Here is a disturbing CNN report on threats of violence and acts of vandalism triggered by heated rhetoric of the health care reform debate. I have to say that I’m especially troubled by Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) and his smug admission that this is all melodrama.
Thanks, sir. Glad that putting your opponents in harm’s way is “just” a little game.
I’ve seen questions floating through blogs and social media about why these people can’t be stopped from abusive rhetoric. Short answer is that the First Amendment generally prevents a court from telling someone that they can’t speak.
So the demigods, sideshow freaks, and rodeo clowns are free to continue heating things up with half baked allegations and over-heated rhetoric. But when violence results in injury, lines have been crossed. Only then will we be able to hold people accountable in court. Only then will an irresponsible speaker face a reckoning.
Not pretty, I know–especially when you see and hear the kind of stuff that we’ve faced over the last few days. But it’s a line that we have to honor.
A similar thing happened here in Oregon many years ago. When the White Aryan Resistance leader, Tom Metzger, incited a trio of skinheads to violence, he faced a wrongful death claim brought by the Seraw family, who lost their son in a senseless hate-filled attack.
If any wingnut is crazy enough to start firing shots or throwing bombs, there will be a reckoning. And it will be epic.The threats of violence aren’t going to shout the rest of us down. We’re going to have health care reform. Now maybe it’s time to act like grown ups and get on with the business of living in a democracy.
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