perpetrated by extremists on the left (like the "Weathermen"), but at present it's clear that the political violence is coming mostly from the extreme right. Moderate Muslims are constantly being lectured by the right wingers here for not acting more forcefully to discourage Muslim extremism. The conservatives in this country should be doing the same to discourage right wing extremist.
BTW: Thinkprogress also has an article on a show of Egyptian Muslims with the Coptic Christian that have been the target of Islamic extremist violence by showing up en masse to act as "human shields" at Coptic churches over their Christmas services:
http://thinkprogress.org/2011/01/08/thousands-muslims-human-shields/
This is the weird part about how our deranged society works. Even peace lovers like Lennon, got shot; now her. I just dont get this.
"Get on Target for Victory" to help remove Gabrille Gifford from office. Come to the shoot out and get a chance to shoot an assualt rifle", is what the billboard said. Check out Houston's link.
Someone took them up on their invitation.
There are no easy answers, but a 1st step should be to tone down the rhetoric and boycott extremist media.
As the Tea Party announced the election was a Civil War to get the Country back and the South Confederate will this time win. The Media again is doing the great spin job as it's commonly known now the weak are directed to the the work of others. This young man was used and others will follow. As the threats were in 2010 and Gifford was targetted and named by Sarah Palin/Jesse Kelly's websites. Do the math as Jesse Kelly lost a close race the plan was to out Gifford and Govenor Brewer would give Kelly the seat. This will happen again across the US to remove Democrats from office and Tea Party will fill in. It is a War within our country among ourselves. Wealthy people are funding the Tea Party and paying off US Supreme Court Justices to destory the Constitution. How many more assassinatiion will happen before all American realize this group of Republican/Tea Party leaders are trying to over take the United States of America and their using the weak and medicallly ill people as their soldiers.