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Posted at 10:33 AM ET, 02/25/2011

Secret Service interviews Georgia constituent who asked who will `shoot' Obama; case is `closed matter'

By Greg Sargent

UPDATE, 11:50 a.m.: In a new statement Rep Paul Broun appears to admit he should have condemned his constituent:

Tuesday night at a town hall meeting in Oglethorpe County, Georgia an elderly man asked the abhorrent question, "Who's going to shoot Obama?" I was stunned by the question and chose not to dignify it with a response; therefore, at that moment I moved on to the next person with a question. After the event, my office took action with the appropriate authorities.

I deeply regret that this incident happened at all. Furthermore, I condemn all statements -- made in sincerity or jest -- that threaten or suggest the use of violence against the President of the United States or any other public official. Such rhetoric cannot and will not be tolerated.

*****************************************************************

ORIGINAL POST:

By now you may have heard that GOP Rep. Paul Broun of Georgia failed to condemn a constituent who asked aloud who will "shoot" Obama at an event in Athens on Tuesday. The news is quickly going national as we speak.

The Athens Banner-Herald reports that Broun responded to the question -- who is going to shoot Obama? -- with this answer:

The thing is, I know there's a lot of frustration with this president. We're going to have an election next year. Hopefully, we'll elect somebody that's going to be a conservative, limited-government president that will take a smaller, who will sign a bill to repeal and replace Obamacare.

Not exactly a ringing condemnation. However, one group who took this seriously is the Secret Service. According to Ed Donovan, a Secret Service spokesman, the situation has been looked into.

"We're aware of the incident and the appropriate steps were taken," Donovan told me. "At this point it's a closed matter."

A law enforcement source confirmed that the Secret Service interviewed the constituent and determined that he or she was an "elderly person" who now regrets making a bad joke.

"In this case this was poor taste," the source says. "The person realized that."

Now there's the small matter of whether Broun regrets not condemning the comment. My understanding is more will be forthcoming from his office on this soon, so stay tuned.

By Greg Sargent  | February 25, 2011; 10:33 AM ET
Categories:  House GOPers  
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Next: Fox News's parade of buffoons

Comments

""Now there's the small matter of whether Broun regrets not condemning the comment.""

Any bets whether or not he asserts he misheard the constituent? Or suggested he understood it was unserious because of "context"?

Politicians need to jump hard and fast on those kinds of comments, with ringing condemnations, or they are going to get nailed to the wall (figuratively, of course, not literally),

""A law enforcement source confirmed that the Secret Service interviewed the constituent and determined that he or she was an "elderly person" who now regrets making a bad joke.""

Ha-ha, shooting people, very funny.

Posted by: Kevin_Willis | February 25, 2011 10:42 AM | Report abuse

case is "closed"

Hmmm, could it be?
He hasn't been here for awhile,
maybe he moved to GA, but who knew
he was elderly?

Posted by: shrink2 | February 25, 2011 10:43 AM | Report abuse

Maybe Broun should tweet his response like he did while the SOTU was going on.

Posted by: oldabandonedbeachhouse | February 25, 2011 10:46 AM | Report abuse

There must be about 10,000 threats to Obama's life every minute, across America. Obama is one of the most hated figures in American history. That is a fact. He is the Democrat version of Richard Nixon and George Bush.

But about 99.9999999999999999% of those threats are just hot air, as usual.

I pity the poor SS men's job. It has to be frustrating.

Posted by: battleground51 | February 25, 2011 10:53 AM | Report abuse

"Politicians need to jump hard and fast on those kinds of comments, with ringing condemnations, or they are going to get nailed to the wall (figuratively, of course, not literally),"

As Eric Cantor would say "ah, c'mon."
GOP pols have let their their constituents
get away with all sorts of outrageous statements since Obama has been in the White House. They like to hear it, they are enablers, and it's only going to get more toxic going into Nov 2012.

Posted by: filmnoia | February 25, 2011 10:54 AM | Report abuse

Obama is one of the most hated figures in American history.

==

And here I thought JakeD was brainless.

Posted by: caothien9 | February 25, 2011 10:59 AM | Report abuse

James Dickey, the author of Deliverance, once said; The thing about those North Georgia folks is; while smilin' at you, the'll gut shoot you.

Posted by: Liam-still | February 25, 2011 10:59 AM | Report abuse

James Dickey, the author of Deliverance, once said; The thing about those North Georgia folks is; while smilin' at you, they'll gut shoot you.

Posted by: Liam-still | February 25, 2011 11:02 AM | Report abuse

Now, if law enforcement agencies would take enforcing America's immigration laws as seriously as it does threats against Obama, our outlaw immigrant plague would be on the cure and recovery, right now.

Obama is guilty of dereliction of duty by refusing to have duly enacted laws enforced concerning immigration and the sanctity of marriage against the onslaught of the homosexualists.

Impeachment is very difficult but 2012 is right around the corner.

Change WE can believe in is on the way.

Posted by: battleground51 | February 25, 2011 11:03 AM | Report abuse

When asked for a comment, Senator John McCain, who has recently morphed into Jim DeMint, stated:

My friends; today we are all Georgians.

Posted by: Liam-still | February 25, 2011 11:04 AM | Report abuse

""I think both sides should be a little more flexible. "Hey, let's try cutting taxes on the middle class significantly, cut corporate taxes for folks under $1 million, close loopholes on mega corporations who do billions in business but pay next-to-nothing (or nothing) in corporate income tax, end some corporate welfare, end double-dipping and 100% tax payer funded health benefits) and then see how that works!"""

Kevin_Willis for President, 2016!
.

Posted by: jprestonian | February 25, 2011 11:07 AM | Report abuse

Well that was two trillion dollars, well borrowed and spent by the USA.BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Thousands of Iraqis inspired by uprisings around the Arab world protested on Friday against corruption and poor basic services in nationwide rallies that provoked sporadic clashes with security forces.

At least five people were killed and 75 injured in skirmishes during Iraq's "Day of Rage" when demonstrators tried to storm government buildings and security personnel fired shots in the air to try to disperse them.

The most violent clashes occurred in the restive areas of Hawija and Mosul in the oil-rich north and the southern oil hub of Basra, but by late afternoon no insurgent attacks on the protesters had been reported. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki had warned that al Qaeda and others might attack them.

Eight years after the U.S.-led invasion which ousted dictator Saddam Hussein, development remains slow and Iraqis complain of shortages of food rations, water, power and jobs.""

Posted by: Liam-still | February 25, 2011 11:10 AM | Report abuse

On Wisconsin. Badger the hell out of all those working class people.

It is about time that poor people contributed more to the welfare of our poor put upon Billionaire class.

Posted by: Liam-still | February 25, 2011 11:14 AM | Report abuse

This Broun event incident highlights that fact, once again, that a lot of Americans still cannot deal with the fact that a BLACK MAN is President of the United States of America. It's a generational thing. It will continue until all those people die off. It is also why the word, "Obamacare," is so unpopular among this same group--because it is identified with a BLACK PERSON; ergo, it is not good.

Posted by: dozas | February 25, 2011 11:16 AM | Report abuse

The old "He didn't adequately refudiate" comments non-story.

Anyone else getting tired of these?

Posted by: sbj3 | February 25, 2011 11:18 AM | Report abuse

honestly, i don't expect politicians to condemn people of the same political persuasion. It just doesn't happen. It would be nice if they did, but apparently politicians see some danger in going after one of "their own."

Broun's policies are retarded, of course, but I'm not going to nail him to the wall for not rebuking this guy.

Honestly, the last time I remember it happening was when McCain repudiated some lady who accused Obama of being a secret Muslim or whatever. Unfortunately, it's the last sweet moment I remember from that guy.

Posted by: DDAWD | February 25, 2011 11:22 AM | Report abuse

Yup, we should all just ignore GOP idiocy.

Posted by: pragmaticagain | February 25, 2011 11:25 AM | Report abuse

And GOP hypocrisy.

He (Walker) promised to sign legislation if elected governor that prohibits the Legislature from voting after 10 p.m. or before 9 a.m.

“I have two teenagers and I tell them that nothing good happens after midnight. That’s even more true in politics,” he said in a statement. “The people of Wisconsin deserve to know what their elected leaders are voting on.”

http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2011/02/25/walker-after-midnight/

Posted by: pragmaticagain | February 25, 2011 11:29 AM | Report abuse

The old "He didn't adequately refudiate" comments non-story.

Anyone else getting tired of these?

Posted by: sbj3 | February 25, 2011 11:18 AM

.................
Why are you tired of it. Is it because you want violent nut jobs not to get discouraged?

Have you sent your fan letter to Jared Loughner yet?

Posted by: Liam-still | February 25, 2011 11:31 AM | Report abuse

@jpreston: "Kevin_Willis for President, 2016!"

Great! You and Ruk might vote for me. Of course, I'd tank faster in the primaries than Rudy Gulliani. Or Michael Dukakis in a tank, for that matter (in the general, that is).

@DDAWD: "Honestly, the last time I remember it happening was when McCain repudiated some lady who accused Obama of being a secret Muslim or whatever. "

And I liked that, too. Politicians are supposed to be leaders. If they don't have the cajones to rebuke a constituent who talks about shooting the American president, they do not merit their office. In my opinion. They don't need to be required to comment on everybody who calls themselves (a member of the same political brand), but if they're talking to them directly at a meeting, at least a, "Oh, come on. Seriously? Nobody is going to shoot anybody. We're going to win in the arena of ideas. Talking about shooting people--what, do you think we're criminals? Do you think we are wrong about our ideas, and this is the only way to win? I'm sorry, thank you for being here, but that's just a terrible way to think. It's terrible to even joke about shooting somebody--especially our president. Did you think it was funny when people talked about shooting George Bush? Was it funny when Hinkley shot Reagan? Is that the way you want our country run--like a tinpot dictatorship in a 3rd world country?"

Etc. I understand that's too much to ask for. Still.

@sbj3: "Anyone else getting tired of these?"

I'm getting tired of politicians and pundits not taking people who actively talk about violence to the woodshed, even if the wrap it in a thin veneer of humor, yes

Posted by: Kevin_Willis | February 25, 2011 11:32 AM | Report abuse

Honestly, I don't remember a Democrat categorically rebuking one of their own either. Obviously Dems don't use the violent rhetoric nearly as much as Republicans, but I'm sure it happens enough.

Posted by: DDAWD | February 25, 2011 11:33 AM | Report abuse

An elderly person threatens the President. What a surprise! I wonder if they don't want the government interfering with their medicare social security.

