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Violence in the 2010 Elections

Violence in the 2010 Elections

The Rand Paul headstomping may have been the biggest media mention of violence that has occurred at a political event, but it’s by no means the only. 

Earlier in the cycle I mentioned the Harry Reid supporter that was punched by a Sharron Angle fan when she tried to leave a debate early.  Now, a man in Washington is being arrested for assaulting a Dino Rossi protester.

Via Talking Points Memo:

A 72-year-old man was arrested for allegedly assaulting a 23-year-old activist protesting Dino Rossi’s Republican campaign for Senate in Washington state yesterday, according to local reports.

The incident occurred outside GOP headquarters in Walla Walla County where the demonstrator, Christie Stordeur, was “one of five protesters standing about 40 feet from the entrance of the office,” according to the Tri-City Herald.

Stordeur and the other protesters “were wearing bags over their heads and holding a sign that looked like a check.” That’s when Victor Phillips, according to a Sheriff’s deputy on scene, walked over to Stordeur to “lift her bag off her head.” When Stordeur “lifted her arm in defense,” Phillips hit it “with ‘force.’”

The Herald reports that the deputy on scene “immediately stepped between the two and arrested Phillips on a charge of investigation of assault.”

One disturbing trend in these cases?  All three perpetrators have been male, and their victims female.  Another thing these instances have in common is that in every case the perpetrator (or even the campaign) has blamed the victim.  Tim Proffitt said Valle was planning something, and that she owed him an apology for him being forced to detain her.  Angle claimed that the woman who was punched at her debate was “looking for a fight.”  And the Rossi supporter appears to have been upset because he was trying to take a picture of the protesters and wanted her face uncovered.

But the escalating campaign violence doesn’t just seem to be male on female.  Huffington Post has a list of the violent incidents that have occured this cycle, and one thread through all of this becomes very clear — the violence is always conservative on liberal.

This election season, a man was arrested for hitting a protester at a rally for Washington GOP Senate candidate Dino Rossi, a man stomped on the head of a woman at a campaign event for Kentucky GOP Senate candidate Rand Paul, local police wrestled to the ground a Democratic man at an event for Rep. Eric Cantor (R), Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) received suspicious powder to his office, biker supporters of Florida GOP congressional candidate Allen West harassed a Democratic tracker and Alaska GOP Senate candidate Joe Miller’s private security force handcuffed and detained a reporter.

And all that was in just the past two weeks.

But as Terkel notes, this isn’t just something that spawned in the election cycle, but with the beginning of the Tea Party in general, and has been encouraged by the rhetoric of their own leaders.

While there has been an increased number of highly publicized incidents in recent weeks, there was also a spike in violence or threatened violence during the health care debate toward lawmakers who supported the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. People vandalized congressional offices and threatened to assassinate officials and their families. Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) had a picture of a noose faxed to his office after he voted for health care reform. A former militia member named Mike Vanderboegh even proudly took credit for encouraging people around the country to break the windows of lawmakers’ offices.

There has also been a significant amount of violence-tinged rhetoric coming from politicians. Nevada GOP Senate candidate Sharron Angle floated “Second Amendment remedies” as a “cure” for an out-of-control Congress. Last week, a Republican House candidate in Texas said a violent overthrow of the government is “on the table.” Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin has taken some flack for using gun imagery after the passage of health care reform, telling her supporters to “reload.”

If this didn’t start with the election, will it at least end with the election?  I can see how it could continue, or even get worse, but adamantly hope that Tuesday will bring about the end.

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122 comments

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6:31AM PST on Nov 9, 2010

Nancy, why do you resort to so much hateful name calling, I'm not calling anyone any names...I'm just looking for facts, give me lies that have been told by Fox, Rush or Beck... and not one of their ideas or thoughts, that's not a lie, we are all still entitled to our thoughts/beliefs and ideas, I still believe we are a free country...what I'm looking for is a bold face lie that they have told against someone, (and not come back and apologized for getting something wrong) Please be specific of the lie, no name calling, and nothing that was them expressing their own belief, because that it still allowed in this country...at least for now. Let's get down to the basics here.

12:15PM PDT on Nov 4, 2010

A further note, Debra, maybe you should listen to the main stream media sometime just for fun. See the difference in the same story from them to Fox and then go fact check the information you've just heard or read. That's just part of the conservative plan for it's followers. They vilify any media site where you could actually get good information and cleverly steer you to their drivel. The Nazi's did the same thing and turned German citizens into killers overnight. Personally, I have never been real easy to fool and I do fact check constantly and if I was wrong with a statement on Care2 I would immediately own up to it and correct it. I am not irresponsible!

Just the lies that have been told about our President are ridiculous. It's all part of a carefully crafted plan. Look how they denigrate Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Clinton and other accomplished women. And..........then they put up nimnuts like Michelle Bachman, Sharron Angle and Christine O'Donnell and the queen of them all, Sarah Palin. It's an insult to intelligent people and just the amount of votes they got are proof of that. It's truly frightening and not good for our country.

