Virginia Representative Eric Cantor reported that someone shot a bullet through his office window some time this week.
Cantor, a Republican, has used this event to curtail claims from Democrats that the GOP is to blame for the threats of violence from citizens furious over the recently passed health care legislation.
And now, the blame game begins.
According to USA Today, Rep Mike Pence, a Republican from Indiana, stated: “People who engage in such acts undermine our cause and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. But I also rise to condemn the efforts to smear millions of law-abiding Americans who oppose ObamaCare by associating them and their principled opposition with these criminal acts.”
“The American people have every right to oppose this government takeover of health care without being lumped in with bigots and vandals by liberals in Congress and in the mainstream press.”
Well, who else is perpetrating these acts? Canadians? Iraqis? Australians? AMERICAN CITIZENS are the ones sending the vituperative and hateful letters. Who else are we going to associate with these acts?
I don’t blame anyone but the AMERICAN CITIZEN perpetrators for this heinous showing of impetuousness, immaturity and ineptitude. Disagreeing with a bill doesn’t give you carte blanche to threaten the lives and well-being of the lawmakers. You are essentially no better than those who disrupt political elections in Iraq with car bombs and murders.
I also find it amusing that a Republican is speaking out against smear campaigns. Did you forget what party you belong to there, Pence?
Politicians on both sides need to quit debating on who receives blame for these stupid acts of violence, and start focusing that energy on protecting themselves and carrying out their agendas in regards to the legislation. Pelosi was a fool to blame the GOP; the GOP has every right to defend themselves. However, the GOP found a way, as usual, to demean themselves with Pence saying associating American citizens with these violent acts is a smear campaign. Who else stands to blame? Are you going to tell us now that Mexicans are to blame for this? Pence’s statement is one of the most ignorant statements I’ve read in a while – but it’s no shock, considering his party affiliation.
The fact that Congressmen and women have to be fearful for their lives for doing their job is pretty weak. Stop the letters, stop the violence, and if you want to be an angry, senseless antagonist of the U.S. Government – join the stupid Tea Party.