Posted by: Judy_L | February 25, 2011 11:39 AM | Report abuse

Batteleground51, what kind of an imbecile are you? Comparing Barack Obama to Richard Nixon. Obama is the most hated President since Nixon? Where in the hell do you get that and how do you back it up. Every President gets assassination threats. Generally, the one who have such threats tend to be our greatest most substantive Presidents. Ford was shot at twice. Reagan was actually hit by an assassins bullet. Why would you not include him in the most hated Presidents category?

Oh yes. Obama is hated. By some of the dumbest, most idiotic, most hateful, most lacking in basic human decency human beings on planet earth. But, unlike Nixon, Obama is hated not for any criminal or treasonous activity, but simply because of ideology. And he is hated by the flat out dumbest G-damned bunch of racist imbeciles this country has seen since the days of George Wallace. Boy, you rednecks love your John Wilkes Booth types don't you?

Posted by: jaxas70 | February 25, 2011 11:39 AM | Report abuse

I did think the shoe incident with Bush was funny, but only because it turned out to be shoes. Also, his ability to dodge those things may have been the highlight of his Presidency.

Posted by: DDAWD | February 25, 2011 11:41 AM | Report abuse

By not admonishing this nut job, the Congressman was giving him the wink and a nod.

Posted by: Keesvan | February 25, 2011 11:42 AM | Report abuse

jaxas!

Testify brother. I've missed you.

[maybe broadwayjoe will do a drive by too]

Posted by: shrink2 | February 25, 2011 11:43 AM | Report abuse

"Obviously Dems don't use the violent rhetoric nearly as much as Republicans, but I'm sure it happens enough"

Actually violent rhetoric is hard wired in the Right Wing, and guys like Broun are cowards for not calling them out. It's not like those racists aren't going to vote for him. Anyone who would challenge him on the right would be wearing a brown shirt and goose stepping.

Posted by: filmnoia | February 25, 2011 11:45 AM | Report abuse

"Now, if law enforcement agencies would take enforcing America's immigration laws as seriously as it does threats against Obama, our outlaw immigrant plague would be on the cure and recovery, right now."

Obama has hurt himself with the latino community through his stepped up enforcement of immigration laws that includes higher deportion levels than George W. Bush.

But you wouldn't know that, you get your "news" from Fox and Drudge. Go look it up. We can wait.

Posted by: Scientician | February 25, 2011 11:48 AM | Report abuse

This country is chockful of elderly imbeciles like that old faht in Georgia who still think America is back there in those halcyon days of separate-but-equal. When they arouse themselves out of their senile narcosis, they raise their scrawny pencil necks up and see this young, vibrant black man with a beautiful family as President of these United States and thye just can't get over it. Ohhhhhh, they wistfully long for those wonderful halcyon days when we had Governors like George Wallace and Senators like Jesse Helms. And how about that Strom Thurmond? They still believe he should have been President.

These people should do the entire Universe a favor and just die. You know, just like the republicans believe about the poor: Why don't they just die and decrease the surplus population?

Posted by: jaxas70 | February 25, 2011 11:48 AM | Report abuse

I' vote for you Kevin if you were to run for President in 2016.

We could use a President who could write code to Troll Block all those Al Qaeda websites.

Seriously; why the hell can't Homeland security hack the the hell out of every one of those sites, and take them down, as soon as they crop up?

Also, why doesn't the government start posting attack ads, mocking Bin Laden, all across the Muslim world.

The guy is clearly a coward, who skulks in hiding, while urging young men to blow their selves up.

There is a video of him, telling some Saudi guy, shortly after 9/11 about how he was going to mount his horse and go seek martyrdom soon.

That tape should be used against him in ad campaigns, taunting him as gutless coward, who is afraid to do what he wants all much younger people to do.

The US should be turning the guy into a gutless coward, in the eyes of the public. It would not cost much money to do, and it just might make someone provide information on where he is hiding.

Posted by: Liam-still | February 25, 2011 11:50 AM | Report abuse

"Obama is one of the most hated figures in American history."

He's also one of the most respected, admired and - since you use the word 'hated' - loved figures in American history.

I understand that even using the word 'history' in this context is ridiculous - but I'll use it with you and we can both sound like fools.

So - I'm betting that - hated and loved - Barack Obama will still be your President in January 2017. :) Enjoy your hating time !

Posted by: PulSamsara | February 25, 2011 11:50 AM | Report abuse

Look. This guy Broun--and the Tea Party which is primarily comprised of brain dead, elderly bumpkins like the addled old geezer that sputtered out that bombastic, murderous question--are all nothing more than zealous, right wing Kochsuckers.

Posted by: jaxas70 | February 25, 2011 11:54 AM | Report abuse

Not that I want the book thrown at this guy, but I have to ask what is the precedent for this sort of thing as far as when does the SS tend to lay charges for death threats to the President?

If a member of the Black Panthers has said this about George Bush, what would the reaction be?

Posted by: Scientician | February 25, 2011 11:57 AM | Report abuse

Kind of like Boehner's, It's not my job to tell Americans what to think, tacitly approving of the birther psychoses!

Posted by: Perez61 | February 25, 2011 11:57 AM | Report abuse

All, great post from Adam Serwer on Fox News hyping fear of Muslims:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2011/02/fox_news_parade_of_buffoons.html

Posted by: Greg Sargent | February 25, 2011 12:02 PM | Report abuse

From shrink: case is "closed"

Hmmm, could it be?
He hasn't been here for awhile,
maybe he moved to GA, but who knew
he was elderly?

Thanks for making me laugh.

Posted by: AllButCertain | February 25, 2011 12:03 PM | Report abuse

How do you know HE was a constituent? Did you check voter registration rolls; did you check contribution rolls? Or did you assume that because he was present he had to be a constituent. Another example of Drive-By-Media bias.

Posted by: fregameeate | February 25, 2011 12:03 PM | Report abuse

How do you know HE was a constituent? Did you check voter registration rolls; did you check contribution rolls? Or did you assume that because he was present he had to be a constituent. Another example of Drive-By-Media bias.

Posted by: fregameeate | February 25, 2011 12:04 PM | Report abuse

The Secret Service should interview Charlie Sheen (or, is it the other way around?):

"How much faith can I possibly have in you to run this entire country"

http://www.infowars.com/sheen-on-obama-a-coward-in-cheap-suit/

Posted by: clawrence12 | February 25, 2011 12:05 PM | Report abuse

Rep. Broun lies, in his public announcement. He did not "chose not to dignify it with a response; therefore, at that moment I moved on to the next person with a question." Instead, he dignified it with a response, saying many people are angry at Obama etc. etc. for multiple sentences. The only thing he didn't do was immediately repudiate the speaker's wish for President Obama to be assassinated. For that, he waited until the national press raised the issue and a national outcry to be raised... only then did he repudiate the call for an assassination. Broun should resign.

Posted by: LoriWisconsin | February 25, 2011 12:05 PM | Report abuse

"The US should be turning the guy into a gutless coward, in the eyes of the public."

The only guys with the guts and the willingness to be politically incorrect enough to do this are the creators of South Park.

Posted by: sbj3 | February 25, 2011 12:06 PM | Report abuse

So Broun just lies about his reaction to this crazy person's statement?

Broun: I was stunned by the question and chose not to dignify it with a response.

Broun's actual response:
The thing is, I know there's a lot of frustration with this president. We're going to have an election next year. Hopefully, we'll elect somebody that's going to be a conservative, limited-government president that will take a smaller, who will sign a bill to repeal and replace Obamacare.

So I'll just nail him for being a liar :)

Posted by: rpixley220 | February 25, 2011 12:13 PM | Report abuse

@jaxas70: "Batteleground51, what kind of an imbecile are you? Comparing Barack Obama to Richard Nixon."

Indeed. Nixon was •way• more liberal than Obama. ;)

Posted by: Kevin_Willis | February 25, 2011 12:17 PM | Report abuse

Just the guy I want voting on National Security, Health Care, Education, etc.

Who doesn't want a guy who is stunned by a simple question from a simple old fool, casting votes to decide all our futures.

Posted by: Liam-still | February 25, 2011 12:18 PM | Report abuse

cao and I have mended fences over this...
but did anyone here condemn his "gas all cons" comment.

No. And neither did Greg

cao later said it was just a joke, hyperbole.

Remember?

Pretense, at least, of consistency please.

Posted by: tao9 | February 25, 2011 12:19 PM | Report abuse

Had this threat happened during the last administration, the questioner and the representative who laughed at the threat against the President would be in Gitmo by now. And the Secret Service certainly would not have closed the case as quickly as they did.

Posted by: Patriot3 | February 25, 2011 12:24 PM | Report abuse

@Liam: ""Who doesn't want a guy who is stunned by a simple question from a simple old fool, casting votes to decide all our futures.""

"When I got out to the table, the melon balls were warm! Room-temperature, practically. I was stunned, and had to sit out the rest of the session."

That being said, I'm glad he at least did the 2nd best thing. The first best thing being taking the constituent to the woodshed at the time.

@tao: ""cao and I have mended fences over this...
but did anyone here condemn his "gas all cons" comment.""

It's different when liberals do it! It's understood that they never really •mean• it. See?

Posted by: Kevin_Willis | February 25, 2011 12:25 PM | Report abuse

It is not my job to tell the American people what to think. Speaker John Boehner.(R)

It is not my job to tell the questioner, "who's going to shoot Obama." Rep Broun(R)

Posted by: Liam-still | February 25, 2011 12:26 PM | Report abuse

Hmm, as reported in the Boston Herald:Sometimes it's necessary to get out on the streets and "get a little bloody," a Massachusetts Democrat said Tuesday in reference to labor battles in Wisconsin.
Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Mass.) fired up a group of union members in Boston with a speech urging them to work down in the trenches to fend off limits to workers' rights like those proposed in Wisconsin.

Yet there was not a peep reported here at the Washington Post...yet they find the time/space to berate a Republican Rep for NOT condemning quickly enough a question asked by a constituent........

Now WERE is ALL the demand to have the actual REP in Mass who was closely inciting a riot - where is the condemnation? Where is the requests that he resign?

Ah - you flaming liberals ..this paper is a joke.

Posted by: short1 | February 25, 2011 12:26 PM | Report abuse

I wish I could say that I was shocked that this happened around here.

Yesterday the gentleman stopped next to me at the stoplight had huge confederate flag stickers all over his truck along with bumperstickers that read "I Ride with Forrest" and "If I had known all of this, I would've picked my own cotton!"

Posted by: schrodingerscat | February 25, 2011 12:28 PM | Report abuse

I wasn't aware of what Cao said, but I have to wonder why Tao considers that some oddball living in Vietnam, spouting rubbbish on a blog, is the equvilent of an elected Congressman holding a townhall meeting.

I view Cao in much the same way that I view JakeD'sClaw, or Bilgeman Kaddafi,

And I see no reason to CaoTao to any of them.

