Slaughter On Violence And Threats: GOP ‘Fanning The Flames With Coded Rhetoric’

Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY)
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Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) released the following statement today about acts of vandalism in her district. Here’s the full text:

“There were two events in my district during the last week that were alarming to me and I have reported them to the proper authorities. There was a brick thrown through my Niagara Falls district office and a voice mail referencing snipers that was left on the answering machine of my campaign office. The U.S. Capitol Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and local police departments are all aware of these incidents and are still investigating.

It’s more disturbing to me that Republican leadership has not condemned these attacks and instead appears to be fanning the flames with coded rhetoric. Michael Steele, the head of the national Republican party, said that Speaker Nancy Pelosi should be put on “the firing line.” Sarah Palin said “don’t retreat – reload.” And House Minority Leader John Boehner said that a Democratic member of Congress who supported health care reform would be a “dead man.”

This comes on the heels of an obscene display over the weekend, when one protestor outside the Capitol spit on one member of Congress, another used an obscenity against one of our members and shouters in the gallery who interrupted the floor debate were applauded by Republican congressmen. These displays have coarsened the debate, inflamed tensions and contributed to an increase in incivility.”

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