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March 26th, 2010
01:00 PM ET
Issa calls for call for congressional hearing after threats
(CNN) – Death threats, bullet holes in office windows and even a coffin dropped on a front lawn. Call it the hazards of health care reform.
Fourteen members of Congress are now reporting death threats or acts of vandalism in the aftermath of this week's historic health care vote.
Republican Rep. Darrell Issa of California is calling for a congressional hearing to deal with these threats. He joined us on Friday's American Morning.
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Although I am not an advocate of violence...In our nations history, when polititians stop listening to the people who vote them into office,and continue to do as they wish, these are the consequences.
Brings to mind "Tammany Hall" for instance. When corrupt polititians
continue on a path such as they are now, something has to be done.
Apparently the legal means aren't working because they are still in
there. Now it is time to resort to what made this Nation a Great one.
Remove them from for Misfeassance of Office on the part of the
entire coalition that backed this UnAmerican travesty. And at the
snakes head....Obama and Pelosi.
Melon, you were right. Republi-Can'ts!
The Republicans have been crying and whining ever since President Obama took office. They complain, but never have a fix for anything. They had 8 years, and in those 8 years, we have suffered greatly. Now they want a do over? During this weekends campaigning for John McCain, all I heard was how bad President Obama was. Did not say why, besides the fact that he passed the Health Care bill. They never once mentioned anything solutions as to how they will do better, or what they would do period. Tell me how is it that you think you can give jobs if their are no places for them to work? If you invent a light bulb that lasts a lifetime, once everybody has them, how long would there be a need for that company? And if you make crappy vehicles, who wants to buy one? Runaway cars are only sold in the USA.
People have said that this country will distroy itseft from within. Well,,,,, thats exactly what is happening. The Republican's have done nothing but lie about health reform, and some Americans go right along with the lies, and keep putting them in office, a good example is electing Scott Brown. What the Republicans have been doing is inexcusable, and as of yesterday they are still trying to inflame the hate even more. They are still saying "ram it down the throats", " goverment take over", etc, etc, etc,. Words like this just make people hate each other even more. Greed, greed, and more greed. What happened to the days of Americans helping each other. Make sure you don't touch my health insurance, I want more, and more. Don't give anything to the people that have no coverage at all, so I can have more.
I find it INEXCUSABLE that our elected officials are behaving like a bunch of soiled-diaper toddlers on national TV!!
These are GROWN adults behaving in such a deplorable and shameful manner.
The mere fact that Sen. John McCain's lame explanation that "this has been going on for 30+ years" is proof of the lack of integrity and respect by our politicians. Just because you have been behaving like a RUDE JERK doesn't make it right. Just because something has been going on for 30+ years DOES NOT MAKE IT RIGHT.
It's these same ELECTED OFFICIALS who make decisions and dictate what LAWS and POLICIES all Americans are to follow and yet they THEMSELVES are the biggest violators of their own RULES and DECORUM!!! It's unbelievable.
Its no wonder our younger generation is SICK of all the hypocrisy by our SENIOR elected leaders in Washington who SHOULD KNOW BETTER, who SHOULD BE SETTING AN EXAMPLE, but instead are behaving like a bunch of jackasses. Bottom line.
Where is the ROLE MODELS by our elected leadership? You see elected Republicans on TV waving flags, shouting out derogatory outbursts on the house floor and from the Capital building balcony, etc. and YOU wonder why our youth is disgusted by the leadership in Washington.
Honestly, even my grandson asked.. "Grandma, why are they shouting like that?" What a shame.
Republicants*... sorry still early.
Remember your history.
Without violence American would still be a slave to the brits.
There is no evidence of the threats being the exclusive property of the Rebuplicants.
America still needs health care reform. The system the Dumbocrats want to impose on the country is unfair and corrupt. Install a system that is equal and fair to ALL!
First, I think threats against anyone's life is wrong and despicable. However, our Nation is hurting and we are all very frustrated. Anymore, it seems that Congress is nothing more then a Circus and the President (no mater who they are) is their ring leader. None of them are even close to feeling our pain, as they have not done their part in healing the Nation.
I have a solution. Downsize Congress! Consider there are 535 Congress members, each of whom we pay a minimum annual salary of $174,000. If we could downsize Congress by 50%, we could save the nation over $46 Million in their salaries alone. If you consider the additional savings in their reduction of benefits and staff, I bet we could save the Nation $150 Million annually. The other benefit to this is that smaller groups generally make better decisions faster.