Posted by: Liam-still | February 25, 2011 12:33 PM | Report abuse

I wasn't aware of what Cao said, but I have to wonder why Tao considers that some oddball living in Vietnam, spouting rubbish on a blog, is the equivalent of an elected Congressman holding a town-hall meeting.

I view Cao in much the same way that I view JakeD'sClaw, or Bilgeman Kaddafi,

And I see no reason to CaoTao to any of them.

Posted by: Liam-still | February 25, 2011 12:34 PM | Report abuse

The old "He didn't adequately refudiate" comments non-story.

Anyone else getting tired of these?

----------------------------------------

Well, I am growing tired fo the requirement that we have to condemn every whacko comment or be deemed to agree with the comment. Should a politician strongly rebuke a comment about shooting our president? Yes. Should we interpret his failure to do so as agreement with the comment? I don't think so.

Tao's comment at 12:19 illustrates why.

Posted by: ashotinthedark | February 25, 2011 12:35 PM | Report abuse

"...you flaming liberals ..this paper is a joke..."

nonsense, it just broke this important story,

"Georgetown steps up effort to keep tickets out of Syracuse fans' hands."

Posted by: shrink2 | February 25, 2011 12:44 PM | Report abuse

I am surprised that Congressman's Broun's Radar did not immediately signal him to immediately denounce the suggestion, implicit in the question, because the entire House of Reps, just got through considering how to better protect all of the members, after the Arizona congresswoman was shot.

Posted by: Liam-still | February 25, 2011 12:45 PM | Report abuse

I am surprised that Congressman's Broun's Radar did not immediately signal him to immediately denounce the suggestion, implicit in the question, because the entire House of Reps, just got through considering how to better protect all of the members, after the Arizona congresswoman was shot.

Posted by: Liam-still | February 25, 2011 12:48 PM | Report abuse

"This Broun event incident highlights that fact, once again, that a lot of Americans still cannot deal with the fact that a BLACK MAN is President of the United States of America."

There was about 100x more murder, assassination, and execution rhetoric aimed at George Bush while he was President. What explained that?

"Obviously Dems don't use the violent rhetoric nearly as much as Republicans, but I'm sure it happens enough."

You're just the latest willfully ignorant denier to make that claim here. I've posted links blowing it out of the water so many times -- to refute past deniers like Tena -- that I'm sick to death of doing it. Search the past threads going back two years. Or start with zombietime.com and Malkin's archives, and branch out from there. Obama has been treated with kid gloves in comparison.


Posted by: quarterback1 | February 25, 2011 1:01 PM | Report abuse

I think the rep was a bit blindsided by the question, so I wouldn't put too much stock into it.

Posted by: ozpunk | February 25, 2011 1:05 PM | Report abuse

Typical, Broun laughs and responds with a sympathetic "we're all frustrated" and then when the soup hits the fan, he flat out lies and says he didn't "dignify it with a response." And of course, that will be fine because the media is afraid to call a lie a lie and will just report the lies without comment or context.

Posted by: RinOregon | February 25, 2011 1:05 PM | Report abuse

Who could have predicted the 1rst half white guy elected president would have so many problems with a certain segment of the population. The problem is those that USE that to their advantage like this A-hole.

Posted by: fiveinchtaint | February 25, 2011 1:06 PM | Report abuse

Funny how he let it go until the press started putting it all over the Tweetosphere. The ONLY correct response was to immediately and emphatically tell the man it was absolutely inappropriate, then have him escorted out by security immediately. And then Brown should have lectured the crowd, who supported the man by laughing. Brown showed just how damaging the tea party is to America, where threats to assassinate the president are considered something to simply overlook and "move on."

He and the crowd embarrass America.

Posted by: Dake | February 25, 2011 1:08 PM | Report abuse

It's all white so it's alright.

Posted by: rmljr1 | February 25, 2011 1:10 PM | Report abuse

Why is it that when politicians say or do something they shouldn't say or do, they don't react until they realize boy, oh boy...look at this negative press, I'd better fix it. I'm not a fan of his politics, but the only politician who stood up immediately to an audience member spewing negative about President Obama, was Senator McCain.

Posted by: salye | February 25, 2011 1:16 PM | Report abuse

Apparently Congressman Broun ignored the memo:

“Post Sharron Angle’s loss we should avoid public mention of our Second Amendment Remedies.”

Posted by: Provincial | February 25, 2011 1:16 PM | Report abuse

@Liam: "I wasn't aware of what Cao said, but I have to wonder why Tao considers that some oddball living in Vietnam, spouting rubbish on a blog, is the equivalent of an elected Congressman holding a town-hall meeting."

He wasn't. He was holding other folks here, and Greg in particular, as "equivalent" of an elected Congressman. Specifically, in the regards to the "do as I say, not as I do" reaction. In this scenario, Cao is the elderly old lady wishing for violence, and Greg is the congressman saying nothing about the comment, and other commenters are those tittering at the violent language.

Or at least that's how I read it. Tao can correct me if I am wrong, of course.

Posted by: Kevin_Willis | February 25, 2011 1:26 PM | Report abuse

What more would you expect an old white redneck from Georgia to say? Truth is, while some of the discontent with Obama is based on political ideology, MOST of the Obamahate stems from racism.

Posted by: YadaYada1 | February 25, 2011 1:29 PM | Report abuse

Well, Kevin,


I read it as Tao asking why Greg, or no one who comments on here, did not condemn it;

But since Tao prefers to post his cryptic comments in cuneiform, he might well have being saying something else entirely.

Posted by: Liam-still | February 25, 2011 1:36 PM | Report abuse

"Oh yes. Obama is hated. By some of the dumbest, most idiotic, most hateful, most lacking in basic human decency human beings on planet earth. But, unlike Nixon, Obama is hated not for any criminal or treasonous activity, but simply because of ideology.
Jaxas70"

==============
Yeah, yeah we get your drift! Good people HATED Nixon because of his ideology. All the wise intelligent patrician WASPS and Jews of the media and the left. Only BAD people, though, hate Obama for his ideology.
The racists, idiots, insecure people, treasonous people, hateful people who are repelled by the genius and moral superiority of The One.

A simple fact though, that the Left hates so much and cannot spin away - More people voted for NIxon in his political career than any politician in US History. More than FDR, more than Reagan.

Unlike Carter and Dubya, and possibly Obama - Nixon is not considered a failed President, but a consequential one. Joining FDR, the equally hated Truman, Ike, LBJ, and Reagan as doing things that left a lasting, positive impact on America.

Posted by: ChrisFord1 | February 25, 2011 1:36 PM | Report abuse

Given the history of Oglethorpe County, why shouldn't it be proper for a local resident to think that uppity folks ought to be shot? This really isn't an isolated theme. While changing planes at Dallas Fort Worth airport last year, a flight crew member passed me with an attache case on which had been pasted a bumper sticker: "Just One Shot, No More Barack." I wrote to the airline's CEO who took forceful action in identifying, counseling this employee and publicizing the incident within his company this breach of civility. That Broun didn't want to call out his constituent can't be justified. McCain, when he had his lady in the red dress moment, didn't hesitate in taking her bigotry and ignorance on. But Broun clearly didn't want to dampen the mood of hatred that underpins so much of his party's appeal to its foot soldiers.

Posted by: gratianus | February 25, 2011 1:36 PM | Report abuse

Broun's a day late and a dollar short.

This was an act of terrorism. He didn't condemn it, he allowed it.

He and his constituents can go to h*ll.

Posted by: jKO2010 | February 25, 2011 1:42 PM | Report abuse

Democrat urges unions to 'get a little bloody when necessary'

Sometimes it's necessary to get out on the streets and "get a little bloody," a Massachusetts Democrat said Tuesday in reference to labor battles in Wisconsin.

Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Mass.) fired up a group of union members in Boston with a speech urging them to work down in the trenches to fend off limits to workers' rights like those proposed in Wisconsin and to use violence and bloodshed if necessary.

Posted by: panola60 | February 25, 2011 1:44 PM | Report abuse

If a member of the Black Panthers has said this about George Bush, what would the reaction be?

Posted by: Scientician
=======================
That's easy!
While Bush was President it would have been turned over to DOJ to investigate for possible charges.
When Obama and Holder got in office, the investigation would have been quashed and any pending recommendation for charges against the Black Panthers would have been dismissed.

Posted by: ChrisFord1 | February 25, 2011 1:44 PM | Report abuse

Did Broun responded appropriately? No.
Should he have condemned the questioner more outright? Yes.

He should have stopped dead and stared at the crowd until the laughter stopped. Then he should have said:

"Threatening to shoot the president of the United States is not a joke. It is a crime. Whatever political differences we have with President Obama, as patriotic Americans we have a duty to respect the office of the president irrespective those differences.

As a US representative I have sworn an oath to support and defend the constitution of the United States, and that oath includes protecting our government against terrorism at home and abroad. Those who advocate violence against members of our government are giving aid and comfort to terrorists and should be dealt with as such.

We all love a good joke. But in a nation at war, any suggestion that we shoot our commander in chief is tantamount to treason. It has absolutely no place in any political discussion.

Criticize the president. Attack his policies. Argue that his actions are damaging and dangerous for our nation. Do all of that every day but remember with each breath that our nation was founded to settle our differences without violence.
To suggest that anyone should shoot the president is disgusting. It is vile. And it has no place among patriots in the greatest nation on earth."

That is what Rep. Broun should have said. And if he so wishes, if he has since come to his senses, he may freely make use of the above to apply to any similar, future outrages.

Posted by: TBadonsky | February 25, 2011 1:51 PM | Report abuse

LET ME TELL EVERYONE OF YOU HATIN SOBs IF ANYTHING EVER HAPPENS TO PRES OBAMA ALL U HATERS BETTER HEAD FOR THE HILLS CAUSE ITS ON AND POPPIN. GET IT...BETTER CHECK YOURSELF BEFORE YOU WRECK YOURSELF.....

Posted by: phillynick1 | February 25, 2011 1:51 PM | Report abuse

Why isn't the old geezer in jail? If you asked that question on the internet, you'd have the secret service all over you, plus you'd be on every no-fly and terrorist list with every small-town police department in the US.

So he just gets his hand slapped?

Posted by: info53 | February 25, 2011 1:51 PM | Report abuse

Broun to aide: "You think people are going to give me a hard time for laughing at that guy?"
Aide: "Yeah, probably."
Broun: "Alright, do me favor and Google 'politician apology for inappropriate comments,' then just edit it to fit this situation."
Aide: "Got it. Will do."
Broun: "That was pretty funny, though, huh?"
Aide: "Definitely."

Posted by: KandJM | February 25, 2011 1:54 PM | Report abuse

Broun to aide: "You think people are going to give me a hard time for laughing at that guy?"
Aide: "Yeah, probably."
Broun: "Alright, do me favor and Google 'politician apology for inappropriate comments,' then just edit it to fit this situation."
Aide: "Got it. Will do."
Broun: "That was pretty funny, though, huh?"
Aide: "Definitely."

