http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/clyburn-says-photo-of-noose-faxed-to-his-office-after-hcr-vote-video.phpThe right-wing protest movement that amped up during the final debate over the health care reform bill in the House has stepped up another notch, according to one of the most senior black lawmakers in the Congress.
In an interview with CNN tonight, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC) said that his office had received a fax that depicted a noose.
Clyburn told CNN's Wolf Blitzer that the Republican leaders were partly to blame for the extremist rhetoric (and now imagery) that has been flying at Democratic members directly before and after the health care reform vote.
Clyburn called on Republicans to step in and call out the extremist.
"I have seen this before," Clyburn told CNN. "These kinds of things happen when people in positions of authority do not do what they do to tamp this down."
(end snip)
Edited to add:
Also Rep. Stupak received similar fax:
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/stupak-receives-threatening-fax-with-drawing-of-noose.phpRep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) received a fax today with a drawing of a noose and gallows, labeled "Bart (SS) Stupak."
The fax also a included a printout of a post from a blog called the Collins Report, a screed against Stupak for voting for Health Care Reform. (There is no reason to believe that anyone connected to the Collins Report added the noose and gallows or sent the fax to Stupak's office. The person who runs The Collins Report did not immediately return a request for comment.)
(copy of the fax and excerpt at the link)
Can't we track that kind of thing now?