I'm normally a nice person, and don't let "kooks" ruffle my feathers, but this time I got so damn angry, I had to clean the refrigerator to keep from slamming something!
Well, I guess it was bound to happen. Being the Chairperson of the Democratic Party in a Republican county in Florida, I was sure to hear from the other side once in a while.
Our local leaders are always accessible to anyone who wants to contact us to join in, get help from an elected official, find out about meetings, candidates, events; and yes, to express an opinion.
My parents brought me up to listen to a person, to consider what they have to say, and to freely agree or disagree, because I too have an opinion that matters. When phone calls come into my office, I listen to what the caller has to say and offer assistance as needed, or most times, just let the caller vent.
Last week the phone call was different.
Having been out of town for some time, the messages had backed up for about a week, so on Tuesday I started making return calls. One number in particular appeared on my call list over 5 times, each time asking to have someone from the Democratic Party return the call.
Upon reaching the caller, I was immediately informed that this caller was not a Democrat. The caller was a life-long Republican, well advanced in yearsand a veteran. The caller asked how I could support "that man that I elected? He’s ruining this country."
I respectfully told the gentleman (who I later decided was NOT) that he was entitled to his opinion, but I was very happy with our President and believed he was doing a great job. That began a tirade from the caller, insisting that our President was a member of ACORN, that he came from the South side of Chicago (and you know what comes out of there), and that he never served his country in the military.
The caller assured me that HE loved this country and HE put his life on the line when he was in the military. He told me that I obviously didn’t love my country and had never done what he did. (He doesn’t know me.)
The caller demanded to know why our President would allow killing but would not allow water boarding, and said that killing those pirates who were hijacking the ships was o.k. with Obama, but water boarding was not...and demanded that I explain that one. I reminded him that torture is against the law and so is piracy. (No point in trying to go beyond that with this person.)
The caller also stated that he called Senator Nelson’s office and that "my pimp" hung up on him.
When he finally seemed to wind down, he declared that "We’re coming to get you."
I said, "Excuse me???"
He repeated, "We’re coming to get you."
I asked him if he was threatening me, and then he said, "Tell Obama that we’re going to get him."
And he repeated that line, "Tell Obama that we’re going to get him."
He then mumbled something I couldn’t catch and hung up.
The irony is, I have his name and phone number. He left it on every message that he left on the voicemail.
So, what does a peace-loving, non-aggressive political activist do after being threatened and hearing threats made to the President of the United States?
I cleaned the refrigerator and I stewed!!!!
And then I called the local Sheriff’s office to report the calls.
Listen, I’ve gotten "kook calls’ before, but they usually just vent and hang up. This caller left 5 messages on the voicemail before I actually was kind enough to call him back (my mistake.)
After being transferred by the 911 Operator (did you ever try to find the non-emergency number in the phone book?), I spoke to a sweet girl at the local substation. After giving her the details of the story – during which she asked "Who is Bill Nelson?" – I was told that the computers were down and that she or her supervisor would get back with me by the next day, Wednesday, with a case number.
Wednesday came and went with no call.
Thursday I called the FBI.
The local FBI agent gave me some very helpful information, but unfortunately, until someone actually shows up with a weapon or acts with intent, they can’t do anything. He recommended that I call the U.S. Secret Service.
He did note that because of my elected position with the Democratic Party, the Secret Service would probably include the threats against me along with the threats against the President into one complaint. The FBI agent also suggested that I go in person to the nearest law enforcement office that services my area – which is the Sheriff’s Department. I laughed at that one, but he was adamant that I do it.
I called the US Secret Service, again relayed the story of the caller and the threats. I told the Duty Agent that I had documented the calls and he asked me to fax it to him, "Thanks," was all I got from that call. I don’t know what I expected...their job is to protect the President...but maybe a little more than sounding like I was interrupting his day would have been appropriate.
On to the Sheriff’s Office...asking for the Shift Supervisor and watching the receptionist turn her back to me, whispering on the phone, "I don’t know what she wants." The very unpleasant "Supervisor" that came out to me in the lobby asked a few questions when I told him I had not gotten any reply to my first call two days ago. He left and brought back another Deputy who sat down with me in the lobby – a very busy, noisy lobby.
After a few minutes of trying to talk loudly but discreetly, I asked if we could go to a private room. I again relayed the story of the caller, how many times he called, who I was, and the threats against the President. This time I included the calls to the FBI and to the Secret Service.
This guy was cool, calm and collected. He informed me that harassing phone calls are not something that they can do anything about. "You, being a Democrat and all, know about FREE SPEECH, so you know he has a right to say what he wants to." (And leave threatening messages on my voicemail?!)
I told him I knew the caller was a "kook", and this Deputy says, "Well, a lot of people listen to Glenn Beck and Rush, and they base their opinions from that."
I asked the Deputy if he listened to Glenn Back, and he said, "I listen to them all! That way I hear all sides."
I began gathering my things...this report was going nowhere! I asked the Deputy if they were going to stop by the caller’s house, or check out the phone number or do ANYTHING?
The answer was NO. The rationale was this...if this "kook" was on the edge, going to his house may push him over and then they couldn’t be sure that he wouldn’t show up at my house with a baseball bat.
So I’m supposed to sit home and wait for him to show up before they do anything, right? Yeah!
I’ve been told that I’m too nice and too trusting of people, but I didn’t think that was a flaw. I can see that I will have to start doing a lot of things differently now.
When the "kooks" show up at your doorstep and you can’t depend on the people who are paid to control those "kooks", your view of the world changes.
And that’s my sad statement about where the people like Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh, Joe Wilson, and Sarah Palin are leading the "sheep" who follow their lies, fear mongering, and rhetoric. Healthy debate is good, but we need to call them out and denounce those who spread fear and lies.
Educate yourselves, not by listening to pseudo-entertainers and political hacks, but by reading, finding the truth, and considering your sources. And remember, we are ALL entitled to have opinions, but we should not tarnish the honor of our country by the actions we have seen in the recent months.
I, for one, am still going to be a nice, peace-loving person, but I’m going to work even harder to make sure our message gets out there!