Posted by: KandJM | February 25, 2011 1:55 PM | Report abuse

******I encourage everyone to re-post this article as many times as you can........On Facebook Twitter, Email to colleagues.....Let us show everyone this $hit storm of hate from the GOP.*****

Posted by: hayden1 | February 25, 2011 2:02 PM | Report abuse

battleground15 I'm with you! Maybe together we can get the rethuggers to put the deficit ruse on the back burner so they can concentrate on the number one issue in the universe, and that is the "onlslaught" of those danged homosechshuals. Shoot fire boy, it jest ain't natchral! We gots to get dem danged homos out our country! I jest knows if they makes it legal, even though i screams agenst it, i won't be able to hold out any longer and I'll find mysef just doin all kindsa unnatchral things wit dem dere homos! they's treatnin my marrage, cuz ise a brainless hillbilly and ise weak too! dang it all to hades!

Posted by: red2million | February 25, 2011 2:04 PM | Report abuse

There must be about 10,000 threats to Obama's life every minute, across America. Obama is one of the most hated figures in American history. That is a fact. He is the Democrat version of Richard Nixon and George Bush.

But about 99.9999999999999999% of those threats are just hot air, as usual.

I pity the poor SS men's job. It has to be frustrating.

Posted by: battleground51
-----
"One of the most hated figures in American history"?

Facts, please. Is there some study that says this or are you just pulling it out of your posterior as you usually do with your supposed "facts"? Obama's favorbility rating is almost at 50 per cent and it never has been as low as either Bush or Nixon. So, at the very least, he is not as "hated" as either Bush or Nixon.

Your foolish and ignorant comment aside, what is it with these Republicans? Someone makes a joke about killing the president and he does not immediately react.

Of course, you know, as some have said, if Obama was assassinated, the streets of this country would be awash in blood. Perhaps unfair, but the riots would probably be the worst seen in this country since the 60's.

Posted by: nyrunner101 | February 25, 2011 2:12 PM | Report abuse

There must be about 10,000 threats to Obama's life every minute, across America. Obama is one of the most hated figures in American history. That is a fact. He is the Democrat version of Richard Nixon and George Bush.

But about 99.9999999999999999% of those threats are just hot air, as usual.

I pity the poor SS men's job. It has to be frustrating.

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Hated, why? Because some in white America can't stand the idea that the American people voted for an African American male with a funny name. President Obama isn't the problem. The problem is the racists in America who refuse to accept the outcome of our fair and free election. When President Obama was elected that meant the American people opted for Democratic policies. Most Obama haters refuse to acknowledge that this President has done anything, let alone done anything right. Meanwhile as our country moves forward out of the hole Republicans left us in , the Obama haters get more and more hateful. That hates has gone beyond any of the policies President Obama has put forth, It is personal and it has been extended to the First Lady. It is wrong and should not be tolerated whether joking or not! End of story.

Posted by: catmomtx | February 25, 2011 2:14 PM | Report abuse

There must be about 10,000 threats to Obama's life every minute, across America. Obama is one of the most hated figures in American history. That is a fact. He is the Democrat version of Richard Nixon and George Bush.

But about 99.9999999999999999% of those threats are just hot air, as usual.

I pity the poor SS men's job. It has to be frustrating.

Posted by: battleground51 | February 25, 2011 10:53 AM

*******************************************

By right wing dee-bags of which you are one no doubt. Yup, gotta love those days of "consdrvative" presidents who do nothing but dole out money, ignore the middle class, and provide tax breaks to the wealthy and corporations.

Yup, I see lots of reasons to "hate" Obama . . . he refuses to go along with the program!

battleground51 . . . Stupid Teabagger!

Posted by: TheChampisheretoo | February 25, 2011 2:18 PM | Report abuse

Why didn't that elderly white man from Georgia just say "Who will shoot that black man in the White House"? The Rep. from the man's district should have said something, but let it pass. That's not good. I think it says it all.

Posted by: jckdoors | February 25, 2011 2:23 PM | Report abuse

Stupid Teabagger!

Posted by: TheChampisheretoo | February 25, 2011 2:24 PM | Report abuse

So at first the GOP was for the question and now they're against the question.

Posted by: elle330033 | February 25, 2011 2:25 PM | Report abuse

Rightwing constituents parrot violent rhetoric learned on Fox & Frighwing radio - and think nothing of it.

Posted by: angie12106 | February 25, 2011 2:32 PM | Report abuse

"Obama is one of the most hated figures in American history."

Does the writer of this statement mean:

1. More people hate Obama than have ever before hated a single person

or

2. The people who hate Obama hate him with an intensity that few others received

If #1 was meant then the writer is delusional and/or exists, mentally and physically, in a self-imposed isolated environment that watches continuous replays of The Glenn Beck Show.

If #2 was meant then the writer is probably accurate. Most of these people usually maintain two sets of bedroom linens: one for their beds and pillows, the other for dress-up on special occasions.

While #2 is the most probable, one must concede there exists a very small grouping that actually can be said to live in an environment as described in #1.

Would the writer care to tell us which of these two worlds the writer lives?

Posted by: apspa1 | February 25, 2011 2:33 PM | Report abuse

I have heard enough to know a place where I would never want to live or even be near!

Posted by: durhamjeffreyl | February 25, 2011 2:35 PM | Report abuse

ah, the old "wink and a nod" or "heads i win, tails you lose." clearly, at the time, this supposed legitimate legislator knew what the correct and proper response would have been regardless of his own personal feelings about this particular president of the united states. now of course, he can say, "gee, if i offended anyone......" he gets it both ways, by not correcting this person he can give the impression he agrees with him (and the others in the room) while in national spotlight he can profusely apologize. clearly he and the others of his ilk have no shame nor regard for the history of this country.

Posted by: sbvpav | February 25, 2011 2:36 PM | Report abuse

>>>I was stunned by the question and chose not to dignify it with a response;

Broun LIES - after the audience finished laughing at the question, Broun DID respond to the constituent and his response was loaded with more rhetoric about Obamacare, designed to incite.

Posted by: angie12106 | February 25, 2011 2:38 PM | Report abuse

"Obama is one of the most hated figures in American history."

Does the writer of this statement mean:

1. More people hate Obama than have ever before hated a single person

or

2. The people who hate Obama hate him with an intensity that few others received

If #1 was meant then the writer is delusional and/or exists, mentally and physically, in a self-imposed isolated environment that watches continuous replays of The Glenn Beck Show.

If #2 was meant then the writer is probably accurate. Most of these people usually maintain two sets of bedroom linens: one for their beds and pillows, the other for dress-up on special occasions.

While #2 is the most probable, one must concede there exists a very small grouping that actually can be said to live in an environment as described in #1.

Would the writer care to tell us which of these two worlds the writer lives?

Posted by: apspa1 | February 25, 2011 2:42 PM | Report abuse

A fellow congress member was recently shot, and the House spent several days trying to establish more security for all members, and yet Broun claims he was just to stunned, to denounce talk of assassination in his own Town Hall meeting.

If we take him at his word, then he is too big a moron, to be in Congress.

Posted by: Liam-still | February 25, 2011 2:44 PM | Report abuse

By not immediately calling out and slapping down this racist looney in public, Broun is tacitly agreeing with his statement. Is the Secret Service investigating Broun? They should. ANY Member of Congress,no matter their party affiliation, should NEVER tolerate statements like those at their public forums. Are we just waiting for anothe Tucson to happen? Will Americans ever learn, or is it all just about hatred, ignorance, stupidity and money?

Posted by: bkllal6020 | February 25, 2011 2:45 PM | Report abuse

Battleground51 wrote:
"There must be about 10,000 threats to Obama's life every minute, across America. Obama is one of the most hated figures in American history."

Obama's favorable and unfavorable ratings are better than Reagan's were at this point in his presidency. The issue is who is doing the hating and in Obama's case he has the right wing crazy gun owner, racist, vigilante morons against him. Yes, this does make the job of the Secret Service harder, but that is the duty that they have accepted, to stand against the violent scum that would seek to murder someone as a political gesture.

Posted by: ThomasFiore | February 25, 2011 2:49 PM | Report abuse

This is a display of the true "mindsets" of the Republican Party and their base.

Always making hostile threats of assassination and other rogue attempts to control the political process and the agenda for decades on end in the United States of America.

Posted by: lcarter0311 | February 25, 2011 2:51 PM | Report abuse

Pay no attention to Battleground. He is just a big flirt. He claims that each Democratic President is the most hated in history. He is fickle. He will say the same thing about the next Democrat to occupy the White House.

Posted by: Liam-still | February 25, 2011 2:52 PM | Report abuse

In October 2008, Fidel Castro said Americans would assassinate Obama if he were elected. This was brushed off as a rant from an aging Communist dictator.

Since, Republican rhetoric may indicate otherwise as Palin incites her masses to "reload" and targeted Democratic congressmen in her web page gun-sights. Then Sharon Angle spoke of "Second Amendment remedies" followed by Beck, "You're going to have to shoot them in the head."

This was followed by Alabama Republican Beason who want's to "empty the clip" regarding illegal immigrants and Indiana Republican Deputy DA Jeff Cox
who urged using "live ammo" against protesters of the GoP's union busting in Wisconsin.

In the prank call to Republican Governor Walker of Wisconsin he doesn't denounce using a baseball bat against Democrats and fawns girlishly to his faux Koch patron, that he had "a slugger with my name on it."

Paul Broun's original, milk toast response to a men who just advocated assassinating the President is proof of the GoP's acceptance of this rhetoric.

These are not just innocuous NRA valley girls parroting popular social catch phrases of the day but politicians who have access and credibility with millions, among which are some crazy people who, thanks again to the NRA, can buy Glocks with 30 round clips.

The Teabagger Taliban cultural wars are heating up and their darling gun "metaphors" such as these will lead to outright civil war with more demonstrations in the streets like in Cairo, Tripoli and Madison. It's time liberal, gay, Muslim and Mexican citizens start exercising some Second Amendment rights of their own and arm themselves for the "Christian" Fifth Reich take over of the US by these radical, brain-dead, theocon RepuBLican thugs.

Meanwhile, God bless the Secret Service who has never before faced such a challenge protecting a young, intelligent Black man who the inbred cousins of Fred Phelps never have accepted and never will as the legitimate, elected President of the United States.

Posted by: areyousaying | February 25, 2011 2:56 PM | Report abuse

How many countless times has that question been asked when Bush was in office. The Democrats, the left, and especally the MSM hoped on a daily basis that one of their left wing nuts would do the job their criticism and columns couldn't do. How many times has Obama shot himself in the foot. He does it every time he opens his mouth. This is another poor tiring attempt to play the race card. Give it a rest. After two years of the same tactics is boring. At least get some new tactics.