12:04PM PDT on Nov 4, 2010

Omigod Debra, you HAVE to be kidding!!! I'd have to say that 99 percent of what Fox News, Beck and Limbaugh are saying are outright lies or else complete distortions. The one thing I remember Beck saying is that some of the figures that are carved in some building were some kind of a sinister plot. I don't watch him (I'd rather be shot!) but I can assure you that there is plenty to say about him on CNN and MSNBC and his fastasies. And now he's selling freeze dried food for the coming holocaust? The man is one step from the looney bin and as for Limbaugh, he will say anything to rile up people who have no interest in hearing anything truthful. I will state again, with absolutely no reservation, Fox News, Rush Limaugh and Glenn Beck are probably the most dangerous entities that the United States faces. They are doing nothing but trying to rile up the uneducated and vulnerable people who have no desire to check and see if what they are saying is true or even partially true. I will stand by those words and I certainly am not the only citizen of this country who feels this way. It's America, my dear, and I will continue to point out the dangers of these people.

Why don't you go to factcheck.org sometime and there are many other sites that you and others could use to see if what they are saying is true. You owe it to your country! And it may surprise you to know I am a registered Republican and will never vote for another one. They care nothing for this country!

7:26AM PDT on Nov 4, 2010

Nancy, please give me one false statement that has come from Rush, Fox news or even Beck...but please specify the lie and give me one proof of that lie. I challenge you to find one...maybe, you need to really listen to what is being said and do your own homework instead of just bashing them without any thing to back up your statements. Daily, I hear people on these boards and on the main street media bash all these people, be disrespectful and blast them personally, but never mention ONE thing that they have proof of a single lie. It's easy to bash, but hard to do the real homework to prove what you are saying....this is a serious problem in the US...keep listening to the main stream media and local biased newspapers...you will never get to the bottom of this and to the truth. Do your own do diligence, please before you continue to bash everyone on the other side so irresponsibly.

4:04AM PDT on Nov 4, 2010

Dear left-wing United States citizens,

You put yourselves into dangerous life-and-death situations every day and your presence helps to keep the USA under control. Sure, you could leave for another country and live happier, safer lives, but then the USA would become more polarized and might quickly destroy the world.

As a Canadian, I thank you.

3:59PM PDT on Nov 1, 2010

Rhonda, thanks for the info. I will check it out but I'm 72 years old and I've heard about all this Jewish people taking over the world for years. I don't think it's true. As far as Obama's credentials being hidden that is outrageous. Every part of his life has been open and above board. He went to high school, went to college and studied constitutional law, became a community organizer, taught constitutional law for ten years at the University of Chicago, ran for the Senate, and then for President. He was always known as a genius by those who knew him with the ability to listen to everybody's opinion, mull it over and come to a decision. It's been proven time and time again that he WAS born in the United States but there are still those who refuse to believe it. I think those who have deliberately spread the most outrageous lies about him due mostly to unbridled bigotry, I think, are far more dangerous to this country than anything. Along with Fox News, Limbaugh and that one step from the looney bin Beck of course. They have spread more outrageous lies to those who eat it up and don't even take the time to check and see if it's true than anyone I can think of. I guess that's why they call them sheep, but I love sheep and think that is a slur to them!

As I stated before, I agree that the political system is so corrupt it's outrageous. Don't kid yourselves that our elections aren't bought and paid for by the highest bidder. This year it may the Repubs! GOD!!!!

11:59AM PDT on Nov 1, 2010

People like this should have their right to vote revoked. If you cannot be civil you shouldn't be there. Who wants mad, crazy people like this choosing who runs or country?

11:30PM PDT on Oct 31, 2010

Thank-you for the post.

3:00PM PDT on Oct 31, 2010

Nancy: One last thing I would like to mention is this. I can't remember the guys name, as it's an African name, but he is one of the heads of the Knights of Malta. Another Knight, whom we personally know, stated that Obama would be president 4 years before he even ran for presidency. In other words, Obama was groomed for this position well before the election, hence why Obama's credentials are also held under lock and key. The Protocols mentions this hidden background, but not specifically naming Obama.

If you were approached by the Illuminati, then you're familiar with the shadow govt. Well, just as Bush Jr. and Sr. were a part of this, so too is Obama. This is what I'm trying to help people to understand. Things are NOT as they appear.

I wanted to believe that Obama was working for the people, but when you also read in the Protocols about the people being forced to rely on the govt, as it pertains to healthcare and other govt hand outs, you will soon realize why. It's a form of control.

Someone mentioned that Obamacare had not even taken affect, so how could my $600 per month increase in Oct/10, pertain? They absolutely go hand in hand, as we won't be able to afford private insurance.

We are being herded like cattle in a well-thought-out direction!

2:03PM PDT on Oct 31, 2010

Nancy: I know it appears that the Protocols are a hoax, but there is much evidence to the contrary. Off course, the Zionist controlled media says it's a hoax, but it is NOT. Read them, and then compare to what is, and has been, going on. You will certainly walk away wondering whether this is a mere coincidence.

Here is a discussion about them, and read all the comments made by the studious Ma-Ha-Bone (I know, strange posting name:) She gives evidence to the contrary of the hoax, but even without her literary evidence, once you read them, you will understand.

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread2301/pg1

I wanted so much to believe Obama was going to change things, hence why I voted for him. I admit, I was one that was semi-sleeping, since I was raising children and running a business, back in the day, but I'm not asleep anymore. I don't discount anything I read, and read, is ALL I do.

Everyone around us, including our family, has filed for Chapt. 11, bankruptcy protection. The commerical real estate has not even begun to fall, which is what we do. It is coming.

I know this is being done by the Zionist controlled banks, and the only solution, which would turn this country around, 180 degrees, is to nationalize the banks, and do what our Constitution says, PRINT OUR OWN MONEY!

We would then run the banks as our tax payer business, and pay interest to ourselves, the govt, not the international bankers.

This is the ONLY solution!!

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