GOP congressman (Issa) calls for hearings into threats against Democrats

[sabra]

Source: USA Today

The top Republican on the House oversight committee asked the chairman to hold a hearing on the vandalism and threats directed at Democratic lawmakers as soon as possible.

At a hearing this morning of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., delivered a letter to Chairman Edolphus Towns, D-N.Y., to request a hearing.

In his letter, Issa said the threats should be examined "in the context of other threats, whether foreign or domestic." Issa, whose grandparents were Lebanese immigrants, noted that authorities in 2001 had foiled a plot by the Jewish Defense League to bomb one of his offices.

"In the United States of America, we take tremendous national pride in our long-standing tradition of resolving disagreements at the ballot box, not through violence," Issa wrote.

...

"I'm not sure in terms of how we would frame it, but I am interested in it," Towns said.

Read more: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2010/03/gop-congressman-calls-for-hearings-into-threats-against-democrats-/1

[gateley]

1. I wonder what is motivation is. Don't trust him, but I hope they do hold hearings. nt

[sabra]

2. possible motivations...

1) to show the GOP leadership is concerned re: the threats
2) to frame the threats and show that they are happening on both sides
3) he actually is concerned
4) other

[gateley]

4. I usually give people the benefit of the doubt -- Like I'd believe him because

he's been there being the almost recipient of a bomb. But I've been burned too may times, especially by the Republicans. So if his motives are pure I'm sorry, but I just think he's got some ulterior motive, maybe 1 and or 2.

[sabra]

6. this is also Issa - he's a real slimeball - so it's hard to give him any benefit of doubt

:hi:

[The Stranger]

30. Can't argue with him here, though.

:hi:

[MrsCorleone]

37. I can assure you the Issa only does what is politically expedient for Issa.

Darrell "Enron" Issa is in the back pocket the Chamber of Commerce/Big Oil/Defense and has voted in lockstep with the neocons since he came into office in 2000. He has done nothing for his constituents in his North SD/South Riverside County district but whip up the lunatic fringe (Acorn! Socialist! Tax cuts!...you get the picture).

He is also against High Speed Rail, even though there are two proposed rail stops right along his district, which would bring desperately needed jobs and commerce to his constituents (very high unemployment). He doesn't give a sh*t about the people he represents and never will.

But, alas, his district is made up of mostly low information voters that have no real access to diverse media except the RW variety, so it's been easy for him to get voted back into office time after time.

[Wapsie B]

13. I agree. I'd say it's more 2 than anything.

[Soylent Brice]

7. methinks #2 is the more prominient reason. in terms of

"framing the issue", that is.

[SkyDaddy7]

36. ...To have the floor and repeat the GOP talking point...

that the Democrats have brought on the violence themselves...That is what I am hearing from folks like Gingrinch, Cantor and Boehner.

[eugoreht]

40. 4) other

"in the context of other threats, whether foreign or domestic."

maybe it's to show that all of these teabagger threats are not that serious, these are just frustrated teabaggers, (or will he call them true americans?) who feel slighted because the democrats are dipping their balls into communistic hot tea and that this could all be fixed if maybe the democrats would stop pissing them off and step into lock step with the republicans like good little patriot slaves. Also if it weren't for the republicans to have a meeting like this and save the day then america would fall into the democrat's hell hole. So the dems should give into everything the repubes say from now on because the repubes just saved their lives.

or sumpin' likes dat.

I don't trust any republican. there isnt one of them that can do or say what they actually feel or blieve in (either it's not what they actually believe or they believe it doesn't go far enough) especially if their own thoughts go against the repube agenda in anyway, even it's just slighly different let alone realistically different.

On the other hand he might be legitamately worried because racists will always eventually turn against their own partners if they aren't completely white. "the enemy of my enemy is still a jew" sort of thing.

i'd like to say "too bad, buddy. That's what you get for being a jew who joins up with the republicans when you know they only want an america run and owned by rich, fascist, only white assholes. Eventually they're gonna turn against ya. and you should be ashamed because you've been helping people who believe in a lot of the same things nazi germany believed in. (overpowering army, war, torture, our own countrymen are our enemies, lock up anyone who disagrees with you, tax the poor because the rich can't make us great without every cent they own, cronism, the rich deserve your money more than you do, a small government with total authoritarian control, shoot first and maybe ask questions later, worship your leaders and sign loyalty oaths, give all the money to the people at the top and it'll eventually trickle down to the bread lines (that's soviet belief too wasn't it?), shout down the opposition, make friends with the worst people on the planet, etc etc etc). so what the hell where YOU thinking when you became a republican, idiot?"
But hate only brings hate so I'd rather wish that it wakes him up and he gains some enlightenment from it and stops hanging out in the facist party of upside down american stars on an elephant. are those upside down stars or pentagrams? hmmmmmm?

On the other hand i really don't care about anything this guy thinks because he's a republican which means he's a useless moron too stupid to understand anything that has to do with common sense or reality. I'm always surprised when a republican can put on his own pants without hurting someone.

So i'm torn.

[cstanleytech]

29. Purely my own personal opinion but I think their plans to try and keep the controversy

over HCR alive as long as they can because of the elections and they probably intend to try to put dems on the spot who testify at any hearings. Mind you thats just my personal opinion on what the real goal is here.

[glinda]

3. No trust. Stalling, will make this into something it isn't and use against Dems.

[rosesaylavee]

5. Giving him the benefit of the doubt...

Good for him for stepping up.

[Raschel]

8. Will Sarah Palin be invited to the hearing? She's the White militant leader

[tridim]

9. He's trying to morph this issue into "fair and balanced"

Nothing more.

It's looking more and more like the GOP is afraid of their own base.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dflprincess]

12. Could you give some specific examples of violence among "members of the liberal movement"

preferably something from the last 10 years - anything involving the Molly McGuires won't count.

