If someone even jokingly threatens harm to the President or Vice President, it’s taken VERY seriously. It’s a federal offense, after all.
So what if someone suggests, even jokingly, that they want to kill the person third in line to the Presidency? If we all reflect back to our high school civics class, that would be the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Other threats against various federal officials in recent years have not been taken lightly.
Guess what? It turns out that the same statute that applies to the president applies to all other federal officials, too. And, yes, despite what the right-wingers want you to think, being number three in the Constitutional federal succession for the White House means you’re a federal official.
Has anyone mentioned this to Glenn Beck?
Or I suppose a better question is whether anyone is going to send the federal marshals by Beck’s house to bring him in? Because it seems to me that going on national television and suggesting that you want to put poison in Nancy Pelosi’s merlot is a threat.
I know, I know — it’s just Glenn Beck. But maybe that’s the way to get all of this right wing nonsense to stop. If we take seriously every threatening comment made by a right wing on-air personality, soon they could all be in prison. I hope not Allenwood though — that’s too cushy for the likes of people like Beck who think poisoning the Speaker of the House is somehow amusing.
I used to work for the federal government. I’m sure I can go through my rolodex and find someone who might be interested in at least giving Beck a call with a little refresher course on this criminal statute.
I just hope they don’t drink his wine.
August 10th, 2009 at 9:08 am
You know, this is why I left the US. I didn’t mention when we met in the Shutter Suite that I was a professor of media and politics, media law and media ethics who just couldn’t take it anymore. I couldn’t. I can’t. I don’t understand why people are not rioting in the streets every day, except that we HAVE — over 800,000 people took to the streets of New York CIty five years ago this month… and no one seems to know it happened. I can’t even stand to think about it for very long. How do you do it? Thank you for writing things I couldn’t bring myself to write, for watching the things I couldn’t stand to watch any more.
August 10th, 2009 at 9:39 am
When you manage to drum up a similar level of ire for Medea Benjamin and the Code Pinkos for their “hanging Bush in effigy” props maybe, just maybe, I’ll take your whinging about Glenn Beck seriously.
How about this from Senator John Kerry?
Can you imagine a “Kill Obama/Pelosi/Reid” video game similar to Kill Bush? Yeah, me neither.
Where was your Rolodex when all that stuff was going down???
August 10th, 2009 at 11:10 am
Right on Chris!
I cannot believe that you dare to whine about something as trivial as this! I echoe Chris’ sentiments; where you with all of the anti-bush/kill bush rhetoric??
August 10th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
After reading the garbage you posted here I decided to read your biography to learn more about you. The following is a quote from your bio page:
“I’m a Contributing Editor at BlogHer and a regular contributor to The Huffington Post.”
The Huffington Post? That says it all right there. Liberals like you hold a double standard in relation to issues such as these. You have no problem with threatening actions and language directed towards conservative, moderate and libertarian politicians, in many cases it is encouraged, yet you cry like chicken little when the tables are turned and liberal politicians find themselves on the receiving end. If you were to condemn the actions of both the left and the right then you would have some credibility. As it is, you show yourself to be nothing more than a liberal partisan hack. As for the threat, and yes it was a threat, you made to Mr. Beck about going through your rolodex and calling someone from the government to pay him a visit, I must say that it shows you for what you are: A traitor to the United States of America who is willing to silence free speech by using insider government connections to threaten people who are critical of liberal democrats. Gee that sounds familiar. Isn’t that the exact thing you allege that the conservatives are doing? Mrs. Pot meet Mrs. Kettle. The next thing you will be crying for is a reenactment of the Alien and Sedition Laws so you can lock up all dissenters! This blog is a waste of internet space.
August 10th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Well, that’s where you’re wrong. I don’t think ANYONE should be able to threaten a federal official in any way, regardless of party. If you’re worried that I’m too far to the left, let’s not forget I’ve been accused of being a closet Republican in the past for being able to see more than one side of an issue.
As for Beck and Limbaugh, the scary thing is that for better or worse there are people to take everything they say seriously and would be moved to do what they suggest, even tainting someone’s wine.
And, Bill, I’m guessing you’re just as far to the right as you believe I am to the left. Just a wild guess.
August 10th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
I’m with PunditMom on this one. The point that she is merely trying to make goes for both the left and the right! By the way, when is FOX News going to get shut down? I think O’Reilly wins this contest.
August 10th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Kind of amazing, and a bit sad the kinds of invective that can get tossed around in an instant. A great Republican once said, admittedly in a different context, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Can we please stop shouting at one another? Can we please let people voice their ideas and then debate the ideas without tossing leftie/righty commie/nazi labels. Aren’t we all on the same side?
August 10th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
I am glad that you have clarified your position on this issue although I would go one further than you and say that no public official should be threatened be they federal, state, or local. Should I expect to hear such righteous indignation directed towards the extremists on the left printed in your future posts? Can I expect you to condemn the actions of the environmental terrorists who burn property and cause mayhem, the Black Panthers who have openly attempted to intimidate voters with violence, the thuggish behavior of the unions in using physical violence and intimidation tactics, the vile words and actions from the left against Bush, ect, ect, ect?