Posted by: houstonian | February 25, 2011 2:56 PM | Report abuse

A fellow congress member was recently shot, and the House spent several days trying to establish more security for all members, and yet Broun claims he was just too stunned to denounce talk of assassination in his own Town Hall meeting.

If we take him at his word, then he is too big a moron, to be in Congress.

Posted by: Liam-still | February 25, 2011 3:12 PM | Report abuse

WAY TO GO JAXAS 70. WHAT ARE PEOPLE FROM THE SOUTH GOING TO DO WHEN THEY GET TO HEAVEN AND GOD IS OF ANOTHER COLOR. GOD CAN DO ANYTHING. ARE THEY GOING TO SAY I WANT TO GO DOWN BELOW.
CHRIST WAS NOT A WHITE PERSON LOOK WHAT COUNTRY HE WAS FROM!!!!!!! HAVE A GOOD DAY

Posted by: hpridesop | February 25, 2011 3:15 PM | Report abuse

One dumb hick asks a stupid question = national news. Hundreds of protestors at ANSWER anti-war rally holding signs with Bush's face in crosshairs = totally ignored by the media.

The double-standard continues unabated.

Posted by: johnfchick1 | February 25, 2011 3:27 PM | Report abuse

pissed off old southern white men are so funny!!

Posted by: danw1 | February 25, 2011 3:28 PM | Report abuse

"Such rhetoric cannot and will not be tolerated.

Of course it's tolerated by congressional republicans and "ENCOURAGED" when they are interviewed on talk radio and cable T.V.
Examples are Darryl Issa, Michelle Bachman, Sarah Palin, Eric cantor, Joe Wilson, John Boehner ... this list is endless

Posted by: knjincvc | February 25, 2011 3:33 PM | Report abuse

Note that Broun declined to call out this individual for making stupid, inflammatory comments, but instead smiled and acknowledged the questioner's "pain".

And of course his explanation for this manner of response is that everyone has "freedom of speech" (which doesn't extend to calling for an assassination attempt on the POTUS) and that "he didn't want to pass judgement" (meaning that he didn't want to offend his core base of supporters who apparently think "Second Amendment remedies" is perfectly acceptable in America.

Posted by: labman57 | February 25, 2011 3:35 PM | Report abuse

Lucky "he or she was an "elderly person". If it had been some Muslim for sure he or she would be off to Gitmo where humor is never appreciated.

Posted by: kelly123 | February 25, 2011 3:44 PM | Report abuse

What the heck is with the GOP that they give these whackos a pass on this stuff??

By not condemning it he is giving his tacit approval.

Posted by: fluxgirl | February 25, 2011 3:45 PM | Report abuse

Once gain one sided. Has anyone in the liberal media even mentioned the Boston congressman who this past week told a union group at a rally " we must get a little blood in the street." Of course this is after the impassioned speech by Obuma that we must be a little bit more tolerant with our speech and action.
So much crap.

Posted by: MALBENNET | February 25, 2011 3:46 PM | Report abuse

Two years ago:
Obama gives loans to ailing auto giants, GM and Chrysler.
Republicans attack loans as wasteful, and says auto industry should sink or swim on their own.

Today:
Auto sales up.
GM and Chrysler are paying off gov loans.
GM announces 1st quarter profit: first in two years.
Chrysler on the verge of economic health.
Obama's loans save thousands of auto worker jobs.
Obama loans pay off for taxpayers in form of interest on loan paid by GM and Chrysler.
Obama loans to auto industry saved largest section of US manufacturing infrastructure from collapse.
Republicans declare...um, no comment.

Posted by: apspa1 | February 25, 2011 3:58 PM | Report abuse

Surprised he didn't say what the Herr Gov from Wisconsin said.. "well we thought about that.."

Posted by: cmsatown | February 25, 2011 4:05 PM | Report abuse

I now await condemnation by Democrats and Washington Post bloggers of those who called for the assassination/execution of former President George W. Bush as well as those who compared Mr. Bush to Adolf Hitler.

Oh wait, I forgot. Democrats and their allies in the media employ a double standard when it comes to such matters.

Posted by: austinrl | February 25, 2011 4:06 PM | Report abuse

Poor taste? Try criminal.

Posted by: jahysell | February 25, 2011 4:10 PM | Report abuse

"I now await condemnation by Democrats and Washington Post bloggers of those who called for the assassination/execution of former President George W. Bush"

And those people are . . . ?

"Oh wait, I forgot."

Got that one right.

Posted by: mattintx | February 25, 2011 4:10 PM | Report abuse

Kevin_Willis ... shooting a president .. didn't seem to bother the Democrats when people talked, wrote and made movies abouta killing Bush43.

According to the article, nobody threatened to shoot Obama ... an old person made the comment apparently in what was a stupid attempt at humor.

Posted by: Hazmat77 | February 25, 2011 4:11 PM | Report abuse

The belated statement is an appropriate one. But the incident and its initial handling demonstrates the isolated world of the right wing extremists. The President ran on a platform. a clear majority of Americans voted for him. When he goes ahead and implements his platform, a segment of Conservatives talk openly about assassination and a smart, honest elected official doesn't condemn that talk when he hears it in a public meeting.
That should give all of us pause.
Every one of us.

Posted by: djah | February 25, 2011 4:13 PM | Report abuse

Broun wasn't stunned by the question. He's saying that today because of the media attention. And he didn't move on - he answered it in a way that supported the questioner's beliefs.

Remember, Broun has a rather crazy history.
He's the guy who didn't attend SOTU and Tweeted that Obama doesn't believe in the Constitution.

At another town hall in October he told people the government was going to call them to make sure they eat their fruits and vegetables:

"I tell ya, we've got some new problems in Washington. Big problems. Just today, Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta said people in America are not eating enough fruits and vegetables. They want to give all the power to the federal government to force you to eat more fruits and vegetables. This is what the federal, CDC, they gonna be calling you to make sure you eat fruits and vegetables, every day. This is socialism of the highest order!"

There must be a contest in the Republican party for who's the craziest. I think it's a tie among Bachmann, Steve King, Gohmert, and Broun.

Posted by: FauxReal | February 25, 2011 4:14 PM | Report abuse

Broun's unacceptable response is just one more example of Republican defferance to any attempt to discredit or threaten our President. It is deplorable, but is only worsening. He is a wretched elected official, and he succeeded in making a sickening "agreement" with his cowardly actions.

Posted by: patriotgmalou | February 25, 2011 4:15 PM | Report abuse

The belated statement is an appropriate one. But the incident and its initial handling demonstrates the isolated world of the right wing extremists. The President ran on a platform. a clear majority of Americans voted for him. When he goes ahead and implements his platform, a segment of Conservatives talk openly about assassination and a smart, honest elected official doesn't condemn that talk when he hears it in a public meeting.
That should give all of us pause.
Every one of us.
Oh and "austinri" - name one "Democrat or Washington Post blogger who called for the assassination of George W. Bush..." It did not happen. You lied to justify this horror.

Posted by: djah | February 25, 2011 4:15 PM | Report abuse

@areyousaying
"It's time liberal, gay, Muslim and Mexican citizens start exercising some Second Amendment rights of their own and arm themselves for the "Christian" Fifth Reich take over of the US by these radical, brain-dead, theocon RepuBLican thugs."

{{{5thgiggle...2ndsnort!...LOf'nL}}}

Posted by: tao9 | February 25, 2011 4:16 PM | Report abuse

Funny, I don't remember any moonbats ever once condemning the hateful vitriol incessantly directed at Vice President Cheney. Nor have they condemned Rep. Capuano for urging his cretinous disciples to "get bloody".

Liberals are frauds.

Posted by: thebump | February 25, 2011 4:18 PM | Report abuse

apspa1 ... you seem to have forgotten that Bush43 started the bailout of GM and Chrysler.

That some Republicans were against it is just a "so what?".

What most on the right objected to was the favoring of the Union in the GM bankruptcy and the taking of assets that properly should have gone on an equal basis to ALL secured creditors plus employee claims.

Obama's unabashed payback to the Unions for getting him elected is apparently a never ending blackmail of him ... Most frequent White House visitors appear to be the Union leaders (Andy Stern and Richard Trumpka) ... of course to call it a cabal might merely be truth telling!

Posted by: Hazmat77 | February 25, 2011 4:19 PM | Report abuse

The Democrats didn't a movie about killing Bush. As much as I dislike his policies and ideology I never advocated him being assassinate nor did 99.9% of progressives. We did want him to listen to us and stop dismissing us as focus groups.

The posters here making that statement are delusional at best. They say that to justify statements but people like this old man. Old men are dangerous too, all it takes is a gun.

If that had been someone at a rally advocating assassinating Bush the man would have been a victim of rendition and living in a prison camp in Easter Europe.

The person saying Obama is the most hated president blah, blah, blah doesn't know what he or she is talking about, it's wishful thinking.

We all do hate racists and liars which is the general GOP population.

Posted by: davidbronx | February 25, 2011 4:21 PM | Report abuse

His response was just one more example of the Republican defferance to any threat or attempted discrediting of our President. It was deplorable, and a sickening act of "agreement", he is a ****poor elected official.

Posted by: patriotgmalou | February 25, 2011 4:21 PM | Report abuse

An actual threat against the US President in a felony whether made in jest or not. They investigate even such things as an obvious joke to pray that Bush be struck down by God.

thebump: Rep Capuano condemned his own statement on TV in MA, did Fox News fail to cover that part.

The idea that President Obama is a radical is just insane. He is attempting to pass and implement a set of programs considerably to the right of what he promised on campaign, and he won the campaign by a large margin by recent standards, and help take both houses of Congress at the same time. So attacking President Obama as a radical is an attack on the American People who elected him and still support most of things the Republicans hate.
Raising taxes on the Rich by dumping 250K+ tax cuts by Bush, gets somewhere around 705+ approval.
The Health Care Bill gets over 60% if you break down piece by piece.
Raising Minimum Wage overwhelming support.
TARP doesn't, but then again that was Bush's program.
Stimulus if you list out the programs they get overwhelming support.

Posted by: Muddy_Buddy_2000 | February 25, 2011 4:29 PM | Report abuse

This Broun event incident highlights that fact, once again, that a lot of Americans still cannot deal with the fact that a BLACK MAN is President of the United States of America. It's a generational thing. It will continue until all those people die off. It is also why the word, "Obamacare," is so unpopular among this same group--because it is identified with a BLACK PERSON; ergo, it is not good.

Posted by: dozas | February 25, 2011 11:16 AM | Report abuse
---------------------
Ah, the predictable lib. When they have NOTHING to say, out comes the race card!

