Fearing tea party violence, four Arizona Republicans resign

[Tony]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/01/fearing-tea-party-violence-arizona-republicans-resign/

Fearing violence from tea party activists, Arizona Legislative District 20 Republican Chairman Anthony Miller and several others tendered their resignation this week following mass shootings that left six dead and Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) in critical condition.

Miller, a 43-year-old former campaign worker for Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), said that verbal attacks and blog posts from members of the tea party had him fearing for the safety of his family, according to a report in The Arizona Republic.

Yes, I know there is no evidence teabaggers are linked to the shooting this past weekend. However I can see how that, coupled with the teabagger's rhetoric have created a climate of fear for people in their cross hairs. This is a sad day.

 

[Thunder]

I'd like to see exactly what kind of rhetoric these individuals were facing.

If its just the infamous Palin map, I don't think that's enough of a reason to quit your very important job.

But if they were indeed the victims of constant harassment by folks using violent imagery and rhetoric, then I don't blame them.

(wow, I finally get to use the word "then". )

 

[johnny karate]

I'd like to see exactly what kind of rhetoric these individuals were facing.

If its just the infamous Palin map, I don't think that's enough of a reason to quit your very important job.

But if they were indeed the victims of constant harassment by folks using violent imagery and rhetoric, then I don't blame them.

(wow, I finally get to use the word "then". )

From the link in the OP:

Tea party members supporting J.D. Hayworth for senator in the midterm elections accused Miller, an African American, of being a "McCain's boy." One detractor had even made his hand into the shape of a gun and pointed it at Miller.

I'm sure it wasn't a gun he was trying to emulate with his hand gesture. Probably just some kind of surveyor's tool.

 

[Thunder]

I'm sure it wasn't a gun he was trying to emulate with his hand gesture. Probably just some kind of surveyor's tool.

ain't easy being a black man, in Arizona.


...they were afterall, the last state to give Martin Luther King's b-day a holiday.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/01/fearing-tea-party-violence-arizona-republicans-resign/



Yes, I know there is no evidence teabaggers are linked to the shooting this past weekend. However I can see how that, coupled with the teabagger's rhetoric have created a climate of fear for people in their cross hairs. This is a sad day.

You reap what you sow.

 

[seayakin]

Whatever the case, its not good for democracy when people are afraid to run for office or engage in political activities.

 

[Thunder]

You reap what you sow.

excuse me???

what horrible actions did this guy commit, to deserve to be the victim of such harassment????????????

 

[Piscivore]

Whatever the case, its not good for democracy when people are afraid to run for office or engage in political activities.

You know, I know what you're saying, and I understand and respect your point... but I can't help but feel that, while the events in Tucson were unwarranted, unambiguously wrong, and no way to run a country... if it isn't good for there to be just a little fear of us proles in our elected officials.

 

[A Laughing Baby]

You know, I know what you're saying, and I understand and respect your point... but I can't help but feel that, while the events in Tucson were unwarranted, unambiguously wrong, and no way to run a country... if it isn't good for there to be just a little fear of us proles in our elected officials.

Yes, I too feel that officials should constantly fear for their lives, worried that they will be killed in public in a horrific fashion if they make an unpopular decision--oh wait, I don't feel that at all.

 

[seayakin]

You know, I know what you're saying, and I understand and respect your point... but I can't help but feel that, while the events in Tucson were unwarranted, unambiguously wrong, and no way to run a country... if it isn't good for there to be just a little fear of us proles in our elected officials.

I'm sorry but we are used to hearing of such fears in countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Russia, China, etc. and I am of the general opinion of a zero tolerance for such threats.

I think the only thing I would consider if this guy were exaggerating the threat. However, I believe it highly unlikely that he is.

 

[drkitten]

excuse me???

what horrible actions did this guy commit, to deserve to be the victim of such harassment????????????

Running as a Republican, allowing the tea party to campaign on his behalf in an effort to drive the Democrats out of office (nationwide), and only then realizing that the activists would put him next in the crosshairs (literally)?

Using the tea party as an instrument to win an office is like trying to kill mice by beating them with a rattlesnake.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

excuse me???

what horrible actions did this guy commit, to deserve to be the victim of such harassment????????????

His party decided to get into bed with the teabaggers, instead of laughing at them.

 

[Thunder]

if it isn't good for there to be just a little fear of us proles in our elected officials.

elected officials are people, with familes and children.

and they are fellow citizens.

they deserve to be treated with respect, regardless of their political party.

 

[Dr. Keith]

elected officials are people, with familes and children.

and they are fellow citizens.

they deserve to be treated with respect, regardless of their political party.

Cheese and rice people! You are making me agree with Thunder! Cut this **** out, now!

 

[drkitten]

elected officials are people, with familes and children.

and they are fellow citizens.

they deserve to be treated with respect, regardless of their political party.

They do. But I don't think it's particularly disrespectful to say something like "if you lay down with dogs, you get up with fleas" or to point out that political commentators have been pointing to an increase in extremist violence associated with the radical right for a number of years,... and that the republican machinery has been courting and enabling the extremist right for a number of years.

And McCain in particular took a huge step in that direction when he picked Palin as his running mate. Miller was a fairly important McCain campaign worker. He should have seen the consequences of this decision years ago; the fact that he's only now realizing that "hey, these scary out of control lunatics are lunatics, and they're scary! And I can't control them!" doesn't impress.

 

[JihadJane]

Whatever the case, its not good for democracy when people are afraid to run for office or engage in political activities.

It's getting like Russia.

 

[dtugg]

And McCain in particular took a huge step in that direction when he picked Palin as his running mate.

I am still wondering why McCain picked her as his running mate. I know it is off topic, but I would love some insight (PM if you like) why he might have thought it would be a good idea.

 

[drkitten]

It's getting like Russia.

Yes, there's snow in every state except Florida and Hawaii.

I can't believe that JJ made a correct statement!

Unless, of course, she meant something more metaphorical, like a comparison between the political climates instead of the physical one. In which case she is as usual among the wrongest people on the Randi forum,.... or the surface of the planet Earth.

 

[Ziggurat]

They do. But I don't think it's particularly disrespectful to say something like "if you lay down with dogs, you get up with fleas" or to point out that political commentators have been pointing to an increase in extremist violence associated with the radical right for a number of years

Indeed, political commentators like Paul Krugman have been pointing out exactly this. Too bad, though, that they can't point to any actual rise right-wing violence, and that even many of the examples of rhetoric are fictional.

Perhaps you should spend less time paying attention to what political commentators are saying, and more attention to what is actually happening. The 1960's was a period of political violence in the US. Today? Not so much, actually.

 

[Thunder]

It's getting like Russia.

what a joke. you might as well compare the USA to Nazi Germany in 1943.