Yes I am of the right wing political persuasion. I am not however a hypocrite or a GOP hack. I condemned many of the actions taken by Bush when he was President. I was (and am) against the Patriot Act, the Real ID Act, the No Child Left Behind Act, the enormous expansion of federal spending, the TARP and other financial bailouts, the Medicare Prescription drug expansion and the list goes on and on. George W. Bush was not a conservative, he was a big government Republican. Similarly, I somewhat liked Clinton when he was President. I didn’t agree with him on every issue but he partnered with the GOP controlled Congress to do things such as balance the budget and reform welfare.
I believe strongly in civil liberties for all people. I believe that our rights are God given rights that apply to all people. While I disagree with your opinions, I will sacrifice my life for you to keep the right to express them. I praise both the left and the right when they do what is good and I equally condemn both the left and the right when they do what is wrong. Can you say the same thing?
You said you have been accused of being a closet Republican because you see more than one side of an issue but in this case you clearly made no attempt to see both sides of the issue. If you would have struck that balance in this article then I would have been defending you instead of pointing out that the story has a definite bias.
August 10th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Brandon said:
“I’m with PunditMom on this one. The point that she is merely trying to make goes for both the left and the right! By the way, when is FOX News going to get shut down? I think O’Reilly wins this contest.”
Brandon can’t you see the hypocrisy in your statement? You say the point she is making is for the left and the right but then you are willing to silence the free speech of those who you disagree with by advocating that Fox News be shut down. In case you haven’t noticed, MSNBC is the left wing version of Fox News. Should MSNBC be shut down as well?
August 10th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Punditmom, you hit a sensitive spot with this one. It’s a strong statement, indeed, when folks on the far right take on your comment section! Thanks again for speaking up. No Federal Officials, regardless of party, should have to fear for their lives.
August 10th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Daisy:
I am glad that you, like myself, feel that no official should have to fear for their lives. Does that mean that you likewise condemn all those who threatened the life of Bush?
Also thank you for making another point of mine about punditmoms blog. This is a left wing ultra liberal blog as evidenced by your statement that “It’s a strong statement, indeed, when folks on the far right take on your comment section!” Punditmom refers to herself as a progressive in her bio. Progressive is just another word for left wing liberal.
Daisy, I hope you are able to sleep tonight after, gasp, a right winger had the audacity to post on a left wing blog! Oh the horror of reading an opinion that differs from your own.
August 10th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Bill:
I am a fiscal conservative; you my friend are just another “whackjob.”
I dont agree with punditmom regarding the Glen Beck column. You’ll notice that I didn’t make any personal attacks. I think that any point you were trying to make got lost when you started your on your insane rant.
I re-read your posts…90% of what you said is bull crap. Dude, take a xanax, drink a beer, call your senator, go fly a kite…whatever, just chill out a little.
Part of the problem with people like you is that you let your emotions supercede your point of contention.
August 10th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
*edit:
on your
August 10th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
John M:
Please point out the “90 percent bull crap” to me as I do not see it. What did I say that made you consider me a “whackjob?” Ok, so you took offense to what you considered “personal attacks”, fair enough. I will give you that point though I consider it to be a weak one especially since you said “You’ll notice that I didn’t make any personal attacks” yet you started your post by calling me a “whackjob” and by your standards that would be a personal attack on me would it not? Guess that makes you a hypocrite too.
What makes me a “wackjob?” The fact that I agree with punditmom that no public official from either party should be threatened with physical violence? Or the fact that I condemn both the left and the right for such actions? Or the fact that I am calling on the left wing bloggers to take their left wing friends to task for the same things they take the right wing to task for? Or is it the fact that I said Bush was not a conservative? (He was not even close!) Or that I was against the Patriot Act, the Real ID Act, the No Child Left Behind Act, the enormous expansion of federal spending, the TARP and other financial bailouts, the Medicare Prescription drug expansion ect? Or was it the fact that I have called people out on here for the statements they made? If you read my posts then you will see that I took the time to point out what the blogger said specifically that I disagreed with and why I disagreed. Perhaps you will humor me and point out just what I said that makes you consider me a “whackjob.”
For the record, I don’t do drugs so I wont be taking any xanax, I don’t drink beer so that’s out too, I have already called my Senators and Representative to inform them of my feelings and I don’t have time to fly a kite because I own two small businesses which keep me too busy for trivial pursuits such as kite flying.
While your at it, why don’t you explain to all of us what your conservative beliefs are.
August 11th, 2009 at 6:51 am
Bill,
Please give me some examples of lefty national TV “news” commentators, such as Beck and O’Reilly, who have even hinted at killing a federal employee; of statements on MSNBC that are equivalent to the lies that the Fox folks tell. I’m open to learning, to changing my mind.
Elise
August 11th, 2009 at 8:31 am
I mean similar to Beck and O’Reilly…
August 11th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Dear Bill,
You said “I believe strongly in civil liberties for all people”; I take it that one of your espoused “civil liberties” is the right to make personal attacks on those that disagree with you?
