Two more congressmen have had violent threats made against them. Two weeks ago Rep. Bobby Schilling, R-Ill was specifically named in an Internet threat that called for the assassination of a number of public officials. The threat offered a $75,000 reward and, according to ABC News stated:
“I will pay $75,000 for ASSASSINATING Illinois Congresswoman (sic) Bobby Schilling and any US Congressman, US Senator and FBI, CIA and NSA DIRECTORS and their FAMILY MEMBERS regardless of their age.”
Yesterday, Glendon Swift of Tennessee left two voice messages on the phone at Rep. Eric Cantor’s Glen Allen, VA office. The threats contained yelling, screaming and cursing in addition to threatening to rape Cantor’s daughter and kill his wife. Capital police were contacted and Swift is now sitting out his temper tantrum in jail.
Swift was charged by criminal complaint of threatening to assault or murder a member of the immediate family of a United States official, according to the FBI. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. Swift made his initial appearance before a U.S. magistrate judge in Knoxville, Tenn., earlier this afternoon.
Rep. Gabby Giffords was shot along with others in an execution style slaying last January by a mentally unstable individual. Rep. Giffords survived but others did not, including her aide and a federal judge.
What is wrong with people? Why have members of Congress become the new targets? I know their approval rating is low but I don’t think anyone advocates doing bodily harm to any one of them. Are those making threats just mentally unbalanced?
While we grouse and grumble about their pay and their perks, we may end up having to provide security for all of them. Threats like these cannot be ignored. Perhaps we are fortunate that threats were made. Gabby Giffords got none other than a bullet in the brain.
The Capitol Police and FBI are to be commended for bringing Swift in to custody this quickly. A strong message needs to be sent that the American people will not tolerate this kind of behavior and violence directed towards elected or public employees. Threats will not be tolerated.
Was being a member of Congress EVER safe?
It does seem to have gotten crazier as the Congress has become more polarized.
And with modern communications, it so easy for the nutjobs to find and contact the pols.
Agreed Cargosquid. I don’t know what we do to end this insanity.
I know they used to duel and crap like that in the past but I thought we had gotten a little more civilized. That at least was them going after each other.
Before long we will have to be paying for security. You know, I can’t stand Eric Cantor but it would never cross my mind to even think such a thing. Those are just thoughts that decent Americans don’t let enter their thought-space.
Dueling……. I like that idea…they should bring that back….it would solve a whole lot of problems…..
If you want to know what is wrong, look no further than the angry rehtoric coming from the fringes of both sides of the political spectrum. Now, I will acknowlegde a bias toward the right, but I will say this without equivocation: The (fringe) left. has REALLY ratcheted up the most vile rhetoric, as demonstrated by the various “Occupy X” movements, statements being made at left-wing political rallies, by labor union heads, like Hoffa Jr. ad infinitum. Note, in the two examples cited above, the threats were made against Republicans. Please do not take this to mean I am painting those that comment here from a left-of-center point-of-view with the same brush. I am not. What I am saying is those in actual authority, like our President, Congressional leaders, party officials, talk-show hosts, heck, even those in hollywood, really need to think before they speak and write. The climate in this country is like a forest full of tinder. One spark can cause a wildfire. We are already seeing violence at some of the “Occupy X” sites. Occupy Oakland especially. Sexual assaults. Robberies. Beatings. When lawful authority attempts to render assistance to the victims, they are attacked by the demonstrators. I would also say that responsibility to think before writing should extend here as well.