Posted by: steelers01 | February 25, 2011 4:34 PM | Report abuse

Democrat urges unions to 'get a little bloody when necessary'

Sometimes it's necessary to get out on the streets and "get a little bloody," a Massachusetts Democrat said Tuesday in reference to labor battles in Wisconsin.

Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Mass.) fired up a group of union members in Boston with a speech urging them to work down in the trenches to fend off limits to workers' rights like those proposed in Wisconsin and to use violence and bloodshed if necessary.

Posted by: panola60 | February 25, 2011 1:44 PM | Report abuse
-----------
that would be awesome to see. The union thugs use some violence and then get put down like the rabid dogs that they are.

Posted by: steelers01 | February 25, 2011 4:37 PM | Report abuse

Davidbronx, regarding that movie - it wasn't made by Democrats - it was made by a British film company and was written and directed by Gabriel Range, a British citizen. It was initially shown on Britain's channel 4.

Why do Conservatives simply believe the lies they're told instead of doing some research?

Posted by: FauxReal | February 25, 2011 4:38 PM | Report abuse

When an elderly woman went off in a town-meeting event about Sen. Obama's being a Muslim, John McCain's response was immediate and direct. What's Broun's excuse? This ain't over.

Posted by: mattintx | February 25, 2011 4:38 PM | Report abuse

Broun's a day late and a dollar short.

This was an act of terrorism. He didn't condemn it, he allowed it.

He and his constituents can go to h*ll.

Posted by: jKO2010 | February 25, 2011 1:42 PM | Report abuse
------------
Yep...right up there with walking into a cafe and self detonating.

Posted by: steelers01 | February 25, 2011 4:39 PM | Report abuse

Salon.com reports that Congressman Broun was laughing along with his constituents at the elderly person's hateful question. Cell phone video, if it exists, will put this question to rest one way or another.

Posted by: jpawlik1 | February 25, 2011 4:41 PM | Report abuse

I guess the point of this story is that maybe the president should stay out of North Georgia---I know I would.

Posted by: smithstar4 | February 25, 2011 4:41 PM | Report abuse

His response was just one more example of the Republican defferance to any threat or attempted discrediting of our President. It was deplorable, and a sickening act of "agreement", he is a ****poor elected official.

Posted by: patriotgmalou | February 25, 2011 4:42 PM | Report abuse

and the right wing claims that they are not fomenting violence???? i'm sick and tired of all this talk of killing those that you disagree with. and for all of you that think the GOP has a chance at winning the white house......think again . it ain't gonna happen. there already is byers remorse for putting the GOP in power in the house. they will lose that to.

Posted by: donincardona | February 25, 2011 4:44 PM | Report abuse

The statement made by the legislator sounds to me to be an appropriate response to an inappropriate remark made by an unknown person in a roomful of people. Why incite anyone talking about shooting anyone by challenging them in a crowded room? He stayed lowkey, responded that he hoped the legal election process would settle the person's gripe(but was not a macho challenge to a potential nutcase), moved on, and reported the incident to the authorities after the event concluded. The person was making a stupid statement but he could have been serious and carrying a knife or been a black belt in karate ready to erupt. After what has happened recently in political gatherings, the legislator should be applauded for dealing with it in a non-confrontational manner. People who make this a Republican/Democrat thing are too immersed in playing gotcha.

Posted by: PamK | February 25, 2011 4:46 PM | Report abuse

Many of you keep comparing this incident to the remarks made about Bush and Cheney.
At least they "earned" the remarks, this President has done nothing to "earn" the ridicule and onslaughts of slander he receives.

Posted by: patriotgmalou | February 25, 2011 4:49 PM | Report abuse

hpridesop @ February 25, 2011 3:15 PM wrote "WHAT ARE PEOPLE FROM THE SOUTH GOING TO DO WHEN THEY GET TO HEAVEN AND GOD IS OF ANOTHER COLOR."

That is a very good question. After all, the Christ was born Semitic. That means with a fairly dark complexion. And, oh yes, he did not speak English ;)

Posted by: AMviennaVA | February 25, 2011 4:51 PM | Report abuse

I wonder how "old" this gentleman really is. Their strategy is to blame everything on old folks knowing old folks are easy scapegoats and easier to manipulate. Most of them, especially those living in southern states like Georgia still can't accept a black-skinned man as their president.

Posted by: KT11 | February 25, 2011 4:51 PM | Report abuse

LET ME TELL EVERYONE OF YOU HATIN SOBs IF ANYTHING EVER HAPPENS TO PRES OBAMA ALL U HATERS BETTER HEAD FOR THE HILLS CAUSE ITS ON AND POPPIN. GET IT...BETTER CHECK YOURSELF BEFORE YOU WRECK YOURSELF.....

Posted by: phillynick1 | February 25, 2011 1:51 PM | Report abuse
-------------
Sounds like a threat lol! Cmon, we'll be waiting for you.

Posted by: steelers01 | February 25, 2011 4:51 PM | Report abuse

"After all, the Christ was born Semitic. "

Nah, the REPUBLICAN Jesus is that droopy-looking white dude in the sappy religious art with the spotless white robe and the nice perm.

No greasy old ferrin'-looking Jesus for Republicans!

Posted by: info53 | February 25, 2011 5:04 PM | Report abuse

We've seen almost two weeks of hateful rhetoric and signage coming from leftwingers in Wisconsin. Yet the MSM is silent. Now one old geezer says something it's national news.

I condemn what the geezer said, but can a liberal explain why the Wisconsin rhetoric and signage is different?

Posted by: ElmerStoup | February 25, 2011 5:06 PM | Report abuse

"Won't be tolerated" - bull crap!

Paul had his chance to tell this guy off and he blew it. It's called standing up for what's right.

Posted by: maggots | February 25, 2011 5:08 PM | Report abuse

"Cmon, we'll be waiting for you."

So, by responding to this taunt are you a hatin' SOB or a potential presidential assassin?

Posted by: info53 | February 25, 2011 5:09 PM | Report abuse

We've seen almost two weeks of hateful rhetoric and signage coming from leftwingers in Wisconsin. Yet the MSM is silent. Now one old geezer says something it's national news.

I condemn what the geezer said, but can a liberal explain why the Wisconsin rhetoric and signage is different?

Posted by: ElmerStoup | February 25, 2011 5:06 PM | Report abuse

######################################

What's different is that it is against the law to threaten the president. And frankly, I haven't heard of any protestors suggesting that Walker be shot. You are trying to make excuses for the offender

Posted by: maggots | February 25, 2011 5:12 PM | Report abuse

Let's not be naive here. We all know that the Republicans and their cronies in the "tea party" are actively encouraging, aiding and abetting the loonies who would like to assassinate President Obama. If someone tries, all of these scumbags, including Congressman Broun will have blood on their hands.

Posted by: dsrobins | February 25, 2011 5:14 PM | Report abuse

Why do we have to act like such idiots?

Everyone in the crowd should have shouted the man down. That they didn't says as much or more about the average Georgia GOP voter than the Congressman's cowardice.

Posted by: SageThrasher | February 25, 2011 5:14 PM | Report abuse

I have read some fairly infammatory comments on this blog regarding our President. The fact is there are certain news outlets that make it their goal in life to give President Obama the hardest time possible. The outrageous lies and distortions that go way beyond the rhetorical distortions that politicians use everyday has convinced many on the lunatic right fringe that Obama is evil.

The old man only stated what has been going around in Republican circles since the 2008 campaign. The fact that the Congressman did not respond is par for the course. His subsequent statement still misses the mark.

What is absolutely a stretch is the number of rightwingers who think that Bush was harped on by Democrats for his whole presidency. In reality, Bush was a Shakespearean-type tragic figure in his presidency. He was the "decider" and led us into a major war without cause at the same time he pushed and got two massive tax breaks for the rich. So much for equal sacrifice. How many children of rich people do you think were fighting the wars?

One of the biggest problems in America right now is that people feel that they can say anything and get away with it. This is a first amendment right. Now put this with their second amendment right and you have a formula for disaster. My Bible teaches me not to bear false witness and not to kill, two of the commandments that these rightwingers want to post in every public place that they can think of. May I suggest that they have no clue what the Ten Commandments are, much less the two commandments that Jesus spoke to sum up the Ten.

May God have mercy on our country, a country that seems to be full of hateful speech and dishonest people. Oh, while I am at it, keep spouting off about abortions while showing no compassion for the living.

Posted by: EarlC | February 25, 2011 5:19 PM | Report abuse

Maybe he just wasn't prepared with the appropriate answer for this one.

It's not exactly the kind of question you anticipate, and you want to basically just move on with the press conference without drawing that much attention to it.

Haters, of course, might take it differently because they want to.

Posted by: Benson | February 25, 2011 5:19 PM | Report abuse

If there was no Limbaugh, Rep. Brown probably would had admonished the person making the remark. Except for Governor Daniels, whose remark was not really that anti-Limbaugh, every single major Republican official is terrified that he might become the target of the $40 million blabbermouth. When one loudmouth can force a Congressman to remain silent when someone threatens to kill the President, be afraid, be VERY afraid...

Posted by: ners1507 | February 25, 2011 5:21 PM | Report abuse

It's Been A Bad 2011 for the Teapublicans So Far:


Walker and Repuppies get caught on the side of Evil State Govt against the little people in Wisconsin.......again.
Bush-Dolt " Concience Clause " for Health workers junked by Executive Ord...er - no legislation necessary.
The Great "CONSERVATIVE" hero Hosni Mubarak just eliminated, other conservative beloved dictators are doomed.


Reading Constitution aloud Skit on CPAN Bombs.
John "Orange" Boner loses his precious Jet Engine.
Pin-Down on Tax-Cuts for UberRich-RePiggies.
Sarah Palin slapped down like a Monkey.
Jared the Tea-Party Assassin in Arizona.


Health Care Repeal Fails (unless the activist Right Wingers on the Supreme Court decide to overturn hundreds of years of case law, again, for their right wing corporate overlords (Koch Brothers)
Texas going Bankrupt.
Abortion Repeal Fails.
Egypt & Obama dominates news & blows Repuppy focus off track.
Chump-Change Boehner Budget Cuts not going anywhere.


Craigslist Pervert Republican Resigns.
John Kyl Resigns.
Republican Oil Spill.
Gay Republicans causing fits in GOP.
Tea-Baggers causing internal Trouble for Standard Corporate RePigs.
No interesting or credible Presidential Candidates.


Not good days for the Teahadists.

.

Posted by: DrainYou | February 25, 2011 5:26 PM | Report abuse

Who gives a crap? You lefties use violent rhetoric all the time and just pretend it doesn't happen. Did a Democrat ever condemn the statements directed at President Bush?

Posted by: malclave | February 25, 2011 5:32 PM | Report abuse

"Did a Democrat ever condemn the statements directed at President Bush?"