You asked to hear my beliefs; well Bill, where do I begin. You do realize that’s a loaded question don’t you?
Well here goes:
I believe that all men and women are created equal in the eyes of God, and should therefore be treated equally and should have the same rights and “civil liberties”as their brethren.
Bill, I believe that some people in this country are disadvantaged, and that it is the our duty (those more fortunate) to do what we can to level the playing field for all. Bill, I don’t know the color of your skin is, nor does it matter to me. For the record, I happen to be a relatively young (30 something) white male. With that said, I believe that that the “white population” in this country is largely responsible for the plight of the African Americans that is so readily apparent and disproportionate in our inner cities. (my family actually came over in the early 1900′s)
Bill, you asked what some of my conservative views are…well, the first thing I could think of is how I believe that people like myself (the more fortunate/college educated) and yes the goverment, must do something, something more to help black Americans. I went to Temple University, I lived in North Philadelphia, I have seen tihs plight first hand, and it breaks my heart. It is a vicous cycle, and enough isnt being done to help.
Instead of trying to fix the world’s problems, I think that we need to first start here in our own country. The cost of the Iraq war is over $672 bilion. Imagine if that money was invested into help those less fortunate obtain the skills neccessary to become productive members of society. Look, I know and fully realize that the problems in our cities are quite complex and that you can’t neccessarily blame one thing, one program, or one person. However, i do know that more needs to be done. I also know that we need to develop programs that encourage self-sufficiency and self empowerment.
Instead of putting a bandaid on our problems, why don’t we for once roll up sleeves and try to go to the root of the problem?
Please understand that I realize that there are many other “problems” in our country. However, the plight of the African American population is of great concern to me. Mainly because I believe that “they” were dealt a bad hand from the beginning, we need to do more to rectify that.
Now on to goverment. Look, to me, goverment is a neccessary evil. I beileve in a fiscally responsible goverment that has a limited role in scope. Generally speaking, I think that just about any goverment run program sucks. Can you remember your last pleasant experience with a goverment agency, I can’t….With that said, the goverment is a neccessary evil, and it/they are the only ones with sufficient resources to responsibly those in need. I dont care if that hellp comes at my expense.
Don’t get me started on Gov’t programs, I don’t have the time, nor the energy. As much as I oppose “Obama Care” something needs to be done to get coverage to those who can’t afford it.
Now on to illegal immiagration. This is something that really bothers me, and no, I’m not a racist.It just bothers me when people are here illegally, and when our goverment doesnt do enough to stop it. As harsh as this sounds; if we were serious about securing our borders we would put land mines all across them. Cheap resolution to a serious problem. why should any care, they shouldnt be there anyway. If you dont go somewhere you don’t belong, you wont have a problem, right?
Now am I serious with this land mine statement. Probably about half serious. I’m just severly bothered by the amount of drugs and illegals that come across our borders.
Back to goverment: Like I said before, I believe that we need a fiscally responsible goverment, all the spending by Obama scares me.
Bill, I too am a small business person. My has been in business for the past 30 years. We have a software company, and a consulting firm. so I understand your statement about not having the time to fly a kite.
Bill, I honestly could go on for hours, but I’m enjoying this short break I have from my MBA program, I actually get to see my wife and daughter for a few weeks.
I’ll leave you with this; I believe in God. I believe in Jesus Christ. I believe that he died on the cross for all of our sins. I do however struggle with the statement that belief in him is the only way to heaven. I hope that I dont go to hell for saying that. It’s just something that I struggle with. I don’t doubt my God for one second, nothing can take away a personal encounter or experience that one has had with God. Now back to my point of contention…I struggle with the view that an entire culture or country could be right, while another could be wrong! It just seems so simple minded to me.
Maybe I’ll post some more tomorrow…those are some of my beliefs for now.
Thanks for reading, and remember, we’re all entitled to our opinion.
August 13th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
“I went to Temple University, I lived in North Philadelphia, I have seen tihs plight first hand, and it breaks my heart. It is a vicous cycle, and enough isnt being done to help.”
I attend TU currently and the lives of North Philadelphians is heartbreaking. I really wish these bootstrap Republicans would come for an extended visit and learn that you can’t pull yourself by your bootstraps if don’t have any boots.
Go Owls!
August 15th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
What TV news program ever suggested the death of President Bush or Vice President Cheney? The suggestion on a TV news station that it is ok to poison the Speaker of the House is way out of line. IF Howard Stern’s use of four letter words violates FCC rules for use of TV and audio airways, it should be equally true for the incitement of violence. Fox also ran an interview TWICE with a so-called retired member of the military who called on the Taliban to kill an American soldier they have captive, to spare the US for taking him to trial as a deserter. In this country, we still believe that individuals are innocent until proven guilty and the facts are not known in this case. This 23 year old is a member of the military and a member of someone’s family. The airways should not be used in this manner any more than pornography at the hours when children can be exposed to such ignorance.
Thank you for your article!