# Domestic terrorists take aim at health care reform **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 24, 2010, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-terrorists-take-aim-at-health-care-reform/533568 "2010-03-24T02:11:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-terrorists-take-aim-at-health-care-reform/533568/41 "2010-03-25T17:39:17Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Denouncing these goings on over a liberal-slanted message board is pretty pointless. Other than, say, **Lonesome Polecat** and **Crafter\_Man** , we’re pretty much devoid of right-wing crazies ('course, we’ve got lots of left wing crazies). > > **Sam Stone** \* typing, “this is terrorism and those responsible should be ashamed” on the SDMB is hardly going to reach many crazy right wing ears. On the Freep or at a Tea Party, maybe. Isn’t this the same kind of thing said by moderate Muslims when the right wing paints them all as terrorists? Fact is, there are a lot more moderate Muslims in the Muslim world than there are terrorist supporters, but you don’t hear much about them. I wonder if the next time we have an Islam related incident that the conservatives will say it’s only a small part of their population, and that there are plenty of moderates out there. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-terrorists-take-aim-at-health-care-reform/533568/42 "2010-03-25T17:49:56Z")
Well, yes, to some degree, but that isn’t necessarily the fault of right wingers or moderate (or liberal) Muslims; the media doesn’t really bother to report on people denouncing extremists. Moderate Islamic groups have been posting denouncements of Al Quaeda _et al_ on their websites and begging CNN to let them make statements for years. Nobody’s listening. I suppose, therefore, the question becomes whether the RNC is doing the same thing. I would imagine so, but I haven’t actually seen it much. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-terrorists-take-aim-at-health-care-reform/533568/43 "2010-03-25T17:51:14Z")
I am amazed at this. I think the health care bill is the biggest mistake we’ve made in a generation, but there’s an obvious remedy for the problem, one that presents itself in less than eight months. The idea that breaking windows, or other acts of vanadalism, or of threatening life, is the proper response is extraordinary to me. And while I think the Left has been responsible for violence and vandalism over the years, I must admit it’s been of a different character and quality than this. Globalization protesters and anarchists may break windows when they demonstrate, but this is a generalized sort of “make mayhem” violence… not remotely acceptable, of course, but a far cry from these targeted attacks. When a politician is afraid to cast a vote because he’ll lose his job, that’s a healthy democracy. When a politician is afraid to cast a vote because he will lose his property or his life to violence, that’s mob rule, and it’s the ugliest thing I can imagine for this or any country. We may as well have warlords roaming the countryside. This is appalling. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-terrorists-take-aim-at-health-care-reform/533568/44 "2010-03-25T18:08:07Z")
Some of us have been saying that we saw the beginning of this sort of thing all the way back in 2008, in the rallies that McCain and Palin were having just before the election. But we were pooh-poohed and told that we were being alarmists. Then the tea parties began, and some of us said that we saw hints and shadows of this sort of thing in them. But we were pooh-poohed and told that we were being alarmist and defaming good people. As a certain TV psychologist says, how’s that workin’ out for ya? ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-terrorists-take-aim-at-health-care-reform/533568/45 "2010-03-25T18:19:11Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > When a politician is afraid to cast a vote because he’ll lose his job, that’s a healthy democracy. When a politician is afraid to cast a vote because he will lose his property or his life to violence, that’s mob rule, and it’s the ugliest thing I can imagine for this or any country. We may as well have warlords roaming the countryside. This is appalling. I first became politically aware during the Clinton era, and Clinton sure did draw plenty of heat from the Right. But it was never as bad as this. I fear for the future of the Republican Party. I’m a dyed in the wool liberal, but I recognize the need for the existence of a sensible opposition. I wish there were a couple million more voices like yours to be found within the Republican Party who were willing to be more vocal and take their party back to a more sensible tone. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Smashy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mr\_Smashy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Smashy)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-terrorists-take-aim-at-health-care-reform/533568/46 "2010-03-25T20:48:40Z")
In all fairness, neither the left nor the right has a monopoly on [whackjobs](http://slavetomybulldog.blogspot.com/2010/03/shots-fired-at-rep-eric-cantors.html) causing [mayhem](http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2008/10/shots_fired_at_mccainpalin_bus_1.asp). ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-terrorists-take-aim-at-health-care-reform/533568/47 "2010-03-25T20:52:59Z")