Whaaaa. WHAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

It's SO evident that to Republicans, it was all about backing the wrong horse and losing. They are STILL crying because Bush was a worthless loser and took some flack.

Posted by: info53 | February 25, 2011 5:41 PM | Report abuse

Was his answer - instead of shooting him let's vote him out of office? This is a representative of the people - he should always be ready to answer his constituents. Why didn't he have the person rejected from the meeting? Stop comparing these incidents to President Bush. If someone had made that statement about Bush at a public meeting they would have been arrested. The truth is there are double standards when dealing with President Obama. There are many of you who silently ask the same question as this person did openly.

Posted by: brit89 | February 25, 2011 5:44 PM | Report abuse

Respost:
Alright, let me make something reeeeeal clear here, especially to any apologists for this disgrace. I can see many people wanting a comparison to liberal feeling during the last president. I remember it well, most of my friends slanted liberal. I slant liberal. Waaaay liberal in some cases. I was at the big anti war rally on the mall. No, not that one, the BIG one. You know what people chanted there? Impeachment. That was the ugliness. Impeachment. We wanted him impeached.

Now this is to any would-be assassin out there: If you actually follow through, you alone will be responsible for the greatest downfall of the conservative cause in the history of mankind. Fox news will go bankrupt, Rush and Coulter and every other conservative ideologue who ever even whispered some gun-related political rhetoric will fade into obscurity. Not only will "Obamacare" continue, it may actually morph in NO TIME FLAT to a single payor system, climate change and financial legislation will grow, government regulation will become competent, and in the midst of all of this change, that tiny little middle American town where you are from may actually see enough goodness and prosperity from people in this country actually giving a DAMN about their brother 1,000 miles away instead of just their stupid little tribe, it may finally make things good enough that your descendents won't be so miserable as to ever again feel the need to take the toxic waste of their life, load it into a barrel, fire it off at another man, and turn him into a symbol of everything you mistakenly chose to blame all because you couldn't stand to look inside the rotten abyss of your own soul.
You have been warned.

Posted by: ashtar377 | February 25, 2011 5:47 PM | Report abuse

Us leftys, blah, blah, blah... It's sad because the Representative knows that the audience would have turned on him had he admonished the old man. As far as him not being prepared for the question, hogwash. People that make it to congress think on their feet and are never at a loss for an answer. Like I said, if he tries to stand up for Obama he insults his audience.

Posted by: DannyP2 | February 25, 2011 5:51 PM | Report abuse

Democrat Senators are awol from both Wisconsin and Indiana to avoid doing there job and they are exalted as being brave patriots by the WaPo.
Someone asks a stupid question Republican congressman and this makes headlines in the WaPo.
Get real, not everyone is as stupid as radical liberal elites.

Posted by: rteske | February 25, 2011 5:53 PM | Report abuse

Manna from heaven for the liberal press. Gas prices soaring. Madison Wisconsin looking like Cairo. Pirates feel completely free to kill american citizens on yacht with u.s.navy nearby. POTUS selectivly decides which laws his administration will and will not enforce. Middle east colleage student planning on domestic bombing attacks including home of former presindent Bush. Media reaction, "yawn". Federal goverment shutdown looming,[the horror! the horror!] All this plus god knows what, and this is the big news of the day. How much press time will this get? The spin will be not that a citizen advocated assination, but the real "crime" is that the republican congressman did not "rebuke" the statement enough.

Posted by: Rightthinkingkindofguy | February 25, 2011 5:54 PM | Report abuse

maggots: What part of "I condemn what the geezer said" don't you understand?

Why can't you just acknowledge that the Wisconsin leftwing protesters are guilty of hateful, uncivil rhetoric and signage?

Carrying a sign of the governor's head in the crosshairs of a rifle isn't exactly polite and civil. This attitude of "It's ok if my guys are doing it" gets a little old.

Posted by: ElmerStoup | February 25, 2011 5:57 PM | Report abuse

Maggots? Listen, the governor's head wasn't in the crosshairs of a rifle, it was a surveyor's scope, like Sarah Palin used in her ads. The situation is hopeless because it appears that many of us are unable to converse without name calling.

Posted by: DannyP2 | February 25, 2011 6:07 PM | Report abuse

The republicon did not condemn the statement at the time it occurred. But it's all okkk now.

Posted by: whocares666 | February 25, 2011 6:10 PM | Report abuse

Many of you keep comparing this incident to the remarks made about Bush and Cheney.
At least they "earned" the remarks, this President has done nothing to "earn" the ridicule and onslaughts of slander he receives.

Posted by: patriotgmalou | February 25, 2011 4:49 PM | Report abuse

You cannot be serious. Obama is getting to a joke more and more.

Posted by: sales7 | February 25, 2011 6:20 PM | Report abuse

{{{5thgiggle...2ndsnort!...LOf'nL}}}

Posted by: tao9
--------------------------------

We've heard you make those noises before, Kochsucker.

Posted by: areyousaying | February 25, 2011 6:27 PM | Report abuse

This guy is a knuckle-dragger no matter what he says. His voting record clearly shows where his head is at. Loser through and through.

Posted by: TOMHERE | February 25, 2011 6:43 PM | Report abuse

Constituent -
"Who is going to shoot Obama?"

Broun -
"The thing is, I know there's a lot of frustration with this president. We're going to have an election next year," he said before taking the next question. "Hopefully, we'll elect somebody that's going to be a conservative,"

In October Tea Party member Broun criticized the Centers for Disease Control for their advocacy of a diet higher in fruits and vegetables, calling the nutritional initiatives "socialism of the highest order." After the 2008 election, Broun compared President-elect Obama to Adolf Hitler and Karl Marx.

"When he's proposing to have a national security force that's answering to him, that is as strong as the U.S. military, he's showing me signs of being Marxist," Broun said. "That's exactly what Hitler did in Nazi Germany and it's exactly what the Soviet Union did."

Broun - Another Tea Party Tool!

Posted by: waxtraxs | February 25, 2011 7:25 PM | Report abuse

It is interesting that all our progressive Leaders in the last Century were trying to move the USA into a better direction

were all Assassinated
by the
Self Acclaimed Bigoted Hateful Conservatives.

They trash the nature of real Conservatism which is a complement to Liberalism..

Posted by: pdq5 | February 25, 2011 7:43 PM | Report abuse

The Post's headline: "GOP Lawmaker Condemns Assassination Question." Shouldn't that say, "GOP Lawmaker Doesn't Condemn Assassination Question?"

Posted by: rdshelton9 | February 25, 2011 7:52 PM | Report abuse

History sometimes repeats itself if you don't learn. In 1962 Republicans allowed their supporters to yell threats of murder to then President Kennedy as the excuse of the freedom of speech. Young and old Americans who were disappointed Nixon lost the election and threats were made on Kennedy. The threats increased as Kennedy was in favor of the Civil Rights Bill. The FBI/Secret Service were all in agreement all the the threats were fruitless. Well live on TV from Dallas Texas all viewers got to see President Kennedy was assassinated, but the GOP knew they had to silence the accuser so guest what again live on TV Jack Ruby walked up live on TV and shot Oswald at close range to assure all the guilty would never get exposed.

Posted by: qqbDEyZW | February 25, 2011 7:56 PM | Report abuse

battleground51 said:

"There must be about 10,000 threats to Obama's life every minute, across America. Obama is one of the most hated figures in American history. That is a fact. He is the Democrat version of Richard Nixon and George Bush.

But about 99.9999999999999999% of those threats are just hot air, as usual.

I pity the poor SS men's job. It has to be frustrating."

Apparently, whatever "battleground" school you managed to attend was fairly short on the critical analysis training.

What's pretty much the point here is NOT that someone threatened the President. It's that they stood up in a public meeting and asked the question in a matter of fact manner, that presumed that this was a logical and normal question to ask.

Remember the lady at Senator McCain's town hall meeting towards the end of the 2008 campaign, who called President Obama a terrorist and insisted that he was a Muslim? She didn't ask a "what if" question, but stated as if everyone around her knew that her delusions were in fact, credible.

God Bless Senator McCain for taking issue with her statement. He gets a pass on a lot of things for doing that.

If you want to compare the current President to President Nixon, you'll have to remember that Nixon's "base" stood by him until very late in the House impeachment committee's hearings, when it become apparent that President Nixon was lying to some degree.

President Bush had a huge favorable rating shortly after 9/11, and continued to be favored by over 50% of the public until shortly after the 2004 election.

President Obama may be "more hated" by more people than other presidents, but he also has a fairly respectable favorable rating for this point in his term.

The difference between President Obama and President Nixon or Bush, is quite simple.

Especially for President Bush, and not as much for President Nixon, a fair majority of people were willing to give them a chance, even those from the other party.

In the case of President Obama, a lot of folks decided that they hated him approximately 5 minutes after the networks called the election for him in November.

They never were going to give him a chance.

If you think that President Obama is a "socialist", I would suggest that you take a look at some of the things that occured under President Nixon's watch. Price controls? Wage controls? Sounds like socialism to me.

In any case, making a statement like this, presuming that somehow there is some kind of overwhelming hatred throughout the United States for the President simply shows that you make no attempt to discover why you hate what you hate.

Posted by: JohnDinHouston | February 25, 2011 8:01 PM | Report abuse

This Representative waited 3 days to comment and then condemns it. This Representative outright laughed when he was asked that question. He should resign because no way can he spin it in his favor.
He's hates Obama plain and simple, and he proved it. He has no place being in Washington representing anyone.

Posted by: sumo1 | February 25, 2011 8:24 PM | Report abuse

Broun not only didn't condemn the question, he just danced around it and treated like it was cute. He is just another gun-hugging cracker racist from Georgia, one of many anti-American Republicans who fear the Constitution and hate the idea of a black man being president.

Posted by: ElectricBill | February 25, 2011 8:39 PM | Report abuse

One more example of tea bagger calls for violence. And like the tea baggers signs say, next time this guy will come armed - or one of his friends will.

Is Beck still calling for the murder of Professor Piven?

Posted by: Miss_Fedelm | February 25, 2011 8:45 PM | Report abuse

@malclave
Who gives a crap? You lefties use violent rhetoric all the time and just pretend it doesn't happen. Did a Democrat ever condemn the statements directed at President Bush?
---------------------------------------------

When did liberals say someone should shoot the President... Last time I checked Liberals are against guns.

Posted by: Nemesis | February 25, 2011 8:49 PM | Report abuse

Rep Paul Broun did not condemn anything.

If anything, he got caught with his "big fat stinky racist foot" in his mouth at a townhall meeting on tape. He's been inciting this type of hate racist behavior for the last year against President Obama and stating other outrageous hateful racist bigoted comments down in his southern Georgia District.

