US: House members have been threatened with acts of violence

The United States government defines terrorism as "the use of force or violence against persons or property in violation of the criminal laws of the United States for purposes of
intimidation, coercion, or ransom." The teabagger tactics sound like terrorism to me.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/24/AR2010032402122.html?hpid%3Dtopnews&sub=AR

At least 10 Democratic members of Congress have been offered increased security attention in the wake of last weekend's health-care vote, House leaders said Wednesday, after some Democrats received death threats and others' congressional offices and Democratic Party campaign offices were vandalized.
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      House members offered more security after vandalism, death threats

House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) and House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.) condemned the attacks after hearing about the vandalism from U.S. Capitol Police during a Democratic caucus meeting. The actions targeted Democrats who voted for the legislation.

The FBI is also investigating "all threats and incidents directed against members of Congress," a spokeswoman for the bureau's Washington office said.

Asked whether members are endangered, Hoyer said: "Yes. [There are] very serious incidents that have occurred.

Absolutely disgusting

It is disturbing indeed.

The Secret Service is investigating two Twitter users who, apparently angered by the passage of the health care reform bill, took to the Internet Sunday to call for the assassination of President Obama.

"ASSASSINATION! America, we survived the Assassinations and Lincoln & Kennedy. We'll surely get over a bullet to Barrack Obama's head," wrote one Twitter user, who goes by the handle Solly Forell, and identifies himself as a conservative blogger and "'authentic' African American."

Soon after the first post, Forell tweeted another message actively encouraging someone with a "clear shot" to kill the president.

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/health-care-bill-spurs-assassination-calls-twitter/story?id=10170233

The same day a brick crashed through her Niagara Falls office, Rep. Louise Slaughter (D) says her staff discovered an assassination threat aimed at her family members.

[...]

Slaughter has been at the center of the push for reform. Last Thursday she received a chilling recorded message at her campaign office. “Assassinate is the word they used…toward the children of lawmakers who voted yes."

http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story/Health-Care-Reform-Leads-to-Threats/TAZWZcNqz0aapIAGYDut-A.cspx

"RELOAD!" Sarah Palin shouted at right-wing supporters via Twitter on Tuesday after President Obama signed the House health care bill. On her Facebook page, she posted a U.S. map with crosshair targets in states where she's planning to campaign against moderate Democrats who voted in favor of the health insurance overhaul.

Rob Kezelis, Capitol Hill Blue: Honestly, where in any decent, civilized society is there room for Sarah's latest tweet, "Don't retreat, RELOAD!"? While some may dismiss that as silly rhetoric, or even humor, it is anything but. One only has to recall some of the weirder moments during the last presidential campaign, especially the Sarah Palin rallies. Some of those people were not only whacked-out, conspiracy nuts, they were more than willing to take "justice" as they define it, and use whatever means necessary to achieve it, including violence. And they are armed.

http://www.adn.com/2010/03/24/1197471/palins-firearms-themed-rhetoric.html

That is just horrible.  I mean I don't like everything the republican party does, but I'm not going to become violent or vandalise buildings over my disagreements with them.  What makes people do something like?  What do they think it will achieve?  It just seems sad.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36020850/ns/politics-capitol_hill/

A top House Republican accused Democrats Thursday of “dangerously fanning the flames” of extremism and using reports of vandalism and death threats against pro-health reform bill lawmakers for political gain.

"To use such threats as political weapons is reprehensible," said Minority Whip Eric Cantor, R-Va., who added that security concerns have been overhyped in media coverage of the debate.

The party that warned us about "death panels" is now worried about "fanning the flames of extremism"?  Should've thought of that about a year ago; once you unleash the lunatics, it's hard to get them back under control.

Hypocrites.