The second article explicitly states that it appears that shots were NOT fired at the bus, what with there being no official report of it. Or is your point that the guy claiming they were shot at is causing mayhem? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-terrorists-take-aim-at-health-care-reform/533568/48 "2010-03-25T20:55:40Z")
> [@Mr\_Smashy](#): > > In all fairness, neither the left nor the right has a monopoly on [whackjobs](http://slavetomybulldog.blogspot.com/2010/03/shots-fired-at-rep-eric-cantors.html) causing [mayhem](http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2008/10/shots_fired_at_mccainpalin_bus_1.asp). This is true, but neither of those links supports it. We were just discussing the Cantor thing in GD; I also said shots were fired into his office. They weren’t. A single bullet was fired into the air and went through the window of another office in the building where his offices are located. And the second item you linked to was be bogus. It says so right at the top of the story. While I can see the Tea Party lunatics turning their rage on Republicans who can’t stop Obama or this bill - and for that matter they might particularly target Cantor because of his religion - it doesn’t look like that happened here. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-terrorists-take-aim-at-health-care-reform/533568/49 "2010-03-25T21:07:15Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Any of the board’s conservatives want to chime in here and denounce these goings on? > > \ > > Thought so. Congratulations, you are now complicit in these crimes. This is totally stupid. Because they’re conservatives, they have to clarify that they’re not violent criminals? Where is the line drawn? Do I have to publicly disavow crimes perpetrated by liberals, or women, or Jews, or or atheists, or any other group with which I may be associated, lest I be considered a supporter of these acts? I should hope that I would be given the benefit of the doubt that I am _not_ a criminal. I may disagree with the SDMB conservatives on political issues, but you’ve just accused them of being criminals. That’s just fucked up. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-terrorists-take-aim-at-health-care-reform/533568/50 "2010-03-25T21:19:25Z")
> [@Blalron](#): > > I wish there were a couple million more voices like yours to be found within the Republican Party who were willing to be more vocal and take their party back to a more sensible tone. Spoilsport! ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-terrorists-take-aim-at-health-care-reform/533568/51 "2010-03-25T21:22:22Z")
> [@Mr\_Smashy](#): > > In all fairness, neither the left nor the right has a monopoly on [whackjobs](http://slavetomybulldog.blogspot.com/2010/03/shots-fired-at-rep-eric-cantors.html) causing [mayhem](http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2008/10/shots_fired_at_mccainpalin_bus_1.asp). Cite please the the shot fired at Rep. Eric Cantor’s office was fired by someone on the left of the political spectrum rather than by a simple lunatic. Cite please that your second report of “shots fired” even happened in the first place. > [@](#): > > The McCain campaign hasn’t heard anything about the report of a bus being attacked. This makes the following report seem highly unlikely. Neither Raton police nor state police have received reports about such an incident. Did you even read your cites before posting them? ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-terrorists-take-aim-at-health-care-reform/533568/52 "2010-03-25T21:25:31Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I am amazed at this. > > I think the health care bill is the biggest mistake we’ve made in a generation, but there’s an obvious remedy for the problem, one that presents itself in less than eight months. > > The idea that breaking windows, or other acts of vanadalism, or of threatening life, is the proper response is extraordinary to me. > > And while I think the Left has been responsible for violence and vandalism over the years, I must admit it’s been of a different character and quality than this. Globalization protesters and anarchists may break windows when they demonstrate, but this is a generalized sort of “make mayhem” violence… not remotely acceptable, of course, but a far cry from these targeted attacks. > > When a politician is afraid to cast a vote because he’ll lose his job, that’s a healthy democracy. When a politician is afraid to cast a vote because he will lose his property or his life to violence, that’s mob rule, and it’s the ugliest thing I can imagine for this or any country. We may as well have warlords roaming the countryside. This is appalling. Appalling is a good word for it. This country was supposed to be based on the Rule Of Law, not mob rule. It was supposed to work according to Reason and Discourse, not terroristic threats. Appalling is exactly what it is. We have met the enemy, and he is us. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-terrorists-take-aim-at-health-care-reform/533568/53 "2010-03-25T21:38:18Z")
