What harm is there in a little florid rhetoric?

[Jackpine Radical]

http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/21002720791522

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. (WSVN) -- A conservative radio talk show host will not serve on the staff of a newly elected congressman, after her connection to a countywide school alert.

As a result of the investigation into a threat that lead to the lockdown of all schools in Broward County, Wednesday, Joyce Kaufman announced on her WFTL radio show, the following day, that she will step down as Chief of Staff to Republican U.S. Rep.-elect Allen West. "Last night, I called congressman-elect Allen West, and I told him I would not be able to accept the position of chief of staff for Congressional District 22," she said.

According to sources, something Kaufman had said at a tea party rally, set someone off to write a threatening email to that station, early Wednesday morning. During that rally Kaufman said, "If ballots don't work, bullets will." MSNBC aired the clip on Rachel Maddow's TV show, where Maddow offered to introduce viewers to the new crop of conservatives entering office as a result of the Nov. 2 elections.


According to sources close to the investigation into that threat, which forced the county-wide lockdown of Broward schools, libraries and other government buildings, the person who sent the email was motivated by hearing Kaufman's words on Maddow's show.

…

Adding to the concern over the threat, police said, shortly after the email was sent, the Pompano Beach radio station received a phone call from a woman who said her husband might go to a school and open fire with a gun. " claimed that her husband was going to respond to a school in Pembroke Pines and start shooting," said Pembroke Pines Police Captain Dan Rakofsky.

[dkf]

1. This was a Maddow watcher who sent the threat?

Weird.

Do we, when we point out righty whacko rhetoric, make things worse by bringing the crazy talk into public discourse?

[Jackpine Radical]

2. Beautiful deflection.

Now, no doubt if any more Democrats are shot, it will no doubt be due to all the leftist sites talking about Palin's Crosshairs map.

[dkf]

3. It wasn't Palin but some less known congressperson.

Media coverage of extreme rhetoric has a double edged sword. For some, they realize how dangerous this is, for others, it compels them to agree and act out. Where once media would have ignored it, now they focus on it. And yes, I kind of laugh at how batshit crazy they are so I do find them entertaining. But then what?