I for one am tired of the Circus and I hope CNN will support and fight for this proposal for the good of the Nation. Please bring this to the attention of America. Thank you.
Mark Brandl
I remember not very long ago that you CNN called yourself "the most trusted name in news". Good that you don't use that term anymore...what a joke.
In spite of what the Republican leadership says, the news media should not loose sight of the fact that it was their deliberate lies about the health care bill that inflamed and frightened certain vulnerable groups in our society. They are trying to create a violent overthrow of the government; witness the rampant gun buying… I think it’s obvious that this was done to not only derail reform that our country has needed for 60 years, but to destabilize and undermine the elected government. What terrible thing will they do next?
What kind of reaction did they expect when they forced social health care. Why is no one reporting on the fact that if you do not buy insurance you will be ARRESTED.Why is that not being talked about.Americans have a constitution for protection and when our law makers turn a blind eye to it people get unhappy.
Government is for the people...By the people but somewhere along the way they forgot that..America is a land of freedoms and god givin rights..
Representative Issa, why don't you start by taking responsible actions within your body of colleagues? Its easy to suggest an investigation of behaviors with the expectation that OTHERS will be chastised or suppressed, where are your colleagues when an elected official calls the President a "liar" during an official speech to the American public, when an administrative representative reveals the identity of an active intelligence officer, or when either party uses language to incite others to inappropriate actions. As an American with an independent voting record, who has spent substantial time trying to become informed on the issues and act appropriately at the polls, I have seen and heard MORE than enough from those representing the interests of GOP
( Palin, Boehner, Limbaugh, O'Reilly, Beck, McCain, and the Senator from S. Carolina) . A good start would be to LEAD by demonstrating the desired behavior among all of YOUR colleagues. It seems that when YOUR colleagues and followers breach the desired behavior it is passed off as just politics, meaningless rhetoric, or common discourse to be expected in disagreement. Interestingly, I have not observed or heard of THIS president or the majority leaders of their respective legislative bodies succumbing to these behaviors. Maybe the problem could be improved with an introspective look!
A lot of charges against reps., the Tea Party and others. The comments by the liberal press have been particularly onesided. My question is-Where is the proof? I believe that a lot of the incidents have been caused by the dems themselves to try and generate sympathy for themselves. Also, with all of the coverage at the Tea Party demonstrations there has been no proof that any of the racial comments the black politicians said were made WERE ever made. Looking at the corrupt conduct during the health vote, I don't have a doubt in my mind that they were lying. People like this always want to play the race card.
This is the same rhetoric that the opponents did when they were against John, Malcolm,Martin and Bobby in order to incite the NUTS whether from the right/left to use intimidation and violence to get their political veiws across. In one of my classes on Terrorism the meaning of a terrorist is "SOMEONE WHO USES THREATS, INTIMIDATION AND OR VIOLENCE TO GET THEIR POLITICAL VEIW/AGENDA ACROSS TO OTHERS". The GOP think American's are that stupid not to know that they are using BUZZ words to INCITE others to Violence against the President, Senate and Congress. Is that what this so call debate in our so call democracy stoop down too. Political Mafias (Parties) paid for by lobbyist and special interest groups to subvert the American dream?!!
I think this is horrible! People we insite this kind of hate is as bad as insiting a riot! Why can't these folks be held accountable? Why do we have to wait until they kill someone or lots of people. These folks are nothing but terrioist.
Its like the biggest case of throwing a rock (figuratively) and hiding your hand. I watched Issa and the republicans act in a way I thought I would never see a member of congress act. It was all over tv. Those actions have sparked all the death threats and violence. My grandmother (who has dementia) thought she in the middle of the '60's again. Now faced with the consequences, the republicans want to hold hearings. To do what exactly? Deny that millions did not see what they obviously saw on tv?Stop it Issa and help find America some JOBS
A typical RNC response to a bad situation.
While saying that the violent attacks are wrong, Congressman Issa attempts to minimize responsibility by saying that this type of event always happens to both parties.
What a shameful sham. After inciting the behavior of some, they blow it off as overreaction by the media and the Dems.
Congressman needs to deal with part of the cause, the Rush Limbouhs, Becks, Billy Cumminghams, Issa should also talk about the hype the Limboughs, Becks, Cunninghams, and others continue to spew. The Republican party should publicly distance themselves from them by name.