Where in the world did these nutjobs get the idea that they’re entitled to run the country, regardless of the majority opinion? I hope law enforcement arrests these fuckheads by the truckload. I’d revoke their citizenship if I could. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-terrorists-take-aim-at-health-care-reform/533568/54 "2010-03-25T21:40:58Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > That’s pretty much what I had in mind. Aw crap. Well just assume I did the Emily Litella maneuver and forget I said anything. Please? ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Smashy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mr\_Smashy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Smashy)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-terrorists-take-aim-at-health-care-reform/533568/55 "2010-03-25T21:57:56Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > This is true, but neither of those links supports it. We were just discussing the Cantor thing in GD; I also said shots were fired into his office. They weren’t. A single bullet was fired into the air and went through the window of another office in the building where his offices are located. And the second item you linked to was be bogus. It says so right at the top of the story. While I can see the Tea Party lunatics turning their rage on Republicans who can’t stop Obama or this bill - and for that matter they might particularly target Cantor because of his religion - it doesn’t look like that happened here. You’re right; chalk that up to only having a few seconds before having to go out and watch the kid while wife ran out :o The title of the first link is “Shots fired at Rep Eric Cantor’s Richmond Campaign Office”. I didn’t watch the video, no time. Are you saying that nobody was shooting at the campaign office? And I know that these examples were banned as per the OP, but let’s face it, the left does plenty of mayhem… whether it’s ELF burning down Hummer dealerships or freeing animals captured for testing, or Greenpeace trying to ram ships, or burning down black churches so as to blame Republicans in advance of an election, rioting at an IMF fund meeting or Davos meeting, etc… The point is, both sides do it. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Smashy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mr\_Smashy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Smashy)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-terrorists-take-aim-at-health-care-reform/533568/56 "2010-03-25T22:03:59Z")
One more thing, not sure if everyone saw this yet Barack’s reaction to the health care reform bill being [passed](http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/18da506b8a/obama-reacts-to-healthcare-vote). ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-terrorists-take-aim-at-health-care-reform/533568/57 "2010-03-25T22:04:37Z")
> [@Mr\_Smashy](#): > > …or burning down black churches so as to blame Republicans in advance of an election… Got any scruples? No? Get some. Today. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-terrorists-take-aim-at-health-care-reform/533568/58 "2010-03-25T22:05:04Z")
> [@Mr\_Smashy](#): > > Y let’s face it, the left does plenty of mayhem… whether it’s ELF burning down Hummer dealerships or freeing animals captured for testing, or Greenpeace trying to ram ships, or burning down black churches so as to blame Republicans in advance of an election, rioting at an IMF fund meeting or Davos meeting, etc… > > The point is, both sides do it. Cite please that ELF or Greenpeace or those who burn down black churches or Rioters at meetings are in any way, shape or form sponsored or supported by the political left. You are painting a false equivalence. 20 years ago, you might have been able to say “both sides are more or less the same”. It is not true now. The Republican party of old has lost control - things are now being run by those like Palin, who on her Facebook page, provides a map of the United States with a gun crosshair over each of the states of the Democrats that she is targeting on her list. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-terrorists-take-aim-at-health-care-reform/533568/59 "2010-03-25T22:14:05Z")
> [@Mr\_Smashy](#): > > Are you saying that nobody was shooting at the campaign office? It looks that way, yes. > [@](#): > > The point is, both sides do it. The problem is that you’re wrong. There are fringes on both sides, and they consist of small numbers of lunatics who get violent once in a while. I think that’s well understood. But what you’re missing is that this is a different animal, and by the way this is not a subtle distinction. Democratic Congressmen and Senators don’t encourage the ELF or people who protest the WTO or G8, but a lot of Republican elected officials are in bed with the Tea Party and have encouraged its worst excesses. They haven’t specifically said to shoot anyone, but they’ve consistently tried to cultivate the insanity in the hope of benefiting from the money and fanatical support of these people. Now these people have been hearing for two years that the president is an illegal alien terrorist who hates America, and they’ve been hearing for more than a year that this health care bill is going to bring Stalinism to the US and they have to save the country by fomenting a revolution. Predictably, some of these people are now getting violent. And I might add the midterms are more than seven months in a way and the genie is not going to go back into the bottle. ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-terrorists-take-aim-at-health-care-reform/533568/60 "2010-03-25T22:28:36Z")
Thank you **Bricker**. That was an excellent post. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-terrorists-take-aim-at-health-care-reform/533568.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-terrorists-take-aim-at-health-care-reform/533568.md?page=4)