Nothing new here, but another racist Republican politician that can't stand Black men. Let alone one that is running this country from the "White" house.

Posted by: lcarter0311 | February 25, 2011 8:54 PM | Report abuse

""We're aware of the incident and the appropriate steps were taken," Donovan told me. "At this point it's a closed matter.""

If they didn't take the old cracker out back and shoot him, or throw him in jail, then the matter isn't closed.

Do we have to wait until he starts shooting before the SS does something?

Posted by: info53 | February 25, 2011 8:58 PM | Report abuse

President Obama is hated by the same people (mostly white) that say he is the most hated president in America.

You know like Bill O'Reilly and other Conservatives on FIXED News and in the country.

Get it?

In other words, the people who are saying and thinking it are the same people who hate him.

Posted by: lcarter0311 | February 25, 2011 9:06 PM | Report abuse

This just says it all. The vitriol being spewed by the Tea Party, GOP, Extremist Conservative Pundits & Christian Coalition with a little help from the Supreme Court Justices and a bevy of large corporate heavy weights have stoked the flames under the boiling pot of every ism in the book; beginning with racism and ending with ageism to fever pitch. Every latent paranoid psychopath raised to hate will have no problem "reading" their "not so cryptic" message loud and clear. Hate! Kill!

Posted by: MCunningham122 | February 25, 2011 10:33 PM | Report abuse

So now Broun is also a liar, saying about the question that he "chose not to dignify it with a response; therefore, at that moment I moved on to the next person with a question." When in point of fact, he DID NOT move on to the next person, but DID respond to the question with what very clearly accepted the anti-Obama premise of the question and built on it in his own way.

Posted by: markiejoe | February 25, 2011 10:42 PM | Report abuse

He laughed, he is full of it.

Posted by: Cromwell1 | February 25, 2011 10:46 PM | Report abuse

So on Jan 8th we had a shooting here in Arizona and many of us living here woke up to the fact we're sick and tired of rhetoric used by the Tea Party which most associate to the Republican Party. Now reading this is like rubbing salt on a fresh wound. Isn't the United States messed up enough already to let this sort of thing continue???? Has the majority accepted this dysfunctional sort of thing to be acceptable in our country because we think so little of it anymore???? It's kind of hard to figure out what the prize is suppose to be from those that enable this stuff.

Posted by: kgtoo | February 25, 2011 11:27 PM | Report abuse

ADMERAL YAMAMOTO SAID IT BEST,,,IF I CAN RECALL..."DON'T AWAKEN A SLEEPING GIANT"..DEMOCRATS WAKE UP AND VOTE,,,FOR GOD SAKE.

Posted by: Democrate | February 25, 2011 11:49 PM | Report abuse

The question is, who's going to shoot the loony-tunes who asked the question?

Posted by: thrh | February 25, 2011 11:50 PM | Report abuse

I just hope the Secret Service detained the old geezer who asked the question and beat him bloody.

Enough of this treasonous vituperation from the teabaggers!

It's your country too, you know. Traitors!

Posted by: thrh | February 26, 2011 12:00 AM | Report abuse

I see one commenter remark that Obama is "one of the most HATED figures in American history". Possibly, but also one of the most loved figures. Especially among the more intelligent and less bigoted of the American populace.

Posted by: misewicz | February 26, 2011 12:03 AM | Report abuse

So many of these come from the South or West. It's clear: the racism still inherent in the American culture, certainly alive & well in the South & West, is where these thoughts are propagated. And elderly gentleman my butt. This guy was serious. The context would probably be clearer if we could see home video, or cell phone video. I hope someone was shooting that night, & caught the reaction in context.
If the Representative showed no emotional impact of the comment, but plowed on forward, w/a "by the way," kind of answer, that tells me that Rep. Broun merely played catch up.
Frankly, those who call Obama every name in the book, politically, from "Communist," to "Bolshevik," "Red," "lackey of the labor unions," Fascist," "Marxist," "Maoist," etc., would rather just call him a "N....r," & be done w/it.
However, even the most incorrigible racist knows that w/so many prying cell phone camera eyes now everywhere, he or she had best not use the "N," word. It's so much easier to call President Obama all the names listed above, plus, "Muslim," or "AYY-Rab."
What a shame. Much of the world is proud of America's election of the first African-American to the Presidency. Much of America, on the other hand (most often, in the South & Intermountain West), are ashamed. What a pity. President Obama will have a very good shot @ re-election.
He should definitely embrace the attacks on the bastion of white, non-college educated men & women's working terrain: that terrain where unions represent the workers. The governor of Wisconsin, by his dullard attempt to gut labor negotiation rights, will have served as a lightning rod for the Dems absolutely ramping up for the 2012 election.
Obama needs to stand for the unions, & return in the campaign of 2012. He needs to remind those folks who does the bidding of the richest of the rich; the elite; the oligarchs who want to take government totally into their hands. President Obama will do well as he uses this harsh & blatant attempt @ union "busting," to garner more support in those critical midwestern states.
I for one, will support him in that endeavor. These are shameless sycophants of the billionaires. They want to just hand over all wealth & assets possible to these modern day plantation owners. Property, the right to OWN whatever ... is once again @ the heart of the hatred spewing from these people.
It's not slaves this time. Rather, it's just "my stuff is my stuff, & I'll be damned if I share ANY of my stuff, benefits, fruits, well-being that perhaps I was able to claim through hard work, but also, through the privilege of being white in America. White folks don't need to be ashamed of what they have, but they do need to recommend that being born white in America is an enormous boost to a better life.
"What you do for the least among you, you do for ME," Jesus said. Amen.

Posted by: zennheadd | February 26, 2011 12:09 AM | Report abuse

My great-grandfather fought on the Union side in the Civil War; wounded at Gettysburg, he reenlisted and marched from "Atlanta to the Sea" with General Sherman. Most of his several children were named after Sherman and his fellow generals.

I'm proud of my great-grandfather's war record. I just wish he had been a better shot.

Posted by: thrh | February 26, 2011 1:09 AM | Report abuse

This kind of domestic terrorism/hate talk is par for the course coming from todays extremist Republican party and the slack jawed Teabagger yokels who vote for them.

Posted by: DrainYou | February 26, 2011 1:16 AM | Report abuse

This kind of domestic terrorism/hate talk is par for the course coming from todays extremist Republican party and the slack jawed Teabagger yokels who vote for them.

Posted by: DrainYou | February 26, 2011 1:17 AM | Report abuse

Now we know what they mean when republicons go meet their constituents. Seeing how Broun did not immediately wrestle this would be assasin to the floor, one can only assume that they are co-conspirators.

Posted by: jimbobkalina1 | February 26, 2011 5:12 AM | Report abuse

Maybe we should just send or dump manure on all the Career Politicians on all levels of government.
What they do in the name of the American people just stinks......


Why is the economy such a mess??
Well for one, this country is no longer a Democracy, but a Cashrarocy!!
Of course the lobbyists & big moneyed contributors love this.

I am starting to think that the only way the American people will get their Democracy back is to follow the lead of the people of the Middle East ....... seems "our" career politicians of both political parties just pander to their special interests and not this country or it's people.

THAT IS WHY THE ECONOMY IS SUCH A MESS.........

It's being run by these large corporations for themselves.
It's all about GREED!!

It's no longer a government by the people for the people.

Posted by: bkarpus | February 26, 2011 5:19 AM | Report abuse

Well look folks. Georgia, Texas, South Carolina--what do all of these rural southern areas have in common? They are populated by uneducated hicks, rednecks, fundamentalist fanatics, white supremacists, old, "the Souths gonna rise again" pro-slavery rebels who never have accepted defeat and general, run-of-the-mill crackpots who get off on Birchean conspiracy gobbledygook imagining that liberal-socialist-communist-fascist-Nazis are in league with the UN to foster a New World Order.

I think we made a huge mistake by not allowing this fahty bunch of ingnoramuses to secede. Take these ignorant rural southern states out of our economy and we would be booming.

Posted by: jaxas70 | February 26, 2011 9:48 AM | Report abuse

Why not identify this bigot and show his picture on the web?

Posted by: pkbishop1 | February 26, 2011 11:01 AM | Report abuse

I have read with enlightenment comments by caothien9 and battelground51. Just how much are these two people willing to lie to support thier Obama hated? By what measure do they stake thier claims he is the most hated? Both Nixon and W Bush had horrible approval rateings, the #1 and #2 lowest in record keeping. Nixon was disliked so much he resigned. W holds a record in the Guinuess Book Of Records for WORLD'S MOST HATED MAN as the single largest protest in the history of the earth was against W Bush and involved hundreds of milloins if not billoins of people. Obama has had approval rateings between 42% and 65%, usualy averageng around 50% for his years so far. He is certainly better liked around the world than W. He is at this point in his term doing better than Reagan, Ford, Carter, ands Clinton at the same points. Most hated? Hardly. W Bush has the longest sustained collapse of rateings in presidential history, near 7.5 years of declineing rateings till he bottomed out in the 20s. So instead of conservative lies and hate, look to the facts as far as 'most hated' presidents go. W's last 3.9 years were all under 50%, the longest sustained run under 50% since they kept records.

Try the truth for once, it's not only refreshing to read, but appreciated by others. Info supplied by wjs.com and Guness Book Of Records, & Gallup..

Posted by: sgtrichusmfc | February 26, 2011 11:51 AM | Report abuse

The guy is not one of the bright lights capable of thinking and talking at the same time.

Posted by: knjincvc | February 26, 2011 3:43 PM | Report abuse

I wonder why it took Broun* three days to come up with an answer to the insanity in his crowd of 'townspeople?' Unlike 70 years ago, today Dorothy would not have to visit the "Wizard of Oz," with the lack of brains, heart, and courage she need only visit the US Congress.

*One can always tell a German, but not tell him much!

Posted by: rbsher | February 26, 2011 4:12 PM | Report abuse

I wonder why it took Broun* three days to come up with an answer to the insanity in his crowd of 'townspeople?' Unlike 70 years ago, today Dorothy would not have to visit the "Wizard of Oz," with the lack of brains, heart, and courage she need only visit the US Congress.

*One can always tell a German, but not tell him much!

Posted by: rbsher | February 26, 2011 4:12 PM | Report abuse

Next stop for the Secret Service should be "battleground51" doorstep. Another Batsh*t crazy "conservative."

Posted by: skinswitabullet | February 27, 2011 8:47 AM | Report abuse

The Rep will claim he heard "Who is going to tweet Obama?"

Posted by: ScottChallenger | February 28, 2011 8:35 AM | Report abuse

Has anyone ever seen an honest, decent, right-wing Republican?
NO! These basterds were born garbage and will die garbge.

Posted by: analyst72 | February 28, 2011 8:45 AM | Report abuse

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