The controversy over health care reform has taken an ugly turn, with Congressman Brad Miller (D-N.C.) telling a local TV news station that he is among hundreds of lawmakers who have received death threats over the proposed legislation, which he supports.
The caller was reportedly angry that Miller (in photo) was not holding a town hall meeting on the legislation, which aims to expand health care coverage to more Americans. Miller is among a growing number of lawmakers who are canceling those meetings, which have been the targets of disruptions orchestrated by corporate-funded advocacy groups Americans for Prosperity and FreedomWorks.
Miller's communication director LuAnn Canipe told the Charlotte weekly Creative Loafing that their office received "a slew" of angry calls, with one caller stating that "Miller could lose his life over this."
Reps. Heath Shuler and Larry Kissell, also North Carolina Democrats, are holding meetings on health care reform by teleconference, the Raleigh News & Observer reports.
The U.S. Capitol Police confirmed to Facing South that they are investigating a report of a death threat received by Miller's office. However, a spokesperson for the department would not confirm the claim that "hundreds" of such threats have been received, saying that's not something they can discuss with the because it's part of an ongoing investigation.
An angry group of protesters disrupted a health care forum yesterday in Tampa, Fla., banging on windows and shouting, ThinkProgress reports. Some of the protesters carried signs showing an image of President Obama with his face painted like Heath Ledger's Joker character in "The Dark Knight," an image that has drawn protests of racism.
UPDATE: To watch a video of the Tampa event, click here.
It is time for the GOP leadership to take a stand here and denounce this action. there is a related post at http://iamsoannoyed.com/?p=2492
August 7, 2009 5:19 PM | Reply
So let's stop having the town halls in the first place. Other people, sane people, actually want to communicate with their legislators and are being denied this opportunity by a bunch of jerks looking for their 15 minutes of insane.
August 8, 2009 9:52 PM | Reply
It's time the unions members hired to go to the meeting stop intimidating the protesters, or pinning up an elderly man with stage 4 cancer against the wall, or the democrat lady that slapped a protester across his face, or the union members that beat the cr.ap out of a man handing out flags. Maybe Obama should call off his thugs.
August 9, 2009 9:12 AM | Reply
The article above is not objective. Both the Left and the Right scew the stories to satisfy their readers. Although both sides are trying to stack the debates, it is disingenuous to suggest that all those opposed are being pushed by right wing PACS. There are a lot of valid concerns that are not being fairly answered in this debate. This is too big an issue for representatives to ignore their constituents.
August 10, 2009 11:28 PM | Reply
A death threat should be fully investigated, and if the person made it, he/she should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
But why don't you include information about Kenneth Gladney? He is a man in Missouri who was attacked by SEIU members who support the healthcare bill. I could name several other instances of threats coming from proponents of the bill.
These types of disgusting things happen and are not to be taken lightly. People should not have to be in fear of their lives when an issue is debated.
But the majority of the protesters are decent people. I have not been to a protest. The people I know PERSONALLY who went to protests were NOT part of some corporate funded advocacy group or a union. They are good people with concerns. They are my neighbors and people in the community. No one "told them" to go to their congressman's office. It is not fair to paint them with the same brush as someone who makes a death threat.
I also supported the people's right to protest when Bush was in office, and there were some pretty ugly effigies of him at the time. There's a big difference between a death threat and screaming out of anger and frustration because politicians won't listen. What about the civil rights protests in the 1960's? Those were sometimes harsh, but they produced good results in the long run. Would the politicians of that era have listened if the people hadn't screamed?
Death threats and physical intimidation are not acceptable. Ever. But freedom of speech is a beautiful thing, even when we don't agree with the other side.
August 11, 2009 9:10 AM | Reply
I am a democrat, I feel the government under President Obama is making changes like he said. I do question "are they changes we can trust". Suddenly everything to Obama is a "must do Immediately or disaster will strike". I think we need to stop and smell the roses a few minutes and make sure we get it done "right not fast". I think the key player's (includung Obama) need to actually read every word of the bill not once but 2-3 times. I have been in the medical field for over 30 years and agree we need to fix some things in our health care system, I am curious as to the people who wrote the bill how many have actually worked in health care????
August 14, 2009 2:05 PM | Reply
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. You're smart.
August 15, 2009 6:34 PM | Reply
Our government better be careful with reforming America's health care. This affects everyone and in the most personal way.
I agree with President Obama that the reform should NOT include illegal immigrants.
To say the reform will not include increasing the federal
deficit is foolish. It is a typical political statement that
is nice to hear but not realistic.
September 12, 2009 1:41 AM | Reply