After whipping "the lunatic fringe of their base into a frenzy," Republicans fear losing control

[ProSense]

As Denouncements Go ...

by BarbinMD

As the teabagger element of the Republican party continues to ratchet up their threatening rhetoric and criminal acts against Democratic lawmakers, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) is being credited with "decrying the violence" based on this email statement:

I know many Americans are angry over this health care bill and that Washington Democrats just aren’t listening. But, as I’ve said, violence and threats are unacceptable. That’s not the American way. We need to take that anger and channel it into positive change. Call your congressman, go out and register people to vote, go volunteer on a political campaign, make your voice heard — but let’s do it the right way.

Let's review: the Republican party spent months spewing lies about the health care reform bill, with dire warnings about death panels, killing granny, rationed health care, and yes, even Armageddon. With their eye on handing President Obama his "Waterloo," the GOP, with an able assist from their media arm Fox News, whipped the lunatic fringe of their base into a frenzy ... and now that the fruits of their labor is paying off with civil rights-era icons being spit on and called "niggers," with pictures of nooses being sent to congressmen's offices, with acts of vandalism, and with death threats being made, John Boehner wants to do things "the right way."

Which apparently would be to reward the Republican party for the atmosphere of hate and violence that they themselves created.

[Sherman A1]

1. +1, Agreed & Well Said!

Hit the nail on the head

[smoogatz]

2. K/R

[Birthmark]

3. Hey, you! Orange Guy!

Yeah, you, Boehner! The "right way" in a democracy (or representative republic, if you prefer) is to look at the issues and policies honestly, and to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed solutions. Making shit up, lying, and inciting hysteria is WRONG, jughead.

So, if you want things done the "right way"...start doing them right.

Simple, isn't it?

Now, wash that crap off your face and get to work.

[NJmaverick]

4. So Boehner is recruiting racists and terrorists to work for the GOP

well I guess it was a match made in heaven (or was it hell?)

[DCKit]

9. Ummmm, recruiting? That's the base. n/t

[cilla4progress]

5. This is exactly what Palin did on the campaign trail

with McCain, remember? I think even McCain was turned off by it (remember his interaction with a supporter who said Obama was a Muslim - like THAT is some bad thing...anyway - and McCain cut her right off and said, no...).

I thought Repubs "got it" that summer of '08 that this kind of incitement was beyond the pale, but they keep toying with it. It's amazingly easy to tap into this fear and hatred in people. This is EXACTLY how Hitler did it, if we ever wondered how... And the irony - BS of the whole thing is - the Dems are the ones who are actually looking out for these hateful people, those without power and money.

I won't be happy until Palin is in jail for this. She is an idiot - a dangerous one, at that.

Will ANYONE in the Repub party comes to their senses and do the right thing?

This would be interesting to watch, if not so scary.

[emulatorloo]

6. So paraphrasing Boehner, "Dems deserve it, but don't hurt them."

[cilla4progress]

7. Also....

the problem is the Republicans don't know their history, hell they don't CARE about history (anti-intellectual, anti-education). If they did, they would know better than to ratchet up the rhetoric and violence.

[yellowcanine]

8. And wasn't it Boehner screaming "Hell no you can't!" on the house floor?

Is that what he meant by "channeling the anger"?