And, if you have any pictures from these diverse tea parties you've attended, I'd love to see them. Because even the pictures shown on Fox make the crowds look 99.99999% white.

Enjoy your stay here, however short it may be.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Wapsie B]

16. You're right. All those baby parts going to waste.

Makes for good eat'n if you can get ahold of some fresh fetus.

[CountAllVotes]

19. pukes = millions dead/injured

can you say Iraq/Afghanistan/etc. ad infinitum!

Talk about blood on the hands!

Many of the dead were/are children, both unborn and born!

:grr:

[arbusto_baboso]

15. Your use of "Democrat party" shows you for what you are.

And it is NOT a "classic liberal man". You'll be gone soon. Buh-bye.

[kestrel91316]

11. We don't need hearings into anything other than why the PATRIOT Act and other

laws prohibiting these threats and assaults are NOT BEING ENFORCED. Where are the prosecutions?

I know it's too soon for any prosecutions in this latest spate, but FOR YEARS liberals have been subjected to terrorist threats and worse by RWers, and unless someone is outright killed, absolutely nothing is done.

The FBI in particular needs to answer some questions about why its so-called "investigations" always come to naught when liberals are the victims.

[Moosepoop]

17. I wonder if there's any connection between Issa's hearing request

and the sudden "reporting" by Fox news of Cantor's office being shot at, and Cantor's subsequent press conference today?

[Optimistic]

18. Kudo's to Issa

I am glad to see that some on the right are doing the right thing. Maybe this will bring this back to a civil debate.

[sabrina 1]

20. I hope their hearings include discussions of how hate radio

has destroyed what he claims political discourse should be about. He's the one who introduced the bill to defund ACORN, validating the vile Rovian tactics of the far right fringes who have now gotten out of control. He has yet to apologize for that unconstitutional action on the part of Congress, led by him. Nor has he acknowledged that ACORN has since been completely vindicated of all wrong-doing. Iow, he was supporter of some of the worst elements of the right.

I'll believe him when he addresses his own support for those most responsible for the current atmosphere. Until then, he is scared of his own reputation and simly grandstanding.

[DBoon]

21. if they hold the hearings, you can bet this will be ignored

the hearings into militias after the Federal building bombing were pretty much a whitewash

[byronius]

22. Issa is a total thug. No way is this an honorable move.

No way. He's up to something Very Bad. Guaranteed.

[la la]

41. i think

he wants to run for president--or at least be on the ticket. he's even sending mass emails to dems here in CA --i know--i delete them when i get them.

anyone else remember how he pretty much bought the CA disenchantment with Grey Davis--and how he cried when he didn't make it for gov?

[freebrew]

23. Don't need hearings....

what is needed is an active REAL investigation by the FBI. We have AT&T cooperating with the GOV'T, right?
Find out who is placing the threatening calls and make an example of them. It won't take long for them to start singing and tell who is really behind all of this. If they happen to say that Palin told them to do it, or Beck... whoever. It could be a start to bringing reform to the airwaves?? Probably not, but one can hope, right?

[cowman]

24. Hey you

know what? there are assholes on both sides. I can remember when I came home from Vietnam I was the reciepient of violence from the anti-war people and now Dems are the reciepient of violence from the RW lunatics. Each party has it's extremeists and if Rep Issa is calling for an investigation into the violence, that's a good thing

[sabrina 1]

26. Since Issa has a history of rabble rousing himself, and has

contributed in a very big way to the hatred for organizations like ACORN, his sudden concern is not too impressive. Hearings are nice way to do nothing, and at the same time make it look like you're doing something for PR purposes. Not in the least bit impressed by this.

[cowman]

28. I really don't

give a damn if you are impressed by this. I don't live my life by impressing people like you, all I said was that both sides have their nutjobs as evidenced by the violence done to me back in 1970 by the anti-war people and the violence committed by the nut jobs of the Right.
If Issa is calling for an investigation that is a good thing.

I apologize if I sound snarky, I read your post wrong

[unc70]

34. Care to share any details of violence against you in 1970?

While I agree there are AHs in and around many groups, the amount of actual violence by anti-war against those returning from VN were rare. Curious what about your experience.

[cowman]

35. Coming thru

SFO in my uniform this woman spit on me and tried to hit me along with what I guess was her boyfriend, I knocked her on her ass and the cops then escorted me to safety. That was the only time actual violence was committed against me but I was called alot of names including my younger brother asking me one time how it felt to kill innocent women and children, didn't speak to him again for 30 years now were over it and back to being brothers

[hatrack]

25. Hell, he probably just wants to sell a few more car alarms . . .

I don't trust him or any of the Pukes.

Any of them.

[thelordofhell]

27. A broken watch is right twice a day

I'm just sayin'

:shrug:

[No Elephants]

32. And that's the difference between a lying watch and a broken watch.

[Kingofalldems]

31. I say take him up on it

And make it wide ranging--investigate Fox news also.

[fascisthunter]

33. trying to distance himself from the very threats he probably supports

fucking weasel. He helped this shit get out of hand...

[MrsCorleone]

38. Exactly! Agreed.

For those up thread giving him the benefit of the doubt, check his voting record, check his Tweets, check his FB page. He's pure neocon slime.

[jmowreader]

39. I think he realizes the shit's gone too far

He probably never intended for the teabaggers to get into genuine Terrorist Acts, which they have. These hearings are Issa's way of telling his supporters, "the liberals are starting to compare our protests to the Nazi Kristallnacht, and they've got a point...so mellow the fuck out, okay?"

[FrenchieCat]

42. He just likes to make news.

He always has.

There is no realizing to this asshole. Not yesterday, not today, and certainly not tomorrow.